This Christmas, give the gift of Amsterdam

Set in the centre of the city, on the tree-lined Keizersgracht canal, this boldly curated photography museum punches well above its weight. It often hosts multiple exhibitions, with a focus on rising talents, though big-name retrospectives tend to take over all three floors. Afterwards, browse the shop for posters, prints and books, or hit the laid-back café for apple pie and fresh mint tea.

The soulless modern multiplex has nothing on this place – a show-stopping movie theatre, which opened in 1921. Behind a domed, art-deco façade, it’s a vision of decorative excess, from its swirling, kaleidoscopic lobby to its gilded screening room. Impress the cinephile in your life with a pair of top-tier tickets, which will score you a two-seater sofa, along with drinks and a snack.

Melkweg (which translates as ‘Milky Way’) was once an abandoned dairy, before being reinvented in the 70s as a freewheeling cultural hub. Now, it’s one of the city’s most atmospheric music venues, with a line-up that runs from reggae to rock, punk to electronica. The buzzy, banquette-lined café’s perfect for a pre-gig drink; big-ticket upcoming acts include DJ Shadow and La Roux.

A gilded lyre perches on the roof of this neoclassical concert hall, set on Museumplein, opposite the Rijksmuseum. Built in the 1880s, it’s famed for its astonishing acoustics, even though its architect was said to be ‘as musical as a cow’. Get in quick to score tickets for next year’s highlights, which run from the Mahler Festival in May to a thrilling operatic take on Hamlet.

This cult craft brewery’s tap room couldn’t be easier to find: just look out for its neighbour, Amsterdam’s largest wooden windmill. The crew here brews some of the city’s finest beers, from punchy, Belgian-style tripels to seasonal stouts and malty bokbiers. It’s open from 2pm to 8pm but doesn’t take reservations – on sunny afternoons, arrive early for a coveted terrace spot.