How to Take Amazing Photos in Amsterdam and What to Do If Your Phone Lets You Down

Ask any traveler what makes Amsterdam unforgettable, and they’ll likely mention its golden canals at sunset, the rows of bicycles, or the way morning light catches on the windows of the canal houses. As a photographer who’s wandered this city more times than I can count, I’ve learned the best shots are often unscripted: the sudden reflection in a puddle, the secret dance of sunlight on the canals’ waters. To capture all these, you don’t necessarily need a professional camera. More people rely on their smartphones nowadays, to record memories of everyday life, as well as their holidays. And it’s easier, especially for candid snapshots. So much that, most of the times I am out with my camera, I also keep the phone at hand at all times.

If you’re venturing out to photograph Amsterdam, phone in hand, let the city’s rhythm guide you. Mornings are the best moments, the most quiet. Go out before everyone wake, and you’ll catch bridges veiled in mist, the canals water undisturbed, a true mirror for the city, and empty streets where the birds roam undisturbed.

Or seek out the golden hour – the time of day when sunlight warms every brick and ripple and even the most ordinary street corner becomes drenched in honeyed glow. Find a good spot and let that soft light do half your work.

Explore side streets and don’t hesitate to slip into hidden gardens: courtyards shielded by centuries-old doors, their flowers blooming almost theatrically for those who find them. There’s poetry in the city’s secret corners, and your phone’s lens will catch it if you let patience be your guide.
Don’t forget to look up: Amsterdam’s gables, signs, and trees often create beautiful compositions, and, sometimes, the fluffy Dutch clouds make a banal photo spectacular.

Use your phone like a pro. Even if you’re not a pro, you can still learn the basics like how to focus, adjust exposure, use grid lines, etc.

But above all, don’t worry about having the “right” gear. In Amsterdam, beauty rarely stands still for a tripod. Let yourself wander, watch for where the light lands, and trust that your phone (and your eye) will find the story worth telling.

Photography apps and settings to use

While Amsterdam’s beauty is generous, a little digital help never hurts. Familiarise yourself with your phone’s camera settings; experiment with HDR for moody skies or portrait mode for those insta-worthy canal-side portraits. If you’d like to edit on-the-go, install a few aps like Snapseed, VSCO, Lightroom Mobile or CapCut.

If you’re keen to remember the city exactly as you found it, try a manual camera app. These let you play with ISO, shutter speed, and white balance right from your phone, turning you from mere snapper to true image-maker.

Common smartphone photography challenges in Amsterdam

Every photographer, at some point, will face the city’s unique trials. Amsterdam’s weather, for one, is known for its unpredictability. One minute, sunlight sparkles on the canals; the next, rain sends you running for cover, lens smeared in droplets. A soft microfiber cloth is your best friend, so always keep one handy for wiping rain from your screen.

Low light is another issue, especially when you try to immortalise the interior of a brown café or find yourself chasing blue hour reflections. Challenge yourself to hold steady, use built-in stabilisation, or brace against a bridge railing for a sharper shot. And don’t underestimate the power of night mode, because modern phones see in the dark better than our own eyes.

Lastly, there’s the challenge of dodging bicycles and crowds, all while composing the perfect frame. Sometimes, it’s a dance that leaves your phone (and your nerves) on edge: beware the risk of slips, drops, or that dreaded moment your device clatters dangerously close to the canal’s edge. Not once I slipped on the cobbled streets or sidewalks edge and fell, luckily with no major injuries (even though my main concern was always to protect the camera/phone). And I definitely lost track of the times I dropped my phone (which is always covered in protective items, otherwise it wouldn’t survive in my hands).
However, there’s no need to worry. The best photos sometimes happen when you embrace these obstacles.

What to do if your phone lets you down

Imagine this: you just framed the perfect shot on Brouwersgracht, then a cyclist rushes by, and, in an instant, your phone is sliding across centuries-old cobblestones or, worse yet, flirting dangerously with canal water. Or, maybe you are like me, always carrying a charger, because the battery failed you too many times to trust it anymore. And, right when you booked tickets to the Rijksmuseum, you forget to take your charger, and your battery dies in the middle of taking a selfie with Rembrandt.

There are solutions for this, so you don’t have to panic if your phone has an accident. In Amsterdam, the most known place for phone repairs is The PhoneLab. They’ve seen it all – cracked screens, glitchy cameras, battery rebellion – and their swift hands can save you from imminent phone disaster. They are quick – 30 minutes to an hour for a new battery, that won’t die on you after a couple of photos. Just make sure to mention if you’d like to have an original piece as a replacement, to keep your warranty. A cheaper version is possible as well, if you don’t care about that. There are four shops in the city, so you can head to the closest to solve your phone problem.
And while you’re waiting, there’s always analog Amsterdam to enjoy. Sketch the scene, jot down a few impressions, or simply watch the world go by from a café. Sometimes, a pause reveals beauty you’d otherwise rush past.

Amsterdam never runs out of scenes worth capturing, no matter the medium you choose to do it. It’s a city that inspires me even after 14 years. I’m still mesmerised by the sparkles, the reflections, the clouds, people and canals. Not necessarily in this order. At the end of the day, the most important is to follow your inspiration and take the photos your eye sees and capture the scenes your heart is drawn to.

Stay tuned for more and follow Amsterdamian on Instagram and Facebook for daily stories about life in the Netherlands. Please share this post if you liked it!

Check out my photo book: Amsterdam Through the Seasons!