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Bereta_Eder
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scary place that amsterdam. but then again i was just 15 when i went there.
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germanos
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behind a firm ****, Rotterdam, NL
Apr 2002
time: 06:33
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If you like art:
Rembandt-museum (near the Stopera (townhall)). The house itself is ot that great (but fun to see), but the collection they have of his ink-drawings is truly amazing! Small drawings but with an incredible detail, sometimes made without lifting his pen from the paper.
A must-see.
The 'van Gogh'-museum is great as well, but expect big queues. (its close to the Rijksmuseum) The museum of contemporary art (Stedelijk Museum) is closed for renovation, but supposedly they have an exhibition near the old docks now.
There is a replica of one of the 17th century ships (from Holland's Golden Age) in the harbour as well, I suppose you can board the vessel to have a look around.
More Golden Age stuff is to be seen at the Palace on Dam-square, which is in fact the townhall from the 16th-17th century. Beautifull marble maps of the known world in the main hall. Lots of 18-19th century crap as well, when the place was taken over by royals.
There is a concert Hall (Paradiso) in the center, near the Leidseplein, where you might be able to see something good. Its in a defunkt church, has a nice atmosphere to it. The Leidseplein itself is a good place for bars, coffeeshops, cinema's and theaters. It's crowded with tourists though (both foreign and local), but since you are one of them, you'll fit just nicely.
Many restaurants are closeby as well.
If the whether is good, the Vondel-park is good for leisure.
Whatch out for pick-pocketers! They are everywhere, and they are there in large numbers.
Don't buy your **** on the streets, but buy it in the shops. Mushrooms (in smartshops) and smokes (in coffeeshops) are readily available, other stuff is illegal.
Other places to see:
Utrecht (has a nice late medival centre) (half an hour by train)
Rotterdam (if you like modern architecture) (one hour by train)
If you plan to travel by train, check out the possibilities for reduced fares (especially if you'll be travelling in groups)
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Zopperoni
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A canal cruise is great if you want to explore the heart of the city from a boat.
If you like diamonds/juwels, there two major diamond "factories" in Amsterdam: Coster and Gassan. (Avoid the Amsterdam Diamond Center, property of Gassan BTW, it gets robbed frequently. The last attempt was foiled by a passer-by).
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molly bloom
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Lundenwic
Oct 2001
time: 15:33
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Starchild- first can I apologize for not replying sooner to your p.m.- I noticed it only on Saturday, can you believe, which embarasses me greatly. I will endeavour to send you the recipes for a couple of cocktails I think you'll find interesting and the first course and dessert course from the Christmas Day menu, chez nous.
Thank you for your kind words- the cold soup was just the think in 36 degrees heat.
Any road up, as they say in Coronation Street, I recommend- the Sex Museum, near Central Station. It's an absolute hoot, you'll scream your t!ts off if you go there, and its conveniently situated close to some good Indonesian cafes.
Do go to a Dutch Brown House- like an British pub, but with excellent coffee, and try one of those wonderful filling Dutch soups with brown beans or spinach- they stick to your ribs and warm you up after an Arctic blast across the IJ.
The flea market near the university (?) is where you might find an elusive Vermeer or de Hooch or Steen, but I seriously doubt it. I think there's a book market too, and I seem to recall someone finding a Mercator map in the back of a book a few decades' ago.
There is also the big flower market (come back with a tulip in your hair) and the cheese market.
Do go to the Museum of the Dutch Resistance- we talked to one of the voluteers there in 1996, and he is photographed in the Time Life history fo WWII passing rifles into a hiding place. It's an intensely moving experience to visit there, and I seem to recall it's near the old Olympic stadium too.
The Jewish Museum is more centrally located, in two old Sephardi synagogues, and is a fascinating and again, very moving place to walk round.
The superb chocolate shops are near Central Station on er, Haarlemmerstraat, I think, but I can't remember properly. Depending on the date of Easter, they might have some delicious Easter themed confections.
Kerkstraat has a great Portuguese restaurant, and some very gay venues.
If you're stuck for somewhere to stay, I can definitely recommend an old V.O.C. captain's house out on Achtergracht, called the Hotel de Munch, or Munck, I think.
Have a great holiday- oh, and don't forget the pancake houses (there's one on Prinsengracht) and the Anne Frank Museum. But you probably wouldn't want to go to the Anne Frank House and the Jewish Museum on the same day.
And- make a trip to den Haag- the Mauritshaus will reward the effort, with its collection from the Ducth Golden Age of painting.
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Cruddy
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I CANNOT BELEIVE no one has mentioned Anne Frank's house - a visit here (more of a pilgrimage) is only 10-15 minutes walk from Centraal Station, towards the Jordaan.
Jordaan is also excellent for getting real food from a bakery rather than the fast junk sold around Centraal.
If you want to get some low down news on upcoming raves, you could try the Vrankrijk on Spuistraat ("Frank-Rake on Spy-straat"). Not too sure if this is still going, but look for the massive wall murals, then on the other side of the street is a steel door (like a dungeon) at ground level. Open Tuesday and Thursday evenings, it's like a central information point for squatting and other quasi legal activities.
Vrankrijk website - needs a translator (try Babel Fish?)
It's rather hardcore though, so if you're just there for the weekend I wouldn't bother. Also this info is rather old, so maybe doing some surfing could set you up better.
EDIT: Best coffee shops to visit on the way to the Jordaan - Twerde Kamer and Dutch Flowers, both very clean and trouble free due to their patronage by well connected Dutch folk. Dutch Flowers probably doesn't match your sexual orientation though...
Oh, and have lots of fun!
Last edited by Cruddy on 19-01-2004 at 21:14
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18-01-2004 19:25
you all.
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