Amsterdam is home to more than 50 museums as well as numerous historical monuments and places of interest. Unfortunately, many of the city’s top museums are currently in the middle of extensive renovations. www.amsterdammuseums.nl/

Here are Amsterdam’s top ten most popular landmarks and tourist sights.

Oude Kerk this church, located in the middle of the red light district, was built in 1260, and is the oldest in Amsterdam. Today it hosts numerous cultural events, including the annual world press photo exhibition.  www.oudekerk.nl/

The Rijksmuseum famous for its collection of seventeenth-century Dutch art, including Rembrandt’s Night Watch. The Rijksmuseum is the largest, most important museum in the Netherlands, with a collection of almost one million objects. www.rijksmuseum.nl

Van Gogh Museum is the most popular of Amsterdam’s museums. This modern museum houses the world’s largest collection of Vincent van Gogh’s paintings and drawings. In addition, the museum offers a collection of international works by Van Gogh’s contemporaries. www.vangoghmuseum.nl/

Stedelijk Museum houses an impressive collection of modern art.
The museum, which is planned reopen in 2010, has a striking collection of CoBrA and Expressionist works, as well as possessing the most important Malevich collection worldwide. Until the reopening you can see pieces from the collection in several other places around town. www.stedelijkindestad.nl/

Vondel Park this public garden is the largest in the city and, with over a 10 million visitors yearly, by far the most popular urban park of Amsterdam. Locals and tourists alike enjoy the ensemble of ancient trees, flowers, water and unexpected buildings, like the Blauwe theehuis (www.blauwetheehuis.nl/) or the Filmmuseum (www.filmmuseum.nl/) both with spectacular terraces.
www.vondelpark.nl/

The Anne Frank House Anne Frank, her family and other Jewish refugees hid in this house on Prinsengracht for over two years during World War II. It was here that Anne kept the diary which would, years later, be read by millions. www.annefrank.org/

The Begijnhof and the Schuttersgalerij since the best things in life are free, these two monuments are must-sees for every visitor to Amsterdam.  
Entering through the picturesque archway on Kalverstraat 92 the Schuttersgallerij, a covered passageway, shows 15 life size portraits depicting the civic guards of the 17th century. The nearby Begijnhof, a tranquil courtyard, dates back to the 14th century. Well hidden between Kalverstraat, Spui and the Nieuwe Zijdsvoorburgwal you’ll find several well preserved examples of 17th and 18th century facades.
www.begijnhofamsterdam.nl/

Nieuwmarkt the principal landmark on this beautiful square in Amsterdam’s city centre is the Waag. Originally a fortified gate in the medieval city walls and later a weighing house, the Waag is an excellent starting point for explorations of the river Amstel, the Red light district and Chinatown. www.nieuwmarkt.mysites.nl

Dam Square the starting point of Amsterdam’s history; the place where a dam was first laid in the river Amstel is the Dam square today. Flanked by important buildings such as the Royal Palace, built in 1648 as the city’s Town Hall, the National Monument and the Nieuwe Kerk,  Dam Square is the truly core of Amsterdam.