Dam Square
The real core of the city is
Leidseplein & Rembrandtplein
The Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein are very crowded both throughout the day and night. When the sun is shining, the terraces quickly become filled. Street performers entertain the public mainly consisting of tourists, with acrobatic acts and music. At night the crowd changes: Amsterdammers go out here to celebrate, and to visit the theatres, cinemas and clubs. The bars and clubs, such as
Jordaan
Built in 1612 during the expansion of the city, the Jordaan neighborhood is well known all over the country for its specific street life, corny songs, sarcastic humor and working-class mentality. But this is mere nostalgia. Most of the Jordanezen (the native inhabitants) left some years ago for improved housing in neighboring cities like Almere and Purmerend. Nowadays, it is a district with many students and young urban professionals. The Jordaan accommodates several bars and cozy restaurants; it's like a small village in a big city. The area is located between Brouwersgracht, Prinsengracht, Raamstraat and Marnixstraat.
The Red-Light District (De Wallen)
The red-light district is the area left of the Damrak, the streets and canals in between Warmoesstraat and a square called
Canals
On February 1, 1999, the Dutch government decided to qualify the inner city of Amsterdam as a monument, a protected inner city view. The girdle of canals (ranging from the Singel Canal up to the Prinsengracht Canal) is a historically important part of this region, and it is one of the city's most attractive sights. The girdle of canals starts at
De Pijp
De Pijp was the first modern city development in Amsterdam at the end of the 19th Century. Many houses were built here very quickly for the growing amount of laborers. Nowadays De Pijp is known as the perfect example of a multicultural society. People from all over the world live here: young and old, students and artists. The main streets in De Pijp are
Museum Quarter
The Museum Quarter is the area around the Museumplein, just a ten minute-walk from Leidseplein. The main museums are situated here:
Banks of the River Ij
The most modern city developments have taken place on the southern banks of the
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Amsterdam is a main attraction in Europe for a few good reasons: the city is beautiful and the streets are not crowded with cars--watch out for the bikes though! The locals are kind, generous and typically speak English well and with a smile, and, like most European capitals, there's TONS to do! Below you'll find recommended tours around some of the city's most-visited attractions so you'll not only hit the Anne Frank House and the Red Light District, but also discover all of the gems in between.
Museumplein
In Amsterdam, the main art museums are clustered around the Museumplein, which lies between the old city center and Oud Zuid (Old South) neighborhood (home of the Vondelpark). An entire day can be spent around the Museum Square, or more than a whole day if you're big on art and classical music. Visit the biggest collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world at the Van Gogh Museum on the west side of the square (opposite the American Embassy). The Rijksmuseum, occupying the northern end of the rectangular square as the largest museum in Amsterdam, has a delightful collection of Dutch paintings as well as furniture, pastels and many other sections. Between these two museums is the reflecting pool where many tourists and locals flock in the summer to eat ice cream or browse for art souvenirs at the Museum Shop or from independent vendors on the square.
On the south side of the square you can follow signs underground for the Albert Heijn, the most popular national supermarket to purchase a baguette and cheese, sushi or salad for a laid-back lunch on the square; bumping carts with the locals has never been so much fun! Catch a concert at the Concertgebouw (Royal Concert Hall) either at lunchtime or just after 8p nightly. Check their website, as the variety of musical offerings is wide! An excellent place for lunch or dinner is Le Garage at Ruysdaelstraat 54 (fourth street on your left, walking east on the Van Baerlestraat) if you're digging an excellent gourmet meal. En Pluche has the same address as Le Garage but is more affordable, and every bit as trendy.
Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House is in a neighborhood called the Jordaan, west of the Dam Square and the old city center. Plan to arrive at the house early in the day to avoid the catastrophically long lines. Located on the Prinsengracht, the Anne Frank House takes an hour or two to experience. After your visit, you can spend the rest of the day wandering through the canals and popping into unique shops. Enjoy a cup of coffee at the café on the corner and the many souvenir stands that line Westerkerk (West Church) Square. Two monuments are located on this square: the Anne Frank statue on the southern side of the church, and the Homomonument on the Eastern edge of the square (on the other side of the taxis) pointing into the Keizersgracht Canal.
An idyllic afternoon can be spent shopping in the Negen Straatjes (the Nine Streets) by crossing over the Rozengracht (south of the Westerkerk) and wandering through the streets that run perpendicular to the canals on the inner side of the old city. In addition to the shops in the Negen Straatjes, there are a few gems on the Elandsgracht perpendicular to the Prinsengracht and the outside continuation of the Berenstraat (one of the Nine Streets). Visit La Savonnerie on the corner of the Elandsgracht and Prinsengracht for delicious soaps and beauty products that make excellent gifts or souvenirs. Many excellent restaurants and cafés line the Negen Straatjes; one of Amsterdam's favorites is Van Harte on the Hartenstraat in the Nine Streets.
Red Light District
A visit to Amsterdam would not be complete without saying one has seen the Red Light District. Located just east of the Dam Square and the Central Station, the Red Light District is not as shocking as one might think; still, it warrants a visit. Starting at the National Monument in the Dam Square, head east on the Damstraat for one block, then take a left onto the Oudezijds Achterburgwal. Walking down this canal gives a great impression of the Red Light District. Finish your walk of this canal at the scenic Oude Kerk—once there, cross the canal and go two blocks to take a right on the Zeedijk, which leads right to the Nieuwmarkt. The Nieuwmarkt offers an occasional market on the square with many cafés lining the street. Head down the Kloveniersburgwal to visit Jacob Hooij, an old Amsterdam establishment that features a breathtaking selection of teas and Dutch "drop" candies in a centuries-old building. As you approach the end of the Kloveniersburgwal, one good choice for dinner, dessert or drinks is Puccini (take a left onto Staalstraat, and it's on your left) which offers amazing chocolates and a wider selection of dinners, salads and desserts. Another excellent option is Café de Jaren (simply continue down the Kloveniersburgwal and bear right onto Nieuwe Doelenstraat, and the café is on your left) which offers a café with desserts and snacks downstairs and a full dinner menu upstairs, complete with a salad bar.
Flower Market
The flower market in Amsterdam is on many tourists' to-do list. Whether you want to bring bulbs home or simply buy a bouquet of tulips for your hotel room, the Flower Market offers it all, even magnets and other Dutch souvenirs. From the Flower Market, head west, cross the Koningsplein and walk along the canal one block to the Spui (a square). On this square you'll find two excellent bookshops: the Athenaeum and the American Book Center. Take a minute to step into the Begijnhof a few doors up from the American Book Center; you'll never know that you're still right in the middle of the busy city of Amsterdam once you've ventured inside. After exiting the Begijnhof, go up the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal to the Amsterdam Historical Museum on your right. The perfect way to end this day in Amsterdam is to go to Kantjil & De Tijger for dinner, a very popular Indonesian restaurant. If you're feeling adventurous, order a Rijsttafel (rice table) which is a selection of many different dishes brought to your table to share, family style. To visit this restaurant, take the Spuistraat north from the Spui; the restaurant is on the right side of the street.
Dam Square
Every tourist entering Amsterdam comes through the Dam Square, but what are the secrets to enjoying this tourist-ridden place? A few things are a must: visit the best souvenir shop in town located on the south side of the National Monument on the corner of the Damstraat; this shop is brighter, less crowded and offers more friendly service than the average souvenir shop in Amsterdam. Visit the beautiful Nieuwe Kerk next to the Royal Palace and enjoy the various entertainment options on the square itself. There are plenty of carnivals on the square and if you have children, a horse and carriage ride leaving from the square is sure to please! For drinks and eating, head west of the square to avoid all the tourist traps on the square itself and on the Damstraat. A trip to Amsterdam isn't complete without having real Dutch pancakes (pannenkoeken); visit Meneer Pannekoek on the corner of the Singel Canal and the Raadhuisstraat for excellent pancakes and traditional pea soup. For a truly luxurious dinner, head west from the Dam Square on the Raadhuistraat and take the second canal to the right, the Herengracht. Walk two blocks along this canal and you'll find the restaurant Lieve on the corner of the Herengracht and the Herenstraat offering delectable Belgian food in a fine dining atmosphere.
Every year, Amsterdam is visited by thousands of tourists from all over the world, all with varying budgets. Since Amsterdam offers hotels in all price classes, each and every tourist is guaranteed to find a good place to sleep, whether they have a lot to spend or not.
For those visitors who can really splash out and are willing to do so, there is the Amstel InterContinental, located in the very heart of the city: the best, the most luxurious and of course the most expensive of all. This is the hotel where film stars and royalty stay. It's conveniently located near the old center, important theatres, museums, restaurants and clubs.
Dam & Surroundings
The Dam, with its square and Royal Palace, is one of the most visited tourist areas in Amsterdam. This area is filled with plenty of hotels. Among the more expensive ones, there is the Crowne Plaza Amsterdam City Centre, not far from Centraal Station. From here you can easily get to the boats for a tour of the canals. On Dam Square itself there is the beautiful Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky. Die Port van Cleve is somewhat less expensive and is located just behind the famous Bijenkorf, as well as the Tulip Inn Dam Square which also fits in this price category. For those who are on a tight budget but want to stay in this part of the city, there are hotels like De Korenaer and De Gerstekorrel. Both are very centrally located, within walking distance of all major tourist attractions.
Leidseplein & Rembrandtplein
Both squares are cozy in the summertime, when the weather is nice and the terraces are full of people. This is also the place to be if you're into clubbing. In this area you can find expensive accommodations at places like the American Hotel and Amsterdam Marriott Hotel. Other hotels in the area include the Golden Tulip Amsterdam Centre and the NH Schiller, right on the Rembrandtplein. For the younger ones who like to go from youth hostel to youth hostel, there is the comfortable City Hostel Vondelpark, very close to Vondelpark. Also in this area you can find the very reasonably priced Hotel Abba.
Close by is the famous workers' district, De Jordaan. This district used to be a rather tough area, but has become one of the most popular residential areas. You can find the Ramada Amsterdam City Centre close to here.
Museumkwartier
This is the area around Museumplein (Museum Square) where you will find all of Amsterdam's major museums within walking distance, including the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum (Municipal Museum). The Bilderberg Garden Hotel is among the more expensive accommodations in the area, while the four-star Ramada Amsterdam Museum Square and the Ambassade Hotel are a bit more moderately priced. The Banks Mansion and Ramada Hotel & Suites are more or less equally priced. For those who like to be in a quieter area, Hotel Heemskerk is recommended.
Along the river Gaasp you will find the Belfort Hotel which is located near the ring road. For the business traveler who needs to stay close to the airport, there is the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Hilton, just two minutes from the main terminal. The rooms are all provided with soundproof windows, so don't worry about the noise. You can be in the city center within 15 minutes. There is also the Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel & Conference Center. Do keep in mind that most of the hotels in Amsterdam charge 5 percent city tax, which is often not included in prices of rooms given.
Art & Culture
Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Vermeer and Frans Hals are the Old and Great Masters of Holland. As a result, Amsterdam has some of the finest art museums in Europe. As Amsterdam is the most liberal of cities, the museums are not purely of the conventional kind, but whatever your interest, you should be able to find it at one of the city's museums. The majority of museums are placed within a short range of one another, so you can easily walk from one to the next.
Museums
Many of Rembrandt, Vermeer and Frans Hals' finest works are part of the national heritage and housed in the Rijksmuseum. Take your time in this beautiful museum, as it is huge, and the exhibitions and surroundings need your attention for more than just an hour. Rembrandt's paintings are also largely represented in Rembrandthuis. The life and works of Van Gogh are presented in the Van Gogh Museum. For modern art you should definitely visit the exhibitions in the Stedelijk Museum.
Nature & Science
If you're interested in science and interactive entertainment, don't miss Science Center NEMO, a place designed for children with lots of hands-on exhibits and technology. The Scheepvaartmuseum will appeal to anyone who's interested in maritime and nautical experiences. Nature lovers should visit the Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam, which has over six thousand different kinds of plants.
Historical Museums
In Amsterdam, there are a lot of historical museums. One of the best is Amsterdamse Historisch Museum, where you will learn about the city's developments from the thirteenth century to the present day. The popular Anne Frank House has recently been restored and is able to accommodate a lot more people than before.
Cinema
Amsterdam has only a few cinemas, but they show a great combination of big Hollywood blockbusters and European movies. The cinemas can be divided into two main categories: popular cinemas (with big movie successes) and filmhuizen (art houses), where art films, documentaries and retrospectives are shown. The Movies, with its extravagant interior, is a great place to visit and view art films.
Theater & Dance
Amsterdam has a lot of theatrical events, and more in English than in Dutch. The De Parade is the prelude of the theater season, and is a great event at the end of summer with lots of different little shows, food and drink. The most important theater venues are Koninklijk Theater Carré, once home to a circus, now a beautiful theater by the Amstel Canal, with a wide variety of contemporary national and international productions. Amsterdam's dance scene is quite lively. There are two main companies, Nederlands Dans Theater and Het Nationale Ballet. Besides these companies there are a lot of established dancers and companies worth watching.
Music
This city has a lively music scene, with lots of festivals and events and numerous concerts in different venues. There is everything from classic to rock. Tickets for concerts can be bought in advance at the AUB Ticketshop, located centrally on the Leidseplein.
Home to many beautiful venues that offer brilliant acoustics for soloists and orchestras, the Concertgebouw Orchestra, has a regular program of performances in the city. At Beurs van Berlage there are a lot of classical concerts on a regular basis. If you're more into opera, you should go to the Het Muziektheater (Stopera) on Waterlooplein, where the Netherlands Opera is often to be seen.
Local groups and jam sessions can often be heard in the lively city during the night. International stars visit the city to play at different venues. The best places to catch jazz legends in intimate confines are Casablanca and Bimhuis Jazz & Improvisation.
Big international stars such as the Rolling Stones enjoy playing in venues like Paradiso and Melkweg. Besides this there are a lot of rock festivals, eg. Drum Rhythm Festival, which takes place at Westergasfabriek or the Amsterdam Pop Prijs Wanted R & B & Hip Hop Prijs Finals, held at Melkweg.
House, Disco & World Music
The VIP Club on Fridays and Paradisco on Saturday evenings in Paradiso are hip dance evenings where a lot of cool people are to be seen. Techno, house and hip-hop music can be heard. Melkweg has dance evenings with hard house and drum&bass. The crowd is diverse but mainly young, and the atmosphere is relaxed.
Gardens & Parks
Amsterdam has some beautiful gardens and parks, the Vondelpark being the most famous park amongst tourists and Amsterdammers. You will also find the Dutch Film Museum here, which has a beautiful terrace where you can spend a whole afternoon sitting, relaxing and watching the strangest people going by. The Amstel Park is located a bit away from the center, but is a good retreat with rose gardens and a glasshouse. The Amsterdamse Bos is a busy park where you can be as sporty as you like.
If you want a tour around Amsterdam's private gardens, go and inform yourself at the VVV, where they can tell you what's going on in Amsterdam at the particular time you're there.
Sports
Holland is well known for its passion for football, but besides football, the Dutch play a lot of other sports such as hockey, skating and cycling. Amsterdam has many cycling lanes, although you have to watch the traffic, especially the trams that won't stop for you; in comparison to other cities though, the traffic is a lot more accustomed to cyclists on the road. The parks are excellent for outdoor sports: running, skating and cycling. A lot of sports centers are to be found as well, for fitness and sauna, swimming and bowling.
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