Book a low–cost, last–minute flight to Amsterdam and experience a city with spellbinding character, much of which comes from its architecture; tall narrow houses with steep gables and a winch at the apex. This design dates back its heyday in the 17th century when it was Europe’s richest trading city.

Buildings were taxed according to their width, so they were kept narrow. Merchants would also use the upper floors of their homes to store their wares and the winches were used to get the goods up and down.

There are nearly 7,000 nationally recognised monuments in central Amsterdam, the majority of them still private houses.

Canals

The city centre is ringed with a series of concentric canals. In the golden age of trade, each canal had it’s own social prestige; the more modest merchants lived on the banks of the outer canals whilst the wealthiest had homes in the city centre.

These crescent shaped canals are linked by other radial canals that fan out from the city centre. This geometric order makes navigating Amsterdam relatively easy, whether it’s on foot, by bicycle or in a boat. They also give this vibrant city a rather sleepy and laid back air.

Enchanting architecture laced with waterways and narrow streets; compact yet diverse, Amsterdam is the epitome of relaxed yet urbane European city life.