THE NETHERLANDS - Best of Europe 2014 - page 1317

Westerkerk
LocatedneartheAnneFrankHouse,thislandmarkchurchhasabarreninterior,Rembrandt's
body buried somewhere under the pews, and Amsterdam's tallest steeple.
Thetowerisopenonlyfortoursandoffersagrandcityview.Thetourguide,whospeaks
English and Dutch, tells of the church and its carillon. Only six people are allowed at a time
(it's first-come, first-served), so lines can be long.

Amsterdam at a Glance

▲▲▲ ▲▲▲ Rijksmuseum Best collection anywhere of the Dutch Masters—Rembrandt,

Hals, Vermeer, and Steen—in a spectacular setting. Hours: Daily 9:00-17:00. See
here .

▲▲▲ ▲▲▲ Van Gogh Museum 200 paintings by the angst-ridden artist. Hours: Daily

9:00-17:00, Fri until 22:00. See here .

▲▲▲ ▲▲▲ Anne Frank House Young Anne's hideaway during the Nazi occupation.

Hours: March 15-Sept 14 daily 9:00-21:00, Sat and July-Aug until 22:00; Sept
15-March 14 daily 9:00-19:00, Sat until 21:00. See here .

▲▲▲ Stedelijk Museum The Netherlands' top modern-art museum, recently and
extensively renovated. Hours: Tue-Wed 11:00-17:00, Thu 11:00- 22:00, Fri-Sun
10:00-18:00, closed Mon. See here .

▲▲▲ Vondelpark City park and concert venue. Hours: Always open. See here .

▲▲▲ Amsterdam Museum City's growth from fishing village to trading capital to
today, including some Rembrandts and a playable carillon. Hours: Mon-Fri
10:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 11:00-17:00. See here .

▲▲▲ AmstelkringMuseum Catholicchurchhiddenintheatticofa17th-centurymer-
chant'shouse. Hours: Mon-Sat10:00-17:00,Sunandholidays13:00-17:00.See here .

▲▲▲ Red Light District Walk Women of the world's oldest profession on the job.
Hours: Best from noon into the evening; avoid late at night. See here .

▲▲▲ Netherlands Maritime Museum Rich seafaring story of the Netherlands, told
with vivid artifacts. Hours: Daily 9:00-17:00. See here .

▲▲▲ Hermitage Amsterdam Russia's Tsarist treasures, on loan from St. Petersburg.
Hours: Daily 10:00-17:00. See here .