Beautiful spots to photograph in Amsterdam
I visited Amsterdam for the first time last year and totally fell in LOVE with the city. I was fortunate enough to be staying in a gorgeous neighbourhood and was welcomed with sunshine throughout the whole trip which contributed a lot to my overall experience but regardless…it’s definitely somewhere I can see myself returning to time and time again.
It’s the perfect city to explore on foot (or on two wheels which I was not brave enough to try this time) and after MANY steps, I ended up with a long list of favourite spots. I’ve narrowed it down to these few as they were my favourite to photograph too.
Lauriergracht
Starting off with my favourite. This canal/road was probably my favourite of all the canals (no, they don’t all look quite the same). Lauriergracht is smaller and just off the busy Prinsengracht and the houses are seriously stunning. I had a lot of house envy for this particular one below - the golden glow of the light in the windows is just *chef’s kiss*.
Amsterdam Oost
If you can, head a little bit further out east away from the canals and you might be surprised. I stayed at Hotel V for part of my stay and came across this corner on my morning walk to work. Helmholtzstraat is nearby with a deli, bakery, vintage shop and more. If you time it right, you’ll be able to see the beautiful autumnal colours too (this photo was taken in the first week of October).
Jordaan
When I was looking for recommendations before my trip, I heard a lot about Jordaan. After staying nearby, I was very quickly convinced that it’s THE most beautiful neighbourhood. I’d recommend waking up early and making the most of the quiet streets. I also found this antique store (Ditjes & Datjes) tucked away on Eerste Boomdwarsstraat.
Cafe Lot
If there’s one thing I love to do (whether in London or whilst travelling), it’s to look for the best coffee shops. It’s a small luxury that never gets old for me. So, naturally, I went searching for the best coffee in the city and the flat white I had in Cafe Lot made it to the top of the list. It’s quite a small space and the queue is often long but it’s worth the wait.
Mendo
I had to include this on the list because I genuinely lost all track of time when I stepped into this bookshop. It is a creator’s DREAM. I sat and flicked through their beautiful collection for at least an hour and could easily have spent longer if I didn’t have much else on my list! I highly recommend a visit - one particular book I loved was Notice by Wesley Verhoeve.
Architectura and Natura
I came across this bookshop by complete accident as I was aimlessly wandering the streets one morning - and I’m so glad I did! It’s easily one of the most beautiful bookshops I’ve seen. Inside you can expect exceptionally designed books from all over the world in the fields of architecture, urban design, gardens and nature. You're likely to leave feeling inspired.
Hotel V
I stayed at Hotel V Fizeaustraat* for four nights as I was working during the week and it was the perfect working/relaxing spot. Even the smallest room is super spacious, the facilities felt luxurious and the staff were so welcoming. I genuinely can’t recommend it enough. It’s close to Amstel station so it’s also perfect for if you want to stay away from the busier areas.
*I received a media discount for my stay but as always, all opinions are my own.
To summarise, some of my top spots to photograph in Amsterdam are:
Lauriergracht
Amsterdam Oost
Jordaan
Cafe Lot
Mendo
Architectura and Natura
Overall, Amsterdam is such a charming city and you’ll find spots you want to photograph on every corner. I can’t wait to go back later this year and add more to the list.
Thanks for reading,
T.
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