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Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum
Since 1981, this historic admiralty building has housed one of world's most extensive collections of maritime memorabilia. Early shipping routes, naval combat, fishing and whaling are all explained in loving detail, and there are 500 models of boats and ships. Unfortunately, at the time of writing the museum was shut till mid-2009 for a major renovation.
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NEMO
Perched atop the entrance to the IJ-Tunnel is the wedge-shaped museum of science and technology, the largest in the Netherlands. Italian architect Renzo Piano (whose works also include the Centre Pompidou in Paris) conceived of this design as the inverse of the tunnel below it.
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Netherlands Media Art Institute
From the hilarious to the ridiculous to the deep and the experimental, there's always something interesting in this gallery's changing exhibits. Don't expect to see works by the hit-makers or TV directors of tomorrow, though. The institute is specifically about video as art; there's an artist-in-residence program if you get inspired. The collection numbers some 1500 works, assembled since the institute was established in 1978.
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News Photo
This shop-museum displays enormous blowups of photos that accompany headlines, by photographers from around the world. In fact the museum operates like something of a newsroom itself. Themed exhibitions (terrorism, the Tour de France etc) change every few weeks, but as news is made the curators use giant printers to print out the latest, and - presto - it's up on the conveniently magnetic walls.
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Nieuwe Kerk
On the Dam, this 14th-century basilica is the historic stage of Dutch coronations; the stained glass over the main entrance recalls Queen Wilhelmina, who ascended the throne in 1898, aged 18. Exhibitions and organ concerts are held here, but no longer church functions.
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Noorderkerk
Near the northern end of the Prinsengracht, this imposing Calvinist church was completed in 1623 for the 'common' people in the Jordaan. (The upper classes attended the Westerkerk further south). It was built in the shape of a broad Greek cross (four arms of equal length) around a central pulpit, giving the entire congregation unimpeded access to the word of God in suitably sober surroundings.
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Noordermarkt
A market square since the early 1600s, the plaza in front of the Noorderkerk now hosts several lively markets a week. Monday morning there's a flea market with wonderful bargains; early on Saturday morning there's a bird market (in cages, a holdover from the former livestock market), followed till early/mid-afternoon by a boerenmarkt (farmers market) with herbs and organic produce.
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Olympic Stadium
The grand Olympic Stadium was designed by Jan Wils, a protégé of famous architect HP Berlage, and is functionist in style. The arena was built for the 1928 summer Olympic Games, and has a soaring tower from which the Olympic Flame burned for the first time during competition. The stadium is classified as a national monument, and today hosts sporting events and concerts.
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Oosterpark
This sprawling park was laid out in the 1880s to accommodate the nouveaux rich of the city's diamond traders who benefited from the South African diamond boom. The park makes a fine diversion if you're heading to the nearby Tropenmuseum. Between the museum and the large pond stands the Spreeksteen, a little Hyde Park Corner where orators of every ilk can have their say; see www.spreeksteen.nl for the erratic schedule.
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Oostindisch Huis
This is the former office of the mighty VOC, the Dutch East India Company (which was the very first multinational). You could easily walk past it, as there's no sign or plaque to identify it. This sweeping complex, built between 1551 and 1643, was attributed to Hendrick de Keyser, the busy city architect. On the Kloveniersburgwal side you can see that the gables defy convention by tilting backward, making them seem much larger.
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Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam
Unveiled with great fanfare in 2007, this pleasingly symmetrical, nine-storey 'tower of knowledge' (its self-appointed nickname) is the country's largest library and has claimed a commanding spot on Amsterdam's increasingly modern landscape. Much of the excitement is visual: as you enter, marvel at the airy lobby with 30m-high gallery.
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Orgelpark
Not a park as we know it, but a new stage for organ music located in a lovely restored church on the edge of the Vondelpark. The Orgelpark has four big organs, and every year puts on over 100 events including concerts of classical, jazz and improvised music. Concerts are typically on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at , and every Wednesday at there are free performances by organ students; check the website for a schedule.
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Oude Kerk
The city's oldest surviving building (1306) embodies a huge moral contradiction: it's in full view of the Red Light District, with passers-by getting chatted up a throw from the church walls. But that's not all: this Gothic-style church has one of the finest carillons in the country, the city's oldest church bell (1450) and a stunning Müller organ. Check out the lively 15th-century carvings on the choir stalls, some of which are downright rude.
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Oudemanhuispoort
On the corner of Oudezijds Achterburgwal stands a distinctive gateway with spectacles over the pedestal. This indicated its role as an almshouse for the elderly, built here in 1601 from the proceeds of a public lottery. It's now the seat of the University of Amsterdam and closed to the public, although you can wander the courtyard. Note the bust of the learned Roman goddess Minerva over the courtyard entrance.
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Paleis Van Justitie
This authoritative (Amsterdam's Court of Appeal) pile began life in 1666 as an orphanage, designed for 800 occupants, but by the early 19th century more than half the city's 4300 orphans were crammed in here. A royal decree finally relocated them to other towns, amid cries that children were being stolen. The building's current scowl, in sober neoclassical, is from an 1829 renovation after the orphanage was closed.
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Persmuseum
The caretaker of Dutch journalism history, the Persmuseum (Press Museum) is loads more interesting to non-Dutch speakers than it may sound. Housed in sleek new premises, it has a large collection of historic newspapers (going all the way back to 1600), political and editorial cartoons, press photos as well as a great stock of old publicity posters, many of them quite amusing.
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Pianola Museum
This is a very special place, crammed with pianolas from the early 1900s. The museum has a stock of 50 pianolas, although only a dozen are on display at a given time, as well as nearly 20,000 music rolls. There's even a player pipe organ. Every month player-piano concerts are held, featuring anything from Mozart to Fats Waller, and rare classical or jazz tunes composed especially for the instrument. The curator gives demonstrations with great zest.
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Poezenboot
The Poezenboot (Cat Boat) on the Singel is a must for cat-lovers…and hell for mouse-lovers. It was founded in 1966 by an eccentric woman who became legendary for looking after several hundred stray cats at a time. The boat has since been taken over by a foundation and holds a mere few dozen kitties in proper pens, ready to be spayed, neutered, implanted with an identifying computer chip (as per Dutch law) and, hopefully, adopted out.
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Portuguese-Israelite Synagogue
Built between 1671 and 1675 by Amsterdam's Sephardic community, this edifice was the largest synagogue in Europe at the time. The architect, Elias Bouman, was inspired by the Temple of Solomon, but the building's classical lines are typical of the Dutch capital. It was restored after the war and is in use today.
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Prostitution Information Centre
Spin, curiosity and respect - things this refreshing centre has none of, plenty of, and hopes to earn. Established by a former prostitute and staffed by sex workers, the centre caters to study groups from around the world including several police academies. It also organises evening walks, private tours by a former sex-worker (around €13 per person, reservation-only) and does a limited souvenir trade.
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Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum (National Museum) is the premier art museum of the Netherlands, and no self-respecting visitor to Amsterdam can afford to miss it. Though most of the building is closed for renovations until early 2010, there is an excellent collection of around 200 masterpieces exhibited in a side section, the Philips wing. Still, over a million people visit every year, so come early to avoid the queues or buy your (printable) tickets online.
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Ronde Lutherse Kerk
This domed church built from 1668 to 1671 has the curious distinction of being the only round Protestant church in the country. Falling attendances forced its closure in 1936, and it now serves as a conference centre for the nearby Renaissance Hotel. Ironically, the old church on the Spui that it was designed to replace is still in use.
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Sarphatipark
This diverse little park was named after Samuel Sarphati (1813-66), a Jewish doctor, businessman and urban innovator. The grounds are a thoughtful mix of ponds, gently rolling meadow and wooded fringe. In the centre you'll see the Sarphati memorial (1886), a bombastic temple with fountain, gargoyles and a bust of the great man himself. Water is pumped to the fountain via an underground pipe from a canal hundreds of metres away.
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Scheepvaarthuis
The imposing Scheepvaarthuis (Shipping House) was built in 1916 for a consortium of shipping companies. Utilising the street layout to resemble a ship's bow, this remarkable building was the first true example of Amsterdam School style. The prow-like front is crowned by a statue of Neptune, his wife and four female figures that represent the points of the compass.
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Schreierstoren
This prominent brick tower dating from around 1480 - the oldest of its kind still standing - was once part of the city's defences. Its name comes from an old Dutch word for 'sharp', for this sharp corner that jutted out into the IJ. Tourist literature prefers to call it the 'wailing tower' (from schreien, to weep or wail) and claims that sailors' wives stood here and cried their lungs out when ships set off for distant lands.
