I'm going to Amsterdam in a week.
What would you recommend to see or do there (ahem! except obvious :D)?

One can always check out the art museums and hash bars, not necessarily in that order.

The Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and Stedelijk Museum are obvious museum choices.

My memory of bars is hazy.

Ken

I'm going to Amsterdam in a week.
What would you recommend to see or do there (ahem! except obvious :D)?

I'd recommend the "do" part. It's not too much of a spectator sport, so the "see" could get boring.:D:D

I'd recommend the "do" part. It's not too much of a spectator sport, so the "see" could get boring.:D:D

I'm going with my wife!!!!!

Send her to the coffee joint.. then you can trip on down to the "do" part of town...

Myself, I'd of course check out a little of the obvious places, then do like Ken said and visit museums.. walk around and check out all the shops, watch the people.. try eating at as many cool places as I can find..

I don't like setting out to do anything in particular when I head somewhere. I like to stumble on it as I go...

Be sure and try a stroopwafel at a local bakery.

My wife (Dutch) makes them every year at Christmas.

I'm going with my wife!!!!!

My wife and I spent eight days there in 1998. We did all of the tourist stuff but we also did a lot of sitting and watching the world go by with coffee, pie and whatever we picked up that day at the Coffee Shops.

Everything that you will want to see is within a few square miles and easily reached by foot, bicycle or water taxi. I don't recall the name of the area but there are three or four streets packed with some good ethnic restaurants (mostly Brazilian and Indonesian) and if you get the craving for a burger and fries the Hard Rock Cafe is close by. There are some great live music clubs and it's just a great place to spend time.

Bob W

tour the original Heineken Brewery, currently called the "Heineken Experience"

The torture museum was cool, and there was a comedy club called Boom Chicago that was pretty good.

Go to an Indonesian Restaurant and order the "rijstafel", which is on every menu. It's a myriad of different dishes (as much as 24) and its outstanding!

Feel adventurous? Try some raw herring with onions. It's most definately an acquired taste, but try it anyway. It's only a few guilders.

Catch 2 tickets to see AFC AJAX, one of the most celebrated "voetbal" (soccer) teams in all of Europe.

In addition to the aforementioned museums, try the Anne Frank House and take a tour along the canals. Rent some bicycles.

Enjoy your visit! I wish I was there!

John

You have to do the museums, they are absolutely spectacular. Anne Frank's house is a must, bike tours, boat tours of the canals, VondelPark is beautiful and you should really check out the Welkweg, you'll have a blast.
I'm not sure if you indulge but if you do The Bulldog will be an experience (even if you don't indulge it's an experience!). Bring your wife along and check out the Redlight District and also tour the Heineken Brewery.
Amsterdam is probably the most beautiful city I've been in, take tons of pictures!
Let me know if the Heroin Boat is still there on a canal just down from Centraal Station before you get to Damrak.

Have fun, I wish I could go with you!

Have fun, I wish I could go with you!

Me too!

Renting bicycles is a good idea. I did this when I was in Germany and it was a great way to get around.

+1 to the Van Gogh museum. It's one of my favorite museums in the world. The Rijksmuseum can be overwhelming, but it's certainly worthwhile. Rembrandt's house is cool. Also, the Waterlooplein Flea Market is a fun place to visit and pick up some cool souvenirs, artwork, bric-a-brac, etc. Also, since you'll be there with your wife, stroll through the Flower Market - very pretty and interesting.

For Indonesian restaurants, go to Binnen Bantammerstraat, a street just beyond the red light area lined with good Indonesian restaurants. And you got to eat a shawarma, a Middle eastern (and better) version of Gyros. There are shawarma restaurant all over, and on many of my visits to Amsterdam I would go on the quest for the perfect shawarma. Prior indulgence in the "obvious" recommended.

For tunes (and more of the "obvious"), the Paradiso is pretty cool. It's a converted old church with a stage that hosts some pretty good groups. The Melkweg (Milky Way) is one of the original venues for music and much more. They're on opposite ends of the Leidseplaan, a square full of cafes and bars with open air seating - a fun place to chill and people watch while sipping beer out of too small glasses. Also, there is a branch of the Bull Dog coffee shop there, although the original is near the red light area.

Never been there, but my uncle told me about it when I was around 15, & it's been in my mind since. Maybe if I hit the lottery, I'll just retire there. :D :smoke:

Unfortunately, the Rijksmuseum is being renovated. There is a small collection available, 'The Masterpieces'. Also, Central Station is a big mess due to the new subway being constructed. But not to worry, there's enough to see. On particular highlight would be the Hermitage, which has just opened. If you're not really the cultural type: just wander around a bit, make sure to check out the 'Leidscheplein' and the nearby Vondelpark.
Basically: just walk around, just beware of pushers (drugs) on the streets and keep your wallet and papers in a safe place. If you want to try some ..erm... Amsterdam specialities, buy them in a regular coffeeshop. They might charge you some more for being a tourist, but it'll be good quality. Have fun!

Try some traditional Dutch snack foods.

Croquettes are delicious, so are the pickled herring with chopped onions (often sold by street vendors). Don't forget to try the frites (fries) dipped in mayonnaise...


Odd, but interesting places to visit:

Museum of Torture

http://www.torturemuseum.com/content.html

Museum of Sex

http://www.sexmuseumamsterdam.nl/index2.html

So I'm back.
First of all I would like all of you for wonderful suggestions.
Probably the only thing I skipped was an Indonesian Restaurant (not into this kind of food - give me a steak!!!)
Rijksmuseum is still under construction, but they have a small exposition opened with "the best of...". Amazing!

Van Gogh Museum - loved it! Never new VIncent was so different in various periods of his life. Always thought "Sunflowes".

Heineken Brewery was cool.
Anne Frank House. You wouldn't believe the line! Probably 3 times the line at Rijksmuseum. But I don't regret time spent waiting.

Heroin Boat was not there :scratch2:.

Multiple Flea Markets (all over Amsterdam) are interesting.
Flower market was amazingly beautiful (made some pictures). Unfortunately it wasn't a tulip season.

http://picasaweb.google.com/gladiator335/Amsterdam2009#5381698131659281138

http://picasaweb.google.com/gladiator335/Amsterdam2009#5381698885429118482

Sex Museum was a big disappointment. Almost looks like somebody was collecting porn (sort of) and decided to display it just for the hell of it.

My friend (whom I haven't seen in about 16 years) lives there, so he met us at the airport. We went to Delft (with all the suitcases still in the trunk). What a lovely small town! And they have an amazing stained glass in churches there!

http://picasaweb.google.com/gladiator335/Amsterdam2009#5381695597053310546

http://picasaweb.google.com/gladiator335/Amsterdam2009#5381695683321751842

After that he took us to Madurodam. All major buildings built on a
1:25 scale. Pretty cool.
http://picasaweb.google.com/gladiator335/Amsterdam2009#5381695785289247042

After that we went through Den Haag to his house and had a dinner with him and his lovely wife.

Finally got into hotel (Radisson Blu) right in the center. 5 minutes walk from the Dam.

Saturday he picked us up and we went to a small fishing village of Volendam.
On a way we stopped to see some windmills, cheese making shop.

http://picasaweb.google.com/gladiator335/Amsterdam2009#5381696338465916530

What can I say about Volendam? Beer and herring :thmbsp::thmbsp::thmbsp:

http://picasaweb.google.com/gladiator335/Amsterdam2009#5381696421775056834

We also planned to go to Brugge (Belgium) for a day, even bought train tickets. But all the trains were cancelled due to roadwork :tears:
Well, may be next time.

And Amsterdam by itself: walking along canals, taking canal cruise, sipping coffee in a sidewalk cafe - beautiful city, very relaxing. And people there are just amazing: very helpful and friendly!

http://picasaweb.google.com/gladiator335/Amsterdam2009#5381696499165917554

http://picasaweb.google.com/gladiator335/Amsterdam2009#5381696665101138834

http://picasaweb.google.com/gladiator335/Amsterdam2009#5381696801302615474

http://picasaweb.google.com/gladiator335/Amsterdam2009#5381697206656625682

http://picasaweb.google.com/gladiator335/Amsterdam2009#5381697249232431890

Red Light District - "window shopping" only :D. Entertaining!

"Obvious" stuff - tried, didn't get any anticipated kick :scratch2:
Whatever... Had to try it once in a lifetime anyway. So this box is checked already.

http://picasaweb.google.com/gladiator335/Amsterdam2009#5381697786764802786

All in all it was a great trip and if I will ever have a chance I will go to Amsterdam again! :D

By the way I put a bunch of pictures here (if anyone's interested):

http://picasaweb.google.com/gladiator335/Amsterdam2009#

By the way I put a bunch of pictures here (if anyone's interested):

http://picasaweb.google.com/gladiator335/Amsterdam2009#

Awesome pictures, thank you for sharing them. If I had to pick another country to live in other than Canada I could easily live in Holland.

Love the windmill pic. My grandfather was born in a working windmill a long long time ago :thmbsp:

I'm not surprised the Heroin Boat is gone, they must be providing somewhere else for the junkies to use. Here's a lousy shot of it. It was a long time ago and all I had was a crappy Kodak disk camera.
I don't mention the Heroin Boat because it was a cultural icon or anything but rather as and odd curiosity in a very unique and colourful city.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k163/Graciefloydie/AK%20Gear/DSC_1205.jpg

Good to hear you had a nice time. Judging from what you've seen and done, you didn't get much sleep ;)

Good to hear you had a nice time. Judging from what you've seen and done, you didn't get much sleep ;)

Not really :D
But it was well worth it!

I am glad you had a good time!

I'll never forget seeing the "shrubbery" on the apartment balconies when I was there back in 2001. :D