subject: Amsterdam Tourist Attractions For Families [print this page] There's no shortage of great things to see and do while you stay at the Park Hotel Amsterdam. Why not start at Hermitage museum? Located on the banks of Amsterdams Amstel River, this museum is the Dutch branch of the world-famous Hermitage in Saint Petersburg (Russia). The Hermitage Museum was patronized by Tsar Peter, who lived in Amsterdam for several years. During his time, visitors to the Museum enjoyed a free shot of vodka, a practice that is sadly no longer continued!
Not surprisingly, the Hermitage Amsterdam is a treasure trove of unique Russian history and culture. On display you'll find a wealth of paintings, graphic works, sculptures and works of applied art, archaeological finds and numismatic material, mainly from the collection of the State Hermitage. The Hermitage Amsterdam also has a special childrens section and holds regular workshops for the public to help spread appreciation for the arts and to stimulate creativity.
Another must-see attraction is the Anne Frank Huis at Prinsengracht 263 in Amsterdam which attracts more than 1 million visitors every year. Here is where the young Jewish girl, Anne Frank, lived in hiding with her family for more than 2 years during World War II while she wrote what would come to be known as the internationally famous "Diary of Anne Frank".
The doorway to the annex where Anne and her family hid was concealed behind a specially-constructed moveable bookcase. But eventually on August 4, 1944, the hiding place was betrayed and Anne and everyone else in hiding were deported to various concentration camps. Only Anne's father Otto Frank survived the war.
Nowadays, the rooms at the Anne Frank House, though empty, still breathe the tense atmosphere of the hiding period. You'll see historical documents, photographs, film images, and original objects that belonged to those in hiding and those who helped them. Annes original diary and other notebooks are on display in the museum. The house features a sobering exhibition about the persecution of the Jews through the centuries, and also focuses on the overall theme of discrimination and how it affects individual lives and social cultures.
On a lighter note, the former Heineken Brewery in Amsterdam, which is a national monument, showcases 18 attractions and includes several interactive exhibits that showcase Heinecken's rich history and the craft of brewing.
Things to do at the Heineken Experience include a mini brewery, a tasting bar, as well as the 'Stable Walk', where visitors can access the stables to view Heineken's Shire horses which still deliver beer throughout the city. Heineken beer was brewed at the Heineken Brewery Amsterdam until 1988, when the Heineken brewery in Zoeterwoude took over production, but you can still get a free glass of beer here when you take the tour.
And if you like tours with tasty additions, be sure to visit the Reypenaer Cheese Tasting Rooms in the center of old Amsterdam. Here you'll get to personally test and evaluate the flavor, the aroma and the qualities of some of the traditional Dutch Reypenaer cheeses, all under the guidance of an expert cheese taster. And that's just a small sample of the many great things you'll find to do while you stay at the Park Hotel Amsterdam.
