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Dining in Europe > Amsterdam
Hotels in Europe > Hotels
in the Netherlands > Hotels
in Amsterdam
Going out in Amsterdam is something thats imbedded in the culture,
during the whole week restaurants and bars will be brimming with
customers. If you're planning to eat out in Amsterdam the one problem
you'll be faced with is the amount of choice available. The cultural
diversity that typifies Amsterdam is reflected best in what it has to
offer its hungry visitors. From typical Dutch cuisine at Dorrius to the
taste of South Africa at Indaba.
Top quality restaurants like Blakes and Dynasty make for a great if
slightly expensive evening, but what makes eating out in Amsterdam all
the more enjoyable is the large range of cheap restaurants that serve
great food. Walking on the Zeedijk you'll find restaurants like Nam Kee
and New King, that are favourites of many locals, and rightfully so.
These restaurants aren't famed for their looks or even their service but
if you want a good meal you really can't go wrong, especially not for
these prices.
Around the centre of Amsterdam you'll find a lot of restaurants
focussed mainly on tourists, some of which like Iguazu are very good.
However, for the true culinary experience you mustn't be afraid to
branch out. Neighbourhoods like the Pijp and the Jordaan are stuffed to
the brim with restaurants and cafes. The Pijp is a favourite among
Amsterdams large student fraternity, so expect to find a young, trendy
crowd in the bars/restaurants The Duvel. Beddingtons also attracts its
fair share of trendy, if slightly better-off, clientele.
The Jordaan was originally a real folk neighbourhood but has evolved
into an absolute centre of trendy activity. Restaurants like Toscanini
and Bordewijk show the city at its most natural. Laid-back, with not a
care in the world, shying away from the hustle and bustle of the busy
city centre.
If you do find yourself around the centre and looking for a good
meal, why not try D'antica; probably the best Italian restaurant in
Amsterdam or the centrally located D'Vijff Vlieghen.
After you have lined your stomach with a good meal you are ready to
discover the extensive bar and pub culture that is such an integral part
of Amsterdam. The most famous places to spend your evening are the
Leidse and Rembrandts square. Bars like The Bourbonstreet and The Heeren
van Aemstel are highlights in these bustling areas. Expect a mostly
young crowd drinking and dancing the night away. Don't hesitate to try
out different bars to see what suits you best. From the relaxed Irish
hospitality of Hoopman to the "look at me" atmosphere of the
Palladium its up to you to find that bar or club that will be of pivotal
importance to your stay.
Where the red light district is famed for other, more obvious and
eye-catching qualities than its bars, The Last Waterhole and Durty
Nellys are vivacious and lively places that are perfectly suited to
spend an evening. Expect to find a lot of tourists, all looking for, and
hopefully finding, the same good time as you are.
As with restaurants, branching out in Amsterdam to bars and cafés is
a definite must. Walking trough the Jordaan and the Pijp you'll find a
large selection of bars, good and bad. Check out De Pieper to experience
that most traditional of Dutch bars, the brown one. Don't be afraid, the
brown refers to the dark interior and not to something more difficult to
explain. Other bars that are typical to Amsterdam are Caf'Nol and De
Twee Zwaantjes. These places show off the qualities that typify the
Jordaan. They're camp, noisy and filled with music and nice people.
Expect to hear Dutch music blared out at a most disturbingly high volume
and be aware of the feared sing along. If you don't want to seem to be
out of place make low grunting and throat clearing sounds to perfectly
ape our beautiful Dutch language.
Amsterdam is blessed with a great selection of Irish pubs. From the
pure brilliance of The Tara to the musical accompaniment that can be
found at Mulligans, not forgetting Molly Malones for the best British
breakfast in Amsterdam, the Irish pubs are a favourite among locals and
tourists alike. A day spent pubhopping is therefore a more than worthy
exercise. Look out for the Daily Craig, a monthly Irish pub guide with a
handy map highlighting the best pubs in Amsterdam.
If you are someone that likes to think of themselves as a lover and
connoisseur of beer in all its guises be sure to visit In de Wildeman
and Gollem for a selection of beer so large it would frighten lesser men
or women than yourself. If you have decided to have a beer experiment in
the luxury (or squalor) of your own hotel room be sure to visit De
Bierkoning, the definitive beer shop in Amsterdam.
Closing off, the best tip we can give you is to look around, don't be
afraid to stray from the Leidse and Rembrands Square. There is a whole
city out there to explore. Just take a look at Westpacific or Amsterdam
to see what you would be missing out on by staying in the centre.
Entertainment in Amsterdam
ART & CULTURE
Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Vermeer, and Frans Hals are the Old and Great
Masters of Holland. As a result, Amsterdam has some of the finest art
museums in Europe. As Amsterdam is the most liberal of cities, the
museums are not purely of the conventional kind, but whatever your
interests, you will be able to find it at one of the citys museums. The
majority of museums are placed within a short range of one another, so
you can easily walk from one to the next.
Museums
Many of Rembrandt, Vermeer and Frans Hals' finest works are part of the
national heritage and housed in the Rijksmuseum. Take your time in this
beautiful museum, as it is huge and the exhibitions and surroundings
need your attention for more then just an hour. Rembrandts paintings are
also largely represented in the Rembrandthuis. The life and works of Van
Gogh are presented in the Van Gogh Museum. For modern art you should
definitely visit the exhibitions in the Stedelijk Museum.
Nature & Science
If you're interested in science and interactive entertainment, do not
miss the newMetropolis, a place designed for children with a lot of
hands-on exhibits and technology. The Scheepvaart Museum will appeal to
anyone whos interested in maritime and nautical experiences.
Nature lovers should visit the Hortus Botanicus, which has more then six
thousand different kinds of plants.
History
In Amsterdam, there are a lot of historical museums. One of the best is
the Amsterdams Historisch Museum, where you will learn about the citys
developments from the thirteenth century to the present day. The popular
Anne Frankhuis has recently been restored and is able to accommodate a
lot more people then before. In the former Jewish quarter you will find
the Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam, which deals with the history of the
Resistance during the Second World War.
CINEMA
Amsterdam has only a few cinemas, but they have a good combination of
big Hollywood blockbusters and European movies. The cinemas can be
divided into two main categories: popular cinemas (with big movie
successes) and art houses (filmhuizen) where art films, documentaries
and retrospectives are shown. Tuschinski is a beautiful cinema-house
with original art-deco architecture and a beautiful theatre where you
can imagine yourself watching an opera instead of a movie. The Movies,
with its extravagant interior, is a great place to visit and view art
films.
THEATER & DANCE
Amsterdam has a lot of theatrical events, and more in English than in
Dutch. The Parade is the prelude of the theatre season, and is a great
event at the end of summer with lots of different little shows, food and
drink. The most important theatre venues are Carr - once home to a
circus, now a beautiful theatre at the Amstel canal and Stadsschouwburg
(Municipal Theatre), with a wide variety of contemporary national and
international productions. Amsterdams dance scene is quite lively. There
are two main companies, Nederlands Dans Theater and Het Nationale
Ballet. Besides these companies there are a lot of established dancers
and companies worth watching.
MUSIC
This city has a lively music scene, with lots of festivals and events
and numerous concerts in different venues. What are you looking for?
There is everything here from classic to rock. Tickets for concerts can
be bought in advance at the AUB Ticketshop, located centrally at the
Leidseplein.
Classical
The acoustics in the Concertgebouw offers a great sound and is therefore
the favoured venue of many soloists and orchestras. It has its own
Concertgebouw Orchestra which has a regular program. At the Beurs van
Berlage there are a lot of classical concerts on a regular basis. If
you're more into opera, you should go to the Opera Muziektheater
(Stopera) at the Waterlooplein, where the Netherlands Opera is often to
be seen, or go and see an opera at the Carr.
Jazz-Blues
Local groups and jam sessions can often be heard in the lively city
during the night. International stars visit the city to play at
different venues. The best place to catch jazz legends in intimate
confines is the Casablanca or Bimhuis.
Rock
Big international stars like the Rolling Stones enjoy playing in venues
like Paradiso and the Melkweg. Besides this there are a lot of rock
festivals, eg. Drum Rhythm Festival, which takes place at the
Westergasfabriek or the Amsterdam Pop Prijs/ Wanted R&B & Hip
Hop Prijs Finals which is held at the Melkweg.
House, Disco, World Music
The VIP Club on Fridays and Paradisco on Saturday evenings in Paradiso
are hip dance evenings where a lot of cool people are to be seen. A lot
of techno, house and hip-hop music can be heard. The Melkweg has dance
evenings with hard house and drum 'n' bass. The public is diverse, but
mainly young and the atmosphere relaxed.
DISTRICTS
Amsterdam can be divided into different areas, each with its own history
and attractions. Try to go beyond the Grachtengordel, where every
tourist tends to get stuck. There are lots of other things to see than
just the tourist area.
The Old Centre
The Old Centre of Amsterdam can be described as being surrounded by the
Central Station, the Singel, and the Kloveniersburgwal canals. The
central points are the Dam Square, with the Koninklijk Paleis, Madame
Tussaud, the Nieuwe Kerk and department stores such as Bijenkorf and
Magna Plaza.
The Red Light District
Not far from Dam Square you will find the Red Light District, where you
can window shop. Many people visit Amsterdam mainly to go and see this
area for the window shopping, but this beautiful, old and historical
area contains a lot of other attractions, like the Nieuwmarkt with the
characteristic building De Waag, which dates from 1488, formerly built
as a gatehouse for the city defences. Near the Nieuwmarkt you will find
Amsterdams small Chinatown.
The New Side
This area starts at the west end of Central Station and ends up at the
Spui. In between you will find Amsterdams Historisch Museum and the
Begijnhof. This area is worth a relaxed stroll; at the Spui you will end
up having a cup of coffee at one of the cafés on the square.
Jordaan
The Jordaan is a beautiful artistic area. Lots of galleries and cosy
little restaurants are to be found here. Typical Amsterdammers live
here; the area still doesn't see as many tourists as the other areas,
although it has a very typical Amsterdam atmosphere. With a lot of
greenery outside, it feels like a little village within a big city.
Waterlooplein, Rembrandtplein, Leidseplein
The Leidseplein and the Rembrandtplein are Amsterdams tourist centres,
packed with outgoing people and cafés and bars. During the summer its
packed with people sitting on the terraces watching others go by. The
Waterlooplein is famous for its secondhand market where you will find
plenty of bargains.
GARDENS & PARKS
Amsterdam has some beautiful gardens and parks, the Vondelpark being the
most famous park amongst tourists and Amsterdammers. Here you also find
the Filmmuseum, which has a beautiful terrace where you can spend a
whole afternoon sitting, relaxing and watching the strangest people
going by. The Amstelpark is located a bit away from the centre, but is a
good retreat with rose gardens and a Glass House. The Amsterdamse Bos is
a busy park where you can be as sporty as you like. Fancy a swim? Go to
the Bosbaan, used for boating and swimming.
If you want a tour around Amsterdams private gardens, go and inform
yourself at the VVV, where they can tell you whats going on in Amsterdam
at the particular time you're there.
SPORTS
Holland is well known for its passion for football, but besides
football, the Dutch play a lot of other sports like hockey, skating and
cycling. Amsterdam has many cycling lanes, although you have to watch
the traffic, especially the trams that won't stop for you; in comparison
to other cities though, the traffic is a lot more used to cyclists. The
parks are excellent for outdoor sports: running, skating, cycling. A lot
of sports centres are to be found as well, for fitness and sauna,
swimming and bowling.
Dining in Europe > Amsterdam
Hotels in Europe > Hotels
in the Netherlands > Hotels
in Amsterdam
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