Noon Blue Apples......Vermeer and hamburgers.........

Amsterdam is the Netherlands’ capital, known for its artistic heritage, elaborate canal system and narrow houses with gabled facades, legacies of the city’s 17th-century Golden Age. Its Museum District houses works by Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and modern art at the Stedelijk. Cycling is key to the city’s character, and there are 400km of cycle paths.

Hotels: 3-star averaging $150, 5-star averaging $310. View hotels

Getting there: 7 h 40 min flight, around $1,375. View flights

Local time: Thursday 8:24 PM

Weather: 57°F (14°C), Wind SE at 5 mph (8 km/h), 58% Humidity

Province: North Holland

Population: 779,808 (2011) UNdata