Amsterdam Travel Guide

By The Non Fiction Author

Chances are, you've heard one or two things about Amsterdam already: seventeenth century buildings and readily available hash, the Van Gogh gallery and erotic museums, a laid back atmosphere and a liberal tolerance, eccentrics and slick business types; Amsterdam blends history and urban flair unlike any other city in Europe. It doesn't matter if you've been around the world twice, you're a first-time traveler, or you're somewhere in-between, Amsterdam offers something new at every gabled corner, and to suit all tastes.

The capital of the Netherlands is a lively juxtaposition of cobbled streets and pretty canals, with an easily accessible underbelly of fascinating quirks. Whether you're here for a weekend break or as part of a longer Europe trip, there are many superlatives to describe Amsterdam, and boring is never one of them. Explore concentric horseshoes of canals by bike – navigating the compact warren of heritage buildings studded with offbeat shops and bars. Stop cycling to traverse the city's waterways, flanked by boats and barges, the perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon and to understand Amsterdam's seamless diversity. Museum-hop by foot; echoing the Dutch Eco-spirit whilst choosing a handful from hundreds of cultural centers and galleries to expand your knowledge.

Amsterdam, of course, has a striking reputation. Many people feel intimidated by the idea of visiting, and shouldn't feel bad about that – however, this is a city filled with alternatives, both for those uninspired by the tolerant attitudes, and for those not sufficiently challenged by Rembrandt and the Rijksmuseum. Everything you've heard about Amsterdam is true, and it isn't true; some justified, some blown up. There are layers of understanding to this city which you can peel back and give you new insight visit after visit. Over the past couple of decades or so, Amsterdam has softened its edge. Though you can still find groups of blokes on the prowl in the Red Light District, along with backpackers and sixties throwback crowds here solely to get stoned, the small-city segmentation by its canals means you can just as easily find your way to cosmopolitan shopping districts, boutique bars, and peaceful parks within a city utterly brimming with culture.

For new travelers, Amsterdam is one of Western Europe's great gateway cities. This is a place which gives those in their late teens and early twenties, or those unsure or inexperienced in wandering the world, a taste of life beyond their own borders. Not only an early port of call for Europeans, Amsterdam is often the first long haul destination for many Americans and Australians, seeking a heady mixture of rich culture, eclectic beauty and vibrant parties after sundown. This city might be on the other side of the world, with a startlingly laissez-faire attitude, but it's also a home from home. Not only is it easy to find your way around, but Amsterdammers would describe their city as gezellig, their well-worn buzz word meaning a combination of 'cosy', 'warmly convivial', and 'lived-in'.

For the well-travelled, Amsterdam is ever-evolving and making constant headway in terms of counterculture and development – leading the list of consistently visit-able European cities. Though many travelers return to Amsterdam to find new clubs, more up-market establishments and exciting regeneration projects, most return time and time again for what remains sacred to the city – the cheery intimacy of Dutch cafes, the human and physical warmth at its open-air summer events, the swath of art moving through the city and the proximity of atmospheres to suit every mood: oases of calm found right next to bustling markets.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Non Fiction Author
• Release date: Aug 21, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386396949

The Non Fiction Author

A group of Authors, Graphic Designers and Technical Support Reps

Book preview

Introduction:

Why You Will Fall in Love with Amsterdam!

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Chances are, you've heard one or two things about Amsterdam already: seventeenth century buildings and readily available hash, the Van Gogh gallery and erotic museums, a laid back atmosphere and a liberal tolerance, eccentrics and slick business types; Amsterdam blends history and urban flair unlike any other city in Europe. It doesn't matter if you've been around the world twice, you're a first-time traveler, or you're somewhere in-between, Amsterdam offers something new at every gabled corner, and to suit all tastes.

The capital of the Netherlands is a lively juxtaposition of cobbled streets and pretty canals, with an easily accessible underbelly of fascinating quirks. Whether you're here for a weekend break or as part of a longer Europe trip, there are many superlatives to describe Amsterdam, and boring is never one of them. Explore concentric horseshoes of canals by bike – navigating the compact warren of heritage buildings studded with offbeat shops and bars. Stop cycling to traverse the city's waterways, flanked by boats and barges, the perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon and to understand Amsterdam's seamless diversity. Museum-hop by foot; echoing the Dutch Eco-spirit whilst choosing a handful from hundreds of cultural centers and galleries to expand your knowledge.

Amsterdam, of course, has a striking reputation. Many people feel intimidated by the idea of visiting, and shouldn't feel bad about that – however, this is a city filled with alternatives, both for those uninspired by the tolerant attitudes, and for those not sufficiently challenged by Rembrandt and the Rijksmuseum. Everything you've heard about Amsterdam is true, and it isn't true; some justified, some blown up. There are layers of understanding to this city which you can peel back and give you new insight visit after visit. Over the past couple of decades or so, Amsterdam has softened its edge. Though you can still find groups of blokes on the prowl in the Red Light District, along with backpackers and sixties throwback crowds here solely to get stoned, the small-city segmentation by its canals means you can just as easily find your way to cosmopolitan shopping districts, boutique bars, and peaceful parks within a city utterly brimming with culture.

For new travelers, Amsterdam is one of Western Europe's great gateway cities. This is a place which gives those in their late teens and early twenties, or those unsure or inexperienced in wandering the world, a taste of life beyond their own borders. Not only an early port of call for Europeans, Amsterdam is often the first long haul destination for many Americans and Australians, seeking a heady mixture of rich culture, eclectic beauty and vibrant parties after sundown. This city might be on the other side of the world, with a startlingly laissez-faire attitude, but it's also a home from home. Not only is it easy to find your way around, but Amsterdammers would describe their city as gezellig, their well-worn buzz word meaning a combination of 'cosy', 'warmly convivial', and 'lived-in'.

For the well-travelled, Amsterdam is ever-evolving and making constant headway in terms of counterculture and development – leading the list of consistently visit-able European cities. Though many travelers return to Amsterdam to find new clubs, more up-market establishments and exciting regeneration projects, most return time and time again for what remains sacred to the city – the cheery intimacy of Dutch cafes, the human and physical warmth at its open-air summer events, the swath of art moving through the city and the proximity of atmospheres to suit every mood: oases of calm found right next to bustling markets. 

Are you ready to start the journey?

Let's go!

Chapter 1:

Tips to Make the Most Out of This Guide

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This is an independent city guide written to help you plan the best Amsterdam trip for you. Rather than feeding you sponsored advertisements for establishments cloaked in convincing travel rhetoric, everything you find here has been included by normal travelers, with the help of friendly locals, simply because they really like Amsterdam and want to share their experiences with you. Any recommendations for restaurants, bars or hotels have been made from personal experience gratuitously, rather than through commercial endorsement.

Part one of this guide is designed to help you plan and prepare you for your trip to Amsterdam, equipping you with the knowledge you'll need before you go; including where to stay, how to get there, how to budget, suggested itineraries, and some cultural insight. 

Part two gets down into the finer detail, painting a picture of areas within Amsterdam and what you can expect, where to go and what to do along with closely felt accounts of the kinds of experiences the city offers.

Read on to discover the best of Amsterdam's nightlife and tips to make the most of your stay after sundown. These days, as a conscious testament to its ever-sleeker image, it's not hard to find an alternative to what is sometimes referred to as 'Amster-damage'. Whether you choose a traditional brown café or a stylish club; you're opting for top-notch jazz venues, gay bars or prestigious orchestras, your planned evening is just a skim-read away.

We've collected the best for globe-trotting foodies where you can find an up-and-coming Indonesian restaurant or a Dutch culinary experience. You can enjoy dining in Amsterdam whether you're counting Michelin stars or you're counting your euros.

We will also help you to decide which museums and galleries to visit depending on your interests and how much time you have – in the knowledge that you could easily spend days if not weeks hopping from one to the other, and seeing nothing else.

Want to understand a bit about Dutch culture before you embark on your trip? This guide offers a brief, albeit discursive snapshot of traditional outlooks, shifting attitudes and counterculture in Amsterdam and the Netherlands at large, to help you begin to paint a picture of this city – both before you travel, and to help understand it whilst you're there.

This guide has been approached with a dose of Dutch tolerance. Here, we will show you every side to this incredible city, its culture and history, and provide an honest insight into the many sights and activities which are worth your time in Amsterdam – along with sifting out those over hyped tourist traps which are best avoided. We're an open e-book.

Chapter 2:

Amsterdam at a Glance (North, South, East, West)

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The most populous city in the Netherlands, Amsterdam is the nation's capital despite the fact that the Dutch government sit at The Hague. The city's region has a population of around 2.4 million, with approximately 824,000 living in Amsterdam itself. Located in North Holland, this province is unexpectedly to the west of the country jutting out into the North Sea, which gives Amsterdam its name as a dam of the river Amstel, and its origin as a small 12th century fishing village. Today, the city is defined by its interlacing canals, which form its skeleton, looping outwards from its historical and tightly packed centre, which only takes around 40 minutes to cover by foot from