Hello,<BR><BR>I was planning to spend 3 nights/4 days in Amsterdam in Jan until I heard about Amsterdam not being as enjoyable in Jan. I decided to postpone my travel plans to Feb (if it makes any difference) since I fear that many of the sights I want to visit (Houseboat Museum for eg) either are closed in Jan or keep shorter hours. I plan to arrive on a Thur or Fri and leave by Sun or Mon. Does anyone know what the hours are like for museums and flea markets (Albert Cuyp etc) on Sundays in Jan/Feb? Can I enjoy canal cruises during the winter in Amsterdam? In the 4 days, my focus will be on walking tours in historic neighborhoods being an architecture nut. What sights will I miss in the winter?

ttt

February is a good time to visit A'dam.<BR>Jan is the only time the place slows down, by Feb things are back to normal, its busy but without the overcrowding you get in the summer.<BR>Feb weather is usually cold dry &amp; bright, canal cruises &amp; walking not a prob.Get a tram ticket!

Don't miss the Anne Frank house and Van Gogh museum. Also, if you have the time, visit the very old Portuguese synagogue.

I went to Amsterdam in early January years ago and enjoyed it perfectly well. I don't recall missing any sites that I really wanted to see, &amp; did get to go to the Anne Frank house, the Van Gogh museum (most memorable place, for me), and the Rijksmuseum. I don't know which canal boats you have in mind, but there certainly were glass-topped tourist boats working the canals even in January.<BR><BR>I suggest checking an up-to-date guidebook or a Dutch tourism website for museum hours.

Have you found the Amsterdam Heritage site? If not check out http://www.bmz.amsterdam.nl/adam/index_e.html