Amsterdam

WHY NOW: The famed good-time city is cleaning up its act and it's buzzing with creativity. This year marks the 400th anniversary of its canals and the 160th birthday of Vincent van Gogh. Amsterdam Fashion Week opens on January 23 with a record 35 shows. amsterdamfashionweek.com

WHERE TO STAY: The one-room Hôtel Droog; the smart Sir Albert in the De Pijp Latin Quarter; The Exchange, with each room designed by a fashion student; the Marcel Wanders-designed Andaz; and Hotel Seven One Seven, a converted townhouse with canal views. The art'otel Amsterdam, a boutique hotel housing its own art gallery, opens this summer. hoteldroog.com; siralberthotel.com; hoteltheexchange.com; 717hotel.nl; artotels.com

HIPPEST HANGOUTS: Art lovers will gather in the Rijksmuseum this April when it reopens after a decade-long renovation, while foodies should sample the cuisine at the oddly named &samhoud places restaurant, which has just received its second Michelin star. rijksmuseum.nl; samhoudplaces.com

CITY STYLE ICONS: Doutzen Kroes is often photographed on Miami Beach, but her private residence is in a smart district of Amsterdam. Alongside fellow Dutch models Kim Noorda and Marloes Horst, she's the face of the city at its most glamorous.

WHAT TO PACK: Think utility chic. Locals go everywhere by bike, so their wardrobes are practical but also stylish.