r/travel • u/AutoModerator • Oct 19 '17
Advice r/travel City Destination of the Week: Amsterdam
Weekly topic thread, this week featuring the city of Amsterdam. Please contribute all and any questions / thoughts / suggestions / ideas / stories about this travel destination.
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16
u/globe_trekker 60+ countries, 10+ years expat in SEA Oct 19 '17
Something I wrote in a previous thread: Off the top of my head a few great things about Amsterdam: incredible museums like the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museum, atmospheric local watering holes known as 'brown cafes', world class nightclubs like Shelter and Sugarfactory. Its easy to get caught up in everything to see and do in the city center but definitely make an effort to explore neighborhoods further out like Amsterdam Noord or Jordaan, either by foot or bike.
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u/tgw1986 Oct 20 '17
if youāre younger, or visiting on a bit of a budget, i highly recommend the staying at the flying pig hostel (the downtown location). iāve stayed at several amsterdam hostels, and this one is the best, by far. super chill smoking room, lots of space to hang out, pool tables, great location, etc.
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u/matejohnson Oct 24 '17
are you serious about the budget thing? Flying pig is literally one of the most expensive Hostels in Amsterdam.
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u/tgw1986 Oct 24 '17
calm down. i meant cheap compared to a hotel ā itās like 35 euro a night at the flying pig, which isnāt an expensive stay. and if you compared it to hostels with similar atmosphere & accommodations itās not expensive at all.
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u/StonerMeditation United States Oct 19 '17 edited Oct 19 '17
Rent a bicycle, and learn the local bicycle customs before you ride. If you walk, be VERY careful crossing streets - you have to look out for both cars and bikes...
The city is easy to navigate, but Google Maps is always the best.
The pre-rolls in the 'coffee' shops have tobacco in them. You can ask the person behind the counter for a pre-roll without tobacco. I loved 'Dutch Treat' strain. You can smoke everywhere, but it's best to be discrete and to not be an annoying tourist.
Go on the boat tour, it's pretty cool. Don't miss the major museums. The Jewish history museums/temple (I think there are 4 venues) is really amazing. Also, there are excellent classical music concerts almost every night, and easy to get a ticket. https://www.classictic.com/en/special/amsterdam_concerts/3413/
The sex street is worth a look, but it's really kinda boring.
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Oct 20 '17 edited Sep 22 '19
[deleted]
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u/jayflying TAIWAN NUMBA WAN Oct 23 '17
As a tourist, I like staying in De Pijp and Oud-Zuid.
Any particular reason why you like to stay in these two areas?
Also, I'm shocked that credit cards are not widely accepted in Amsterdam!
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u/jippiejee Holland Oct 23 '17
I'm shocked that credit cards are not widely accepted...
We're a debit card nation, even online payments are done through debit accounts (iDeal) here. Probably cultural and part of our Calvinist heritage: don't spend what you don't own. :)
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u/jayflying TAIWAN NUMBA WAN Oct 23 '17
I understand! It's similar to the Asian viewpoint of "don't spend what you don't own", except we Asians are still suspicious of technology (or too conservative to change) so we still use primarily cash even in high-spending, finance-centric cities like HK and Tokyo.
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u/I_AM_STILL_A_IDIOT Travel photography addict | Amsterdam Oct 24 '17
I had a feeling China and HK are huge on WePay and AliPay nowadays though. My gf's Chinese and visiting Shanghai with her made it seem almost cash-free thanks to payment apps.
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u/Poepbacterie Oct 25 '17
De Pijp and Oud-Zuid are two neighborhoods with a lot of nice parks, bars and restaurants. It is also a little less crowded than the center, and you find less tourist traps over there.
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u/crackanape Amsterdam Oct 24 '17
Also, I'm shocked that credit cards are not widely accepted in Amsterdam!
They mostly are. You can't use them at the largest supermarket chain (Albert Heijn), you can't use American credit cards to pay in automated machines like train ticket kiosks, and some very small businesses won't take them. But almost everywhere else will.
A lot of Dutch people don't realize how widely they're accepted. It's gotten much better in recent years, but the prevailing wisdom has always been that they are hard to use, which has stuck with people.
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u/jayflying TAIWAN NUMBA WAN Oct 24 '17
you can't use American credit cards to pay in automated machines like train ticket kiosks
Not even the newer ones with chips?
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u/crackanape Amsterdam Oct 24 '17
Not in my experience. The problem seems to be that the cards default to chip-and-signature, but the machine expects chip-and-pin.
However, American debit cards do work if they have a chip.
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Oct 23 '17 edited Sep 22 '19
[deleted]
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u/jayflying TAIWAN NUMBA WAN Oct 23 '17
I have not seen that movie yet, but I can imagine the shock! Thank you for the heads-up. I'll be sure to have cash handy in Amsterdam.
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u/tikitravels Oct 20 '17
Hit up the flower/seed market - even if you don't have a garden. It's pretty fantastic to see the varieties and options. If you can get the seeds, etc there, and if it doesn't work, most of the places will ship worldwide. Little different than your average tourist stop but that's what makes it interesting. I've been there a few times but really looking forward to taking someone there someday (and yup, she will know who if she reads this - breadcrumb deposited)
1
u/mirotik Oct 21 '17
Hi! I'm visiting Amsterdam soon and this sounds amazing. Is there just one market somewhere or any particular shop you'd recommend?
2
u/tikitravels Oct 21 '17
It's multiple markets all connected (so I guess it's a flower district). Take a look here for more info, location, etc. There's definitely touristy parts but it's near the city center so easy enough to incorporate into your wanderings.
http://www.amsterdam-travel-guide.net/markets/flower-market.php
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u/mirotik Oct 21 '17
Thanks for the info! :)
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u/tikitravels Oct 21 '17
Enjoy. If you're getting from the airport to the city make sure to take the train - super easy - and walkabout walkabout walkabout. Great place to find canals and other sites of interest.
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u/piethrowingrobot09 Oct 23 '17
Just got back from an amazing trip a few weeks ago! Just wanted to add that if you are from the US and wanted to buy bulbs to bring home, you have to make sure you get the ones that are certified for customs (theyāll have a sticker on them). Only certain places will sell them but itās fun to wander the whole market!!
7
Oct 20 '17
If you really need to see the Anne Frank house, make reservations online well in advance. Otherwise, you'll have to get in a line that will stretch around the block. I don't believe I was allowed to take pictures while I was there.
Another must is the Rijksmuseum. You likely WILL recognize some paintings there, such as Night Watch by Rembrandt (spectacular in person), but the entire museum is spectacular and well-worth it.
The Red Light District is interesting. For a location renowned for such debauchery, it was oddly beautiful -- like a scene pulled from Beauty and the Beast. There are coffeeshops, bars, and a High Fries vendor there to get the night started. Eventually the girls will start coming out. Some of them will just sit there while scrolling through their phones, and others will call out to you and put on a show in their window. I think I saw a Sarah Palin look-alike. It's a little unsettling when you actually see men going in and out of those doors.
With out limited time we had forgone the Van Gough museum for the Banksy/Salvador Dali museum. It was much cheaper, and I feel that it was well worth it. You won't see Dali's more famous pieces, and it's a fairly small building, but it was overall very enjoyable.
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Oct 24 '17
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Oct 24 '17
You hear about prostitutes your entire life, but it's strange actually seeing hordes of men right before and right after getting it in. Some men are clearly nervous, some have expressions of shame, and for others, it's a typical Tuesday night.
I have enough Catholic guilt after a typical hookup. I can't imagine how I'd feel if I enlisted the services of a prostitute.
4
u/ani_svnit Scotland travel "expert" Oct 20 '17
Most things I know are already covered so will talk about the Museumkaart. If you're in NL for atleast 3-4 days and like visiting museums, do buy one. Costs 60 EUR and lasts 30 days for tourists and not only is it valid for museums (not all are free, quite a few are discounted) but in some cases, valid for church entry as well.
Included in the Museumkaart just for AMS (along with 15+ more)
- Van Gogh museum (17 EUR)
- Rijksmuseum (17.5 EUR)
- Science museum (16.5 EUR, believe it is free)
- Shipping museum (15 EUR, again I believe it is free)
Full list for AMS in this link, valid for museums across the country, we used it in so many places (Mauristhuis, Rotterdam photo museum, etc)
1
u/jayflying TAIWAN NUMBA WAN Oct 23 '17
I remembered your past post about this awesome museum card! However, I cannot find it anymore...Can you please explain again how a tourist like me can get the Museumkaart? The card seems to be a benefit exclusive to NL residents, but I recall that you wrote that isn't the case.
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u/ani_svnit Scotland travel "expert" Oct 23 '17
I can't find it either again. The way I bought it was just filling a small form at the 1st museum I was visiting (in my case, Museum of Photography Rotterdam), paying the 59 EUR and thats it. Other places just scanned the card.
Residents can register their card online to use it for 1 entire year for no extra charge (I'd really have one on me if I was a Dutch resident atleast for a year). For tourists, the card expires after 30 days (as mentioned above).
This info is true as of May 2017. There's a link explaining this here which itself links to an Amsterdam Museum pass which has a fraction of the benefits for the same cost of 59 EUR (so I recommend avoiding it)
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u/jayflying TAIWAN NUMBA WAN Oct 23 '17
Interestingly, even the Amsterdam Museum Pass page that you had linked said that Museumkaart is for Dutch residents only in contrary to your experience! I will keep this in mind and insist on the Museumkaart when I go, because admission to 42 museums is significantly better than admission to 2 museums with Schipol-Centraal train.
Thank you for sharing this info!
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u/ani_svnit Scotland travel "expert" Oct 23 '17 edited Oct 23 '17
My pleasure. Here's a fun fact, the museum I enjoyed the most covered by Museumkaart and costs a measly Euro 2 otherwise is the 2 room big Chess Museum located in one of the cube houses in Rotterdam and open only on the weekend. If anyone has any interest in Chess and are visiting the Cube houses on a weekend, it would be a travesty to miss this gem.
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u/seasonsixx Oct 19 '17
I highly recommend Mike's Bike Tour! It's controlled enough where you get the hang of it but they don't hold your hand.
4
u/motivation_vacation United States Oct 20 '17
Went to Amsterdam for the first time this spring and our airbnb host recommended we go to the Museum of the Canals. We really enjoyed it. It's a very small museum in a canal house and takes less than an hour to go through, but it was quite informative and gave us a better appreciation for how the city was built.
Indonesian food is really popular in Amsterdam. Find a restaurant that offers Rijsttafel for a unique experience you won't likely find at home. It's a bunch of different Indonesian dishes to share and allows you to try a bit of everything. We ate a place called Kantjil & de Tijger. It was pretty good, although way too much food for two people.
If you are planning to go to Anne Frank House, it's best to buy tickets well in advance. I bought them only a couple days after they went on sale, and the tickets were already half sold out for the date we wanted. The first half of the day is only for people with tickets reserved for specific times. Although you can go later in the day without prebooking, lines looked to be at least an hour long. This was in late May, not sure of what it's like at other times of year.
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u/Ill_Entertainer3241 Nov 20 '24
Where was your Airbnb? Can you send me the name?
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u/motivation_vacation United States Nov 20 '24
It doesnāt look like theyāre still hosting. Last reviews are pre-Covid. It was on the herengracht canal and we really enjoyed the location, so I would still recommend looking for something in that general area.
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u/socraticamente Oct 20 '17
Went there multiples times and I'm going back again next month. My favourite city and one of the cities that I can walk around without destination and found a beautiful corner or street everytime.
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u/justmememe55 Oct 20 '17
1) A lot of the hotels and restaurants so not have airconditioning despite the fact that it could get very hot in the summers... At least it was when I went. If this is something that concerns you, double check about your hotel before you book it and ask ahead about the restaurants 2) one of my favorite areas was the Rembrandtplein square, if only to people watch. It's crowded but for good reason, good street performances, great food, coffee shops and coffeeshops. You can buy your food or drinks elsewhere if you don't want to spend too much money, but still sit on the grass and chill. 3) red light district is overhyped. Don't factor too much time to visit it. Better yet, visit it on the way to the Supperclub nearby (http://supperclub.amsterdam/en). If you're into watching weird artsy performances while having a yummy three course meal, and don't mind a hefty ~Ā£60 pricetag, check it out. One of my more memorable nights in the city. 4) It's true that Amsterdam is a biking city, but it's also very much a walking city, as long as you watch out for the bikes! Try to refrain from taking trams and trains and visit destinations on foot. I felt like I got to see more of the non-touristy areas that way.
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u/gutfeelingszine Oct 23 '17
If you're in Amsterdam for longer than a few days I wold personally recommend a day trip to Utrecht. It's only 25 minutes away by train and it is beautiful, has loads of antique shops, lots of canals just like Amsterdam, and a really great piece of public art (I don't want to ruin the surprise for you but if you want to see it google "Utrecht inkwell".)
6
u/PeteyNice Airplane! Oct 19 '17
Eat all of the poffertjes (miniature pancakes). Especially the ones made with Nutella.
3
u/hanarada Oct 21 '17
Speaking about food what are the "must try" foods? Also anywhere I could pick up stroopwaffle?
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u/CaptGigglesworth Oct 22 '17
Patatje oorlog is the best! (Fries "at war"-it has mayo, peanut sauce, and onions on top. Sounds weird at first, but it really is a delicious combination!)
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u/cloudprince Oct 21 '17
Bitterballen, Kroket, Kibbeling, Haring
Oliebolen, Poffertjes, Stroopwafel, Drop (Licorice)
Go out for a Rijstaffel, to a Pannenkoekenhuis, and dirty drunken Kapsalon
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u/Poepbacterie Oct 25 '17
I already saw some suggestions, but I want to second Rijsttafels and other food from former colonies. Surinam Kouseband is delicious, and the Indonesian/Javan Rendang is something completely different than you've ever tasted! There are a lot of Surinam and Indonesian restaurants in the Netherlands, and I'd say they are a must try.
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u/hanarada Oct 25 '17
My country is a neighbor of Indonesia heh! How was it different from the rendang tasted in Indo?
Thanks for the suggestions. I do really want to go but if this year the most likely time I am able to make it is June/October (fingers crossed for April) but I hope there is enough flowers left for my mom.
1
u/Poepbacterie Oct 26 '17
Ah haha, I wouldn't say it's different. Maybe a little less spicy (Dutch people love bland food hehe). If you're from that area it's nothing special, this tip is more for people from other parts of the world.
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u/Brilliant_Lab_6743 Nov 10 '23
24F from UK wanting to spend Christmas with someone in Amsterdam! Crazy I know but life is short and plans bailed, I still wanna goān
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u/comedic-meltdown Kiwi masquerading as a Mancunian Oct 20 '17
The free walking tour with Sandemans is fantastic - you can find them in Amsterdam Square with red umbrellas at I believe 10am (unsure of this - it was a few months ago now) each day. Super informative, lots of information about the history of Amsterdam.
If you stay somewhere over a canal (I was at ClinkNoord), the ferry is free, runs 24/7, and every 5 minutes. The public transport in Amsterdam is near perfection, and incredibly easy to navigate.
Try not to be an oblivious tourist and stand in front of, or walk in front of, cyclists. They will get very, very angry.
I highly recommend the Van Gogh museum, and make sure to eat as many waffles as possible throughout.
1
u/teala Oct 23 '17
Hi! How was ClinkNoord? What was your experience staying there?
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u/comedic-meltdown Kiwi masquerading as a Mancunian Oct 23 '17
It's great in terms of facilities - but I found it was a bit of a downside how huge it was. It was really difficult to meet people, and I was solo travelling. If you were with even one other friend, it's perfect, and the breakfast was great, but it was a bit big for me! I prefer slightly smaller, family-vibe kind of hostels, I think :)
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u/teala Oct 24 '17
Ah great! Iām staying there with my husband and itās his first time doing a hostel so I wanted a clean, comfortable facility for him. Did you rent bikes from the hostel?
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u/comedic-meltdown Kiwi masquerading as a Mancunian Oct 24 '17
I didn't - I think it's possible, but don't quote me on that. My memory of Amsterdam is a little hazy, for obvious reasons haha
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u/teala Oct 24 '17
What was the best thing you ate there? And anything, from your experience, we shouldnāt miss?
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u/comedic-meltdown Kiwi masquerading as a Mancunian Oct 24 '17
Waffles! Honestly, any waffle in Amsterdam is a good waffle. Even the subpar waffles are still good waffle.
I loved the free walking tour that started at ClinkNoord - it's Sandemans tour that meets in A'dam Square, so no need to be staying at ClinkNoord either. It was such a great way to cover a lot of the history about Amsterdam, which to be honest, I didn't know much about. I also really enjoyed the Van Gogh Museum - I'd say get tickets to the Anne Frank house if you can, because I wish I'd gone, but I wasn't willing to spend a whole day in line, and didn't book tickets before. I'd probably go back to Amsterdam just to see it.
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u/jkremer3 Oct 23 '17
Recommend to eat the "Pancake House Upstairs" and order the pancake with bacon, cheese, and pineapple.
It's a tiny 3ish table restaurant so you need to call to reserve a spot.
Really fun location in a tiny attic style restaurant right off the busy streets. You a steep ladder like staircase up to the top.
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u/rsmittyyy Oct 26 '17
Since it's currently autumn and heading quickly towards winter: make sure to bring an umbrella because the Netherlands gets a lot of rain at this time of year (I would know I'm studying in Rotterdam and it's been raining 3 days straight).
All jokes aside, there are a bunch of really cool places to check out and things to do while you're in Amsterdam! My personal favorites would have to be checking out the Sunday markets, going to a couple records stores -I'm a huge music fan and like to keep a bit of a collection- or check out any of the local street art (there are a couple tours that are really great to check out like Altournative Amsterdam's), cafes, bars and restaurants for a chill meal. There are also some really cool cinemas you can go check out that have a whole bunch of different themes to them, like Lab 111 who have cult movie nights or Het Ketelhuis (which is a nice, chill cinema with a cafe area and has an emphasis on showing Dutch film, World Cinema and Art House)!
2
Nov 04 '21
Hello there,
Me and 2 friends of mine are planning to go to Amsterdam on 15-20 December. I know that the dates are not ideal financially, but we don't have any other free common dates before or after those.
My question is this : where should we stay. Most things in the centrum are kinda pricey, but outside the city seems too far away? I don't know.
Should we go for Airbnb, hostels?
Any advice you be welcome. Thanks
1
u/SayedHasmi Jun 18 '23
So where did you end up staying? Any suggestions would be great as we are going in September for our honeymoon.
2
u/Pale_Bar401 Feb 25 '23
Stray Cats
I was thinking of travelling to the city for a couple days, just a solo traveller but Iāve heard thereās a lot of stray cats all over the city? Is this true? How often would they be in Pubs/Bare Resturants. For someone who hates catsā¦ š
1
u/natashasen Oct 21 '17
I just knew that Amsterdam is amazing place. Party & Tourism. this is what it got..
1
u/lexstuger Oct 21 '17
Heading to Europe for the first time in a month and going to Amsterdam, staying in Haarlem as well. I will definitely look over these recommendations and past posts regarding AMS too! If anyone has any tips or recommendations, hit me up.
1
u/froglayout Oct 25 '17
Thoughts on foodhallen? Where do you like to eat? Heading there the 1st weekend in December and looking for advice on which stalls to hit up.
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u/Poepbacterie Oct 25 '17
Foodhallen is just a nice activity to do, lot's of different food. It's not very cheap though, and there are a lot of great ethnic restaurants in the neighborhood. I highly recommend Addis Adeba on the Overtoom.
1
u/Lockon007 Dec 17 '17
Hi all! I'm planning a trip but am in need of suggestions! I'll be traveling solo with the sole purpose of taking dope picture as photography is my main hobby.
Can y'all suggest any "Must-See" for this summer?
Thanks!
1
u/gorikun Sep 02 '24
Hi, so I am visiting amsterdam for a conference in a few weeks, however I have no idea which one to stay at (the Marriot is the place the conference is but is too expensive). In terms of hotels, the conference organisers have gotten the following at a discounted rate:
NH Amsterdam Leidseplein,
Leonardo Hotel Amsterday City Center
Catalonia Vondel Amsterdam
Park Centraal Amsterdam
Clayton Hotel Amsterdam Americn
Hotel Roemer
Huygen's Place
Leonardo Boutique Museumhotel
Dikker & Thijs Hotel
Jan Luyken Amsterdam
Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam Hotel (formerly known as NH Amsterdam Museum Quarter).
Which of these should I go for if I am staying for 3-4 nights?
1
u/Ill_Entertainer3241 Nov 20 '24
Can someone recommend a good hotel in a good location in Amsterdam?
1
u/Itchy_Decision_7376 Mar 07 '25
Visiting Amsterdam, staying Ilpendam first 2 nights ( exploring broek in waterland, windmills,cheese factory, clog making workshop, Jordaan neighbourhood in Amsterdam etc).
Day 3:Ā I need to book accomodation - where should it be ? De Pijp, Haarlem, or Hoofddorp?
Day 4: Leaving for Schiphol airport at 4 PM in the evening so have half a day here as well
1
u/Babytimelive May 19 '22
Is the IJ-Hallen flea market in Amsterdam worth a day trip from Brussels?
I am a vintage clothing collector in the U.S. I am interested in Victorian- 1970s clothing. I will be staying in Antwerp the night before then making a day trip to Amsterdam for the flea market, then staying in Brussels. Based on my schedule, a day trip is the only option, because my flight leaves in Brussels two days later. I am hoping I am not making my trip too busy, because I do wish to explore Brussels, but if the vintage/ antiques are good and cheap I am more than willing to make the day trip.
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u/No-Independence4213 Aug 11 '22
Hi there,I'm sorry I'm a little late to the feed. I just have quick question. Could you possibly give me an idea which day pass is best for 2 days in Amsterdam. There are so many, and I don't know which is easiest or most efficient. Any help would be greatly appreciated āŗļø
1
Aug 11 '22
Has anyone gone to Amsterdam recently? I'm travelling in from Canada and want to know if they check for COVID documents
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u/RevolutionaryNight68 Oct 26 '22
I want to stay at a hostel as Iām solo travelling, Iām young (21m) is there any in particular that is better for socialising as I have hard time at first I get nervous speaking to new people
1
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u/mplum004 Jun 20 '23
Hi - I'm looking for feedback -
My original plan was to fly into AMS for 2 nights , then head to Belgium 2 nights before a wedding in London on a friday. Now, I need to be in London a day before, so things need to move around a little. I have been to the Netherlands & Amsterdam previously, but the only thing I would like to do that I haven't is a canal tour and the Heineken experience (I know, I know). If I get into AMS early in the morning, can I complete these two things in 1 night?
Additional info to help with your opinions:
The reason I'd like to move onto Belgium is I have never been.
My husband has never been to Amsterdam, but doesn't have interest to do any museums and really is just along for the ride.
An option is to skip AMS all together and go straight to Belgium.
TIA!
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u/storminnorman020121 Oct 15 '23
Hello! My husband & I are traveling to Amsterdam to celebrate our 11-year anniversary right before Christmas. We would love to see a traditional Christmas market, if we can. We won't have a rental car but would be open to taking a train to a local town. We're looking to visit a market on December 23. Does anyone have any recommendations? I looked through the Wiki and couldn't find much information about Christmas markets specifically, so I hope it's okay I am posting here. Thank you in advance :)
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u/FreddyRumsen13 Oct 18 '23
I'm also planning to visit Amsterdam before Christmas. While doing some trip research, I found that there's a daily Christmas market in The Hague: https://royalchristmasfair.nl/en/
It'd be a day trip from Amsterdam proper but sounds like what you're looking for.
1
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u/Boot-Representative Dec 09 '23
I have tickets to Amsterdam on January 10. I'm staying until the 20th. Is it a waste of time? Will it be endlessly dreary? Should I refund and go in May when the prices go up? I'm there for the Museums, but also for the trains to Belgium (I'm an American).
1
u/InterestingWeek1055 Feb 14 '24
Hello! I have done extensive research so I am just looking for opinions between the final 3 we are looking at, for anyone who would care to share their advice. Analysis Paralysis! :P We are a group of 4 and need 1 room (queen/king) and another room (2 beds minimum) or need 3 rooms to accomplish this. Trip is in 2 weeks! This is how I landed on these 3 hotels:
Canal House
Grand Hotel AmrĆ¢th Amsterdam
Renaissance (Marriot hotel)
42
u/I_AM_STILL_A_IDIOT Travel photography addict | Amsterdam Oct 20 '17
I work in Amsterdam and often come downtown for photo walks, food, museums and going out. It is one of my favorite cities in the world but damn is it overcrowded with tourists in some places.
Great:
Food! Amsterdam has a wide variety of international cuisines and excellent Northern European food. Personally I'm very into Asian cuisine and I love heading to Fou Fow Ramen or the Sichuan Kitchen (on Warmoesstraat, surprisingly). Tripadvisor is decent at getting a good tip for where to go, I haven't seen it be too far off with rating restaurants in A'dam.
Museums! Rijksmuseum is a must, and the Maritime Museum is great. The Van Gogh Museum is great for fans of his work, though I was a bit bummed that his most famous work, Starry Night Sky, isn't displayed there.
Boat Trips. I recommend trying to find a boat tour by the Central Station that isn't one of the chock full big ones. There's a few boat operators sailing around in small 10-15-seat boats. Definitely worth a trip, Amsterdam's canals are great for that. Especially around sunset.
Partying. Amsterdam has some of the greatest clubs and concert halls in the Netherlands. De School, Paradiso, de Melkweg, etc. If you get a chance, keep an eye on events given by ADM, Amsterdam's equivalent freehaven of Christiania in Copenhagen.
The views. Amsterdam's grachten (Dutch for canals) are gorgeous and lovely to walk by after dark.
Not so great:
Crowds: it gets insanely crowded between the central station, Leidseplein, and the Red Light District. Not to say you shouldn't at least have seen the RLD once, but be prepared for crowds.
Loud drunk tourists, primarily Englishmen: not a fan of them, and they are legion. Primarily around the RLD.
Overcrowded trams: big problem downtown, especially on lines that cross through tourist areas like Tram 5. I recommend cycling! Rent a bike :)
Up to you to decide:
Weed: personally I'm not a fan but hey, it's there and it's easy to get. Indulge away.
Prostitution: Amsterdam won't judge you for it. Go ahead.
Outside of Amsterdam
Keukenhof: visiting in spring? Keukenhof is a gorgeous flower garden that showcases Dutch florists' and landscapers' work every year. It is really worth going.
De Veluwe: national park with lovely landscapes and fauna. Never been myself but I hear great things.
Further out are more places worth seeing like The Hague, Giethoorn, Delft, Rotterdam and Kinderdijk, Utrecht.