Free Amsterdam: 20 things to do without spending a euro

Cross the IJ and explore Amsterdam-Noord

1. The free ferries behind Central Station

Behind Amsterdam Centraal, on the IJ side, ferries run by the municipal transport company GVB cross the river to Amsterdam-Noord. The crossing is free for pedestrians and cyclists: no ticket, no card to tap, you simply walk on board as if onto a pavement. Three lines leave from the station: the F2 to IJplein, the F3 to Buiksloterweg and the F4 to the NDSM shipyard. The F3 shuttles back and forth continuously, day and night. The F4 takes about 15 minutes and has also run day and night since 1 January 2024. The view of the station and the quays from the deck is worth the trip on its own.

2. The NDSM shipyard

The F4 drops you at the former NDSM shipyard, turned into a district of studios, cultural venues and cafés. The site is freely accessible all year round, at any hour. Walls covered in graffiti and open-air artworks are best discovered on foot. The STRAAT Museum, devoted to street art, charges admission, however. For the history of the site and its addresses, see our page on NDSM in Amsterdam-Noord.

3. The Eye building and the north bank

The F3 docks in front of the Eye Filmmuseum, IJpromenade 1. The film museum welcomes everyone into its hall, even without a film or exhibition ticket: you can simply take in its white, angular architecture. The exhibition rooms and screenings are paid. On your way out, walk west along the bank to see the station and the city centre across the water.

Parks, gardens and squares

4. The Vondelpark

The city's large park is open to everyone all year round. Paths, ponds and lawns stretch between the museum district and the west of the city. On weekday mornings you will mostly meet joggers and cyclists on their way to work. Our Vondelpark page details its entrances and points of interest.

5. The Vondelpark open-air theatre

In the heart of the park, the Vondelpark Openluchttheater puts on free shows every summer. In 2026 the season ran from 4 May to 13 September, with more than 100 weekend performances: dance on Friday evenings, family shows on Saturday afternoons, comedy on Saturday evenings, classical music on Sunday mornings and pop on Sunday afternoons. Entry remains free; a voluntary contribution is suggested, and some seats can be reserved in exchange for a donation.

6. The Rijksmuseum gardens and passage

The passage running through the Rijksmuseum is a public route open to pedestrians and cyclists. Its glass walls let you look into the atrium without a ticket. Around the building, the museum gardens are open from 9am to 6pm according to the museum's website, and host an open-air sculpture exhibition in summer. The collections themselves can only be seen with a ticket.

7. Museumplein

The large lawn stretching between the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk and the Concertgebouw is a public square. People picnic here in fine weather, and you can admire the museum facades without paying for entry.

8. Westerpark and the Amsterdamse Bos

Westerpark, west of the centre, surrounds the buildings of the former Westergasfabriek gasworks, now cultural venues. Further south, the Amsterdamse Bos is a vast landscaped forest with cycle paths, trails and lakes. Both are freely accessible, as are Rembrandtpark and Oosterpark.

Music, books and archives

9. Free lunchtime concerts at the Concertgebouw

The Concertgebouw holds a free concert every week from 12:30pm to 1pm, most often on Wednesdays, in the Main Hall or the Recital Hall. You need a free ticket, booked online up to one week ahead, with a maximum of two tickets per person. There are no concerts in July and August. On the autumn 2026 programme: a public rehearsal by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra on 22 October, followed by young ensembles and competition winners. Tickets go quickly: book as soon as sales open.

10. The view from the OBA Oosterdok library

Amsterdam's central library, a ten-minute walk from the station, is open from 8am to 10pm on weekdays and from 10am to 8pm at weekends. Entry is free, as is reading books and magazines on site, including a large selection in English. On the seventh floor, a café and a restaurant with a summer terrace overlook the city and the IJ. Looking at the view costs nothing.

11. The Schatkamer of the City Archives

The Stadsarchief Amsterdam occupies the De Bazel building, Vijzelstraat 32, the former headquarters of a trading company with sculpted brick facades. Its treasure room, the Schatkamer, permanently displays documents selected from the city archives. Entry is free and needs no booking, as does the small cinema that continuously screens films about Amsterdam. Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday 12pm to 5pm.

12. The NEMO roof

The sloping roof of the NEMO Science Museum, near the station, forms a public square with views over the Oosterdok and the rooftops of the centre. Access is free, Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5:30pm, via the outdoor stairs on the east side. In summer the roof stays open on Thursdays until 9pm with live music.

Churches and hidden courtyards

13. The Begijnhof

This enclosed courtyard, lined with old houses, lies right in the centre, near the Spui. Entry is free. During the day, visitors enter through the gate on Gedempte Begijnensloot, on the Kalverstraat side, not through the Spui gate. People still live in these houses: be discreet and keep your voice down. All the details are on our Begijnhof page.

14. Inside the Westerkerk

The Protestant church on the Prinsengracht is generally open to visitors Monday to Friday from 11am to 3pm, and on Saturdays too in summer. The entrance is at Prinsengracht 279 and admission is free; a donation, in cash or by card, is welcome. The tower is closed during its restoration, planned to last several years. See the Westerkerk page.

15. Other open churches

According to the city's tourist office, several churches in the centre let visitors in free of charge outside services, including the Noorderkerk, the Basilica of St Nicholas opposite the station and De Papegaai on Kalverstraat. Hours vary: go in when the door is open and respect services.

Open-air markets

16. The Albert Cuyp market

De Pijp's big market fills Albert Cuypstraat Monday to Saturday, from 9am to 6pm. Strolling between the stalls of cheese, fish, flowers and clothes is free; the warm stroopwafels are not. Nearest metro station: De Pijp (line 52). See our Albert Cuyp market page.

17. The Waterlooplein flea market

At the foot of the city hall, the Waterlooplein market is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 6pm. Second-hand clothes, vinyl records, knick-knacks and bikes: you can browse for hours without buying anything. Metro Waterlooplein.

18. The Noordermarkt

North of the Jordaan, in front of the Noorderkerk, the square hosts a flea market on Mondays from 9am to 2pm and a farmers' market on Saturdays from 9am to 4pm. Saturday morning is the liveliest time.

Walks

19. The canal ring

Walking along the Herengracht, the Keizersgracht and the Prinsengracht remains the simplest way to discover the city without spending anything. Gabled facades, bridges and lived-in houseboats form a setting you see better on foot than by boat. Early in the morning, the quays are almost empty. Cross the Jordaan, to the west, through its small side streets.

20. The Magere Brug in the evening

This white drawbridge spans the Amstel between Kerkstraat and Nieuwe Kerkstraat. It is lit up after dark and can be crossed freely on foot or by bike. From its approaches you can also see the Carré theatre on the opposite bank.

Summary table

Information checked in October 2026 on the official websites of the venues, the City of Amsterdam, GVB and the tourist office. Hours may change on public holidays.

Planning a free day

A simple plan for a concert day outside summer: in the morning, a walk along the canals and a stop at the Begijnhof; at 12:30pm, a free concert at the Concertgebouw (ticket booked the week before); in the afternoon, the Rijksmuseum gardens and then the Vondelpark; at the end of the day, the F4 ferry to NDSM to watch the sunset over the IJ. On Saturdays, replace the concert with the Noordermarkt in the morning and the Albert Cuyp market in the afternoon.

To get between these places, walking and cycling are enough in the centre. The ferries are free, but trams and the metro are not: our guide to getting around Amsterdam compares tickets and passes.

Further reading

To work out how much to budget for the rest of your stay, including accommodation, meals and museums, read our guide to the budget for a trip to Amsterdam. If it rains, the OBA library and the Stadsarchief Schatkamer remain good free shelters, and our selection of things to do in Amsterdam when it rains offers more indoor ideas.