Best 29 Inspiring Travel Quotes and Sayings on Amsterdam
May 17, 2022
For some, Amsterdam is a city of sin, while for some others, it is a city of freedom, an exemplary for others to follow. Some even compare this European city to the American city, San Francisco for the freedom and fun it offers along with its deep roots in art and culture. Whichever way you decide to define the capital of Netherlands, Amsterdam is a unique city that means many things to many people.
Best known for its abundance of tulips, gingerbread canal houses, and friendly biking trails, Amsterdam is also a city that is rich in opportunities, art, and romance, Dubbed Venice of the North for its historic winding canals, Amsterdam goes beyond from being just a city for most travellers.
Over the years, the simplicity of this picturesque city had inspired locals and travellers alike, shaping each of their lives, one way or another. Here are the best of the best 29 inspiring quotes and sayings on Amsterdam by some of the famous authors and celebrities to inspire your visit 🙂
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BEST TIPS: Book tours and tickets in advance: Best tours in Amsterdam. Select the I Amsterdam City Card for free entrance to 60 museums, one free canal cruise, discounts and unlimited use of Amsterdam’s public transport. Discover what’s more is included.
Best Inspiring Travel Quotes and Sayings on Amsterdam Giving an Overview of the City’s Culture
1 |
Location: Amsterdam, Where Fire is called “Vlam”
Kristin Cashore
Kristin Cashore is an American young adult fantasy writer. Amongst her New York Bestsellers are Graceling and Fire.
2 |
Amsterdam is not Holland. It is a city that attracts people from all over Holland. And lots of international tourists and party people”
Eddy de Clerq
Eddy de Clerq is a Belgian record producer who founded the first underground dance movement and the rise of Amsterdam club scene.
3 |
I love Amsterdam. The city is vibrant and alive. It’s fresh and so open. It’s definitely one of my favourite places.”
Stefon Harris
Stefon Harris is an American jazz vibraphonist. Besides being a musician, he is also an educator and thought leader.
4 |
The many cultures in Amsterdam contribute to the city’s high level of craziness-something which every interesting city should offer”
Charles Landry
Charles Landry is an English author, speaker and international adviser on the future of cities best known for popularising the Creative City concept.
5 |
Historic Amsterdam, that old part you first see when you turn up at Centraal Station, may have its monuments, but it’s also the most tawdry and overcrowded part of the city.”
David Hewson
David Hewson is a contemporary British author of mystery novels. His award winning novels include The Killing, The Villa of Mysteries and the most recent, The Garden of Angels.
Quotes and Sayings on Amsterdam
6 |
Some tourists think Amsterdam is a city of sin, but in truth, it is a city of freedom. And in freedom, most people find sin“
John Green
7 |
Amsterdam is like the rings of a tree: It gets older as you get closer to the centre.
John Green
John Green is an American author won the 2006 Printz Award for his debut novel, Looking for Alaska, and his fourth solo novel, The Fault in Our Stars, number one on The New York Times Best Seller list in January 2012.
UK Readers:
Looking For Alaska: Read the multi-million bestselling smash-hit behind the TV seriesUSA Readers:
Quotes and Sayings on Amsterdam
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8 |
I am a village boy, and Amsterdam for me was always the big town.”
Anton Corbijn
9 |
I think Amsterdam is to Holland what New York is to America in a sense. It’s a metropolis, so its representative of Holland, but only a part of it – you know, it’s more extreme, there’s more happening, it’s more liberal and more daring than the countryside in Holland is”
Anton Corbijn
Anton Corbijn is a Dutch photographer, film director and music video director.
Quotes and Sayings on Amsterdam
Quotes and Sayings on Amsterdam Red Light Area
10 |
Most visitors to Amsterdam will wander into the red-light district out of sheer curiosity. The narrow streets are mostly safe day and night – just don’t try to take pictures of the women working in the windows.”
David Hewson
11|
But words are water in Amsterdam, they flood your ears and set the rot, and the church’s east corner is crowded.”
Jessie Burton
12 |
This city is like no other city in the world. It is brilliant but it is bloated, and I’ve never called it home”
Jessie Burton
Jessie Burton is an English author and actress. She has published three novels – The Miniaturist, The Muse, and The Confession.
UK Readers:
By Jessie Burton The Miniaturist [Paperback]Download on Audible:
The MiniaturistUSA Readers:
The Miniaturist: A Novel
Quotes and Sayings on Amsterdam Canals
Amsterdam is intimately connected with water. Its one-hundred-sixty five canals were constructed over centuries to stimulate trade, transport and to reclaim land. The 17th century Amsterdam Canal Ring is of great cultural and historical value, now recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010. Here are some of the best quotes and sayings on Amsterdam canals to give you an idea of what its like.
13 |
In Amsterdam, the water is the mistress and the land the vassal. Throughout the city, there are as many canals and drawbridges as bracelets on a Gypsy’s bronzed arms.”
Felix Marti-Ibanez
Felix Marti-Ibanez (1911-1972) was a Spanish author and publisher who emigrated to USA after the Spanish Civil War in 1939, thereafter becoming an American citizen.
14 |
Amsterdam is such a fun, cool place, and it’s very instagrammable with the canals and the boats and the flowers and the architecture. It’s amazing for outfit of the day shot.”
Nikkie Tutorials
Nikkie de Jager better known as Nikkie Tutorials is a Dutch makeup artist and beauty vlogger. She has 13.8 million subscribers to her Youtube channel.
15 |
Amsterdam was a great surprise to me. I had always thought of Venice as the city of canals; it had never entered my mind that I should find similar conditions in a Dutch town.”
James Weldon Johnson
James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938) was an American writer and civil rights activist. He was the leader of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), where he began working in 1917.
Quotes and Sayings on Amsterdam
16 |
Stand outside De Eland, on the Berenstraat Bridge over the Prinsengracht, and you see what real Amsterdam life is like.”
David Hewson
17 |
In Amsterdam, the river and canals have been central to city life for the last four centuries.”
Janet Echelman
Janet Echelman is an American sculptor and fiber artist whose work have been publicly displayed at specific sites.
Quotes and Sayings on Amsterdam
18 |
Amsterdam has more than 150 canals and 1,250 bridges, but it never seems crowded, nor bent and bitter from fleecing the tourist.”
Julie Birchill
Quotes and sayings on Amsterdam that may make you smile…
19 |
Call me a pig, but isn’t it brilliantly refreshing how early the Dutch eat dinner? When they’re still laying out the cutlery in achingly hip Barcelona , they’re hanging the closed sign on the restaurant doors of old Amsterdam.”
Julie Burchill
Julie Burchill is an English journalist and writer who began as a staff writer at the New Musical Express at the age of 17. She contributes to The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Times and The Guardian. Burchill’s popular novels are many but below are just two:
Quotes and Sayings on Amsterdam
20 |
I dropped my pants in a tattoo parlour in Amsterdam. I woke up in a waterbed with this funky-looking dragon with a blue tongue on my hip. I realized I made a mistake, so a few months later I got a cross to cover it. When my pants hang low, it looks like I’m wearing a dagger!
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie is an American actress, filmmaker and a humanitarian. She has won many awards including Academy Award and three Golden Globe Awards. She has been named Hollywood’s highest-paid actress numerous times.
Quotes and Sayings on Amsterdam
Quotes and Sayings on Amsterdam Cycle City
Amsterdam is a city where the number of bicycles outnumber its residents! The city is perfectly set-up with dedicated cycle lanes and regarded as the second most bike-friendly city in the world, only just after Copenhagen. Here are three quotes and sayings on Amsterdam that somewhat describes the city of cycles.
21 |
In Europe, I always have fun bike riding in Amsterdam”
Ezra Koenig
Ezra Koenig is an American musician, singer-songwriter and radio personality
22 |
My experience in Amsterdam is that cyclists ride where the hell they like and aim in a state of rage at all pedestrians while ringing their bell loudly, the concept of avoiding people being foreign to them.”
Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett – Sir Terence David John Pratchett OBE (28 April 1948 – 12 March 2015) was an English humorist and author of fantasy novels. His notable works are Discworld series, Good Omens and Nation. He received the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement in 2010.
Quotes and Sayings on Amsterdam
23 |
Here people cycled with a reckless swagger, talking on the phone and eating breakfast.”
David Nicholls
David Nicholls is an English writer and novelist. His popular books are One Day and Us.
Quotes and Sayings on Amsterdam to Inspire Creativity
The following quotes speaks of a city that inspires creativity.
24 |
I get inspired in certain places. You have to write in places like Amsterdam or Paris or New Zealand, when you’re standing on a yacht, looking out at the middle of the ocean.”
Action Bronson
Ariyan Arslani better known as Action Bronson is an American rapper and television presenter.
25 |
When I wrote my book about Amsterdam, the main objective was to talk about the city’s creativity rather than just its design.”
Marcel Wanders
26 |
Amsterdam is a breeding ground for new creative pursuits in many areas fueled by tolerance and openness to ideas, unlike any world city I’ve been to. There is something for everyone here, especially when you dare to go off the beaten path.”
Marcel Wanders
27 |
Amsterdam lives and breathes creativity. One moment you walk into a building from the 17th century, and the next you find yourself in a hub of creative start-up companies”
Marcel Wanders
28 |
San Francisco is a lot like Amsterdam – free, open-minded and casual – though I expected better weather.”
Marcel Wanders
29 |
What’s special about Amsterdam is that the city is able to connect worlds that are not otherwise connected.”
Marcel Wanders
Marcel Wanders is a Dutch designer and as art director who designs architectural and interior products.
Inspiring Travel quotes and sayings on Amsterdam
On a final note…
It’s no surprise that Amsterdam in one of the most visited city in Europe – it may not be as glamorous as Paris or London nor is it deeply rooted in Roman history as Italy but Amsterdam is a city that offers you an insight into culture, beautiful places to stay with plenty of things to do whether you are visiting for 24, 48 hours or even much longer.
Have a splendid time discovering Amsterdam xoxo.
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ESSENTIALS FOR AMSTERDAM
From/to Schiphol Airport to/from City Centre:
1| Hassle free private transfer
2 | Amsterdam Airport Express to the City Centre Return Trip
3 | Public Transport & 397 Airport Shuttle
Craft Beer Brewery Tour and Tastings by Bus
Visit Zaanse Schans, Edam, & Marken from Amsterdam on a day trip
Quick facts on Amsterdam, Netherlands
City: Capital of Netherlands
Population: 1,149,000
Mayor: Femke Halsema (since 2018)
Zone: Central European Time Zone | Central European Summer Time
Elevation: -2m (-7ft) – Dam Square
BEST EUROPEAN CITIES DESTINATIONS
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Best 29 inspiring travel quotes and sayings on Amsterdam first published at timelesstravelsteps.com
Updated May 17, 2022
I am sure you will be fascinated with the city that has so much to offer besides the busy clubs and nightlife!
Sure it is scary but you would never know that it is below sea level when you are there 🙂 I have a revisit planned to the Netherlands later in the year, fingers crossed for that 🙂 Have a splendid time if you make it this summer x
Absolutely, and Amsterdam is quite special and charming in its own way. Hope your next visit will be for longer x
I love Amsterdam, and it seems to get better with each visit. The first time, I feel like we just see the party side and seediness, but after several visits, you really discover how charming and amazing this place is!
I never thought you could know a city through quotations! My favorite was Kohn Greene’s!
I love #6 so much ❤️I wouldn’t have picked John Green as the author for that one, but it makes sense now that I know, lol
I love all of these. I particularly like number 4 and 27. Although the point on 28 was also felt about the weather when I visited in April a few years ago. haha
I did not realize that there are so many interesting and inspiring travel quotes about Amsterdam. This city is still on my dream list. I will be happy to go soon.
Amsterdam is definitely one of Europe’s most vibrant and unique cities, no wonder everyone has to say something about it 😀 I also found the fact that the city is actually below sea level absolutely fascinating….and a bit scary 😉 Just like other touristy hotspots, I guess that the city won’t be that packed this summer, so maybe I should hop over the border 😉
One day was definitely not enough in Amsterdam. And we certainly did not see enough to be able to test these 29 inspiring travel quotes about Amsterdam. I love many of these but a few stand out. I liked the quote about Amsterdam being like a tree and being older at the core. So true about most European cities. And loved the description of the bridges as “bracelets”. So many fanciful ways to talk about a city.
Nice article and some very educational and inspiring quotes!