It offers some good views of the city and is well worth a short visit.

The outdoor terrace is open during the summer season (April-October) and has good views looking out towards the south side of Amsterdam. Note, the large canopy and concrete pillar does restrict views of the sky and towards the west.

The library is the second largest in Europe after Birmingham. To access the terrace you should go up the lift or escalators to the 6th floor, then take another lift or stairs to the 7th level.

The Babel café-restaurant at Level 7 serves a simple selection of drinks and light meals. However, if you just want to go up to visit the terrace you are free to do so.

Some of the features of the sweeping panorama are now marked on transparent boards which also have info on other buildings of note in Amsterdam.

Particularly good views are available of the green NEMO Science Museum to the east which to some people looks like a ship’s hull.

Similar views can be seen by the front windows on the lower floors – which actually have better views of the sky without the top floor canopy.

Amsterdam Central Library is a nice place to hang out for a while and take in a free view of the city.

More panorama locations in Amsterdam include the nearby Luminair Rooftop bar and the A’DAM Lookout

OBA Central Library Terrace Essential Info

Last update 11 August 2026, article originally published in 2008.

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Aviodrome opened its doors in 2003 for a growing aviation collection which had originally been kept in a museum at Schiphol Airport.

The complex has 3 buildings with large outdoor areas between them. The main building includes the entrance/foyer and its exhibition area houses the principal collection of planes. There is also a cinema/theatre for film shows.

The exhibition starts from the very earliest days of air travel and aviation pioneers, continues with how KLM was started in 1919 and follows the rise of commercial aviation in general. There are features about aviation during World War 2, the development of the jet engine and on Amsterdam Schiphol airport.

There is also a separate exhibition about space exploration. All the exhibits are very well presented and have English translations.

Aviodrome’s outside area has various playgrounds for children, a variety of flight simulator rides, parked aircraft and an outlook viewpoint over Lelystad airport runway.

Perhaps the highlight of the entire collection is the parked KLM Boeing 747-200 (PH-BUK – named Louis Blériot – which operated from 1978 to 2003). You can get on board and explore the aircraft including the back cargo section and the elevated top deck with its business class seats and cockpit.

There are photos which show how the plane was transported by barge from Amsterdam – as Lelystad airport could not handle that size of aircraft.

The museum has an authentic replica of the Schiphol airport terminal building from 1928 which is decorated in the style of the period. You can try to learn Morse code in the radio room and climb up the tower for a sweeping panorama of the museum and airport.

The final building is the T2 Restoration Hangar which has various aircraft and mechanical parts on display. This is where various aircraft in the collection are restored and made air worthy. The building interior is recreated in the style of a British Royal Air Force hangar from WW2.

On our visits to the museum we have found the staff to be friendly and volunteers are sometimes on hand to offer explanations at some of the exhibits. There is a reasonably-priced cafe in the main building with indoor/outdoor seating available.

Overall, a visit to Aviodrome is recommended, especially for families with children and aviation enthusiasts.

Other things to do in the Lelystad area

• Shop at the Batavia Stad Fashion Outlet
• Visit the Batavialand Museum
• Walk out to Antony Gormley’s Exposure sculpture

Aviodrome Essential Info

This article was originally published in 2022. Last checked and updated 8 July 2026.

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The Beguines were a devout Catholic sisterhood of single women who wished not take monastic vows but devoted their lives to helping the sick and elderly.

Beguines have been located at this spot in Amsterdam since the 14th century although the last Beguine died in 1971. Today the Beginhof is occupied by around 100 women.

The Beginhof in Amsterdam has a tranquil and hidden feel about it as it’s not obviously accessible – although it is widely mentioned in guidebooks and there is always a flow of visitors coming through.

There are two main grass courtyards – the larger Grote Hof on the north side has a statue of Jesus Christ whilst the smaller Kleine Hof  has a statue of a Beguine.

The main feature of the Begijnhof is the English Reformed Church (Engelse kerk) located at the south side which is one of the oldest buildings in the city.

Made of brick and stone, it was built at the end of the 15th century after the original Begijnhof wooden church (consecrated in 1419) subsequently burnt down in 1421.

It was eventually given over to English-speaking worshippers in Amsterdam in 1607. Since then the multi-national congregation has continued to this day, except for a short period during German occupation in the Second World War.

The church is Presbyterian and has strong links to the Church of Scotland.

Services at the English Reformed Church are held each Sunday at 1030. The church also hosts regular concerts.

It contains stained glass depictions of the Pilgrim fathers who probably worshiped at the church before leaving for the New World. The church also has 2 fine organs and a beautiful wooden pulpit designed by Piet Mondriaan and carved by Edema van der Tuuk.

In February 2007 a special 400th anniversary church service was held, attended by the late Queen Elizabeth and then Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.

On the opposite side there is the smaller Begijnhof chapel (Begijnhofkapel, built in 1671) where Catholics and Beguines attended in secret up until 1795. Inside there are panels which tell the story of the Miracle of Amsterdam.

Masses are held at the chapel on Sunday at 10:00 (Dutch) and 11:15 (French). Also at 09:00 and 17:00 (Mon-Fri) and at 09:00 (Sat).

The picturesque courtyard contains a garden area surrounded by traditional houses built from the 16th century onwards. The Wooden House (het Houten Huis) at number 34 is the oldest wooden house in Amsterdam dating from 1528. It was restored in 1956-57.

Round the corner of the Wooden House are 8 religious-themed façade stones (gevelstenen) on the back wall. These were installed in 1961 and come from other houses in Amsterdam. A plaque gives some info about each stone.

The Begijnhof Shop is found to the right of the chapel and sells religious ornaments. It is open 13:00-17:00 (Tue-Sat).

The Begijnhof is located near Spui square in the centre of Amsterdam. The entrance is on the Gedempte Beginensloot side street (on the eastern side reached either walking up from from Spui or coming from Kalverstraat onto Begijnensteeg).

The entrance is often staffed by stewards wearing green jackets.

The southern entrance door on Spui has been made inaccessible to visitors.

There is a diagram plan of the Begijnhof found on the wall in the entrance alley with some information.

Please bear in mind that silence is requested. The Begijnhof is private property and large tour groups (more than 12 people) are not officially permitted. Some of the walkways are gated off and are for residents only.

At just a block away from one of the busiest shopping streets in Amsterdam, the Begijnhof is a picturesque and peaceful place to spend a few moments.

Begijnhof Amsterdam Essential Info

This article was originally published in 2010. Last checked and updated 2 July 2026.

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The archive is housed in an imposing former bank building known as De Bazel on Vijzelstraat in the centre of Amsterdam.

The building was designed by Dutch architect Karel de Bazel and was completed in 1926. Its brick expressionist style was common in buildings during the 1920s in the Netherlands and Germany.

The building was the original headquarters of NHM (Nederlandsche Handel-Maatschappij, the Netherlands Trading Society). It was then an office for Algemene Bank which became part of ABN-AMRO bank.

In 1999 the building was purchased by the city and was transformed into the city archives, opening in 2007.

For centuries the Dutch have been prolific record keepers and it’s no surprise that the Stadsarchief Amsterdam has one of the largest city archive collections in the world, with some 50km of archives.

Due to its size, a proportion of the archive has been relocated to a new depot building in Amsterdam Noord.

You can enter the Amsterdam Stadsarchief building from the entrance on Vijzelstraat and head into the main hall on the ground floor (level 0). A glass roof gives the hall some much needed natural light.

This main space often has a free poster-style exhibition about Amsterdam. There is also a reception desk and information centre behind.

If you head left, there is an exhibit (Werelderfgoed Podium) about all UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Netherlands. This includes Amsterdam’s historic canal district which was given the status in 2010.

Further down the hall is a bookshop which has many interesting items about Amsterdam (mostly in Dutch) and at the end of the hall there is a separate room which hosts temporary exhibitions.

At the other end of the main hall you can find Café De Bazel and a study room.

The basement levels hold a film theatre (showing Amsterdam-themed footage) and the 2 floor Treasure Room (Schatkamer) was the former bank vault. This showcases a permanent collection of documents and photos about the city.

The upper floors of the Stadsarchief are generally not open to the public.

Private guided tours of the building can be arranged in advance at a cost of €95 (for up to 20 people). There is also a walk-in tour in Dutch (€10, free for children 0-16) at 14:00 on Sundays.

The Stadsarchief is certainly worth popping in for a visit to appreciate the 1920s Amsterdam architecture and the chance to walk inside a former bank vault.

Stadsarchief Essential Info

This article was first published in 2019. Last checked and updated 23 June 2026.

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