Amsterdam may initially appear to be all cutesy canals and cosy cafes, but look a bit deeper and you’ll begin to peel back layers of a very haunted city indeed. Once your plane touches down, hop into a pre-booked Amsterdam airport transfer and get your best Ghostbusters outfit together – it’s time for a weekend of the wacky, the weird and the downright paranormal.
You’ll need your wits about you and your imagination set free as you traverse black cobblestone streets, haunted houses and dimly lit squares. Here are a few of the best sites to get your spook on in Amsterdam.
The Robber Who Made a Pact with the Devil
Let’s start on the streets, shall we? Put your best foot forward as you search for ‘Black Matthew’, a thirteenth-century criminal and magician who is said to have made a deal with the Devil himself. He is one of Amsterdam’s most notorious spirits, and locals often whisper his story to each other in the early hours of the morning as they head home from the pub. But make no mistake – the legend is alive for a reason, so keep an eye out for Matthew’s ghost.
The Doomed Family of the Montelbaan Tower
The Montelbaan Tower hides a secret that has puzzled historians and locals alike for centuries. Erected in the 1500s, the tower was built as a form of defence, as Amsterdam was prone to attacks from those jealous of its wealth. Soon after, a family was killed whilst fleeing to the safety of the imposing tower. Your best chance of encountering their lingering spirits is on 2 June of each year. Supposedly the ghosts emerge to relive their tragic last steps at the top of the tower’s stairs.
Helena of Ghost Alley
Anyone who lives in the region of Spooksteeg (yes, that’s its real name!) will have heard of the ghost of Helena. Her story is straight out of Hollywood. In the eighteenth century, a woman jealous of a sailor’s love for her sister, kills her sibling and manages to persuade him to marry her instead. On her deathbed she admits this gruesome act to her aged husband, but he does not forgive her and condemns her to an eternity of roaming the area as a ghost.
Nieuwmarkt and Blood Street
Bloedstraat – Blood Street – connects Nieumarkt to Amsterdam’s oldest canal. Here, in the middle of the infamous Red Light District, you will find one of the city’s most haunted areas. The origin of the grim street name is disputed: some say it derives from the public executions that took place there, others from the destroyed monastery. All that can be said for certain is that it is as haunted as it gets.
How to Get There
Flights from the UK average two hours and are available from all major airports… and a pre-booked Amsterdam airport transfer is the best way to kick start your spooky adventure! What are you waiting for? Start planning a trip to visit these haunted hotspots… if you’re brave enough, that is.
Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for an affordable pre-booked Amsterdam airport transfer Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.
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