This past March, I enjoyed a sneak-peek sailing on Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection’s newest luxury river ship, the S.S. Antoinette. The vessel currently sails two different 7-night itineraries along the Rhine River, one themed around castle viewing and the other showcasing European holiday markets. (Detailed article coming soon!) The former either begins or ends in Amsterdam — a spectacular Dutch city that begs for a pre- or post-cruise extension to your vacation. Here’s what I packed into my two-day stay after my cruise.

1. Canal Cruise. Seeing the city from the water is a great way to get acquainted. A variety of tour operators offer boat excursions including narrated sightseeing trips and romantic dinner cruises.

2. Anne Frank House. The line to purchase tickets can take 45 minutes or more during the busy summer season, so save time and buy them ahead online. Once inside, you can walk through the famous movable bookcase doorway into the secret annex where young Anne and her family hid during Nazi occupation of The Netherlands during World War II. Another exhibit area showcases Anne’s original red-checked diary, open to pages that show her handwritten scrawls.

3. Van Gogh Museum. In addition to housing the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh works, the museum also showcases pieces from his contemporaries.

4. Rijksmuseum. The largest museum in The Netherlands contains a large collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age (roughly the 17th century), among other works. The entire Rijksmuseum collection, including drawings, prints and photos, consists of about 900,000 items, with roughly 7,500 on display at a time. The palatial building was designed in 1876, a project awarded to Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers, also associated with the Amsterdam Centraal Station. The Rijksmuseum’s main building is under renovation until 2013, but the Philips Wing remains open, and important pieces from the collection are displayed at other museums, local and abroad, in the interim.

5. Heineken Experience. Four interactive levels of the Holland brew’s backstory and immersion into modern culture end at a social melting pot: the bar. Two pints are included with your admission; try the Extra Cold version on tap.

6. The Pancake Bakery. This restaurant should make every visitor’s itinerary. Don’t be fooled by the name—it’s not a breakfast joint. It opens at noon, so come hungry for lunch or dinner. The bakery serves giant Dutch-style pancakes (more than 75 different kinds); your best bet at a table for two is to split a savory creation for your main course and share a sweet one for dessert.

7. De Negen Straatjes (The Nine Streets). Amsterdam’s main canals are connected by nine side streets that together form this district packed with boutiques, restaurants, chocolatiers and many more diversions.

8. Bloemenmarkt (Flower Market). Operating since 1862 on one of Amsterdam’s oldest canals, the flower market displays a variety of plants in bloom or bulb, from tulips to indoor cypress, on floating barges. The market is open year-round. If you’re planning to purchase flowers, plants, or seeds to take back to the U.S., the packets must have a CUSTOMS CLEARED stamp (be sure to check the date; stamps are valid for six weeks).

Getting Around
Many guidebooks encourage travelers to explore the city the way the locals do: by bike. Sure, Amsterdam’s narrow cobblestone street network is much easier to navigate on two wheels instead of four. But note that locals are on a mission, so if you’re planning to leisurely pedal your way along the straaten, expect to share those roads with frustrated commuters. A better bet is to use the efficient streetcar system (which, at about $3.70 per hour, is a much better deal than a taxi) to reach your desired neighborhood, then hoof it to attractions.

To follow soon a longer blog post about the S.S. Antoinette European river cruise.