00:00 There's no shortage of amazing photos of Amsterdam on Instagram.
00:06 But does the city really look that good in real life?
00:10 And is it worth a visit?
00:14 We check out three spots that are especially popular.
00:17 But let's be honest, not all of the city's famous places live up to the hype.
00:25 Amsterdam is one of the most visited cities in Europe.
00:29 On average, the Dutch capital sees 20 million overnight stays per year.
00:34 The old town area is especially popular and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site
00:39 in 2010.
00:41 You'll find plenty of photo spots in the city centre, including of course Dam Square, the
00:47 main plaza.
00:48 But how beautiful is it really?
00:53 The square is huge.
00:54 If you're exploring Amsterdam, you're sure to pass through it sooner or later.
01:00 Dam Square got its name in the 13th century, when a "dam" was built here across the Amstel
01:05 River.
01:06 That's also why this city is called Amsterdam.
01:10 Most important building here is the Royal Palace, which hails from the 17th century.
01:15 Fun fact, the building is supported by 13,659 wooden poles.
01:22 These days the palace is merely symbolic.
01:25 No one lives here.
01:27 More than anything, the square is a place where locals and tourists can enjoy a stroll.
01:41 Where are you from?
01:42 Philadelphia.
01:43 I came from Turkey.
01:44 I'm from India.
01:45 I'm from China.
01:46 I'm from Sydney, Australia.
01:48 So what do you think of the central square here?
01:50 It looks very historical.
01:51 It's very old.
01:52 It's got a great feel to it.
01:53 It's very historic, so it's very nice.
01:56 Very different from America and India.
01:58 I think it looks very exciting, cosmopolitan.
02:03 The dam is a good place to start exploring the city.
02:10 And you can't miss the next spot.
02:16 The Blumenmarkt is a well-photographed spot on Instagram thanks to its brightly colored
02:20 flowers.
02:21 But does it really look so good in real life?
02:25 The floating flower market is an Amsterdam institution.
02:29 It's been on a single canal since 1862.
02:33 Thanks to the internet, the Blumenmarkt has become a major tourist attraction.
02:39 And what brought you to the flower market?
02:42 On the internet, googling places to see is one of the highlights of it.
02:46 So I decided to come and have a look at it while we were walking around.
02:49 So it's been good.
02:50 Not well to see the tulips.
02:52 Of course we're here a little late to see the actual tulips.
02:54 So we get some seeds maybe.
02:57 We have a wonderful new tote bag we're very excited about.
03:02 And just, you know, see the people and see the market.
03:06 Our impression, however, was that the market's charm has faded a bit.
03:11 The salespeople seemed annoyed.
03:13 We found it a bit disappointing.
03:15 However, tourists were still visiting in droves.
03:19 One more tip.
03:20 If you visit the market in spring, you'll catch tulip season.
03:26 If you search for Amsterdam on Instagram, you're sure to see incredible photos of the
03:30 city's canals.
03:32 The entire old town is criss-crossed by these picturesque waterways.
03:36 The best way to explore them is by boat.
03:40 The canals were constructed in the 17th century during the city's golden age, with the purposes
03:45 of facilitating the movement of goods.
03:48 Today you can still admire many magnificent gable-front houses built by rich merchants
03:53 during that period.
03:55 We took a boat tour that lasts 75 minutes and costs 16 euros.
04:01 After a detour over the city's modern port, the tour ends in the old town.
04:07 We think a boat trip is a great and relaxed way to get to know Amsterdam and take great
04:12 photos.
04:16 So what's our conclusion?
04:17 A boat tour is definitely worthwhile and gives you the chance to take many Instagram-worthy
04:22 pictures.
04:23 The same is true of Dam Square, but we weren't quite convinced by the flower market.
04:28 Perhaps it is better to visit in the spring, when the tulips are in full bloom.
04:31 (laughing)
