How to spend a weekend in Amsterdam, with F1 analyst Robert ...

(Credit: Getty Images)

Former Formula 1 and IndyCar driver Robert Doornbos has called Amsterdam home since 2018. This is the Dutch speedster's guide to enjoying the Dutch capital, during F1 and beyond.

Boasting world-famous museums, nightlife to satisfy any urge and a unique cityscape crisscrossed by 165 canals, Amsterdam truly has something for everyone. That's why, after 10 years touring the world as a Formula Three, Formula 1, Sports Car, A1 and IndyCar Series racing driver, Rotterdam-born Robert Doornbos made the city his home in 2018.

In 2021, Doornbos was present at the first Dutch Grand Prix in 36 years. Held at the Zandvoort track, more than 40km west of Amsterdam, the circuit is next to the beach, which only helps to increase the party atmosphere.

"You won't believe your eyes when you get to the beach at Zandvoort on race weekend," says Doornbos. "The Dutch are so passionate about Formula 1. The party is on! The promoters even won an award [in 2023] because of how they entertained the people."

Of course, it helps that the reigning Formula 1 world champion, Max Verstappen, competes for the Netherlands, though he was born in Belgium. "Formula 1 exploded [here] thanks to Max. Especially in 2021," says Doornbos, who was working as a live analyst at the 2021 Abu Dhabi race for Ziggo Sport when Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton for his first title. "We had six million viewers for the final race," he adds. "I was awake for three days after celebrating. When I got home, I couldn't even walk down the street. It just exploded in popularity."

Of course, there are plenty of other things to experience in Amsterdam besides the Grand Prix. "It's such a great place to live," says Doornbos. "There is so much history. There are great bars and restaurants that have new concepts. Plus, there are so many different ways to keep healthy."

Here are Doornbos' recommendations for enjoying the Dutch capital.

Anyone visiting Amsterdam must hop on a bike to best soak up its tranquil canal scenery and thriving cycling culture (Credit: Getty Images)

1. Best way to soak up Amsterdam's atmosphere: Cycling through De 9 Straatjes

At just 165sq km, Amsterdam is considered tiny compared to other European capitals. But that just makes getting around infinitely easier – especially since Amsterdam is one of the world's most bike-friendly cities, with nearly 402km worth of bike paths that take you straight to its main attractions.

"You just need to take a bike and go through the city," insists Doornbos. "You can cycle along the canals, over the bridges, take in all of the architecture and beautiful houses." Doornbos especially recommends cycling through the historic De 9 Straatjes (Nine Streets) – a picturesque neighbourhood made up of nine intersecting lanes and four canals – and the trendy Jordaan district, both of which teem with bars, cafes, shops and galleries along their flower-lined streets.

Doornbos loves to take visitors on boat rides down Amsterdam's canals, in particular the picturesque Prinsengracht, which loops around Amsterdam's city centre, and the beautiful Brouwersgracht at the northern border of the Jordaan, flowing past 16th and 17th-Century buildings and bridges. "That way they can see everything," he says. "Whether it's the Red Light District or people smoking in coffee shops, you get a real sense of the city, its history and how much fun it is."

Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum is home to masterpieces by the great Dutch painters, plus over 8,000 works of art and a bike path that runs right through it (Credit: Getty Images)

2. Best cultural experience: Visiting the Rijksmuseum

Amsterdam's obsession with cycling runs so deep that there's even a cycling path through the Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands telling the story of 800 years of Dutch history from 1200 to the present. "You can actually cycle through our biggest museum," boasts Doornbos. 

The cycle path takes you through the centre of the museum, past arches and huge windows on either side, leading to its garden. Once parked, you can go inside to see masterpieces from famous Dutch painters like Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Johannes Vermeer and more than 8,000 works of art. "If you like paintings, we have a lot of famous Dutch painters," says Doornbos. "Plus, it's in the centre, so you're not far from a nice bar, coffee shop or restaurant."

Doornbos also recommends the Anne Frank House. Though there's "always a long queue" to see the museum dedicated to where the teenager was captured by Nazis before she died in a concentration camp, he calls it a "special" place to visit.

Amsterdam's Park Plaza Victoria Hotel is one of the oldest in the country, and a celebrity magnet (Credit: Alamy)

3. Best base: Staying at the Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam Hotel 

If you're looking to sleep under the same roof as the rich and famous when they visit Amsterdam, then Doornbos highlights the opulent Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam hotel. Opened in 1890, it's one of the oldest hotels in the country. "This is where all of the famous artists stay when they have their concerts," says Doornbos. "There are always people outside cheering and screaming. It's where Max Verstappen stays when he's racing, where Lewis Hamilton stays when he's in the city. It's a very famous hotel." Located right across from Amsterdam Central Station, the lavish 19th-Century structure houses 298 handsome, contemporary rooms and was named a National Heritage Site in 2001.

TIP

September is the best time of the year to visit Amsterdam, according to Doornbos. That's when the weather is still good, but not as stiflingly hot as the summer. "In September it's usually around 20C. You can really enjoy cycling around the city then. That's when you get to see why Amsterdam is so beautiful and cool."

When it comes to a neighbourhood base, Doornbos believes that the elegant Oud Zuid (Old South) quarter is the perfect place to feel like an Amsterdammer. "That's the nicest and most expensive area," he says. "It's still very close to the main city. You can cross the park, go to great restaurants." The area, developed in the 19th Century, is now also full of boutique stores, galleries, museums — including the Van Gogh Museum – with Vondelpark, Beatrixpark and Sarphatipark all within walking distance.

Doornbos recommends visitors try bitterballen – a classic fried Dutch snack perfect for refueling after a day of cycling (Credit: Alamy)

4. Best culinary experiences: snacking on Bitterballen and splurging at The Duchess

The Netherlands might not be renowned for its culinary delicacies, but Doornbos insists that there are a few dishes people should try after a day of cycling or to provide fuel for the nightlife ahead.

One such treat is bitterballen (savoury meat stew croquettes served with mustard that go perfectly with beer). Doornbos also recommends trying other traditional Dutch dishes like "Dutch meatballs, stamppot (mashed potatoes garnished with sausages), plus there's good old stroopwafel (thin waffle cookies) and warm apple pie with whipped cream."

For a meal out on the town, Doornbos likes heading to Oud Zuid and the city centre, where some of the city's best restaurants are located, like Brasserie Van Dam; a French-style brasserie on tony Cornelis Schuytstraat street. His pick for Italian food is the upscale cafe-restaurant Ferilli's, while he suggests that those looking to splash some cash visit The Duchess in the W Hotel; an opulent den serving Mediterranean-inspired seafood dishes accompanied by an extensive wine list.

Visit Amsterdam's beloved Vondelpark for a break from city life, and potential parakeet sightings (Credit: Alamy)

5. Best outdoor experience: Visiting Vondelpark

If you need to nurse a hangover, recharge your batteries or simply people-watch, then Amsterdam's most popular outdoor space is Vondelpark. It's named after 17th-Century playwright and poet Joost van den Vondel, and today, more than 12 million people a year take in its beautiful lawns, ponds, bridges and cafes. "It's like a small Central Park in the middle of Amsterdam. There are people running, cycling, sitting on benches," says Doornbos. If you hear squawking, that would be the thriving colony of wild green parakeets that has inhabited the park and the city beyond since the late 1970s. 

But Doornbos says that visitors during the Dutch Grand Prix should prioritise heading to Zandvoort Beach; a lively 9km stretch of sand, just a half-hour's train ride from the capital. "It's so close and there will be parties through the night," says Doornbos. "Everyone is so friendly. Plus, I'll be there!"

Amsterdam is world-famous for its nightlife, and Doornbos' pick for an authentic yet laid-back experience is Café Nol (Credit: Alamy)

6. Best way to experience local nightlife: Hitting Café Nol

Second to its canals, Amsterdam is perhaps most famous for its nightlife. If you're after a high quantity of options in close proximity, the De Wallen Red Light District, splendid Rembrandtplein plaza and buzzy Leidseplein square are packed with bars and clubs. 

In recent years, Amsterdam's "vibe has become more international", says Doornbos, citing spots in De 9 Straatjes like the steakhouse, bar and lounge Mr Porter found next door to the exclusive Soho House Amsterdam members club and hotel. But while these "high-end places have great views of the city on their rooftop bars, it's like being in any other big city," he says. Not that he's complaining, as it provides an opportunity "to meet a lot of friendly and international people".

If you're after a more local experience, Doornbos suggests Café Nol in the Jordaan. With its mirrored walls, chandeliers, red carpet and curtains, "Café Nol is like "going back in time", Doornbos says, adding, "You don't spend hundreds or thousands of euros there like in other places, but you'll have the time of your life." 

BBC Travel's The SpeciaList is a series of guides to popular and emerging destinations around the world, as seen through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers.

--

If you liked this story, sign up for The Essential List newsletter – a handpicked selection of features, videos and can't-miss news, delivered to your inbox twice a week. 

For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.