The city's allure resides in the classically charming townhouses lining picture-perfect canals as much as it does in Amsterdam's grubby coffeeshops, bustling public markets, and intense street culture. But don't fret! All these contradictions won't get in the way of your tulip-addled, bicycle-riding fantasies of the Netherlands. Wherever you sit on the quaint/hyperactive divide, you'll find Amsterdam to be extraordinarily gorgeous and unique.