First time to Amsterdam - tell me your 'must-dos' please!
 

Hey everyone-

I am headed to Amsterdam at the end of next week. I'll be there for 3 days for business, and then my good friend is meeting me for 3 days of fun.

I've never been to Amsterdam before. Following are on my itinerary for work:
Trip to Delft including the Porcelain Factory; Heineken Museum; Candlelit Canal Cruise; special Rijsttafel Dinner.

I have scanned the DK Amsterdam book and it looks like there is quite a lot to do and see!

What would you suggest for the 3 vacation days?

Many thanks in advance,
BostonGal

Typical must-sees:

Anne Frank house

Van Gogh museum

Plenty of walking/exploring to enjoy the canals and gabled houses

I would add the Rijksmuseum. It is still undergoing renovations but but is worth a visit.
http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/index.jsp?lang=en

Your initial research is right on. The DK guidebooks are excellent sources. Weather is a factor; Europe is having a very chilly winter, so focusing on museums appeared to be a good deal. Second the suggestion on the Anna Frank Museum, Van Gogh, and Rijksmuseum. A visit to the Red District should be interesting. I did the Canal Cruise and thought it was OK. Have fun! Bundle up!

One thing I always tell people about Amsterdam is to be prepared for a dirty/messy city, once you get over that, then you can better enjoy the city. It's a dynamic place with very liberal ideas, you either love it or hate it. There is some entertainment venues with comedy shows in English.

If you're going to Delft, you may combine it with Den Haag/The Hague which is quite sedate & comfortable to explore once you go a few blocks beyond the train station area. My wife likes the quaint & large shopping maze (much cleaner than Amsterdam) as well as the traditional Dutch buildings & the Peace Palace. Haarlem is another favorite among Fodorites.

Since you're considering a day trip to Delft, it would leave you 2 days in Amsterdam. I agree with the previous posts, Anne Frank Haus is worth visiting (come early, or very late to avoid lines). I also enjoyed Van Gogh Museum, which is a walking distance from the Rijkmuseum. Along with Heineken, you'll have enough to take up your 2 days. I liked the canal cruise, but it wasn't necessarily the highlight of my trip. Have fun!

Thanks to all who replied.

I am a city gal through and through, and being from the Northeast, I am definitely ok with the city factors and cold weather!

Really looking forward to the trip, although I must admit I've never stayed in one city for 6 days, I usually bop around and only stay in one place for 2-3 days, so this will certainly be different!

Thanks again =)