<strong>An empty city:</strong> Like many destinations once overrun by tourists, Amsterdam has been emptied out by restrictions in place to stop the spread of coronavirus.
An empty city: Like many destinations once overrun by tourists, Amsterdam has been emptied out by restrictions in place to stop the spread of coronavirus.
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<strong>Reclaiming the city:</strong> Locals have been enjoying a quieter city, exploring areas they'd normally avoid because of the tourist crowds.
Reclaiming the city: Locals have been enjoying a quieter city, exploring areas they'd normally avoid because of the tourist crowds.
Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
<strong>The bad old days? </strong>Before the pandemic, Amsterdam -- a city of fewer than 900,000 residents -- was annually visited by more than 9 million travelers.
The bad old days? Before the pandemic, Amsterdam -- a city of fewer than 900,000 residents -- was annually visited by more than 9 million travelers.
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<strong>Emotional reconnection:</strong> "I had tears in my eyes," says writer Katja Brokke, after a cycle tour of her empty city. "A kind of deep emotion I hadn't felt for a long time: the love for my city. The beauty of it touched me, as it had in my youth -- the 1980s and '90s -- when the city was still mine."
Emotional reconnection: "I had tears in my eyes," says writer Katja Brokke, after a cycle tour of her empty city. "A kind of deep emotion I hadn't felt for a long time: the love for my city. The beauty of it touched me, as it had in my youth -- the 1980s and '90s -- when the city was still mine."
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<strong>Dam Square: </strong>Eva de Vos's home sits behind the Royal Palace on Dam square, normally teeming with visitors. "Now I can park my bike in front of my house, there are fewer accidents with trams and I don't have to clean the mess on the sidewalk in front of my door every day," she says.
Dam Square: Eva de Vos's home sits behind the Royal Palace on Dam square, normally teeming with visitors. "Now I can park my bike in front of my house, there are fewer accidents with trams and I don't have to clean the mess on the sidewalk in front of my door every day," she says.
"PATRICK VAN EMST"/ANP/AFP via Getty Images
<strong>A quiet place: </strong>Jacqueline Tas lives near Amsterdam's Flower Market, a top tourist attraction.<strong> </strong>"This part of the city became too busy with visitors and I know I shouldn't say this -- because I know the city financially needs tourists -- but I am intensely enjoying the calmness and I actually enjoy living here again. We became the quiet part of town.'"
A quiet place: Jacqueline Tas lives near Amsterdam's Flower Market, a top tourist attraction. "This part of the city became too busy with visitors and I know I shouldn't say this -- because I know the city financially needs tourists -- but I am intensely enjoying the calmness and I actually enjoy living here again. We became the quiet part of town.'"
Courtesy Jacqueline Tas
"I have more contact with my neighbors, the canals are clearer than ever and the city's nature is thriving," says Mathys van Abbe, who lives close to the city's red-light district, on the houseboat pictured here. "The constant noise is gone and there is calmness. Amsterdam has a circadian rhythm again. It feels like a little retreat."
"I have more contact with my neighbors, the canals are clearer than ever and the city's nature is thriving," says Mathys van Abbe, who lives close to the city's red-light district, on the houseboat pictured here. "The constant noise is gone and there is calmness. Amsterdam has a circadian rhythm again. It feels like a little retreat."
Courtesy Mathys van Abbe
<strong>Empty bar: </strong>Nik Poldervaart, co-owner of Café de Kroegtijger, is worried about a lack of customers in the future, but doesn't want a return to the old days. "We have to attract locals more and avoid visitors who think everything's allowed here," he says.
Empty bar: Nik Poldervaart, co-owner of Café de Kroegtijger, is worried about a lack of customers in the future, but doesn't want a return to the old days. "We have to attract locals more and avoid visitors who think everything's allowed here," he says.
Courtesy Nik Poldervaart