Why Amsterdam is a Great Place for an Internship: 8 Cool Things About Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a top destination for any tourist, student or intern. 

With its own special Dutch spin, the city has it all. First, it’s a top economic hub, with strong links all over Europe – and business is booming. Right now, the combined value of startups founded since 2000 is €100bn; compare that to just €10bn in 2015 and you’ll see just how well the city is doing.

Second, it’s a picturesque destination full of beauty and history; from the immaculate tulips that line the streets and gardens to the historic canals criss-crossing all over the city.

And lastly, it’s a city with its own unique subculture; where else would you find electronic dance festivals, art history, inspired horticulture, and freshly brewed beer blended together into one package?

Amsterdam is packed full of unique experiences for anyone new to the city. You won’t be able to try everything in one internship, so we’ve put together the highlights; the top eight things that make Amsterdam a fantastic place for an internship.

With nearly 500 miles of cycle paths and bike lanes, bikes are the favored transport of Amsterdam. You can rent a bike for around €10 a day; rent for a longer period and you’ll find even cheaper prices. 

For an intern who’d like to see as much of the city as possible for a low price, there’s no better choice.

But beware; cycling in Amsterdam is ordered chaos. Keep your eyes on the road and don’t hesitate. The locals don’t have much patience when it comes to traffic! Mess up and expect to hear a ‘ja, hello!’ barked from a passing cyclist. 

The Dutch watch each other’s body language keenly to determine direction and intention; pay attention and you’ll soon get it.  

However, even with the potential pitfalls, the popularity of cycling in Amsterdam means that you won’t experience nearly as much noise or pollution as you would in a typical city. It makes a meal or drink in the city center, or even just a walk along the canal, all the more inviting.

Dating back to the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century, Amsterdam has a fantastically varied history of art and design creativity. There’s nothing that expresses this history more vividly than Amsterdam’s world-famous canals. 

With over 165 canals spanning over 60 miles, there’s a reason the city is known as the Venice of the North. The canals are made up of three concentric circles, and today they’re a UNESCO World Heritage site! 

Hop on a water taxi and whizz around the city, taking in the colorful gabled buildings from below. Or take a canal tour around the city, discovering the history of over one thousand monumental buildings that lie alongside the main canals. 

A powerhouse of culture and creativity, Amsterdam has an incredible number of fantastic artistic and historical exhibits to sink your teeth into. 

Begin by visiting the Rijksmuseum, the museum of the Netherlands. The largest art museum in the country, you’ll find plenty here; from the Middle Ages right through to the 20^th century, including the works of Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh. Over 2.5 million people visit the Rijksmuseum every year!

Stedelijk is where you’ll find an international collection of modern and contemporary art; known as ‘the bathtub’ due to its distinctive shape, the museum towers over the nearby buildings. There’s also plenty of performances, films, lectures, and music concerts to see here. 

Then head to the Van Gogh Museum to find the single largest collection of the iconic Dutch artist’s works. With over 200 paintings, 400 drawings and 700 letters by Van Gogh, there’s something here for everybody; see a classic or discover something new.

And before you leave, you’ll want to have visited the Anne Frank House; this museum has preserved her family’s hiding place, and it has an exhibition space about all forms of persecution and discrimination. It’s a poignant experience, and should be seen by everyone who visits Amsterdam.

Amsterdam doesn’t have much in the way of its own food culture, instead relying heavily on its colonial links to import dishes from all around the world. But it does have a few delicious snacks that you’ll want to try. 

The most famous savory treat is herring. The Dutch eat herring across the year, but it’s best found in June, when ‘New Herring’ is in season; this is when the fat content of the herring is just right. This delicacy is sold all over the streets of Amsterdam, and there’s a vendor wherever you look. Watch the herring being prepared in front of you, then try it for yourself!

You’ll also want to try as much of Amsterdam’s selection of sweet food as you can. Stroopwafel is a particular highlight; with two wafers of waffle joined together by gooey caramel, you’ll find this delicious snack everywhere you go. Locals especially recommend the Lanskroon Bakery, which is popular for its giant-sized stroopwafel!

Amsterdam has a thriving music scene that can be enjoyed all year round. Bimhuis is the top jazz venue in Amsterdam, and it’s held as one of the best music rooms in the world. Here, you’ll find local talents and international stars demonstrating virtuosity in everything from the trumpet to the drums. 

Elsewhere, electronic dance music thrives here; depending on when you’re interning in Amsterdam, you might get to experience the world-renowned ADE, Dekmantel, or PITCH festivals.

And if you favor the classics, you’ll find plenty of concert halls and churches, including the Royal Concertgebouw, hosting fantastic evening sessions across the city. Whether it’s opera, ballet, or grand orchestras, it’s sure to be a world-class evening. 

It’s an obvious one, but tulips are the symbol of Amsterdam for good reason. Every January, the area outside Dam Square becomes a garden home to 200,000 tulips. You can even take one home for free. 

And if you’re visiting between March and May, take the journey out to Keukenhof Gardens to discover the Garden of Europe, one of the world’s largest flower gardens! This 8-week public tulip display is unparalleled; approximately 7 million flower bulbs are planted in the gardens annually.

Amsterdam is host to plenty of strange and quirky attractions. Why not try the Torture Museum, a glimpse at a more brutal time? A darkened maze of small rooms, each room houses one or two torture devices. Discover the gruesome torture instruments of the past, including chairs, cages and masks. 

Then head over to Micropia, the world’s first zoo for microbes! This zoo of tiny things offers petri dishes and a ‘scanner’ to show exactly what’s growing on you. Or how about the KattenKabinet, a classical museum devoted to displaying grand pictures of cats?

With a rich history of brewing and distilling, Amsterdam is a fantastic place for a drink or two.  

Also known as Dutch brown cafes (bruin cafes), Amsterdam’s cafes are more like cosy pubs than a traditional coffee house. With their rustic wooden décor, there’s nowhere better to enjoy a beer or jenever with your friends. Here, you can chat the night away or meet new people; enjoy a deep-fried bar snack or two while you’re at it.

There’s also a wide range of microbreweries and tasting rooms dotted around Amsterdam, specializing in craft beers and unique brews. In de Wildeman is a popular choice; a former distillery that dates back to 1690, this authentic, old-world brewery is one of Amsterdam’s best beer bars. 

Or try the iconic Brouwerij ‘t IJ; situated beneath the city’s tallest windmill, this is Amsterdam’s most famous independent brewery. There’s even private tasting sessions and tours if you want to improve your knowledge of beer and brewing.

These are just a few of the cool things that Amsterdam has to offer. The truth is that Amsterdam is a living, breathing, ever-changing city; no two experiences will ever be the same. But you can be sure that any internship won’t be complete without sampling these highlights.

Whether it’s technology and software engineering internships, business internships, or environmental and sustainability internships, Amsterdam offers something for everyone. A European hub with its own distinctive business style, there’s no better place to kickstart your career; all while getting a cultural education like no other.

And if you’re considering another city to intern in, why not take a look at our similar run-downs of the top 8 coolest things about London and Seoul? 

In fact, Beyond Academy offers 18 different industries across 14 international destinations. So you can be sure that you’ll find the right experience for you.

So if you like the sound of an internship in Amsterdam and you’re ready to begin your career, why not contact us today and let us help you go Beyond?