Things to do in Amsterdam—an unconventional guide
Index
IntroductionWhat to do
Where to eat
Where to dance
Where to shop
What not to do
Feedback, comments, ideas
Acknowledgements
Introduction
I grew up in The Netherlands and lived in Amsterdam before I moved to Boston. Once in a while, someone tells me they're going to Amsterdam and I get asked what one should do there.So, by popular demand, I'm putting it online. This is not the stuff you will find in travel guides (though, admittedly, the New York Times article, "36 hours in Amsterdam", is decent). Those will tell you to go to the Vincent van Gogh museum, take a canal boat tour, etc. Yeah, yeah. All that is nice, but this is better. This is real.
So here goes, in no particular order.
What to do
- Take a book and sit on the Museumplein. It used to be a big street; they called it the highway of Amsterdam. They demolished the street and turned it into a huge grass lawn surrounded by the Concert Hall (Concertgebouw) on one side and the Rijksmuseum and the Vincent van Gogh museum on the other. It's very pretty. Just sit there and enjoy the view and the people.
- Speaking of the Concertgebouw: if you enjoy classical music, go to a concert if the price is doable. The concert hall itself is stunning. (If you go, make sure it's in the big hall, not the smaller one upstairs.)
- If you can't afford that: free afternoon concerts ("lunch concert") in the Concertgebouw on Wednesday afternoon.
- Go to the Magere Brug ("Skinny Bridge") over the Amstel river and see Carré theater on one side and the Stopera (Ballet/Opera/City Hall) on the other. It's a beautiful place to just stand for a few minutes to enjoy the view and to watch people walk/bike by. (It's good for kissing, also, if you get a chance.)
- Walk through "the 9 streets": Berestraat, Runstraat, etc. They are the streets that connect the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, and Herengracht. They are cute and have some nice stores.
- Walk along the grachten (canals).
- Rent one of those "waterbikes" and peddle your way over some canals. I know of one place in front of the Rijksmuseum that rents them out.
- Go to the Noordermarkt on Saturday morning, then walk to the Lindenmarkt and eat apple pie in the cafe on the corner of the Westerstraat.
- Go to the Anne Frank house very early in the morning.
- Go to the Leidseplein, and Rembrandtsplein. (A "plein" is a square.)
- If the weather permits, walk around and sit in the Vondelpark on a nice day and look at the pretty people.
- Go to the top floor of the Metz & Co in the Leidsestraat and drink an expensive coffee, enjoying the view.
- Go to Club 11, close to Central Station (Oosterdokskade 3-5, 11th floor) for a cup of coffee or a great meal with a spectacular view. (Latest rumor is that Club 11 is gone. I'll go check myself next time I'm in Amsterdam.)
- Go to the Spui and find the little wooden, insignificant looking door and go through it. (I think it's close to the store that sells pianos.) The door leads you to the Begijnhof. It's great.
- Enjoy the good looks of Dutch men, women, or both, whatever you prefer. I hear that foreigners think that Dutch people are very good-looking.
- Go to the Prinsen, Realen, and/or Bicker island and take a stroll.
- Buy a tram card and take a ride with tram 2. Or ride any other tram, for that matter.
- Rent a bike, ride around, and spawn the devil. We don't like you tourists riding slowly on our bike paths, but we can't really stop you either. Plenty of bike rental places. Watch out for treacherous tram tracks.
- Friday afternoon concert ("lunch concert") in the Westerkerk (Wester church).
- Take boat tour with St. Nicholas boats at the Boom Chicago theater on the Leidseplein, for a picknick (that you bring yourself) on the grachten.
- Go to Blijburg beach and eat at "Kaap Kot".
- If your stomach can handle it, buy and eat french fries with mayonnaise on the street. There's a good place in the Reguliersbreestraat, across from Tuschinski, 50 meters away from the Rembrandtsplein.
- If you've really got guts, eat some FEBO food that you buy, basically, from behind the little glass doors that open after you throw in a coin. There's one next to Tuschinski in the Reguliersbreestraat.
- Go see a movie in Tuschinski on the Reguliersbreestraat. It's a beautiful theater. They renovated it a while ago.
- While you're at it, go to Cineac across Tuschinski. Laugh at the silly people. (No sneakers.)
- Marvel at 95% of Dutch people that speak really good English, German, and maybe even French.
- Take a walk through the huge red light district at night. Feel uncomfortable with the women standing behind glass selling themselves, and feel uncomfortable as you see men leave, after their visit. It's a little weird, but you should go see it. It's part of Amsterdam. The red light district is safe.
Where to eat
- Eat at "De Groene Olifant" ("The Green Elephant") on Sarphatistraat 510 (take tram 10 to Alexanderplein.) I used to live on the same block for six years. It's fantastic food and a great atmosphere, not touristy, although it got a lot more expensive since the € kicked in. I don't know whether the atmosphere changed over the years.
- Eat at "De Toog" for a similar atmosphere and great food. Address is Nicolaas Beetstraat 142.
- As mentioned before: go to the Noordermarkt on Saturday morning, then walk to the Lindenmarkt and eat apple pie in the cafe on the corner of the Westerstraat.
- Eat a sandwich at Ben Wouda on the corner of the Spui.
- Eat herring at the first fish stand you find on the Albert Cuyp street, when coming from the side of the Ferdinand Bol street.
- Look at specialbite.com.
Where to dance
- Dance at De Arena. (Don't accidentally go to the soccer stadium with the same name.) Address is 's Gravesandestraat 51.
- Go dance at the Melkweg, behind the Leidseplein.
Where to shop
- Women's clothing: Exota in the Hartenstraat.
- Shop second hand clothing at "Miss Petticoat", Lindengracht 99. (Quote from Esmee: "old crap, but fun.")
What not to do
A lot of people think they can do anything in Amsterdam. It's probably true to a certain extent, but, please, don't be stupid, and, please, be a good tourist, don't misbehave. In particular:- Don't buy drugs from strangers.
- Don't pee in random locations. Find a urinal. There are plenty to choose from.
- Don't get stoned, please. If you do, stay inside until you're done. If you insist, go to "De Tweede Kamer" coffeeshop, Heisteeg 6.
- Don't get too drunk, please. If you do, stay inside until you're done.
- Don't walk on the bike paths.
- Don't let your parking meter expire; it's a costly mistake. In fact, don't use a car.