Arriving in Amsterdam by train after a 6.5-hour long train ride from Berlin was tiring. But stepping off the train and out the station right into the city centre was well worth the struggle, sure beats having to get transport from the airport on the outskirts of town. With the hustle and bustle of bikes, sun shining down, and a generally chilled vibe in the air – not too bad Amsterdam. Not too bad.
Things to see:
If you arrive directly by train from another country, like me, or from the airport metro link, you will find yourself right in the city centre. Do make sure to turn around and marvel at this Victorian centrepiece as it is a masterpiece. Old stunning red bricks, gothic-styled roofs and dominating decor tie in seamlessly with the new modern touches such as glass ceilings and modern art pieces.
You will be greeted with a mixture of 18th, 19th, 20th and even 21st-century buildings as you begin venturing out into the city. In amongst these buildings, you can find the numerous bars, shops, and the world famous coffee shops – and I mean coffee shops – the city has to offer. A bit of the puff puff, smoke smoke, blazin’, 420 if you know what I mean. Marijuana is legal in the Netherlands is what I’m trying to say. Amsterdam is home to many stunning and impressive buildings, huge parks and open spaces, and well-known flower markets; where one can buy a tulip in every colour of the rainbow.
One further thing you will notice while venturing the city is the ‘XXX’ flag. This is all over Amsterdam. No, it’s nothing explicit or over 18s place. It is actually the Flag of Amsterdam. The flag depicts three Saint Andrew’s Crosses and is based on the old coat of arms of Amsterdam. The flag was adopted by the city in 1975.
The final thing to see while mooching about the city is the Red Light District. It is overwhelming, to say the least. Ladies trying to catch your eye and coax you in, discrete over 18’s stores and groups of – and I use the terms loosely – ‘lads’ attempting to persuade one mate to go in with a lady and earn his peer’s respect. However, do keep your wits about you while in this area as pickpockets work all day, targeting individuals who have been on the wacky baccy or on the beers. And well, I’ve put the Red Light District in the things to see, but you may not want to see sites such as this. Or you may be an individual who may put the Red Light District in the ‘Things To Do’ section. I’ll leave that up to you.
Things to do:
Bikes. A lot of them. It is easy to understand why Amsterdam is known as the ‘City of Bikes’. Unlike cars, bikes have the right of way in Amsterdam and a majority of roads have a bike lane, so use these cycling lanes if you hire a bike and not pavements as everyone likes when cyclists use pavements (sarcasm). This is a fun and memorable way to see the city, and bike hire starts from around 5€ per day. Find a reliable place online, and take extra money for the deposit along with some ID for them to take a copy.
Another name for Amsterdam is ‘Venice of the North’. Take advantage of the series of canals that separate the city and book yourself onto a canal boat tour. For anyone visiting for the first time, like us, it’s an excellent introduction to the city’s many sights. Whether it’s a one-hour tour, a hop on, hop off all-day experience, or a romantic candlelight dinner cruise, there are options for all occasions. Our tour guide even gave us a few recommendations for food and drinks, as well as where to avoid! Definitely make a tour of the city one of the first things you do so that you really get a feel for the place.
Whatever time of year, spend time and explore some of Amsterdam’s many museums. The largest and most popular museum Amsterdam has to offer is Rijksmuseum. For a small entrance fee, visitors can expect a full cultural experience as this museum is dedicated to the arts and history of the Dutch capital. Another popular destination would be the Van Gogh Museum which contains many art pieces by Van Gogh, as well as other artists of the time. The Nazi occupation of the Netherlands began in 1940, along with the military regime to persecute the Jews of the Netherlands. Verzetsmuseum – The Dutch Resistance Museum – tells the story of the Dutch people during World War II.
A further memorial for the Second World War is Anne Frank’s House. If you didn’t know, Anne Frank was a girl born in 1929 in Germany who documented her teenage years in her diary. When the Second World War broke out, the Franks relocated to Amsterdam after facing persecution from the Nazis for being Jewish. They lived in a secret annexe in the city centre until their capture and imprisonment in 1945. After the war, Otto Frank – her father – was the only surviving member of the family. He subsequently decided to publish Anne’s diary to show the world the monstrosity of the Nazi people, and the naïvety and innocence of children and people of the time. It is also a reminder of the dark past of Europe in an attempt to not go back there. Her stories have been translated over 60 languages and read by millions of people around the globe. The exhibition in the original house is overwhelming with emotion. The original movable bookcase still stands, whereas the rest of the building remains almost empty to symbolise the millions of people taken from their homes, many of whom never returned. Arrive at the house 30 minutes to 1 hour before it opens as the queues quickly grow and lap around the block, and can be anywhere up to 2 hours. Well worth your time.
In a more cheerier manner, take a stroll around Vondelpark. Leave the crowds from Amsterdam’s city centre behind, hire a bike and bring a picnic. This relaxing, green, tranquil place is perfect for hanging out on a sunny day and is even sufficiently large (120 acres) to cycle/run around inside the park. If you’re not too coy, a funny adventure would be to go to the Sex Museum – do this sober, as for even someone not shy it was graphically disturbing at times. You reach a point where you realise that you and your mates are stood in a room watching and rating porn. At this point, it’s time to leave.
Whether you choose to hire a bike, choose the hop-on-hop-off bus or simply walk about the city, be sure to check out other hidden treasures such as the windmills across the city, the Bulldog pub – make sure it is the original, although all four claim it, Buddhist Temple, and even perhaps Zevenlandenhuizen – seven countries in seven houses, which is a row of houses built in 1894 with each house representing an architectural style from a different European country.
In late October, Amsterdam gets taken over by the AMF Music Festival, where thousands of EDM supporters travel to the city for a night of world’s best DJs. There is a variety of music festivals that take place all over the city at various times of the year, and you can research on the internet for a more in-depth recommendation for them.
Things to eat and drink:
Amsterdam is home to some 3000 different restaurants, cafes, bars and coffee shops. Like any other capital city, it is possible to go for fine dining, just drinks or fast food. No, I mean FAST food. Like I am really trying to stress how quick it is. Just off the Red Light District, there is a fast food restaurant called FEBO where fast food is sat waiting in heated vending machines. You simply put change into the machine, open the door and immediately start to eat your fast food – perfect for them late night munchies.
Coffee shops. No, they are generally not in competition with Costa or Starbucks. Instead, are licensed premises to buy and intake marijuana, no tobacco can be smoked indoors though under EU laws. If you’re a newcomer to this scene, like me, don’t be afraid to speak to the staff. They can offer a menu of flavours to go in the loose or pre-rolled stuff. I got something pre-rolled that makes me bubbly, which worked wonders. However, being a nonsmoker I was such an amateur. Coughing and spluttering, sipping water and laughing our heads off; yes, we ruined the peace and quiet of the dark coffee shop. Everyone is needed to show identification before entering the coffee shops, so be sure to take it.
If you’re not a fan of smoking but would like to try what the country has to offer, buy a space cake over the counter from one a coffee shop. Not all space cakes act or taste the same, however, I found 3/4 brownie from Happy Feelings worked a charm. After about 90-minutes of anticipation, I was in a happy place. DON’T GO AND SCOFF 4345728534323453 CAKES BECAUSE YOU CAN’T FEEL IMMEDIATE EFFECTS AS YOU WILL DIE! Well not die, just give yourself an overdose and be up all night. For a beginner, eat half of one, and then consider eating the rest after maybe 2 hours if you still feel nothing. In the meantime go for a walk around the park, grab some colouring pencils and enjoy the wavy feeling.
Also on this note, don’t accept anything off Dodgy Dave on the street who may be offering some more extreme stuff. You never know what it might be, or if it is an undercover cop trying to catch you in the act. Nonetheless, stick to the legal stuff from over the counter.
For a more traditional scene, the city has many edgy and spectacular bars and clubs. The Hilton Hotel, near the train station, has a sky bar. Be sure to go up it, marvel at the view and then quickly retreat down before being conned to buy a drink. 500ml of Heineken robbed me 19€, £16.50 at the time, daylight robbery! The view is free and worth the wait for the lift up.
Try the Ice Bar for memorable beers. Before entering, you are given coat and gloves, briefed about the voyage about to embark on, and chanting some Dutch maritime mottos. The entire experience is themed around 16th-century sailors and their true stories about conquering the seas and oceans. The beer is served in a glass made of ice, which is so cool! Like freezing. Truly refreshing nonetheless. Couldn’t wait about much longer than the 30-minute slot we’d paid for, so was relieved to escape the -10°C environment. Furthermore, I’ve seen some great reviews about the Heineken Beer Factory. We never went, however, the insight of knowledge and samples make it a worthwhile and fun experience for all.
Accommodation:
For affordable travel, we stayed in an AirBnB. Our apartment was a measly 10-minute stroll from the city centre and gave us the option to cook at home and lower costs a little (student budgeting). However, the city has hostels for all travellers, as well as many stylish hotels for those seeking style, luxury and convenience.
When to travel:
From the United Kingdom, Amsterdam is easily accessible. The conventional way is by air; with return flights from London setting you back anywhere from £50-£150 if you book in advance, and from Manchester are from £45 if also well-enough in advance. Return on the ferry from Newcastle with a car and two passengers will set you back anything from £79pp upwards. Finally, you can investigate the Eurostar, with some offers from London but may include connecting transfers, from around £39 each way.
Festivals, weekends, school term holidays and bank holidays will set you back more than if you decide to travel during the week. The busiest time for tourism is summer, as expected, but I’ve been told Amsterdam has a charm during the winter and Christmas months.
Hiring bikes, riverboat tours and stunning architecture, open spaces and history are just some of the many reasons why this city is a gem. I hope my stories have been a bit of an eye-opener and revealed to you many other reasons why one should choose Amsterdam for their next city break.
TP.
Some Trivia:
This week, 9th – 14th June 2017, celebrates the 350th Anniversary of the Battle of Medway. The battle lead to the River Medway being engulfed in flames, and marks one of the greatest disasters in England’s naval history.
Gin was invented in the Netherlands under the name of ‘Jenever’. It was first sold as a medicine in the late 16th century.
Dutch people are the tallest in the world, with an average height of 184 cm for men and 170 cm for women.
The Netherlands was the first country in the World to legalise same-sex marriage, back in 2001.
The Dutch football team wear an orange kit.
The country’s national colour is orange, in honour of the House of Orange, who led the Dutch Revolt against Spain in the 16th and 17th century. The House of Orange later became the Dutch Royal family, and hence the colour lives on.
Tulips were imported from the Ottoman Empire and became very popular in Holland in the early 17th century. Nowadays, the Netherlands is the world’s largest producer and exporter of the flower.
Toddventures 
I loved the canal boat rides in amsterdam!
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