AMSTERDAM in the middle of winter might not be the enticing prospect that it is in the spring – no tulips, for a start – but there are plenty of things to do and see in this cosmopolitan city.

This year, there are extra reasons to visit as it is celebrating a number of milestones. These include 400 years since construction began of its famous canals, 125 years of one of the finest concert halls in the world, the Concertgebouw, and 40 years of the Van Gogh Museum.

We were staying in the modern WestCord Fashion Hotel, on the outskirts of Amsterdam. And while its location may not be the best – next to a motorway – its strange array of mannequins were a point of interest, and there were no complaints about the spacious bedrooms and good service.

We arrived late in the evening and were immediately whisked away for dinner at Baut, in the east of the city, a modern mix of dimlylit bar and restaurant with industrial-type styling. And while the food didn’t float my “Baut”, the venue was thronged with locals, despite being off the beaten track.

The same could be said of city centre pubs Bar Italia and Cafe Hoppe, one of the oldest in Amsterdam, which we also visited. After muscling my way to the bar, a round of three lagers, admittedly very large ones, cost just under 17 euros (about £14.50).

Trams are everywhere in the city and a good way to get around. We were given “I Amsterdam” City Cards by our hosts, which allow free transport on the GVB transport network, as well as a free canal cruise and admission to more than 30 museums.

During our stay, we visited the Amsterdam Museum, which tells the story of the Netherlands and Amsterdam, taking in the “Golden Age” in the 17th Century, when it was the richest city in the world.

The museum sprawls over several floors and explores issues such as the slave trade and the creation of the canals. There are interactive exhibits and key dates over the centuries are displayed on the walls.

An unexpected bonus was an exhibition in the basement, complete with artificial turf on the floor, focusing on one of the most famous locals, footballer Johan Cruyff.

Walking around Amsterdam in the daytime can be unnerving simply because of the sheer number of cyclists.

This is a city where the bicycle is king – there are more than 600,000 – and particularly in the narrow streets of the 17th Century canal district, you only have to step off the kerb to encounter one, although a bell will often warn you.

Amsterdammers don’t stand on ceremony and will expect you to make way. And if you miss your turn in a queue don’t be surprised also to find someone quickly take your place.

That said, the city’s residents are tremendously friendly.

Most speak good English and several times when we had cause to ask for directions people were happy to help.

We were given a tour of “De negen straatjes” – nine streets, with many boutiques, jewellers and cafes which criss-cross the canal district.

With our hosts keen to cram as much into our itinerary as they could, the only shame was that we had relatively little time to linger or take photos of some of the glorious architecture and street scenes.

Such an example was the bustling Dam Square in the centre of Amsterdam, home to the grand-looking De Bijenkorf, which translates as The Beehive, a department store known for its thousands of lights during the festive season.

Our next stop was the Van Gogh Museum. It’s a comprehensive showcase of the paintings of another of Amsterdam’s famous sons, Vincent Van Gogh, along with his letters, drawings and objects. There are also a number of 3D versions of his artworks, which really bring them to life.

A couple of these were spookily unsettling and featured the artist’s stay in an asylum and also crows emerging over a cornfield.

You’ll be tempted to duck as they fly towards you.

Later we took a canal cruise, which is a great way to view the city at night. We went from the centre of Amsterdam out into the man-made harbour and back through the old town. A useful audio commentary also pointed out many of the landmarks.

Drinking in Amsterdam is something of a throwback, as many venues have rooms where people can smoke cigarettes freely. There are also coffee shops selling – legally – marijuana or hashish, and the Red Light district remains a big attraction for many tourists.

A world away from Amsterdam’s seedier side is the Concertgebouw, a classical music venue of international renown, which was built in 1888. We enjoyed a packed Sunday morning concert by its resident orchestra.

Travel facts

  • EasyJet offers five flights per week to Amsterdam from Newcastle Airport
  • Accommodation at the Fashion Hotel, plus return flights, costs £158 per person, based on two people sharing for two nights. To book, go to easyjetholidays.com
  • Amsterdam City Cards cost from 39 euros (about £33 ) for 24 hours and are widely available from tourist offices, hotels and other businesses
  • For more information about Amsterdam, visit iamsterdam.com