Local Insight: Amsterdam’s famous leaning houses aren’t just charming—they’re a feat of engineering. Built on wooden piles driven into the soft peat, they tilt forward slightly by design. This allowed merchants to hoist goods to the upper floors without hitting the facade, a clever solution from the Golden Age.

Amsterdam’s tolerance is legendary. The world’s first monument to commemorate LGBTQ+ victims of WWII, the Homomonument, is here. It’s a city where history of protest and pride walks hand-in-hand, a narrative beautifully explored on specialized queer history walking tours.

The Begijnhof, a serene courtyard in the city center, is one of Amsterdam’s oldest *hofjes* (almshouses). It was founded in the 14th century for the Beguines, a Catholic sisterhood who lived independently. The hidden chapel inside, Our Lord in the Attic, was used when public Catholic worship was banned.

Walking is the only way to truly hear Amsterdam’s heartbeat. You’ll catch snippets of a dozen languages, smell fresh stroopwafels from a street vendor, and stumble upon a silent courtyard just meters from the bustling crowds. It’s a city best discovered step by step.