🌷 A Weekend in Amsterdam

From cozy restaurants to chocolate-filled windmills, here’s how I spent 3 days in Amsterdam.

📍 Thursday Afternoon: Arrival & Pancakes

I landed in Amsterdam on a Thursday afternoon, and my first stop was Pancakes Amsterdam. I ordered the banana, chocolate sauce, and almond pancakes—absolutely delicious and surprisingly allergen-friendly. As someone with food sensitivities, I appreciated how they were able to make them safe from major allergens. Bonus? My server gifted me a cute postcard and a little wooden clog keychain on my way out. Such a sweet welcome to the city.

✨ Pancakes Amsterdam has multiple locations, and their allergen guide is available online. It’s a great first meal if you’re coming off a flight and want something cozy and comforting.

Afterward, I walked over to the Anne Frank House to see what I could from outside.  A few weeks before my trip I realized I had made the rookie mistake of not booking tickets further ahead. The museum was sold out for the entire duration of my trip. 

Lesson learned: tickets go live about 6 weeks in advance, and they sell out fast—especially in high season. Next time, I plan to pair the museum visit with a Jewish history walking tour through the city.

The rest of the afternoon was spent wandering through Amsterdam’s scenic canals and cobblestone streets. 

For dinner, I headed to Café Piazza, a cozy Italian spot where I had the most memorable meal with myself and my book! They offer all of their pastas gluten-free, and they use a red napkin system to identify gluten-free orders—an amazing touch for celiac diners. I had a creamy pasta dish and the vibe was warm and welcoming.

📍 Friday: Full Day of Exploring

Friday morning started with coffee and gluten- pastries at Craft Amsterdam It was a cozy environment, perfect for a slow start before diving into sightseeing. The streets outside were flooded with market vendors!

One of the most unexpected highlights of the trip was the Museum of Prostitution, located in the Red Light District. It was incredibly eye-opening, offering a look into the realities and history of sex work in Amsterdam.

For lunch I had a gluten free sandwich at Cirque Madame - it was eh, but nice to find a filling gluten-free meal I could enjoy on the go while exploring. I ran into some beautiful streets great for people watching, photo ops, shopping and markets!

 The afternoon was reserved for a canal tour, which I highly recommend. Seeing Amsterdam from the water offers a totally different perspective—you glide under bridges, past historic homes, and through quiet corners of the city that you might not find on foot.

Later, I wandered through Westerpark, a peaceful green space where locals were lounging, picnicking, and walking their dogs. I wrapped up the day with a cup of chai at Saint Jean

📍 Saturday: Day Trip to Zaandam & Zaanse Schans

On Saturday morning, I took the train to Zaandam, a town known for its quirky, colorful buildings that look like they’re straight out of a storybook. After snapping some photos, I grabbed brunch at Bagel & Bean, a casual spot with a great selection of gluten-free and vegetarian options.

Next, I caught a train from Zaandam to Zaanse Schans, just a short ride away. You will know you have arrived when you deboard the train and smell chocolate in the air!!!

This area is famous for its windmills, traditional Dutch crafts, and chocolate-making. I got to make my own hot chocolate at Blik op Cacao which was one of my most memorable moments of my whole trip! I truly felt like I was in a fairytale movie wandering around the fields & windmills.

Say hello to some adorable goats at Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm and stroll through the picturesque village filled with clogs, cheese, and heritage. Don’t forget to bring home souvenirs and chocolate!

✨ If you have more time, definitely do the windmill tour. My brother visited just a few weeks before I did and loved learning about the wind-powered machinery and how it connects to the cocoa industry!