Canals, stroopwafels and bikes: Here's what to do on a visit to Amsterdam

Editor’s note: Tampa International Airport Manager of Communications C.J. Johnson recently flew to Amsterdam aboard TPA's nonstop flight on Delta Air Lines. This is a travelogue of his experiences and recommendations.

I have to admit something. I've flown all over the world, recently hitting the 40-country mark, and I’ve had the privilege of flying in and out of TPA since I was a teenager. But I must confess, I’ve never flown nonstop out of TPA to Europe before. I’ve always connected through another hub somewhere, or have only caught a nonstop flight on my way back from Europe. 

That all changed recently when I took one of the first nonstop flights from TPA to Amsterdam aboard Delta Air Lines. The airline, which recently brought back daily nonstop flights after a five-year hiatus, gave me the chance to try out its onboard experience and visit one of the coolest cities on the planet.

To start my journey, I checked in at the Delta ticket counter in TPA's Main Terminal and breezed through security before settling into Delta Sky Club at Airside E. It was the perfect place to relax, grab a bite to eat and enjoy a very relaxing space ahead of my overnight trek across the Atlantic. 

Before even leaving the ground, the hospitality and kindness of the Delta agents truly stood out. Each of them went above and beyond to make my time at my home airport comfortable and smooth.

After boarding, I found my spot in seat 20G. This was a bulkhead seat in the first row of Delta’s Premium Select cabin, which offers an elevated experience from its Comfort Plus offering. 

The seat was large, comfortable and felt like a domestic first class seat. The amenity kit, which contained everything from ear plugs to lip balm to an eye mask, was such a nice touch – as was the blanket, pillow and water bottle waiting for me. The flight attendant cheerily told us that we’d be friends for the next 8 hours and 21 minutes and the onboard lights dimmed as we pushed back from Gate E65, 

Shortly after takeoff, I decided to purchase Delta's onboard Wi-Fi for $15, which kept me connected during the flight and helped make the time pass quickly.

A white napkin was draped gracefully across my wide tray table for dinner, and soon I was feasting on a delicious chicken dinner with a salad and a brownie.

I normally have a difficult time sleeping on planes, but with a comfortable seat like the one I had and a stomach now full of good food, it made it much easier to drift off to catch a little shuteye.  

About an hour before landing, breakfast was served, featuring a delicious spread with French toast, sausage, yogurt and a croissant.

After landing in Amsterdam almost a half-hour early, I cleared customs at Schiphol Airport in less than 15 minutes. I walked outside to take photos of the large “I AMSTERDAM” sign before catching a ride to my hotel and setting out to explore the city. 

This was my third visit to the city, but it was my first time staying for an entire long weekend. My first stop? Breakfast. I walked to Omelegg in the City Centre. When I arrived and saw the line stretching out the door, I hoped I was in for a treat. (Spoiler alert? I was.) A Biscoff cookie and a hot cup of coffee were on my table before I knew it and soon, I was wolfing down a delicious salmon avocado omelette.

From there, I started to wander around Amsterdam’s central area, where many of the streets and canals form a giant “U” shape. Be aware of the thousands of bicyclists – they rule the roads (and the sidewalks, too).

One of my first stops was the Bloemenmarkt Flower Market, a must-see in town. Tulips and souvenirs lined the stalls. I continued to meander around town, taking in all the beautiful holiday décor along streets filled with holiday shoppers scurrying about. 

If you’re looking to take photos that scream Amsterdam, head to Papiermolensluis Brug 57 – a spot near the flower market offering a beautiful wide view of the canals and the bicyclists zooming by. Places for coffee and tea abound, so feel free to stop by one and soak up the views.

I decided to wind down with a dinner at The Seafood Bar, which was the perfect place to grab a bite to eat. I chose a delicious seafood platter with a side of potatoes and soaked up the ambiance with dinner.

To wrap up my first evening, I made my way to Melly’s Stroopwafels for a hot chocolate and of course, a stroopwafel. Be sure you don’t miss out on grabbing one (or two) of these tasty treats while in town. After hours of walking and exploring, I was sold on a stroopwafel with Biscoff crumbles on top to wrap up my first day in Amsterdam.

The next day I walked from my hotel near Amsterdam Centraal to the central rail and bus station nearby. Amsterdam has a very efficient network of public transportation that is reliable and cost-effective. You can tap in and out with your credit card, which will automatically calculate what you owe.

I decided to spend part of this new day at Zaanse Schans in nearby Zaandam, home of giant windmills, clogs and more. This area is walkable and free, filled with shops and restaurants and places to grab photos. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to wander around and indulge in a snack or two. Pro tip: arrive earlier in the morning to beat the busloads of tourists that are sure to arrive around 10 or 11 a.m. 

After marveling at the large windmills, I decided to go inside one for a tour. The De Kat windmill could not have been more charming, and for about $6, it turned out to be one of my favorite attractions of the entire trip. Once inside, I climbed up steep stairs (almost straight up) and stopped to watch the inner-workings of the windmill. The wooden gears turned and spun, keeping the large windmill going. An upper deck provided a view out over the entire area. 

Nearby was a cheese shop and a wooden clog workshop where you may sample the numerous cheeses and, if you’re lucky, watch the locals carve wooden shoes. You can even get a pair of your own clogs painted by hand.

For lunch, Blue Amsterdam is known for its high views over the city, and while seating is limited if first-come, first-served, I was lucky to score a table right next to the window. 

To work off some of that food, head to the De Negen Straatjes and Jordaan areas of the city, known for beautiful canals and charming homes. While admiring the architecture, I picked up one of the best iced lattes I've ever had at the Coffee Company.

I took a canal cruise before wrapping up this very full day in Amsterdam. This is a must-do, since the canals are such an integral part of the Amsterdam experience. I boarded the Lovers canal cruise, an hour-long ride around town with a guide who gave interesting insights into the city, for less than $20. 

I was in the mood for pizza after disembarking, so I stopped by Bella Ciao Amsterdam, a small pizza restaurant near my hotel. I was tempted by the calzone without knowing it would be enough food for two people! 

I decided to visit several of Amsterdam's famous museums for my final full day in the city. I recommend reserving tickets to any of the museums well in advance. 

The Anne Frank Huis is one of the most famous museums in town and tickets quickly sell out, sometimes weeks ahead of time, as was the case while I was traveling. Luckily I’ve had the privilege of visiting this museum on a previous trip and found it to be sobering, eye-opening and well worth anyone’s time.  

I decided to spend about half a day around Museumplatz, home to several museums including the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. Either one is worth a full day's visit, but I split my day with both.

The Van Gogh Museum boasts three floors, dividing Vincent Van Gogh’s life into three distinct parts and exploring artifacts and works from each period. Guided and audio tours are available, but I opted for the self-guided option. It was amazing to experience his paintings in person after previously only seeing them in books.  

I stopped for coffee at the Kiosk Rembrandt Van Gogh for a quick cappuccino before heading to the neighboring Rijksmuseum, the national museum dedicated to Dutch arts and history. 

Even the building’s architecture was impressive, with soaring ceilings that led me upstairs to marvel at the work of Rembrandt and other amazing artists. I even discovered a library space filled with floors of books. Similar to the Van Gogh Museum, the floors of Rijksmuseum were divided up by time periods and offered corresponding pieces from each era, from ancient works to modern art. 

Up next? A stop at Stroopperie for (you guessed it) another stroopwafel, this one covered with Nutella and made right in front of me!

I then went for a long walk along one of my favorite canals, Prinsengracht, where the homes are stately and simply stunning. Since the weather was cooperating with a clear sky and plenty of warm sunshine, I worked up the courage to rent a bike and pedal my way around town. This experience ended up being one of the most memorable, traveling through town like the locals do. I’d recommend keeping your head on a swivel, though, because you certainly won’t be the only one on a bike. 

Forget Five Guys: say hello to Frites Huys! I hopped off my bike for some famous Dutch fries (a.k.a. frites) and fried cheeseballs (bitterballen). To try to blend in as a local, I added mayonnaise (which I typically don't eat) to the cone full of hot frites and devoured it all. 

Finally, I settled in at Haven van Texel, one of the many cozy, canal-front cafes, for my last dinner in the city. Heaters made the chilly outdoor seating comfortable and I ordered halibut and fresh veggies to counter all the frites and stroopwafels I'd eaten. 

I had a Delta One seat for my flight back to Tampa, granting me access to the priority Delta/KLM check-in area at Schiphol Airport. I walked right to a gate agent and was sent to a priority security screening checkpoint where security took less than 10 minutes to clear. I then made my way to the KLM Crown Lounge, which had two floors and offered everything from dining to entertainment to showers.  

I was one of the first to board and reach my seat, 5J, at the front of Delta's Airbus A330-300 aircraft. This fully lay-flat seat offered plenty of privacy and comfort, boasting both aisle and window access (with two windows). An amenity kit, large pillow, slippers and headphones were also waiting for me. This seat offered a USB port and a standard outlet, plus a larger screen for entertainment. 

Before takeoff, one of the pilots came through our cabin and welcomed each passenger. I managed to score a trading card from them before we took off on our scheduled 9-hour and 8-minute trek back home. I again purchased the Wi-Fi, which was quite fast, with download speeds of over 45 MB per second, making it easy to browse, send emails and scroll social media.

The food served in Delta One was a cut above, from salmon to braised short rib to Thai coconut soup to an apple tart (and some warm chocolate chip cookies served after lunch). I was able to lay my Delta One seat all the way back, propping myself up with the pillow while stretching out. The experience felt like I was on a couch and not traveling in an airplane – a truly great way to fly. 

We arrived approximately 35 minutes ahead of schedule back at America’s Favorite Airport. I used CBP’s Global Entry app for the first time upon arrival; for travelers with Global Entry, the app allows you to bypass the check-in kiosks and go straight to an agent. Using a timer from the moment I disembarked from the plane, I cleared customs in seven minutes. Now that is the way to know you're back in Tampa Bay! 

If Amsterdam sounds like a perfect getaway to you, you’re in luck. Delta has extended this nonstop route into October 2025. That will also give passengers looking to travel beyond Amsterdam access to more than 100 connecting flights with Delta's SkyTeam partner KLM Royal Dutch Airlines through their AMS hub. 

Book your trip to Amsterdam aboard Delta today: www.delta.com 

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