Although Amsterdam may not be the seat of the Dutch government, which sits in The Hague, the capital is the country’s largest and most vibrant city.

Famous for its historic Red Light District and permissive attitude toward marijuana, authorities nonetheless have tried to clean up the city’s reputation in recent years. Regardless of the kind of tourist who may book a trip to Amsterdam, the city has always offered plenty of interest to business travelers.

Many multinational companies have a presence here, including Nike, Booking.com and Tesla, taking advantage of a friendly business climate and the amazing English skills of the local population. Some have offices in the center of town while others are a short journey away, but Amsterdam’s compact layout and great transport links make it easy to get where you need to go.

The Netherlands is a nation of cyclists, and one of the first things to impress visitors is the sheer number of bikes on the roads and the amazing infrastructure set up to facilitate journeys on two wheels. If you want to join the ranks of Amsterdam cyclists, you can easily rent a bike from one of the many shops in the city. MacBike and Black Bikes are two popular options and a great, cheap way to join in with local culture. Just beware the winds that often whistle through the flat landscape; they can make even the most hardened cyclist wish they had an electric bike to help them along.

If you’d rather not get around on two wheels, check out the extensive network of trams, trains, buses and even a metro system that make getting around the city a breeze. Buy single tickets if you will be making a limited number of journeys, or go for unlimited passes valid for one, two, three or five days if you will hop around town. Of course you can also hire a taxi from myriad firms — as well as Uber — if you need a car. It’s worth checking journey times before you set off, however, as the tight canal-side streets in the middle of the city can mean biking and public transport are significantly faster than a car.

The Zuidas neighborhood in the south of the city is known as Amsterdam’s business district, where you will likely spend at least some time. Have breakfast at Lebkov & Sons or The Breakfast Club and then head to Loetje or the rooftop at Circl for meetings. Need to impress clients? Book lunch or dinner at Michelin-starred Bolenius, and then entertain them at Bar Valdi.

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Those working with creative clients may find Amsterdam Noord more suitable. A short ferry ride from Amsterdam Centraal station, Noord is known for its cultural scene, with restaurants, bars and clubs in the former shipyard at NDSM, now a burgeoning creative hot spot. Try breakfast at Café Keppler or Pllek; take some meetings at Café-Restaurant Metro or Chateau Amsterdam; and then settle in for lunch at the restaurant at EYE Film Institute, where the massive windows offer great views over the river IJ. Next door find the famous A’dam Lookout, a rooftop bar 20 stories up offering great views of the city. It also features an over-the-edge swing if you want to inject some adrenaline into proceedings.

Plenty of other striking venues around the city will help make an impression. One example is REM Eiland, a restaurant housed in a 72-foot-tall platform on the IJ which used to house a pirate radio station. Book a three-course dinner in summer, and you can watch the sun go down over the water as you eat.

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Another is Hortus Botanicus, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world and home to De Plantage restaurant. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it provides an oasis of calm in a busy city. The Hortus also offers meeting venues for those who need to organize an event.

Amsterdam may have a reputation as a rowdy destination, but it remains a key European business city that continues to attract international businesses. With these recommendations you will impress even local Dutch contacts with your knowledge of the city and its hidden spots. If you have time, it’s worth tacking on a few days in order to enjoy the picturesque canals in the center of the city or take a daytrip to the historical towns of Haarlem or Utrecht.