It’s currently pouring with rain in Amsterdam and the forecast for the coming days does not look too good! Apart from packing your umbrella and raincoat, here are a few things to do in Amsterdam if you get caught out by the wet weather.

1. Visit the Rijksmuseum – The new Rijksmuseum recently re-opened its doors after a 10 year renovation. While the place is likely to be quite busy during rainy weather, it offers 80 rooms that display a mind boggling 8,000 objects – surely large enough to keep you dry and occupied for a number of hours! In addition there is free WiFi available, a museum shop, 2 cafés and a restaurant. Open daily between 0900 and 1700.

2. Go to the cinema – Cinemas in Amsterdam tend to show films in their original language with added Dutch subtitles. There are some lovely cinemas in the city including the stunning art nouveau Pathé Tuschinski (Reguliersbreestraat 26-34, near Rembrandtplein). The nearby Pathé De Munt (round the corner on Vijzelstraat) is a 13 screen multiplex with all the latest releases. Or jump on a ferry and visit the Eye Film which has film-themed exhibitions and shows a regular program of retrospective films.

3. Check out modern art at the Stedelijk – The Stedelijk, Amsterdam’s modern and contemporary art museum is located on Museumplein next to the van Gogh museum. With its white bathtub shaped new wing, the museum houses works of art from the likes of Malevich, Picasso, Mondriaan, Lichtenstein and Warhol. There is a decent restaurant in the foyer and a café upstairs. Open daily 1000-1800, on Thursday nights the museum is open late until 2200.

4.  Hang out in Amsterdam’s library – The OBA is Amsterdam’s central library located at Oosterdokskade, a few minutes walk east of central station. Spread over 10 levels there are plenty of things to do. Browse international newspapers and magazines at the mezzanine level. Grab a book and lounge on one of the easy chairs. Head up to the top floor La Place self-service restaurant and enjoy some good views of Amsterdam. There are exhibition areas and the bottom level is reserved for kids. Note internet access is no longer free. Open daily until 2200, there is also the Vapiano restaurant nextdoor.

5. Go shopping at Bijenkorf – Amsterdam does not have much in the way of large shopping malls. De Bijenkorf (or “Bee Hive”) is the largest department store in Amsterdam located on Dam Square. With 5 levels this store sells designer label clothes and accessories, household and electronic items, luggage, stationary, books, music and gifts. On the top floor can be found Bijenkorf Kitchen, a self-service restaurant.

6. Learn about WW2 at Verzetsmuseum – If the major museums are busy then head east over to the Plantage district where you will find the Dutch Resistance museum (Verzetsmuseum). This is a gem of a place. A fascinating yet poignant way to find out about life in Netherlands under German occupation. There is a café called Plancius nextdoor. Open 1000-1700 (Tue-Fri), 1100-1700 (Sat to Mon). On the other side of the street is Artis Royal Zoo which also has plenty of indoor activities including an aquarium, insectarium and planetarium.

7. See a Theatre Show – After 10am head over to the Last Minute Ticket Shop on Leidseplein which offers half-price tickets for theatre shows on-the-day. Note, some performances will be suitable for Dutch speakers only so select those marked “Language No Problem”. You can also buy these tickets at the tourist office and OBA central library. See our listing of Amsterdam theatres and concert venues.

8. Have a drink with a view – Chill out for an hour or two in a hotel rooftop bar lounge. Have a cocktail at the DoubleTree by Hilton Skylounge where you will find a happening ambiance and some fine views over Amsterdam. Or go to the Okura hotel in De Pijp district which has the hip Twenty Third Bar on the 23rd floor. A cheaper alternative is Café blue° which can be found at the top of the small Kalvatoren shopping centre near Muntplein.

9. Monitor Buienradar – You can keep your eye on the rainy weather by checking out buienradar. This popular Dutch site has rain shower radar maps giving expected projections for the coming 2 or 3 hours – click “2 uur vooruit” or “3 uur vooruit” under “Verwachting” on the left-hand menu.

Schiphol airport is now offering a “Behind the Scenes” tour for visitors which gives a glimpse into the working life of the airport. The tour is done by coach and takes about 1 hour – the route takes you around the perimeter of the airport to the eastern side and then back again. You stay on the bus for the entire tour and on-board video screens provide short films (Dutch with English subtitles) about the various points of interest.

The tour takes you past a number of features – the private jet terminal, the Fokker hangar, KLM operations centre, KLM engine maintenance and hangars, the engine noise testing facility, the fire station, the snow fleet, bird control, the new justice centre and air traffic control. There are some good panoramic views of the airport and runways and you may see some planes taking off and landing.

The tour costs €15 for adults, €7.50 for children aged 4-12. Tickets can be purchased at the excursions desks at arrivals hall 2 or arrivals hall 4. Note that for security reasons, everyone aged 13 or over will need to show ID to take part in the tour. You should “check-in” at the arrivals hall 4 desk at least 20 minutes before departure. The bus then leaves from platform 15 just outside the terminal. There are no toilets on-board the bus.

Tours depart Wed-Sun at 1100, 1230, 1400 and 1600 (also Mon-Tue during Dutch school holidays).

We found the tour to be enjoyable with well produced video clips and a chance to see some of the working aspects of the airport you don’t normally get to see. It is certainly a must for any aviation enthusiasts.

On 15th May 2013 the 53,000 seater Amsterdam ArenA will host the UEFA Europa League Final, with kick off at 2045. This will be Amsterdam’s first European final for some 15 years – in May 1998 the ArenA hosted the Champion’s League final when Real Madrid defeated Juventus.

This year’s final will be Chelsea against Benfica.

Europa League Final 2013 Tickets:
These were available for general sale in December and January from UEFA. There are 4 pricing categories: Category 1: €135, Category 2: €100, Category 3: €70 and Category 4: €45.

How to get to the Amsterdam ArenA:
From Schiphol airport and Amsterdam Zuid, intercity trains (direction Utrecht/Eindhoven) make a stop at Amsterdam Bijlmer-ArenA station. Metro line 50 also runs from Amsterdam Zuid and Amsterdam RAI stations to Bijlmer-ArenA (direction Gein).
From Amsterdam central station take metro line 54 to Biljmer-ArenA station.
See our metro map of Amsterdam

Hotels in the area:
There are a number of convenient hotels near Amsterdam Zuid/RAI: such as the Crowne Plaza (very close to the station) or the popular Holiday Inn Express (10 minutes walk from the station) and the large Novotel.
There is also the new and futuristic Fletcher hotel with its striking cylindrical shape. It is located near Amsterdam Holendrecht station, south of Bijlmer ArenA on metro lines 50/54.
Alternatively, you could always find a hotel in the city centre. Here are some of our recommendations.

Things to Do:
There are lots of things to do in Amsterdam, depending on your interests. When football fans are in town the bars and red-light district seem to do a roaring trade. For more cultural activities however, you may wish to visit the newly renovated Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh museum.
Ajax Experience is an interactive football exhibition in the city centre about Amsterdam’s famous football club.
For older music fans, Mark Knopfler is playing the Ziggo Dome (near the ArenA) the night before on May 14th.

NS Hispeed has 3 lounges available for international first class rail passengers at Amsterdam Central, Amsterdam Schiphol and Rotterdam Central. The lounges contain a stylish seating area, a work and reading table with a selection of newspapers and magazines plus a self-service drinks bar. TV screens on the wall show news and sport channels (either CNN or BBC World and Eurosport, sound off) and also a train departures screen. Free WiFi and toilet facilities are available.

NSHispeed lounges are open 0800-2000 (Mon-Fri), 1000-1800 (weekends). Locations are Amsterdam Central (platform 2A), Amsterdam Schiphol (arrivals hall 4 – public side – near the HEMA store) and Rotterdam Central (platform 1).

Access to the NSHispeed lounge is available to all international first class passengers including Thalys Comfort 1, ICE 1st class and FYRA/Intercity 1st class to Belgium. The ticket must be for travel on that day.

Note, if you have either a 2nd class international ticket booked with NSHispeed or a domestic 1st class ticket, you will NOT have access to the lounge.

It is also possible to access the lounges with the corporate NS Business Card in combination with a 1st or 2nd class ticket; a first class NS annual or monthly subscription; or being an elite member of the European Railteam frequent traveller program.

One guest may be brought into the lounge with an international first class ticket or NS Business card.

NS Hispeed meeting rooms are also available for hire – these cost from €12.50 per person for 2 hours, then €7.50 for each successive hour.