Four centuries after the Golden Age, a period of prosperity and artistic achievement that transformed Amsterdam from a fishing village into a wealthy hub of international trade, this delightful city is in the middle of a new renaissance. Amsterdam is built on a manageable scale; walking and biking along the famous canals are ideal ways to view the 17th-century gabled merchants’ houses, as well as to visit the many flower markets, cafés and secondhand bookstores. Glass-topped boat trips and (if the winter gets cold enough) ice skating along the waterways offer other perspectives, especially at night, when many of the city’s bridges are illuminated.