15+ Best Photo Spots in Amsterdam (With Exact Locations!) (2024)

Traveling to Amsterdam soon and wondering what the best photo spots in Amsterdam are?

We’re sure you’ve seen a bunch of magical Amsterdam pictures online, and now you’re wondering where you can take them yourself.

Well, we understand. We have taken about 2k photos of Amsterdam in the last five years, and every day we still find new ridiculously photogenic corners.

Yes, the city is highly photogenic, but we pinned on a map of the 20 best photo spots in Amsterdam so you can get yourself started.

Best Photos of Amsterdam

In this guide, you’ll learn about these so-called Instagrammable spots in Amsterdam. Places where you’ll fall in love with the views and cute spots.

But don’t worry. We’ve put together a list of the best photo spots with the respective city photos, a map where we indicate the exact locations mentioned in this article, and some more Amsterdam photos to inspire you.

Amsterdam Pictures Map

Click here to access the interactive map below. In case you want to create your own maps, check out our Google My Maps tutorial.

Amsterdam Photography Tips

• Choose your accommodation in Amsterdam wisely so that you have a good start point for your photography route.
• It’s no secret that Amsterdam is a touristy city, so be sure to be at your location early or late in the day to avoid crowds.
• By shooting at blue or golden hour, it’s implicit you need a tripod if you’re using a DSLR.
• The city has lots of elements: boats, bikes, cars, ducks, to name a few. Use them in your favor. Be creative when choosing your angle.
• Regarding the cars and bikes, be sure you’re not on the bike path nor in the middle of the street – it can be dangerous.
• Amsterdam’s weather isn’t the best. Google it in advance and in case it’s going to be a dull day, learn some Lightroom to give those photos a dramatic look.
• You might want to rent a bike to follow the map below because it’s a 6.2 mi (10 km) walk.
• These are the prettiest streets in Amsterdam. You might want to jot them down in your itinerary too!

Best Photo Spots in Amsterdam

1. Amsterdam Central Station

First things first. The central station is an ornate building designed by Pierre Cuypers. He is the same person who created the Rijksmuseum.

This place is a photo hotspot in Amsterdam because there are many possibilities of angles here, and of course, the bright orange neo-renaissance building makes the perfect contrast with a (hopefully) blue sky.

The Amsterdam Central isn’t necessarily a romantic place in Amsterdam, but that’s where Frank and I met, so it’s special for us. ♥

Photo spots: Take close up shots of the details, clock, windows. Also, take some shots of the whole building, although it might not look so beautiful because people are passing by the entire day.Walk inside the station as the platforms and halls are exciting spots too.

Entrance fee: Free

Best time to photograph: Early in the morning when there aren’t many people or late in the afternoon, when the sunlight isn’t so bright anymore. Don’t forget your tripod to “fade away” the few people who might be there (aka taking a long exposure shot).

2. Eye Film Museum and A’DAM Tower

The next location is behind the train station, near the ferry. The Eye Film Museum and the A’DAM Tower together make for a neat shot when the sky is clear.

Again, play around with angles and light to make the most out of this view.

Photo hotspots: Take close up shots of some elements as well as the whole scene.

Entrance fee: Free

Best time to photograph: Blue and golden hour. Don’t forget your tripod to “fade away” the possible clouds.

Read next: 2 Perfect Days in Amsterdam

3. Amsterdam Best Views – A’DAM Lookout Tower

Looking for a shot of Amsterdam from above? Then head up to the top floor of the A’DAM Lookout Tower. From up there you can see the city behind its postal card, the Central Station.

Photo hotspot: Top floor.

Entrance fee: €12.50. To get there take the free ferry behind the Central Station towards the Eye Museum.

Best time to photograph: We slightly prefer the view during the blue hour, but it might be tricky to set up your tripod there, though.

4. Best Amsterdam Pictures – NDSM Area

Every city has its underground or alternative area, and with Amsterdam, this is no different.

Most of Amsterdam graffiti spots are in the NDSM area which is also filled with industrial settings. Perfect spots for urbex and street art lovers.

Photo hotspots:

• Anne Frank Graffiti – Let me be myself is one of the most beautiful murals by Kobra, a Brazilian artist.
• Crane Hotel – An exclusive and high-tier hotel in a crane.
• NDSM-Plein – The whole area has a lot of graffitis and an industrial setting.

Entrance fee: Free. To get there take the free ferry behind the Central Station towards NDSM-Werf.

Best time to photograph: During the day.

5. Damrak

Here you can photograph one of our favorite photo spots in Amsterdam. This place certainly gives you the best scenario to describe Amsterdam in one photo: narrow houses, lots of windows, uneven roofs, water, and boats.

Photo hotspot: Try to take shots with and without the boats that sail often here. Also, put the three layers in a frame: sky, houses, and water. You can focus on the rooftops for other angles too.

Entrance fee: Free

Best time to photograph: This will depend on the season, but it’s best to wait until the afternoon when the sun is shining on the houses rather than from behind them. Otherwise, they will look too dark.

Also, come back at the blue hour to take some night shots of Amsterdam. The lights lit up the scene, and it gives you a beautiful night shot. This is seriously one of the best places for photography in Amsterdam.

Pssst: If you prefer having a professional & local photographer taking magical pictures of you in Amsterdam, click here to find one with the style you like the most.

6. Dam Square

The Royal Palace and the surrounding buildings make the Dam Square an iconic place in Amsterdam.

Naturally, the palace alone is very charming with its classicist and highly detailed facade. Next to the palace, the gothic New Church completes the sophisticated scene.

Both constructions date back to the Dutch Golden Age, around the 17th-century.

Photo hotspots: There are many details to capture around the palace, so walk around and try different angles and focal length ranges.

Entrance fee: Free

Best time to photograph: In the blue hour and the morning.

7. Zevenlandenhuizen – Houses Of The Seven Countries

The next stop is on the Zevenlandenhuizen. Yup, what a word!

These are seven houses in a row decorated in different architectural styles aiming to represent different European countries.

The meaning behind them is that these seven houses consecutively show the contribution of seven States to the history of architecture.

• No. 20 is Germany – It shows the romantic German architecture with pointed arch windows.
• No. 22 is France – It has a Loire castle style.
• No. 24 is Spain – The Moorish architectural stylein Granadainspires this building (see the horizontal stripes).
• No. 26 is Italy – It reminds an Italian palace.
• No. 28 is Russia – It resembles a cathedral with an onion-shaped dome.
• No. 30 is the Netherlands – A characteristic residence in the Renaissance style as you have seen throughout the city.
• No. 30 is England – It has a typical English cottage style.

Photo hotspots: Take photos of the houses separately and as a whole, from across the street.

Entrance fee: Free

Best time to photograph: During the day.

8. Rijksmuseum & Museum’s Library

As the central station, the Rijksmuseum is a beautiful neo-renaissance building highly detailed.

Take your time to walk around the museum because the garden can also offer interest shots as well as the tunnel where the entrance is.

Unlike the Van Gogh Museum, you’re allowed to take pictures inside, so you can find cool spots to photograph inside it too, including the library.

The latter has three floors of walls covered with books which give a feeling that you just entered a dusty old school library. You can almost smell the books.

Photo hotspots: Right behind the lake in front of the museum so that you can photograph the whole building. Also, take some close-ups to capture details.

Inside, head up to the library and take some photos from upstairs. Moreover, a classic shot (and almost cliche too) is of Rembrandt’s The Night Watch with people staring at it (without letting their faces recognizable).

Entrance fee: €20

Best time to photograph: Early in the morning and preferably during the week.

9. Groenburgwal

If there’s such a thing as an Amsterdamer shot, we can include this one on the list because this photo is taken from a bridge while you capture the canal flowing smoothly towards a church tower, the Zuiderkerk.

Very sweet!

Photo hotspot: Stand on the bridge while you photograph the canal, houses, and tower. Watch out for the bikes because it’s a busy place.

Entrance fee: Free

Best time to photograph: In the blue and golden hour. Don’t forget your tripod.

10. Sint Olofssteeg – Red Light District Corner

Bruna’s very first photo of Amsterdam was on this corner. Here you’ll have the perfect example of how the Dutch deal with water: They just build on and in it, and life goes on.

The windows of the buildings on the left are very close to the water, and like any Dutch house, there are plenty of them.

Note that this spot is at the beginning of the infamous Red Light District, so be careful when pointing your camera there.

Do NOT photograph the girls, that’s forbidden, and they have security. If they think you’re taking photos of them, you’ll get yourself into some serious problems.

Photo hotspot: Capture the house sinking in the water and the two canals meeting in front of you.

Entrance fee: Free

Best time to photograph: Somewhere in the afternoon when the sun is shining on these houses and at night.

11. Best Pictures of Canals – Seven Bridges (Reguliersgracht)

As the name suggests, you’re able to see seven bridges emerging after each other. This is the only place in the city you can see so many bridges in a row.

Moreover, this sweet spot gives you the chance to photograph the crooked houses on the corner together with the sparkling bridge next to it, when shooting at night.

That’s because the seven bridges sparkle like a Christmas tree at night. We honestly think this is one of the best canal pictures of Amsterdam.

Photo hotspot: Stand between the bikes parked next to the canal and sit on the ground to capture the bridges from below the first arch.

Once you have taken your photos, stand up and from the same spot photograph the house on the left corner together with the sparkling bridge next to it.

Alternatively, you can rent a pedal boat/boat and photograph it from the water.

Entrance fee: Free

Best time to photograph: Golden hour so that the houses and the bridges are lit up.

12. Amstel River

You’ll see many photo spots along the river that gave a name to the city, but we have a few favorite locations to share with you.

Photo hotspots:

• Magere Brug – You can take photos of the bridge from the sidewalk, standing in the middle, focusing on elements. (It’s completely Instagram worthy).
• Blauwbrug – You can take a perfect shot from the National Opera Ballet from this spot.
• A little before the Herengracht Brug – From here you can photograph the Walter Suskindbrug across the river.
• Other places – At sunset, shoota picture of the houses on the Eastern side of the river.

Entrance fee: Free

Best time to photograph: In the afternoon and the golden hour.

13. Nemo Science Museum

Not only the museum offers a beautiful photo spot by itself, but you can also go onto it to take an aerial photograph of its surroundings.

Photo hotspots:

• MR JJ van der Veldebrug – Standing in the bridge, take a shot of its extension at sunset.
• Prins Hendrikkade – From here you can take a photo of the Nemo Museum and the Bridge together (and possibly from the boats that are around).
• On the rooftop of Nemo Museum – Point the camera at the city center and enjoy it.

Entrance fee: Free

Best time to photograph: In the morning and the golden hour.

14. Jordaan Neighborhood

Beautiful streets full of hip eateries and shops make this neighborhood one of the most charming ones in Amsterdam. The houses, canals, literally everything here is photogenic.

Start at Papiermolensluis and walk down the area to find more sweet spots.

Photo hotspots:

• Eerste Leliedwars Straat – Frame the tower of the Western Kerk with the houses on both sides of the street.
• The facade of the brick houses – Choose a diagonal angle.

Entrance fee: Free

Best time to photograph: In the afternoon and the golden hour.

15. Begijnhof

The Begijnhof is a hidden spot in the city center, but not so secret as tourists are constantly visiting it.

Moreover, this beguinage has a calm and peaceful courtyard surrounded by the typical houses of Amsterdam.

Be sure to be quiet and to respect the ladies that live here.

Photo hotspots: Before the grass, you can photograph the statue and the houses in one shot.

Entrance fee: Free

Best time to photograph: In the afternoon and the golden hour.

16. Corner of Keizersgracht and Leidsegracht

Stop by one souvenir shop and look for their postcards. You’ll see this spot in at least a couple of them.

Of course, as you walk down the canals, you’ll find many views worth photographing, especially the ones in the Canal Belt Area, a UNESCO Heritage Site.

Photo hotspots: Photograph the house on the corner together with the Keizersgracht and Leidsegracht meeting below.

Entrance fee: Free

Best time to photograph: In the afternoon and the golden hour.

17. Flower Market

Tulips, together with clogs and windmills, are commonly referred to as the most significant symbols of the Dutch culture. And if you’re traveling to Amsterdam during the spring, you’ll see lots of tulips throughout the streets of the city.

But you can also spot lots of tulips, and maybe even buy some, at the floating Flower Market.

Unfortunately, the Keukenhof Gardens aren’t in Amsterdam. Otherwise, we would have added it to this list, but you can quickly go on a day trip from Amsterdam to many magical places, including the tulip fields.

Anyway, wander around the flower market to photograph some interesting angles.

This is one of the few floating markets in the world. The Flower Market is settled on boats parallel to the street.

Photo hotspots: Take some close-up shots of the real and wooden tulips.

Entrance fee: Free

Best time to photograph: During the day.

18. Wake Me Up When I’m Famous Wall Art

It’s just a mural, nothing special around it. But still, we love the simplicity of it.

The “Wake me up when I’m famous” mural is at a walk distance of the Rijksmuseum, and there’s even a bench in front of it so that you can sit and someone else photograph you there.

Photo hotspots: There might be cars parked in front of the mural, so you can either take a shot from a diagonal angle or while standing right next to the car if your camera allows it.

Entrance fee: Free

Best time to photograph: During the day.

Pssst: If you prefer having a professional & local photographer taking magical pictures of you in Amsterdam, click here to find one with the style you like the most.

Other Photographs of Amsterdam to Inspire You

Wrapping up on Best Photo Spots in Amsterdam

If you’re looking for some Amsterdam pictures inspiration, this article showed you excellent spots to spend a day roaming around the city.

Naturally, you can take photos of Amsterdam from every corner because the city is ridiculously pretty, but these Amsterdam city photo spots are a good route to start with.

Now tell us, what were your favorite images? Tell us in the comments. We’d love to hear from you!

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