Amsterdam

Navigating Amsterdam’s artwork, bridges and canals can be thirsty work, and whilst the city’s traditional lagers are served with a hefty head of foam, an ever-growing cache of cool craft beer bars offer something more unique. From hip microbreweries to canal-side hangouts that ooze Dutch charm, these are the best spots for ale enthusiasts in Amsterdam.

De School nightclub in Amsterdam is so blindingly dark that your eyes don’t adjust until after you’ve descended the stairs. Deep in its basement, where techno pounds through a thicket of tall, black-clad revellers, a corridor leads to a giant rotating light-emitting orb, the highlight of a late-night art exhibition. Welcome to the new face of clubbing.

In 2014, Lonely Planet Local Claire Bissell jumped on a plane to Amsterdam to be with her partner. She bought a bike, developed a taste for raw herring and never looked back. The Dutch capital is now the place she calls home, and she loves the city’s relaxed atmosphere, cycle lanes and never-ending choice of eateries.

While you might be used to drinking your gin with a dash of tonic, in the Netherlands things are done a little differently. Today, as they have been since early in the 16th century, the Dutch have been drinking gin's predecessor, jenever, which is traditionally produced by distilling grains and malt wine.

Enchanting Golden Age canals lined by gabled buildings, rambling parks, cosy bruin cafés (traditional pubs), magnificent museums, diverse cuisine and some of Europe's best nightlife make Amsterdam a captivating place to spend a weekend; and its compact size and flat terrain makes it easy to explore its vibrant neighbourhoods as the locals do – by bike (rental companies are everywhere). Here’s our guide to the perfect weekend in Amsterdam.

When the kids are too old to be enticed by ice-cream shops and petting zoos, but not so big they can explore cities on their own, family holiday destinations need planning with care.