Lose yourself in the city’s curated lodgings, gourmet restaurants, and artisanal shopping scene

There's much more to Amsterdam than just canals and bicycles. Photo: a_Taiga/Getty Images

Located along the eastern coast of the Netherlands, Amsterdam was once a shipping hub for everything from tulips to tiles. Since then, the capital has continued to benefit from a consistent influx of creativity, producing masters of their craft like Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and even Eddie Van Halen. “Amsterdam lives and breathes creativity. One moment you walk into a building from the 17th century, and the next you find yourself in a hub of creative start-up companies,” said Marcel Wanders, founder of the eponymous design studio and a pioneer of the Dutch design movement.

If you haven’t been to the Venice of the North, now is a great time to go. The world-famous tulips are in bloom, and every restaurant and bar has outfitted their spaces with sun-soaked seating along the canals.…