Your Secret Place in Amsterdam is...
Begijnhof is one of the most unique places in Amsterdam, an
old convent built in 1346 where, for many years, the
beguines lived, “women who did not belong to a church order, but had decided to devote their lives to helping those in need. They gave up private life, promised chastity, and joined this kind of community, but still, they could leave the beguinage at any time.” A place with immense charm: you go from being on the busy Spuistraat to a quiet and peaceful space where, although it has undergone some renovation, everything is as it was centuries ago. Comparisons aside, it is as if you had crossed a magical portal straight into the Middle Ages.
Fun fact: Right here you will find the oldest house in Amsterdam –Het Houten Huis–, exactly at number 34. It dates back to 1420 and, with its peculiar black facade, it is one of the only two Amsterdam houses that are still made of wood, despite the 1521 ban.
Also, don’t miss this rooftop...
Floor 17 Rooftop: terrace on the 17th floor of the Hotel Ramada Apollo. It offers one of the best views of Amsterdam. If you want to have dinner, Floor 17 is at your disposal; if you're going for drinks and snacks, there is the bar on site; and always with a beautiful view of the city. You can also go for a fun movie night and enjoy one of your favorite films on the big screen. And if you go in winter, then you can head to the
ice skating rink.
