Accessible Places to Visit in Amsterdam - A Guide to Amsterdam for Disabled Travelers (and Everyone Else)
After one of Amsterdam’s frequent rain showers.
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Filled with charming canals, cobblestone streets, rich history, incredible Amsterdam restaurants, and a reputation for debauchery, Amsterdam is the largest city and capital of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It’s also a popular tourist destination and yes, it’s accessible! There are plenty of places to visit in Amsterdam that are wheelchair accessible, including the famous canal cruise tours.
Despite that reputation for debauchery, it’s also possible to have a great time in Amsterdam with kids. So, whether you’re planning a solo trip, a romantic getaway, a raucous bachelor party, or a fun family vacation, Amsterdam has enough excitement for everyone.
Get ready to read all about the top things to do in Amsterdam, all the famous sites, and the important travel info you need to know for flying to Europe.
Sunflowers outside Schiphol Airport
Best Time to Visit Amsterdam
The best time to visit Amsterdam is between April and May or between September and November. As with most of Europe, you’ll want to avoid the popular summer months of June through August when crowds flock to the city, and getting tickets to popular places like The Anne Frank House can be exceedingly difficult. Winter is not recommended as between December and March temperatures are near freezing and daylight hours are limited.
I also recommend spending at least 4 days in Amsterdam to get a real feel for the city and see all the major sites. If you have more time, you can easily plan a great one-week in Amsterdam itinerary. That said, many people choose to take a day trip to Amsterdam and just see the major highlights. This is possible with careful planning.
Below I describe the attractions that need advance tickets. It’s important you get those tickets well in advance as time slots fill up quickly, especially in peak seasons. If you have limited time in the city it’s doubly important to buy your tickets in advance.
Do I Need Travel Insurance?
Travel insurance was something I always brushed off prior to my Amsterdam trip. However, after a grounded flight, multiple cancellations, and a lot of lost money on hotels, this trip taught me the importance of buying travel insurance. You don’t want to be left high and dry due to airline cancellations or a medical emergency. Lesson learned. Always get insurance.
Canal Bridges in Amsterdam
Wheelchair Accessible Hotels - Amsterdam
Luxury
Luxury Suites Amsterdam: Located in the canal district, Luxury Suites Amsterdam offers spacious 5-star suites near the Royal Palace and Rembrandt House Museum. The hotel is wheelchair accessible.
Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam: Set along the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Herengracht, Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam is made up of 6 monumental 17th-century canal palaces. It doesn’t get more luxurious than this 5-star wheelchair-accessible hotel.
Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam: 5-star luxury with a blend of French and Dutch design. Located near Dam Square and the Royal Palace this wheelchair-accessible hotel is in a prime location for exploring the city. I’ve gotten great deals at the Sofitel in the past so it’s worth looking out for lower rates in fall and early spring.
Mid Range
Eden Hotel Amsterdam: Located near the Jewish Historical Museum, Dam Square, The Royal Palace, and Rembrandt House, this 4-star hotel offers wheelchair-accessible rooms with prices you can’t beat.
Monet Garden Hotel Amsterdam: A 4-star Boutique Hotel with a prime location right next to the canals, Dam Square, Royal Palace, and Dutch National Opera & Ballet. This mid-range hotel offers wheelchair-accessible rooms with grab rails, lowered sink, and a bathroom emergency cord.
Budget
Amsterdam Hostel Leidseplein: Located near the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum this budget youth hostel provides comfortable wheelchair-accessible rooms at some of the best prices in Amsterdam.
The Flying Pig Downtown: This hostel is located on the shopping street of Nieuwendijk in the center of Amsterdam. The Flying Pig Downtown also offers a bar and 24-hour front desk. The hostel offers wheelchair-accessible rooms at great prices. Amsterdam Central Station is a 3-minute walk from the hostel.
Looking through a row of tunnels in Amsterdam’s canals.
Getting Around Amsterdam
Amsterdam on foot
Amsterdam is a fairly walkable city with only small sloping hills over the canals. Though pedestrians be warned, You will have to deal with cobblestone streets and tons of bike traffic. I saw multiple people nearly run down by bikes. Wheelchair users also use these bike lanes which can be a bit scary in heavily trafficked areas. It took me some getting used to when crossing streets.
Amsterdam by Tram
Amsterdam has both old and new trams. Older trams are unfortunately not wheelchair accessible. However, new trams have wider, accessible entrances. These are marked with a wheelchair icon on the carriage door. Tram conductors are able to assist passengers with a fold-out ramp for accessible entry and exit. I found most tram operators to be extremely helpful and friendly.
Service dogs are permitted on all trams at no extra cost.
Wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and walking bikes are permitted but must adhere to specific rules. Mobility scooters are allowed if there is enough space in the metro carriage and can be a maximum length of 47 inches; width of 27 1/2 inches; and height of 43 inches. Walking bikes can be max. length 70 inches; width 27 1/2 inches; height 43 inches.
Amsterdam’s trams have priority seating and a designated wheelchair space. Strollers are also allowed to park in the wheelchair space, but wheelchairs have priority over strollers.
Amsterdam by bus
All buses are wheelchair accessible and come with fold-out ramps and space for wheelchairs. Walking bikes and service dogs are permitted. Mobility scooters are not permitted inside buses.
Places to Visit In Amsterdam
There are plenty of sights to see in Amsterdam. Below I’ll take you through some of the most beautiful places in Amsterdam, must-see spots, and places to visit in Amsterdam for free. I’ll also note how accessible each site is. When necessary, I’ll note tour companies that cater to disabled travelers.
I recommend starting your day at one of the many beautiful Amsterdam breakfast and brunch spots. You’ll need to fuel up before starting your day exploring this gorgeous city.
Image of Van Gogh’s Irises
Van Gogh Museum
Explore the life and works of famed Dutch Post-Impressionist, Vincent Van Gogh. The museum contains thousands of Van Gogh’s works including famous paintings like Sunflowers, Irises, The Potato Eaters, The Bedroom, Head of a Skeleton with a Burning Cigarette, and numerous self-portraits. The museum is organized starting with his first early works, building to his final painting, Wheatfield With Crows. This is a really great way to see his works in the context of his life, including the year he spent painting 150 works at a psychiatric hospital in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. I highly recommend the audio tour. It gave me a much better understanding of this great artist.
It’s also a really well-arranged museum and not too overwhelming with content, making it one of the best things to do in Amsterdam with kids. They also offer a treasure-hunting map for kids to keep things exciting.
Warning, museums in Amsterdam require you to purchase tickets beforehand at a designated time of entry. When I visited in September I found it easy to obtain same-day or next-day tickets, but times may fill up quickly if you visit in the summer months. It’s best to purchase tickets well in advance if possible. I recommend these skip-the-line Van Gogh Museum Tickets.
Disabled visitors are offered priority entrance and have access to a range of facilities available at the museum. Visitors with a disability are invited to bring a companion with them for free. Guests are also able to borrow a wheelchair at the museum. The Van Gogh Museum also offers special facilities for blind and partially-sighted visitors and deaf or hard-of-hearing visitors. Guide dogs are welcome.
Location: Museumplein 6, 1071 DJ Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam’s red Light District at Dusk
Red Light District
Are you curious to see brothels, sex shops, peep shows, and the Museum of prostitution? Then the red light district is for you. It’s one of the top things to do in Amsterdam at night.
You’ve no doubt heard about this sexy little neighborhood. It’s one of the things The Netherlands is most famous for. Even if you have a passing curiosity, I recommend checking it out. I happened to wander into the Amsterdam City Center Red Light District during the day and didn’t even recognize it as the sultry street of ill repute I had heard about. It was bustling with cafes, bars, and everyday people going about their business. I think I was expecting a seedy, 1980s Times Square. This is not that.
The area is patrolled by police and bodyguards making it far safer than it used to be. Just DO NOT take photos. You will be approached by an angry Dutch pimp, and nobody wants that.
On the whole Amsterdam and the Netherlands is a very liberal place. In 2000 these red-light district prostitution windows became legal ensuring prostitutes are able to access medical care and work in better conditions by regulating and monitoring working practices and standards. This is great considering I work in entertainment and access to medical care and better working conditions seems like a novel idea.
If you’d like to see the area in its full glory it’s best to visit after 11 pm when things really spring to life.
I recommend this Red Light District Walking Tour.
Location: De Wallen
Close up of tulips in the Floating Flower Market.
Floating Flower Market
Open since 1862 the iconic Amsterdam Floating Flower Market (known locally as the Bloemenmarkt) is open Monday thru Saturday, rain or shine. Check out this stunning flower market and even pick up some tulip bulbs as a souvenir. You can also find a ton of other cool Dutch souvenirs, including Dutch cheeses and Amsterdam Christmas trinkets available in the Christmas Palace.
Amsterdam’s Flower Market is at the heart of the city’s UNESCO-listed Canal Ring. Back when the market opened in 1862 flower growers would sail their wares on barges into the city center via the Amstel River. The modern-day market is made up of fixed barges, but it’s still a spectacular site to see.
The area is wheelchair-accessible and has multiple wheelchair-accessible restrooms.
If you have time, there are also some really cool Amsterdam tulip tours that fulfill any flower lover’s fantasies.
Location: Singel, 1012 DH Amsterdam, Netherlands
Anne Frank’s House and Anne Frank Museum
Anne Frank Museum
First things first, the minute you book your trip to Amsterdam you’ll want to get tickets to the Anne Frank Museum. This is one of the top tourist attractions in Amsterdam and one of the top European landmarks. Tickets sell out weeks in advance and can be especially difficult to get in the summer months. Do not wait until you arrive in Amsterdam to get your tickets or you’ll wind up missing this important historic landmark.
Now a bit of bad news about accessibility. Unfortunately, the old part of the museum and Secret Annex are not accessible to people in wheelchairs. Because this is part of an old canal house the stairs are quite steep and there is no elevator. The old part of the house is not accessible to guide dogs either. Visitors who have mobility issues will only be able to visit the modern part of the museum.
The Anne Frank House and Museum offers guests the opportunity to experience Anne’s story through quotes, videos, photos, and original items. Guests able to navigate the steep staircase can see where Anne and the Frank family hid and called home for more than 2 years during World War II.
If you cannot navigate the staircase, it’s still worth visiting the new museum section which houses a collection of personal objects from the people who called this small space home. There’s also an impressive video presentation and photos which offer a glimpse into the Frank family story.
For Anne Frank House tickets visit the Anne Frank House website.
Location: Prinsengracht 263-267 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Dam Square - A view of the Dutch Royal Palace at Sunset
Dam Square
Dam Square is one of the most visited and popular tourist destinations in Amsterdam. This town square is surrounded by notable buildings like the Palace of the Dutch Royal Family, the National Monument, erected to memorialize the victims of World War II, the 15th century gothic New Church, and the upscale department store De Bijenkorf. It’s also steps from The Red Light District, and Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.
The square was also the site of 1945’s Dam Square Shooting. At the end of the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands on May 7, 1945, two days after the German capitulation, the Dutch people were waiting for the arrival of Canadian troops. A cheering crowd grew in the square as the Germans watched from a balcony above. Armed with a machine guns, the Germans fired into the crowds below.
The shooting only came to an end when a member of the Dutch resistance climbed into the tower of the royal palace and forced the Germans to surrender. 120 people were injured and 22 were killed. If you visit today you can see gold markers in the square memorializing the lives that were lost.
The square is a great place to take photos and immerse yourself in the history of Amsterdam.
Location: Damstraat 12, Amsterdam, Noord-Holland.
Stedelijk Museum
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Stedelijk is a modern and contemporary art museum designed by Adriaan Willem Weissman and Benthem Crouwel Architects. It’s located conveniently in Museum Square near the van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, and the Concertgebouw. The museum features works by Van Gogh, Kandinsky, Chagall, Matisse, Pollock, Warhol, Kooning, and Dumas.
The museum is fully wheelchair accessible, offering elevators, accessible bathrooms, and wheelchairs available for rent. Caregivers have free admission to the museum and registered service dogs are welcome.
I recommend getting skip-the-line Stedelijk Museum Tickets.
Stedelijk has also developed an amazing program for people with dementia and their family members. Trained tour guides use art to develop meaningful conversations with guests. Check out the Stedelijk Accessibility page for more information about this unique program.
Location: Museumplein 10, 1071 DJ Amsterdam, Netherlands
Royal Palace Amsterdam
Royal Palace Amsterdam
The Royal Palace Amsterdam is King Willem-Alexander’s official reception palace. Here the royals host state visits, receptions, gala dinners, and award ceremonies. The Palace is also open to visitors. Check the Royal Palace website for tickets and available dates.
Originally built as Amsterdam’s town hall, the palace is the largest and most prestigious building from the Golden Age. Inside are marble galleries containing paintings and sculptures by famous artists such as Rembrandt, Ferdinand Bol, and Govert Flinck.
Both floors are open to the public and wheelchair accessible with an elevator located inside the building.
Location: Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 147, 1012 RJ Amsterdam, Netherlands
Rijksmuseum
This massive museum is one of my top Amsterdam sights to see. It’s home to Dutch masters like Rembrandt and Vermeer and easily takes hours to explore. The museum grounds also have a gorgeous garden and fountains outside where you can lounge and take a rest.
Again, you have to buy tickets in advance. I recommend going in the morning hours to avoid the crowds. I went at opening at was able to have the place largely to myself until noon when it got considerably more crowded. The museum and grounds outside are wheelchair accessible.
I recommend the Rijksmuseum Reserved Entrance Ticket with Audio Guide.
One of my favorite things about Amsterdam is that its museums are clustered all in the same area. If you have an interest in art this makes it easy to see several on the same day.
Location: Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam, Netherlands
Rembrandt House Museum
Rembrandt House Museum
If you haven’t gotten enough Rembrandt from the Rijksmuseum, then you need to check out the Rembrandt House Museum.
The museum showcases Rembrandt’s living and working quarters where he created his masterpieces. A visit to the Rembrandt House Museum will also allow you to see an almost complete collection of Rembrandt’s etchings.
Word of warning, the house was built in 1606 so accessibility in parts is poor. From the museum website: “The museum is partially accessible for the disabled. The new museum wing has an elevator. The entrance, museum shop, toilets, and exhibition rooms are fully accessible to all visitors. Unfortunately, there are no lifts or other facilities in Rembrandt’s 17th-century house; it is therefore considerably less accessible for the disabled.”
Location: Jodenbreestraat 4, 1011 NK Amsterdam, Netherlands
Nemo Science Museum
Nemo Science Museum
If you’re interested in science and technology The Nemo Science Museum is where to go in Amsterdam. The museum offers an interactive learning environment. It’s also a great place to visit if you’re visiting Amsterdam with kids. Nemo brings guests into contact with cutting-edge research, interactive lectures, and electrifying exhibits.
Their collection contains 19,500 artifacts telling humankind’s relationship with energy throughout history, from the parlograph to my favorite 80s walkman to current technology.
Click here for tickets to the Nemo Science Museum.
The museum is fully wheelchair accessible.
Location: Oosterdok 2, 1011 VX Amsterdam, Netherlands
Oude Kerk
Oude Kerk
The Oude Kerk or Old Church in English is the oldest building in all of Amsterdam. Built in 1306, it still welcomes churchgoers today. It was restored in 2013 and is now open to guests looking to explore Dutch art and music. It is played by various musical artists when not operating as a traditional church for Sunday service.
For current exhibits, installations, and a schedule of performances check out their website.
The Oude Kerk is not fully wheelchair accessible but guests are encouraged to contact the museum to plan their visit and make it as accessible as possible. Disabled guests can bring an accompanying companion or caregiver for free.
Location: Oudekerksplein 23, 1012 GX Amsterdam, Netherlands
Afternoon in Vondelpark
Vondelpark
It can get exhausting visiting places in Amsterdam. If you’re looking for a nice place to take a break and relax, I highly recommend Vondelpark. This beautiful park near the museum district offers plenty of seating areas, a gorgeous pond, and lots of green grass, plants, and trees. There are also several places to grab a bite to eat. I grabbed some delicious gluten-free pizza and relaxed in the shade.
Fun fact, starting in 2008 it became legal to have sex in the park. Though sexual activity should be limited to evening hours and night according to Amsterdam’s Alderman. I didn’t see any schtupping, but I may have been too busy with my sausage pie. That sounds sexier than it was.
Location: Situated west from the Leidseplein and the Museumplein
West Church as seen from a canal cruise
West Church
Westerkerk or West Church is in the most western part of the Grachtengordel neighborhood next to the Jordaan. The church was built in the Renaissance style between 1620 and 1631. It remains the largest Protestant church in the Netherlands.
Fun fact, Rembrandt is buried somewhere under the church, though his grave marker was lost. The church is famous for holding royal weddings as well as for being the church mentioned frequently in Anne Frank’s diary. Its clock tower was visible from the attic where she and her family hid. A memorial statue of Anne Frank stands outside the church.
It’s an exceedingly beautiful church and I highly recommend walking past to get a glimpse. To hear more about the church and Frank I highly recommend the Jewish Quarter walking tour mentioned later in this post.
Location: Prinsengracht 279, 1016 GW Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam Canal Cruise Tour
Amsterdam Canal Cruise
Have you even been to Amsterdam if you haven’t taken an Amsterdam canal cruise? See the top sights in Amsterdam from the comfort of a tour boat. Guides take you through the history of Amsterdam and its canals as they point out some of the top places to see in Amsterdam.
Blue Boat offers several wheelchair-accessible canal cruises including day, evening, and kids tour options. Cruises last 75 to 90 minutes depending on your option. Passengers can purchase beverages, snacks, and souvenirs at the dock before setting out on a tour of many of the top sights to see. Amsterdam is a city that must be experienced by boat, so I’m so happy there is a company that allows people with mobility issues the ability to do just that.
The dock at Stadhouderskade 501 is wheelchair accessible, as are 6 out of 15 Blue Boat Company cruise boats. Cruises depart 7 days a week from 10 am to 6 pm. To purchase tickets on an accessible boat call Blue BoatTours ticket office at tel. +31 (0) 20 6791 370 or email info@blueboat.nl
Even if you’re not a wheelchair user, but you do have issues with mobility or balance, I highly recommend Blue Boat tours. I made the mistake of booking with another company, and as a cane user with balance issues, I was petrified by getting on and off the boat as I needed to take a big step off the sidewalk and into the boat with the assistance of a guide or railing. Amsterdam is famous for frequent rain showers so the boat and sidewalk can be slippery. Boats do not dock flush with the canal wall, so you will be hopping over 6 to 12 inches of canal space to get into the boat. Falling into a canal is no way to spend your Amsterdam vacation. (Even if they do tell you repeatedly how clean the canal water is.)
Location: Stadhouderskade 501 071 ZD Amsterdam, Netherlands
There are several other canal cruise tours that come highly recommended. (Though I cannot vouch for their accessibility.) These are the 10 best canal tours in Amsterdam.
Cars parked along the canals in Amsterdam. Yes, occasionally they fall in. Or worse, they’re pushed.
Amsterdam’s Jewish Quarter Walking Tour
If there’s one guided tour I recommend in Amsterdam it’s Amsterdam Jewish Quarter Anne Frank Walking Tour. The tour takes you through the sometimes heartwrenching history of the Jewish people in Amsterdam. From Waterlooplein (location of the Spinoza monument) to the Amsterdam Zoo (site of the National Holocaust Memorial), and from the Hermitage area of Amsterdam (home of the Shadow Canal Monument) to the Nieuwe Herengracht canal, where you will find the stunning Portuguese Synagogue.
Tours last 2 hours, follow a wheelchair-accessible route and are led by incredibly knowledgeable guides.
Out of respect, it’s suggested you don’t take photos on this tour. Many of the sites you’ll visit are memorials. As such they are visited by mourners paying their respects.
Hortus Botanicus gardens and greenhouse a gorgeous place to visit in Amsterdam
Hortus Botanicus
Hortus Botanicus, or the botanical garden, is one of the most beautiful places to go in Amsterdam. If you’re searching for a relaxing place to go in Amsterdam, look no further. Open daily from 10 am to 5 pm the botanical gardens offer a variety of gardens and greenhouses featuring South African plants, carnivorous plants, cycads, palms, flowers, trees, and more. You can learn about medicinal herbs, relax by the large pond, or get lost in a sea of flowers.
Hortus Botanicus is partially wheelchair accessible. Unfortunately, some spaces in the greenhouse are not accessible. Visitors should also be warned that some paths in the garden are covered with gravel. The gardens offer an AVO wheelchair for rent. You can reserve this wheelchair via info@dehortus.nl. An accessible restroom is available in the cafe. Guided tours are also available for those who need more time and space to explore the gardens.
Location: Plantage Middenlaan 2A1018DD Amsterdam The Netherlands
Day Trips From Amsterdam
Looking to travel outside the city? There are some amazing day trips from Amsterdam. From The Hague to Dusseldorf, there’s something for everyone.
I Hope You’ve Enjoyed This List of The Best Places to Visit in Amsterdam
When it comes to being wheelchair accessible, Amsterdam clearly has some work to do, but it’s still one of the most beautiful places to visit in Netherlands and Europe. I visited recently after 2 spinal fusion surgeries with the help of my cane. I had to take it slow, but I think I appreciated the beauty of the city and its people that much more. As someone with mobility issues, it’s possible to see 90 percent of the most popular attractions in Amsterdam without much issue. Just watch out for those bikes!
