This blog has moved to: http://www.sharemytravel.wordpress.com/
I visited Amsterdam for the first time in April 2004 when I stopped there for
one night on my way back from Egmond am See. Amsterdam is often referred to as the Venice of the North, a town with beautiful canals crossed by over a thousand bridges. That was a nice experience, enhanced by a couple of surprises. So this second time I already knew what to expect.
Amsterdam is famous for tulips but is also the city of the Red Light District and Cannabis. And funnily enough, as much as you won’t miss a visit to the Vatican and the Pope when you are in Rome, here you shouldn’t miss the Red Light District to see the hookers on display. It has become a tourist attraction. You also won’t miss the appalling smell of hashish when walking behind street smokers or when passing in front of the famous coffeeshops. By the way, if you want to have a coffee, go to a Café and not a Coffeeshop. The latter only serves
menus with different types of marijuana, hashish and mushrooms.Despite this unrestricted element which may appear too lousy for the tight conservative, Amsterdam is considered as a safe city. However, don’t be misled by this false sense of security, as when you least expect, you can go down the tram and suddenly discover that you are a couple of euros less in weight as your wallet has vanished. That’s what happened to a Spanish guy who was moving out of the tram, when a short middle aged bald guy who was looking around for victims, pressed hard against the crowded passengers and got lost before the other even had time to realize what went missing. But that can happen everywhere.
I arrived in Amsterdam Schipol Airport at 16.30 after taking a connection flight from Munich. Schipol is a big Airport but easily accessible. The best way to get to Amsterdam centre is to take the train to Amsterdam Central Station. The service is very frequent (every 10 minutes) and the journey takes a little more than 15 minutes. You can buy the tickets from a place called Amsterdam Plaza in the Terminal. A one way ticket to Amsterdam Central Station costs €4.40.
As you go out of the Train Station, confusion reigns. Be prepared. Apparently they are building a new metro system in the city and construction works are still in progress. So there are blue boards erected around the construction site as soon as you leave the Station. The part exactly in front of the Main Station Entrance is closed for the Public. However, immediately opposite the station, there is a Tourist Office and adjacent to it to the left the Public Transport ticket office. Make sure you take a client number from the machine as soon as you enter. The client number to be served will appear on an electronic screen. But beware, they don’t even give you time to attend to the next desk, especially in the transport ticket office. I have noticed that assistants behind the counters tend to get nervous very easily in Amsterdam. So this is what happened to me.
I was waiting for my number to appear on the screen. Suddenly the guy at desk 3 was calling the numbers and he didn’t even bother to wait a couple of seconds for the customers to approach him. When I saw my number I hurried to Desk 3 and there was a lady who got to the counter before me.
As soon as I said “I have number 5”, a fiftyish thin Dutch guy behind the counter said, “Don’t push, I’m talking to the lady.” I was surprised as I wasn’t even pushing anyone. In the meantime the guy was calling the next number. So I repeated “I have number 5” and the guy replied, “You’re late!” And I said “I came here immediately you called my number”. The expression on his face changed and he said “OK what do you want?”
Well, I was then served by this ill-mannered stupid snob. Even though I wouldn't like to generalize, it was disappointing to note that such behaviour was quite common. For example, beware of some attendants at shop counters in Damrak; they think they are doing you a favour.
Amsterdam, originally Amstelrdam, means dam on the river Amstel. It is divided into five concentric semi-circular canals - Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht and Singelgracht.
http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/visiting
Where to stay
Amsterdam has a good choice of hotels but if you are a bit choosy regarding accommodation, it is better to book a four star hotel. It is my impression that there are many three star hotels which are due for a refurbishment and therefore leave much to be desired. During my first visit in 2004 I had stayed at Hotel Prins Hendrik at Prins Hendrikkade, very close and to the left of the Central Train Station.
This time I stayed at the Hotel Golden Tulip Amsterdam Centre, at Nieuwe Nieuwstraat, which is in a very convenient location a bit further down around 10 minutes walking from the central station. There is a tram stop across the road out of the Hotel.
http://www.goldentulipamsterdamcentre.com/?Language=EN
Places to visit
In my opinion, the first thing which a visitor should do in Amsterdam is to take a boat tour. From the boat on the waters of the canals you can get an idea of what the city is all about. A trip takes approximately 1 hour and tickets may be purchased from the Rondvaart (Excursion) Pier at Damrak, Prins Hendrikkade, and Rokin near Muntplein. Trips leave every 45 minutes from 10am to 4pm and cost €8.
Next it would be a good idea to take a walk around the city. If you are staying near the Central Station, then it is just a 10 minutes walk to Dam Square, the most famous square of Amsterdam, which is always busy with people and street performers. Then from Dam Square you can cross the road towards Magna Plaza Shopping Centre and from there to the left you can reach Leidsplein in 20 minutes. Leidsplein square is the centre of night life in Amsterdam. Opposite the square usually busy with street performers, you will find the Leidsplein Theatre. It is also well known for its good restaurants. I can recommend the very good and inexpensive Italian “Ristorante Pizzeria Sette Bello” at Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 89. 
From Leidsplein it is easy to get to the Museumplein, where you will find the famous Rijkmuseum, Stedelijk Museum and the Van Gogh Museum. If you are keen on museums and you appreciate art, then make sure you visit these two museums where you can admire the beauty of the paintings by Dutch painters such as Rembrandt and the whole museum dedicated to the works of Vincent Van Gogh.
There are other attractions worth a visit, such as the Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum at Dam Square as well as Anne Frank’s House, the Amsterdam Dungeon and the Museum of Torture. It always depends on your tastes and on the time available.
For those who like shopping, take the street parallel to Damrak, Nieuwendijk, to the left of the Train station until you reach Dam Square. Then proceed through the opposite street, Kalverstraat which takes you down as far as Muntplein square, between Rokin and Singel canals.
It is worth buying a day card (€7) which can be used for 24 hours on all city transport (trams, buses and metro). A single trip costs €1.60.
Attractions outside Amsterdam centre
Amsterdam Arena
Amsterdam Arena is located outside the city centre
and is the home stadium of the well know club Ajax Amsterdam. It is one of the few stadiums with a roof, which however takes around 20 min to close consuming around €1000 of electricity. Organised tours are held every day and the first tour starts at 11am (€10.50).
The best way to get to Amsterdam Arena is to take the me
tro train number 54 from Central Station to Strandvliet. The stadium is just outside the metro station (http://www.amsterdamarena.nl/over_amsterdam_arena/en).
Zaanse Schans
Places to visit
In my opinion, the first thing which a visitor should do in Amsterdam is to take a boat tour. From the boat on the waters of the canals you can get an idea of what the city is all about. A trip takes approximately 1 hour and tickets may be purchased from the Rondvaart (Excursion) Pier at Damrak, Prins Hendrikkade, and Rokin near Muntplein. Trips leave every 45 minutes from 10am to 4pm and cost €8.
Next it would be a good idea to take a walk around the city. If you are staying near the Central Station, then it is just a 10 minutes walk to Dam Square, the most famous square of Amsterdam, which is always busy with people and street performers. Then from Dam Square you can cross the road towards Magna Plaza Shopping Centre and from there to the left you can reach Leidsplein in 20 minutes. Leidsplein square is the centre of night life in Amsterdam. Opposite the square usually busy with street performers, you will find the Leidsplein Theatre. It is also well known for its good restaurants. I can recommend the very good and inexpensive Italian “Ristorante Pizzeria Sette Bello” at Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 89. 
From Leidsplein it is easy to get to the Museumplein, where you will find the famous Rijkmuseum, Stedelijk Museum and the Van Gogh Museum. If you are keen on museums and you appreciate art, then make sure you visit these two museums where you can admire the beauty of the paintings by Dutch painters such as Rembrandt and the whole museum dedicated to the works of Vincent Van Gogh.
There are other attractions worth a visit, such as the Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum at Dam Square as well as Anne Frank’s House, the Amsterdam Dungeon and the Museum of Torture. It always depends on your tastes and on the time available.For those who like shopping, take the street parallel to Damrak, Nieuwendijk, to the left of the Train station until you reach Dam Square. Then proceed through the opposite street, Kalverstraat which takes you down as far as Muntplein square, between Rokin and Singel canals.
It is worth buying a day card (€7) which can be used for 24 hours on all city transport (trams, buses and metro). A single trip costs €1.60.
Attractions outside Amsterdam centre
Amsterdam Arena
Amsterdam Arena is located outside the city centre
and is the home stadium of the well know club Ajax Amsterdam. It is one of the few stadiums with a roof, which however takes around 20 min to close consuming around €1000 of electricity. Organised tours are held every day and the first tour starts at 11am (€10.50).The best way to get to Amsterdam Arena is to take the me
tro train number 54 from Central Station to Strandvliet. The stadium is just outside the metro station (http://www.amsterdamarena.nl/over_amsterdam_arena/en).
Zaanse Schans
This is a beautiful typical Dutch village on the banks of the River Zaan, where one can find historical windmills still in working condition. A very pleasant afternoon excursion.
To visit Zaanse Schans take bus 91 to Saansdam from the Bus terminus near the Central Station (http://www.zaanseschans.nl/).
Keugenhof Garden
This is wonderful Garden where one can admire the beautiful flowers for which Holland is so famous. It is best visited in April and May when these flowers are in full bloom. In the garden one can also enter inside a windmill from where one can enjoy a beautiful panorama of the Dutch tulip fields, laid in different colours like natural paintings. One can also enjoy a boat trip in the canals that join the fields. 
To reach the place you have to take the train from Amsterdam Central to Leiden (platform 14A) (€15.40 day return). Then proceed by bus number 54 from the Bus Station for a 20 minute ride which takes you right to the main entrance of the park. Park is open from (08.30 – 19.30 and entry ticket costs €13.50).
http://www.stsite.com/Keukenhof
http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=20795
This is wonderful Garden where one can admire the beautiful flowers for which Holland is so famous. It is best visited in April and May when these flowers are in full bloom. In the garden one can also enter inside a windmill from where one can enjoy a beautiful panorama of the Dutch tulip fields, laid in different colours like natural paintings. One can also enjoy a boat trip in the canals that join the fields. 
To reach the place you have to take the train from Amsterdam Central to Leiden (platform 14A) (€15.40 day return). Then proceed by bus number 54 from the Bus Station for a 20 minute ride which takes you right to the main entrance of the park. Park is open from (08.30 – 19.30 and entry ticket costs €13.50).
http://www.stsite.com/Keukenhof
http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=20795
