Canals, Flowers and Bicycles: Amsterdam Hen Weekends

Hen Party    

Whilst it may not be the first destination you’d think of when going away for a hen weekend due to certain stereotypes, Amsterdam should not be underestimated and you’d be missing out if you didn’t consider it for a hen weekend. Strip away (excuse the pun) the scantily clad ladies of the red light district, along with the café’s serving marijuana and what lies beneath is a beautiful city just waiting to be discovered and explored.

The capital and largest city of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is made up of 165 wide and narrow canals. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the canals give the city it’s unique character and the best way to experience them is to take a boat ride down admiring the quaint streets alongside them.

Another popular way to get round the city is by bicycle and is another way to appreciate the canals, as it’s easy to get around and you can reach the narrow alleyways stopping off to browse boutique shops or stopping for a drink in a cafe. Visiting the Jordaan area is essential as it’s one of the most picturesque areas where you’ll find quirky Dutch bars, vintage shops and 18th Century Dutch buildings.

Most women love flowers, aside from the ones that are presented by a partner as a guilty apology! The surrounding countryside of Amsterdam is blessed with areas of sandy soil which means that it has a great advantage for cultivating hundreds of different types of flowers. A stunning site to see, fields of Dutch tulips, hyacinths and daffodils are grown in their millions every spring and it’s well worth a trip to see them, or if you’re short on time then visit Amsterdam’s beautiful floating flower market Bloemenmarkt, the only one of its kind in the world.

Art lover or not, most can appreciate one of the greatest painters of  our time, Van Gogh. Amsterdam is home to the largest collections of his works anywhere world and wandering around the Van Gogh museum is a great way to spend a few hours of your weekend.

For the evening, there are plenty of restaurants to choose and if you’re brave enough you should try a raw herring, a quintessentially Dutch culinary experience! From arty cocktail bars to live music venues and contemporary clubs, the Dutch like to party so there’s no shortage of choice.

For a city which offers culture, art and endless unique things to discover, topped off with a liberal and friendly attitude, then a hen weekend in Amsterdam is a winner ladies!