Travel Guides: All Countries / Europe / Netherlands, The / Amsterdam
 |  | Travel Reviews : Amsterdam |
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| | | | Review by Ian Raymond from Swindon, England
Although Amsterdam, like any other European capital, is a little expensive - it is by far the most exciting and pictureque. From the canals to the museums to the red light district, there is always something to do and see here. From the hustle and bustle or Dam Square to the quiet street of Jordaan, there is something for everyone. In my opinion it one of those place you must experience before you die! I have experienced it five times now and I never get bored of Amsterdam....
Review by NaNa Stoelzle from Casper, Wyoming, USA
architecture, canals, museums, rain, bicycles, history!
Van Gogh - the talk of Amsterdam
The talk in Amsterdam is of the new Van Hoff exhibition.
Van Hoff? Arsenal's new midfield dynamo bought at the price of a new hospital from PSV Eindhoven?
Actually, it's the artist formerly known as Vincent Van Gogh.
In Dutch, 'Gogh' is an explosive, throat-clearing sort of sound that can startle people of a nervous disposition.
The wonderful new-ish Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam contains a fascinating exhibition of work by Vincent and Gauguin (still pronounced Go Ga apparently).
You get a marvellous audio guide to the key paintings, which refers throughout to Van Hoff. Horblimey, you start to think.
On show are 120 key works produced by the two artists while they worked together in 1888 in their Arles 'Studio of the South'.
This was the subject of the 1955 film Lust For Life starring Kirk Douglas as Vincent and Anthony Quinn as Gauguin.
The film was a typical chunk of Hollywood hokum yet it's hard to look at the paintings without recalling snatches of daft dialogue.
Quinn: 'All I see when I look at your paintings is just that you paint too fast.'
Douglas: 'You look too fast!'
The exhibition reinforces suspicions that Gauguin was a twit.
Vincent was clearly the genius of the two (The Yellow House is simply breathtaking).
This was my first trip to Amsterdam for more than 10 years, I'm ashamed to admit.
I was reminded that the city is certainly the equal of Paris as a short-break destination.
I took the chance to revisit the extraordinarily moving Anne Frank House museum, which has impressively expanded and developed since I was last there.
But Amsterdam is essentially a place for strolling, gazing and lingering at pavement cafes.
The general lack of city-centre traffic is a very appealing quality.
So here's to Holland - or is it gere's to Golland?
Travel Guide: Amsterdam
The bed of John and Yoko
On March 25, 1969, John Lennon and his new wife, Yoko Ono, checked in to room 902 of the Amsterdam Hilton for their honeymoon, bringing with them just 100 or so of their closest friends in the media.
John and Yoko had promised a 'Bed-In For Peace' - a sort of horizontal sit-in before the world's press to bring an end to war.
Lennon vowed to stay put until the Americans removed their troops from Vietnam, a threat that probably neither Lennon nor the Americans took terribly seriously.
John and Yoko were masters at manipulating the media. A few months previously, they had released their first album, Two Virgins, with nude pictures of the couple, front and back, on the cover. The record was promptly banned.
With the controversy over the album, and with the juxtaposition of the words 'bed-in' with ' honeymoon', the representatives of the press were looking forward to a wonderfully salacious story.
John said later: 'They expected us to have sex in front of them.' What they got instead were earnest speeches about world peace from the pyjama-clad couple.
It was the honeymoon as performance art. But some didn't get the joke. One newspaper said: 'A not inconsiderable talent seems to have gone completely off his rocker.'
But for all its apparent daftness, the Bed-In - which continued the next week at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal - did manage to give a boost to the nascent anti-war movement.
And it gave us the anthemic Give Peace A Chance, recorded by John and Yoko and friends during the Bed-In.
TRAVEL DETAILS:
Amsterdam Hilton, Apollolaan 138, 1077 BG Amsterdam, http://www.hilton.com tel: 0031 20 710 6000.
Travel Guide: Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Holland: Split personality city
The labyrinthine Centraal train station is where most trips to Amsterdam start.
It's a convenient point. Directly outside the exit are the tourist information centre and kiosks selling tickets for canal boat tours.
Noisy hordes of tourists of every age and nationality whirl by endlessly, drawn by a seedy strip of neon-lit bars and cashpoints. True Amsterdam begins at imposing Dam Square nearby.
The one rule first-timers to Amsterdam learn instantly is: look left and right before crossing any street.
There are 600,000 bicycles to watch out for, as well as trams and cars, so almost getting run over is a regular hazard, even on "quiet" cobbled roads.
If you've only got a day, Dam Square, fringed by a grim royal palace, Madame Tussauds and the De Nieuwe Kerk church, is a good location for walkabouts.
Amsterdam's thriving red light district attracts throngs of tourists on rowdy stag nights - a trend local authorities are reportedly trying to stamp out.
Prostitutes work in small glass-doored cubicles along alleyways in the heart of the zone. Women in skimpy underwear stand or sit inches away looking bored.
At night the alleys are clogged with visitors, mainly men, there to gawp or buy. Taking photos is forbidden.
Travel Guide: Amsterdam
Like home with more culture
Amsterdam was one of my best holidays, you feel like you're still at home but with a lot more culture.
The people are very friendly and there is lots to do and see. I did most of it but most enjoyed the canal rides to different coffee shops!
Travel Guide: Amsterdam
Great for solo travellers
This was my first solo trip away and it turned out to be the best decision I've ever made. I have no sense of direction whatsoever but I easily found my way around this clean and friendly city.
Every Dutch person I spoke to seemed well versed in a number of different languages and it was fantastic value for money too.
I would highly recommend Amsterdam to everyone, regardless of age or background. From modes of transport to nationality, everything works in harmony!
Travel Guide: Amsterdam
Going Dutch for the weekend
Amsterdam has long been a favourite destination for a quick weekend away. With flights from most UK airports, it's easily reached from all parts of the country.
Whether you want to explore elegant canals or are drawn by racier attractions, it's an easy city to get to know in just a few days.
Most major sights are within walking distance in the city's historic heart.
A boat trip is the best way to get a general introduction to Amsterdam. There's a vast choice on offer.
Some boats give just a brief tour of the city's main canals. Others include lunch or dinner. Some operate like a bus service, allowing passengers to jump on and off at major sights.
After a boat trip, head for the Jordaan district to take a closer look at some of the capital's prettiest canals.
Canals such as Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht are lined by beautiful old houses. Humpback bridges lead off to narrow streets with quirky shops.
When your feet tire of the ancient cobblestones, stop for a drink in one of the Jordaan's "brown" bars - more typically Amsterdam than some of the tourist traps elsewhere in the city.
Not far from the Jordaan is the canalside house where schoolgirl Anne Frank wrote her famous diary while hiding from the Nazis in 1942-44. The inside of the building is kept as it was in the '40s. Get there early to avoid the queues.
Travel Guide: Amsterdam
Amsterdam: Water and whine
Amsterdam - stag night city. At least that's what springs to the mind of the average male Brit with a wedding coming up.
Over the years, I have waved off a brother, friends (numerous), even my father, who swears he spotted a stalwart of Kuala Lumpur's British women's bridge club sitting in one of those famous windows in the red light district. He says she was playing cards.
Amsterdam's liberal approach to entertainment has always lent the city a certain air of raciness. And certainly there's a lot to do if you have the energy.
I've just come back with my two children and they are as worn out as any best man - only for different reasons.
We were there because someone told us Amsterdam is a great place for families. Small and safe enough to walk round, with sights and sounds to make every outing an adventure. City life for beginners.
But first, we had to persuade our daughters to leave the apartment. We had come to stay in the Jordaan, the sometime Jewish quarter of old Amsterdam. Lanky 17th-century houses are reflected in the canals flowing just below their doorsteps.
Boats glide up and down, bicycles swish over cobbles past shops full of curios. All slightly surreal.
You feel the world need only tilt a little and everything would slide gently into the still waters.
The autumn sunshine is dazzling. And yet my children don't want to go anywhere. Why? Because their jaws had dropped the moment we walked through the door.
Ten and 13, they are aware of TV makeovers and loft living. But this is the real thing: a ground floor of an elderly house, hollowed out and filled with modern art and concrete walls.
There are clouds painted on the ceiling, multi-coloured chandeliers. Gleaming Buddhas and Egyptian statues are set into the wall.
Travel Guide: Amsterdam
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| | | | Friendly by day, edgy by night
Culture junkies have more than 50 museums to explore around Amsterdam. The best known, and most crowded, are ones dedicated to artists Van Gogh and Rembrandt and Anne Frank, who hid from the Nazis in a house on Prinsengracht street from 1942-44. Standing in Anne's bedroom is a moving moment on the tour of her former home.
The largely empty rooms take about an hour to see. Displays include brief video interviews with friends and excerpts from Anne's famous diary.
Information is quite sparse. There's little background on the Franks as a whole, but lots of books in the shop.
The way to relax and take in Amsterdam is to travel by boat along the numerous canals snaking through the city.
Hour-long trips leave from opposite Centraal Station regularly. One tip: if commentary is recorded, sit under a speaker and near a TV screen, else background music will drown it out.
Gliding down the Emperor, Princess and Brewery canals, past five-storey gabled homes affords some great views.
Amsterdam's laid-back approach famously extends to marijuana and hash, sold at coffee shops throughout the city.
Unlike regular coffee bars, they've got whimsical names like Homegrown Fantasy. Menus list the flavour, character and price of what's in stock.
The residents are another reason to go - Amsterdam has an edginess at night, but by day it's a friendly place where strangers chat to you in the street.
Great for art and flowers
Art lovers will have a field day in Amsterdam. Top spots are the Rijksmuseum - home to many famous masterpieces - the Van Gogh Museum and Rembrandt's house.
No visit to Holland would be complete without flowers, of course.
Most visitors head for Amsterdam's floating market. It's colourful, if not very big - and some stalls have abandoned flowers in favour of tat.
Amsterdam is at its busiest in spring, when tourists flock to see the huge bulbfields on the outskirts of the capital.
The massive patchwork of tulips in all colours makes for a spectacular sight.
This year, however, you don't have to visit in spring for a floral extravaganza. Holland plays host to the world's biggest horticultural show this summer.
Floriade is held in Holland only every 10 years. This year's show runs from April 6 to October 20.
It is being staged on a 160-acre site within an hour's train ride of Amsterdam.
Netherlands Board of Tourism, PO Box 30783, London WC2B 6DH. Tel 0906 871 7777 (60p per minute).
Water and whine
It's true what they say about Amsterdam - everyone cycles. Mothers pedal their infants in barrows fixed to the front of their bikes like butchers' boys.
That's what my girls want to do now. Hire bikes and cycle across the bridges - and myriad tramlines.
Despite the bikes, the city still has its share of traffic, and, as they speak, I can hear the sound of an ambulance. Tomorrow, I promise them. When we've got our bearings.
In the meantime, there are the canals. Wide-bottomed canal buses gently navigate the city, barely leaving a wake.
Too easy, mutters my husband, so we end up on a canal bike instead, a four-seater pedalo we have to power ourselves.
We are sweating as we pedal past the spire of the Westerkerk under the bows of passing canal buses. Not quite so gentle when they're hooting at you.
It gives you an appetite, trying to paddle faster than the coots. So it's off to an eetcafe for poffertjes (tiny pancakes).
Amsterdam is dotted with these small restaurants smelling of cinnamon, selling wedges of apple pie. Try Neilsens on Berenstraat for the biggest servings.
Next day, the girls still want to hire bikes. We have spent the morning in the Waterlooplein, the city's biggest and best flea market.
It's an Amsterdam thing - shopping on a budget, and now look at us. We are carrying a pile of crockery, an Australian dream catcher, a silk jacket - and a didgeridoo (honestly). How could we cycle with all that?
Besides, across the canal, a bicycle is tethered, its front wheel bent and melted like a Dali clock. I can hear that ambulance again. Tomorrow, I promise them. If it's not raining.
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| | | | Hire bikes and cycle
Anyway, no need to cycle. We have a date with the KinderkookKafe, a restaurant made famous for having children prepare and serve the food. And like everything else in the Old Centre, it's only a stroll away.
But here, things get confusing. We all know what red light districts are like. They are seamy and tacky. Always at the wrong end of town. The scenery changes long before you arrive there. Doesn't it?
Not in Amsterdam. One moment you're counting the house numbers looking for a children's cafe, the next you're staring at a woman dressed up as a nurse. And she's offering more than a cup of Ovaltine.
'Mum,' begins the ten-year-old. 'Why are those ladies. . .'
'Keep walking.'
'But Mummy. . .'
'Look, we're late.'
'But Daddy's slowing down.'
And so we arrive at the KinderkookKafe, at the end of the Oudezijds Achterburgwal, panting because it's difficult being made to yomp when you're only ten and carrying a didgeridoo.
We leave the girls at the cafe. They are going to learn to cook Dutch food and we have three hours to ourselves. No time to take in the Rijksmuseum. Wrong end of town for Van Gogh.
A few doors down, outside the Green Grass coffee shop, we stop, catching the scents of something not smelt since our student days.
We catch sight of our reflections in the window. We look like Joyce Grenfell and Alastair Sim.
So we carry on walking and head for Spui, a bustling square of bookshops and brown cafes serving geneva gin and all the atmosphere you could want.
The girls told us everything they learned about Dutch cuisine. 'It's all apples,' they said. 'And carrots. And green stuff.' Next night we have dinner in 't Zwaantje in the Jordaan, serving its own brand of Dutch cooking, and they were pretty much right.
We leave the didgeridoo at home when we go to Nemo, the science museum where every exhibit is hands-on, a must for anyone coming to Amsterdam with children.
And we are empty handed when we come away from the Anne Frank House. Impressively, the museum shop stocks nothing but shelves of a single book, and we have that already.
For the last time, the girls ask to hire bikes. We are watching a mechanical claw arm piling a barge with rusting bicycles retrieved from the bottom of the canal. This time, though, I can't hear the ambulance.
'When we come again,' I tell them. 'Definitely.'
TRAVEL DETAILS:
Details on: 0870 777 9195 (www.holidaystoholland.co.uk).
Kinderkookkafe, Oudezijds Achterburgwal 193. Tel: 00 31 20 625 3257.
't Zwaantje restaurant, Berenstraat 12. Tel: 00 31 20 623 2373.
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| | Destination Guide : Amsterdam |
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| | | World's best hangout |  | Why go on holiday to Amsterdam?
The Netherlands' capital is one of the world's best hangouts, a place where you can immerse yourself in history, art, in the head of a beer or a self-rolled smokestack.
The city is a canny blend of old and new and, with its cosmopolitan feel, you'll find it hard to pack up and leave.
How much does it cost?
For a three-night city break, including flight, from £200. If you buy a flight-only return, book accommodation beforehand as Amsterdam is busy year-round. Flights from £70 return. Hotels from £40. Prices do vary so shop around.
When should I go?
Amsterdam is an all-year-round destination. The summer months are great as the whole city seems to live outdoors but it's the peak tourist season so prices are hiked.
Sunniest months are May to August, hottest June to September, with highs of 21C/70F. From mid-October to mid-March, the weather is miserable but there's still lots to see including skating on the canals if it gets cold enough.
Rainfall is spread throughout the year.
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| | | Old Masters |  | What should I do when I'm there?
The Rijksmuseum, the country's premier art museum, is a good place to overdose on old masters. And the popular Van Gogh Museum nearby is home to more than 200 paintings by Vincent. The other main tourist attraction is Anne Frankhuis, which tells the story of the famous Jewish Frank family.
What else can I see?
Taking a canal boat trip is a great way of seeing the city. The Jordaan district is a good place to hang out as there are many pubs, bars and arty types walking around. The Diamond Factory is worth a look to find out how these beautiful stones are cut.
Should I avoid the red-light district?
It's actually a very pretty part of town and you can pretend you're there for the architecture if you need an excuse. Crowds of sightseers mingle with would-be pimps, drunks, weirdos, drug dealers and Salvation Army soldiers.
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| | | Entertainment capital | | Where's good for nightlife?
One of the entertainment capitals of the world with wonderful pubs, music and great theatre. When the locals say cafe they mean pub and there's an assortment to pick from.
Theatre cafes attract performing artists, the brown cafes have sand on the floor and nicotine-stained walls. The grand cafes are big and often have classical music. For information on the best nightclubs, music, etc, buy the weekly Uitkrant.
What's the food like?
Dutch cuisine is not exactly world famous but you'll find virtually every other cuisine under the sun. A standard Dutch meal consists of potatoes, meat and vegetables, in daunting portions.
Try the delicious pancakes from the street vendors who offer a tantalising choice.
What should I buy?
Amsterdam's famous for its diamond industry — they're not cheap here but prices are competitive and if you buy from a factory you get a detailed description of what you're buying.
A cheaper souvenir is the excellent chocolate. Find art and antiques in Spiegelgracht, interesting shops in the Jordaan area, a great market at Albert Cuyp and the Waterlooplein flea market's worth a visit. Check out the floating flower market along Singel.
What is there for children to do?
Attitudes to children here are very positive with lots of fun things to do. The Vondelpark is a good place for a family picnic. There's a beach at Zandvoort, only a short train ride away. The Tropenmuseum also has a good activities section.
Tourist office
Netherlands Board of Tourism, PO Box 30783, London, WC2B 6DH. Brochure line 0906 871 7777 (60p/min).
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| | Fact File : Amsterdam |
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| | | Amsterdam | | Did you know?
The centre of Amsterdam has more trees per square km than any other European capital.
Language
Dutch.
Visas
None required from UK.
Getting there
Most of the world's airlines fly direct to Amsterdam's Schiphol airport.
Flying time from London
50 minutes.
Getting around
Best way is to walk or cycle (you can hire a bike). Buses, trams and the metro are efficient and cheap.
Currency
Euro.
Costs
Pint of beer £1.70, 36 exposure camera film £4, moderate restaurant meal for two £15, short taxi ride £5.50, litre of petrol 75p. All prices will vary.
Weather
Sunniest months are May-August, hottest June-September with highs of 21C (70F), winter lows 4C (39F). Rainfall spread throughout the year, usually drizzly.
Time difference
One hour ahead of the UK.
International dialling code from the UK
00 31 20.
Voltage
220v. Bring an adaptor for the two-pin plugs.
Opening hours
Banks usually open 9am-4pm Monday-Friday, shops 9am-5.30pm Monday-Saturday. Some shops don't open til noon Mondays. Many museums are closed Mondays. Post offices open weekdays 9am-5pm. The main post office at Singel 250 also opens Saturday morning.
Health — before you go
The UK has reciprocal health arrangements with The Netherlands but you'll need to take an EHIC form (get one at a UK post office). You may have to pay first and claim once you're home. No jabs required.
Health — when you are there
If you need an over-the-counter remedy go to the drogist (chemist) or, to fill a prescription, the apotheek (pharmacy).
Warnings
Beware of pickpockets. Avoid the following areas after dark: the alleyways of Nieuwendijk, the south end of Zeedijjk and Damrak. The bike is king in Amsterdam, with 400,000 cycles for the 727,000 inhabitants so never stop in a bike lane to look at a map — it drives locals nuts.
Emergency
Police 112. British Embassy, Koningslaan 44, near the Vondelpark. Tel: (00 31) (20) 676 4343. Open weekdays 9am-noon, 2pm-3.30pm.
Customs
Amsterdam has a great cafe society: the brown cafes (so-called from smoke stained ceilings) with wooden floors are the place for a meaningful chat, then there are the grand cafes (more comfy) and theatre cafes that attract artists, actors and theatregoers. In reality the cafes are pubs that also serve coffee.
Pets
Dogs and cats are allowed into The Netherlands with the relevant veterinary certificate. Check with your vet for details of the Pet Travel Scheme.
Tipping
Not compulsory, but if you're pleased with the service add 5-10%.
Tourist office
Netherlands Board of Tourism, PO Box 30783, London, WC2B 6DH. Brochure line 0906 8717777 (60p/min).
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| | Available rental properties in Amsterdam |
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| |  | | Luxury 2 double bedroom apartment + ADSL
75 m2 2 bedr. ap., center Amsterdam. Livingroom, luxury kitchen and bathroom, 2 bedrooms and balcony. with shops, restaurants, pubs nearbyCentral Station. Incl. ADSL connection
|  | | Romantic Garden house Weesp for two
In a picturesque city nearby Amsterdam is a beautiful guesthouse, separated from a residential historic farmhouse, available for you
|  | | Beautiful vacation apartment...
Beautiful renoveted apartment has two floors with two bedrooms, modern furnished with all the faciities, fully aquipt kichen and wireless internet..
|  | | STYLISH DESIGNED VACATION STUDIO
Cozy studio apartment with ambiance, in a lovely typical dutch location. with walking distant to all the major sights and nightlife spots.
|  | | New Luxury Studio Appartment
The Studio is located in a quiet part of Amsterdam. Around the corner lies the famous Amstel Hotel along the Amstel river.The city centre is at walking distance.
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Holiday Rentals in Amsterdam |
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 |  | Lively nightlife (7) | | | Family and kids (6) | | | Good dining (5) | | | Culture and history (4) | | | Shopping (3) |
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