Amsterdam City Breaks Guide Blog

Amsterdam Lonely Planet vid

2011-03-24T11:47:00.000Z

You gotta do the boat trip!

Amsterdam stories

2011-03-17T11:38:00.001Z

Hi everyone,

if you're off to Amsterdam at any time this year, we'd like to hear your Amsterdam stories when you return. Did you find any cool new stuff over there that we haven't heard about yet? Nearly get run over by a bicycle or fall in the canal and get a soaking?

Amsterdam is our favourite city, and we want to hear as much as possible about it, so whether you're landing at Schiphol and getting a taxi into town or the ferry to Amsterdam, we'd love to hear all your travel experiences.

We're particularly interested in hearing about new bars and restaurants that you recommend, as well as general new info on the city.

Amsterdam - stuff to do this month

2011-03-11T16:44:00.000Z

If you've done the usual tourist stuff in Amsterdam and you're looking for something a bit different in March 2011, how about the Unheard Film Festival.

It's an unusual idea - letting people find out how sound affects perception of films. Included in the programme we have " Amsterdam noise rockers The Moi Non Plus orchestrating David Lynch's Eraserhead" - definitely worth investigation.

Elsewhere in Amsterdam this month we have the Reduced Shakespeare Company doing the complete works of the bard in vastly abridged form.

Amsterdam always has plenty of cultural events going on, so if you've done the Van Gogh Museum, your boat trip round the canals, and all the other big tourist stuff - there's plenty more to keep you amused and amazed.

Oudjaarsdag - New Year's celebrations in Holland

2010-12-21T15:25:00.000Z

Scotland is rightly famed worldwide for its Hogmanay celebrations, and every year we see the television coverage of people (or 'revellers' as the TV calls them) in Times Square, fireworks lighting up the sky over the Thames in London, and so on.

But what about New Year in or favourite city, Amsterdam...?

Here are a couple of links giving us the lowdown on the Dam's celebrations:

About.com - champagne and fireworks...

iAmsterdam - and parties galore

Amsterdam is of course the party capital of the world, so it's no surprise that it gets into the mood for the final big party of the festive season. Just make sure you don't start the party too early on the ferry over or you'll have no energy left for the night itself!

Amsterdam Christmas links

2010-12-14T12:28:00.001Z

Here are a few links to sites with info on Amsterdam/ Holland at Christmas (Kerstfeest):

amsterdam.info - interesting stuff about Dutch Christmas customs - Sinterklass and all that.

GoAmsterdam has some pretty cool pictures of Amsterdam during the holiday season.

iamsterdam picks out the 12 best Christmas holiday events

... and has a guide to Christmas markets and festive shopping in the city

Enjoy...!

Amsterdam news

2010-11-23T17:27:00.000Z

Some news from Amsterdam this week about Schiphol, according to a report in Dutchnews.nl the boss of Schiphol told the Telegraaf newspaper that "Schiphol would prefer to be without holiday traffic. It has less value for us".

I'm not sure that he meant all holiday traffic though - my guess is that he meant having budget carriers go elswehere in the Randstad or maybe a city further inland but not too far away. After all it's not like every holiday visitor to Paris goes through CdG is it?

Amsterdam - da dreaded de Wallen!

2010-10-28T11:37:00.003+01:00

Amsterdam's known for a few things that - ahem - don't get talked about in polite company. A lot of these things take place in the old town area of De Wallen.

But there's more to De Wallen than red lights and smoky cafes. De Wallen is also the oldest part of Amsterdam - one of those European places that when you see it for the first time looks like something from a historical film. Taking pride of place in De Wallen is the Oude Kerk, consecrated in the early 14th century - if you're a bit of a church spotter, this one is a must-see and one of my favourites, up there with St Pauls in London and the Sacre Coeur in Paris.

Getting to Amsterdam:

The city is easy to get to by air or sea, with a world-class airport, Schiphol, that's so vast it almost feels like a town in itself. Schiphol is a short distance to the city centre by taxi.

Amsterdam's easily accessible if you want to sail there, with ferries to Holland crossing from the UK to IJmuiden, a short drive from the city.

And of course if you want to get there by rail, Amsterdam is very well placed for people training it in from France, Germany and beyond.

Vrolijk Kerstfeest!

2010-10-19T09:54:00.001+01:00

Dunno about you lot, but I think it would be good to spend the actual Christmas Day part of the holiday season abroad, preferably in Amsterdam.

While there's nothing wrong with a traditional British Christmas, I have to say it's all a bit overfamiliar after all these years - the TV specials, the Stig advent calendars, all the rest of it.

Mainland Europe I think does the season best in all the world - the markets, the traditions, the lights and candles.

Sadly due to family commitments I'm stuck in Blighty though, so it'll be the Bernard Matthews turkey roast and Mateus Rose for me!

Jacques Brel - Amsterdam

2010-10-06T09:51:00.000+01:00

Bit of a musical interlude for you today. Brel - a true Beneluxian (if that's a word...) wrote this powerful song that has been translated and then sung in English by Scott Walker among others. Brel's version remains the daddy though.

Shopping in Amsterdam

2010-09-20T10:37:00.000+01:00

While Amsterdam is a big city, it's not a metropolis on the scale of London or Paris, so it doesn't have an equivalent of, say, Harrods. But what it does have is an independent and vibrant sense of style, and hundreds of great shops to prove it. There's Hoofstraat, also known as the 5th Ave of Amsterdam, which has literally hundreds of high quality clothes shops in it, then there's the more conventional department stores in the centre of town. One of the best places I've been clothes-wise is Look Out, which sells the kind of decent designer gear that's for real people - Paul Smith, Stone Island etc.

Amsterdam also excels in its antique shops, I'm told, but beyond passing a few of these shops in the street, I've not got much experience of them, not being much of an antique freak. The markets in Amsterdam are uniformly excellent - as you'd expect from mainland western Europe, with special emphasis on typically Dutch specialities such as the flower market. Supermarkets aren't particularly varied in terms of operators, the main one being the Albert Heijn chain, which is reasonably cheap (if you're from the UK you'll find the price of beer in Dutch supermarkets to be agreeable), well stocked and has friendly staff who pretty much all seem to speak perfect English.

Another type of shop that I'm unfamiliar with (you'll just have to trust me on this) is the Coffee Shop. They are dotted around here and there, maybe with slightly more in the De Wallen area. But despite Amsterdam being well known for its liberalised laws in allowing coffee shops, you wouldn't notice them had you not been told of their existence.

All in all I'd rate Amsterdam extremely highly for its retail - it definitely has more to offer than most cities of comparable size elsewhere. Might need to get cheap ferry tickets - leaves all the more money to spend when when I get there...

Communication: double Dutch?

2010-09-13T10:07:00.000+01:00

As any traveller knows, communication can often be a problem. A bit of learning the local language can go a long way though, especially in countries where there aren't that many native speakers. People in, for instance, Sweden really appreciate people giving their language a shot.

But in The Netherlands, what I've found is that everyone speaks English, and not only do they speak English, they speak it so well that Holland should surely be classified as an bilingual country. From the girl at the Albert Heijn checkout to the airport staff to taxi drivers - everyone speaks English. And maybe it's just me, bit when I try out a bit of Dutch, it's like I'm wasting everyone's time - you suddenly think "Come on, everyone hear speaks good English, just quit the terrible attempt at Dutch".

All of which makes visiting Amsterdam even more of a pleasure. Not because I don't want to converse in foreign languages, but because Dutch is really difficult to pronounce.

Tot ziens...!

Amsterdam Webcams

2010-09-01T10:16:00.000+01:00

It's pretty cool how the internet has made the world smaller. If you want to take a 'virtual' trip- somewhere then just by looking up a webcam you're there in seconds seeing the place as it really is.

As a Netherlands obsessive I'm always checking out the country on various tourist sites and there's often a webcam or list of webcams at various famous areas. There's something exciting about seeing a city street from afar, traffic and pedestrians in motion, all watched by a tiny camera that nobody ever thinks about or notices.

The other thing about the internet is that it's also made booking holidays very easy. No need to go into town and queue at the travel agents, you can get everything from cheap ferry tickets to detailed maps online, putting you in a position where you can plan a trip and buy tickets without any effort at all. And if you have a smartphone or a netbook, you can even do so on a whim while you sit in your favourite coffee outlet, sipping a cappuccino and dreaming about your upcoming adventures!

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Amsterdam icon - gone.

2010-08-25T09:48:00.000+01:00

Some Amsterdam news flashed across the globe this week with the sad story that Anne Frank's chestnut tree has blown over in a storm. The 150 year old tree didn't actually belong to the Frank family, but it is written about in her diary as somthing that gave her hope.

When I visited the Anne Frank museum earlier this year I'd hoped to get a look at the tree, but the highest room of the house was blocked off by perspex so you could see into the room but not out of the window.

The Anne Frank tree has apparently been condemned for some time, held up only by metal supports and campaigning voices. The tree had been badly rotting and was perhaps lucky to have survived as long as it did.

So, what now for the space behind the building? Plant a new one, I say. Thankfully clones exist of the original tree, so it should be easy enough.

Amsterdam in Autumn - perfect short break

2010-08-18T09:44:00.002+01:00

August is a strange month - parliament is in recess, the weather is kind of deciding whether to continue as summer or make the move into colder days, and the whole world feels slightly as if it's in a pre-Autumn limbo, where things aren't quite summer anymore but a real season is yet to take summer's place.

In short - it's the perfect time to take a short break. Much as winter holidays can be fun, there is a mildness to the weather at this time of year that is truly special, and if like me you're not a great fan of high summer, it's ideal.

I'm loving this Fall In Amsterdam photos page - and there are some great pics n Flickr - here are the results when you type in Autumn and Amsterdam to the search field. Nice! Although it's giving me strong Amsterdam pinings so maybe I need to get on with something else instead of poring over photos of golden leaves and glinting waterways.

Of course, short breaks away don't need to be in Autumn, it would be a bit different and very exciting to try out some New Years Eve breaks- but for me Autumn is a special kind of time for a trip abroad- epecially to a city as magical as Amsterdam.

Photo by David Enker

Around Amsterdam #1 Vondelpark

2010-08-11T09:47:00.001+01:00

Amsterdam's Vondelpark might not be as famous as new York's Central park, but it's definitely a competitior in the world-class parks stakes, attracting a healthy 10 million visitors a year.Combining space, art and buildings in one green space in the city, it's a must for anyone visiting Amsterdam.

The Netherlands Film Museum, situated in Vondelpark, and below it, Pablo Picasso's iconic (or should that be Ikhthus-ic) fish sculpture - a true classic.

More at http://www.amsterdam.info/parks/vondelpark/

Going to Amsterdam? Your short break inventory...

2010-08-04T10:52:00.001+01:00

If you're planning a short break to Amsterdam, you'll have your own personal inventory of stuff to take, of course. Your Euros, your bicycle clips, and other essentials. What I've compiled below isn't anything in the way of a physical inventory - it's kind of like a web inventory for your netbook, smartphone or tablet.

I amsterdam -http://www.iamsterdam.com/ - a wealth of Amsterdam-related info on this one. This is a very well-designed site, with up-to-date information for your trip. A cut above most other tourist info sites I've seen, it also has its own smartcard - the I amsterdam Card. This little card is pretty useful and gives you free entry to a long list of museums, and doubles as a public transport ticket for trams, buses etc (train travel to and from Schiphol excepted). Full info here.

GVB -http://www.gvb.nl/english/Pages/default.aspx - official website of the public transport company of Amsterdam. Includes FAQ, maps, timetables, ticket info etc for tram, bus, metro and more. Pretty essential site. Amsterdam's not the biggest city in the world, but to see it properly you'll definitely be using Amsterdam's clean and easy to use public transport system.

Trip Advisor's Amsterdam Tourism page. Honest reviews by people who've been. Covers hotels, attractions and eating out. While in my experience a lot of Trip Advisor users' experiences don't exactly chime with my own, always an interesting read.

Official Holland tourism site - http://www.holland.com/uk/ - even if your stay is short, there's still time to go further afield, as Holland is a fairly compact place. This site is informational, well designed and will give you a flavour of what awaits in this, my favourite, country.

So, that's your concise virtual inventory for Amsterdam. If you're planning a short break then be sure to maximise your enjoyment potential by getting as much out of Amsterdam as you can. And drop us a comment if you think there are other essential links for the inventory and we can do another blog post on this subject sometime soon.

Places to stay in Amsterdam

2010-07-21T10:45:00.000+01:00

Amsterdam has, of course, plenty of places to stay. You can choose from thrifty accommodation right up to millionaire class hospitality. But to day we thought we'd concentrate not on the mega-cheap or the mega-luxurious, just the smart and (dare we say it) trendy kind of places.

Hotel Vondel - a very smart looking hotel, firmly in the boutique category. Situated within very easy reach of the main nightlife areas and handy for the centre of town. See some pics and get more info at: http://www.hotelvondel.nl/site/index.php

Another real beauty, the Dylan Amsterdam, is also situated in just the right place if you want to be close (but not too close) to all the action of Holland's biggest and most exciting city. With its imposing entranceway and its brilliantly designed rooms, this is one place that will make you feel like you're in a movie.

The CitizenM hotel at Schiphol is one of those new breed of hotels that are futuristic but at the same time reassuringly good quality. CitizenM's well designed website is a good sign, as is its high rating on Trip Advisor. Another interestung point to note is that in each room is a Philips design touchscreen moodpad. Basically a remote control not just for the telly but the entire room: lighting, blinds, heating, etc. Awesome :)

I love the idea of staying at a hotel in an airport - but can Schiphol really be classed as an airport or should it be classed as a city in its own right? You could concievably visit Holland and never actually leave Schiphol - it's got that much to offer.

World Cup hopes...

2010-07-01T10:15:00.000+01:00

With the Netherlands currently priced at 7/1 for a World Cup win, excitement on the streets of Amsterdam is bound to be increasing by the day. The Netherlands after all is a nation with an enviable World Cup history, with a national side that are no strangers to the actual final. Could they repeat this feat and become runners-up? Could they do the unprecedented and go on to take the prize? It's all to play for...

One thing's for certain - the bars in and around Amsterdam's vibrant Old Town district are going to be doing good business no matter the result, since Amsterdam is a world city that attracts holidaymakers from around the globe. But it would be extra special to be among the throng of football fans and pub-goers should the Netherlands national side clinch victory in their next game, opening up a very real chance of tournament success.

No doubt the ferry to Amsterdam will be bustling more than usual (if that's possible...) should the Netherlands progress. In fact I'll bet there will be a fair few people going over just for the next game alone. Can you imagine a more fun place to be than Amsterdam's Old Town while the match is on...?

The Canals of Amsterdam - Cool Video!

2010-05-17T11:06:00.000+01:00

Just thought we'd post this little video featuring footage of some boats on the canals of Amsterdam - its very relaxing.......

Volcano shuts Schiphol again

2010-05-17T11:00:00.000+01:00

The Volcanic dust from Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland has struck Europe once again over the weekend, closing many UK airports and once again Amsterdam Schipol (one of the businest airports in Europe). Anyone who is due to be travelling from Schiphol is being asked to contact their airline for further information.We wish you a safe journey however you get to and from your destination!

The Future Of RotterdamTours

2010-03-10T10:33:00.001Z

Splash Tours Hits Rotterdam

If you thought you had seen everything then think again! Recently when I was planning a ferry crossing to Holland for a holiday I was checking out the different towns and cities I could visit when I came across Rotterdam.

Now when most people visit Holland nine times out of ten it’s usually Amsterdam they visit but Rotterdam is rapidly rising as a popular tourist destination over in the Netherlands with a brilliant night life and plenty of museums on offer as well as plenty of restaurants to choose from.

One thing that caught my eye however was the launch of “Splash Tours”. Now you can probably guess what that is going from the name but one difference is it’s actually a bus that’s touring through the water of Rotterdam. Looking like a bus that’s crashed into the water it can float along the water to give the 43 passengers on board a unique experience that they will never forget.

Opening Of Tour De France At Rotterdam

2010-02-10T10:12:00.001Z

Tour De France Comes To Rotterdam

If your one of many that follows the Tour De France then you better get yourself on a ferry to Rotterdam quickly because this year that’s the host city. We all know with the size of this event ferries and hotels will be hard to come by nearer the Grand Depart which is the 1st of July to the 4th.

This will be the fifth time that the Netherlands has hosted the biggest cycling event in the world and how proud they must be. We all know it should be a magnificent opening ceremony as the same as others have done in the past like Monaco in 2009 and also our own London in 2007.

In the coming up till this exciting tour starts there will be all different stuff happening for the people of Rotterdam with the plan of “New Energy” well under way to get people back into fitness and to lead a healthier life style so as you can imagine the centre of Rotterdam will be rocking!
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Even though its scheduled in for the 1st of July the tour its self doesn’t get under way until the 3rd and will leave from Rotterdam Zuid. The following day the wearer of the yellow jersey will head the peloton as it sets out on the second stage from the Scheepvaartkwartier to the official starting line on the Erasmusbridge, a superb spot to give a send-off to the Tour competitors. After the Tour has completed Rotterdam it will head for Belgium to continue with this fantastic race.

Images of Amsterdam

2010-01-25T12:57:00.000Z

Amsterdam is a beautful city. Nothing more need be said.

Mini Cruises to Amsterdam - 2 for 1 at DFDS Seaways

2010-01-25T12:47:00.001Z

A quick note to alert you to a deal that's on the DFDS Seaways website at the moment (until Sunday 31st). They are currently offering 2 for 1 on their Mini Cruises to Amsterdam, which is a great deal if you're thinking of booking a trip to the great city. Let us know if you decide to take up the offer!

New High Speed Train Links Amsterdam to Brussels

2009-12-14T16:07:00.002Z

There was some great news for Amsterdam (and European travelers in general yesterday) when the new high speed train linking to Brussels took its first journey. The train travels at speeds of 300kph, and cuts the journey time from Brussels to Amsterdam to 1hr and 53mins (50 mins quicker than previously) - Amsterdam to Cologne is cut in half to approx 1hr and 47mins. Amazing stuff we think you'll agree - Amsterdam now makes an even more appealing base for your European Travels!

Read more about the new trains on this article.

For booking information, check out the Thalys trains website.

Amsterdam for Christmas?

2009-11-16T16:19:00.001Z

There are an increasing number of people based in the UK choosing to spend the festive period abroad, and naturally Amsterdam is one of the most popular destinations. The city generates a superb atmosphere over the Christmas period - it's unique architecture, great shops, ice rink and Christmas market all combine to make it an obvious choice for a festive short break.

Here are some great shots of an atmosheric Amsterdam at Christmas time:

Pretty impressive we think you'll agree!

Ferry company DFDS Seaways offer a number of specially tailored festive breaks to Amsterdam, amongst other cheap European ferry bookings.

Great Van Gogh Museum Article

2009-11-09T10:21:00.001Z

Just a quick note to point you in the direction of a great article over at The Independent on the Van Gogh Museum. As we have mentioned before it is a must visit for any trip to Amsterdam - this article will hopefully give you another spurt of inspiration to visit ASAP.

Holland again face the Mightly Scotland

2009-09-07T10:40:00.003+01:00

The footballing gods have once again paired the two mighty nations of Holland and Scotland together in a vital football match. No doubt the thousands of Dutch heading over to Scotland will ensure a superb atmosphere - and we would make a plea to the Dutch masters to be a little lenient towards us Scots (not that we're desperate or anything) - they've won the group at a canter and have nothing to play for so why not just let us go through to the Play-Offs?

**UPDATE**

By a massive stroke of good luck i managed to get to the game on Wednesday night - it was a fantastic night despite the result. The atmosphere was amazing and im sure the Dutch supporters enjoyed themselves, hopefully Scotland will get some better luck in the next campaign.

Madurodam Miniature City in Holland

2009-07-07T10:01:00.006+01:00

One of the best ways to travel to the Netherlands is by ferry from England to Holland. Holland has so much to offer and we are not just talking about Amsterdam, in this we are going to shift our attention to a different Amsterdam – a miniature one.

The world famous city of Madurodam is an hour’s drive away is from Amsterdam, the 1:25 scaled city is a work of art and a must visit if you are in Holland. It has all the Dutch landmarks in the finest detail and a great way to familiarize yourself with popular landmarks and buildings of interest, from Schiphol Airport to the famous cheese market, The Hague to Dam Square, turning windmills to planes landing at the airport, This is a great day out for all the family and one that will be remembered for life.

The History of Ajax Football Club

2009-07-02T16:18:00.004+01:00

AFC Ajax Football Club

AFC Ajax where founded in 1900, after joining the Dutch League in 1901 they struggled in the second division for ten years before winning promotion to the Dutch first division in 1911 season, the fairytale story of Ajax did not start here as they were demoted back to the second division three years later, this was the first and last time they would ever leave the Dutch top flight in their 109 year history. Hard to believe that they came from the second division in the first place!

Since they won the first ever Dutch National Championship way back in 1918 – Ajax have dominated the top end of the Dutch league whilst producing some fine world class players along the way. It was their legendary trainer Jack Reynolds that set the foundations of the now world renowned Ajax youth training camp.

The Amsterdam outfit has now won a staggering 29 league titles. In 1961 they had their first taste of European experience by playing in the Cup Winners’ Cup, ten years later they had their hands on the trophy and failed to give it back for an astonishing three seasons as the romped to glory in Holland, Europe and the World as most of the players in the team tasted world cup success in 1972 along with the legendary Johan Cruijff.

AFC Ajax has produced some of the best players in the world dating back to the 1930’s. With every passing decade there is another list of legendary players that have taken the football world by storm. Ajax amongst other big clubs from smaller countries now find themselves in a precarious position - knowing they can’t compete financially against the other big clubs from the major European Leagues, Ajax must be the best prepared club outside the major leagues in Europe knowing that they can produce world class players to play on their pitch whilst selling one or two every year if need be to balance the books.

Great Amsterdam City Guide

2009-06-11T12:47:00.003+01:00

Time Out has always been a valuable source of information for travellers across the world. They have achieved their ubuiqity thanks to their concise and well written guide books to the worlds main tourist attractions.

Thankfully they now have a section dedicated to Amsterdam, and amongst the myriad of information available on the site, they have published an excellent list of "20 great things to do in Amsterdam" - here are the main pints, for more on each you can read the full article here....

1. Delve into Amsterdam's colourful past
2. Step into the postcard city
3. Lose yourself in a maze of canals
4. Picnic with the locals
5. Get on your bike
6. Eat a raw herring
7. Take a sneaky peek in the Red Light district
8. Gaze at the Old Masters of the Rijksmuseum
9. Skate like a dream in Amsterdam
10. Mix with Moderns at the Stedelijk Museum
11. Have a good rummage at flea markets
12. Hit the streets to see cutting-edge art
13. Spice things up with an Indonesian
14. Unlock the city's secret garden
15. Visit the home of the diarist Anne Frank
16. Drink as the Dutch do
17. Jam up the volume
18. Move with the music
19. Discover the art of worship
20. Take a snapshot of the art scene in Jordaan

We couldn't have done much better ourself!

You can get a daily ferry to Amsterdam from Newcastle in the UK. We would highly recommend you visit!

Queens Day in Holland

2009-05-29T10:23:00.003+01:00

Amsterdam Celebrations

If you are looking to go to Amsterdam and want to join in some local calibrations then you have to go on Queens’s day, the Dutch celebrate the birthday of the Queen mother but in reality they use it as an excuse to party hard, any old excuse.

The best cities to stay at whilst celebrating Queens day is the Hague, Rotterdam and off course Amsterdam, although the hole of the Netherlands celebrate this occasion these cities have a special atmosphere during this spectacular party.

In particular Amsterdam has something special going with an estimated ¾ of million people coming into the city to party, many of whom wisely travel in by train. In the city centre hot spots like Leidseplein, Spui, Rembrandtplein, Damrak, Rokin and Dam you will find a great atmosphere with everybody dressed and partying in orange.

Also on Queens’s day you will find that all the street trade is unregulated so it makes it a good day for some second hand shopping, and in Vondelpark all the kids’ show of their business expertise by offering a wide variety of attractions.

The Best Shops in Amsterdam

2009-05-22T11:49:00.004+01:00

As well as having a diverse range of museums, coffee shops, restaurants and bars - Amsterdam is also a fantastic shopping destination. Indeed many people take trips to the city purely to go shopping - and who can blame them. Almost every concievable type of store available can be found in Amsterdam, from major retail chains to the trendiest designers in the world and thrifty open air markets and stalls, Amsterdam shopping has something for everyone.

Rather than post a long list of our own, which would be far too detailed (although Kalverstraat is a must obviously) - we felt that we would link to some of the best posts on the web about shopping in Amsterdam. Hopefully, you will find some valuable information on shopping in Amsterdam.

Top 10 Amsterdam Shopping Areas - from About.com: Great guide from About. Includes ten districts with reasons why you should go to each to find shopping heaven.
10 best - Amsterdam Shopping: 10 best is an interesting site which lists the 'Ten Best' (funnily enough) in a number of different categories. The Amsterdam Shoppping guide is great as it includes a break down of each area as well as user reviews and opinions of people who have actually been there.
Tripwolf - list of Amsterdam shops: Tripwolf compiles a list of shops with som einformation on where they can be found - great if youre looking for something in particular.
Amsterdam Info - Shopping Streets: Great post on the main shopping streets in Amsterdam - quite general but well worth a read.

Thanks for reading - if anyone has any shops they feel must be visited during a trip to Amsterdam, let us know.

Ferry Breaks to Amsterdam, Two for One Offer

2009-05-12T11:45:00.005+01:00

Just a quick heads up for anyone thinking of traveling to Amsterdam soon - as part of Ferry Fortnight, DFDS Seaways are currently offering two for one on their 2 night mini cruise breaks to Amsterdam, and you can take your car over for free as well, making it a total of £65 for two people and a car (a saving of £64) - ideal for these credit crunching times! - See the DFDS Seaways Ferry Fortnight page for more information.

Ferry fortnight is an initiative set up by the Passenger Shipping Association to encourage more ferry travel from the UK, most of the major operators are offering special deals during this period.

Amsterdam Attractions

2009-04-23T16:28:00.005+01:00

Amsterdam city is a vibrant place to be with hundreds of quality and historic attractions to visit.

Right in the middle of the centre of Amsterdam is the Dam square; it has a lot of culture and includes the National Monument Commemorating the fallen Dutch soldiers of WWII, there is the wonderful Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) that is flanked by the Royal Palace.

If you go by the Kalverstraat all the way to the Spui, then take a right and follow along until you come to the Begijnhof, There is a lovely traditional although small chapel that is defiantly worth a visit if religion or history is your kind of thing, the courtyard shelter next to the Chapel that is surrounded by the enclosing homes along the edge is home to single religious women who devote their time to their religion.

Beyond is the rest of the fabulous city that is surrounded by monuments and churches that are punctuated by the canals that are used for navigation through the city. The Largest and most distinctive building in the city has to be the Westerkerk (West Church) that can be recognized by its large blue crown. Neighboring the Homomonument is the popular tourist attraction Ann Frank House. Walking along down towards the Haarlemmerstraat by the Prinsengracht you will come across boutiques, restaurants that disperse in either direction. Just by the Haarlemmerstraat towards central train station and you will come across the multi storey bicycle park rthat is used by thousands every day, cycling is regarded as one of the easiest ways to travel around Amsterdam as it is almost completely flat.

Amsterdam is easy to get to, especilay by ferry, there is ferries arriving and going from Amsterdam ferry port in IJmuidennoon day and night from varouse european countrys.

Amsterdam in top 10 happy holiday destinations

2009-04-10T09:36:00.003+01:00

Just a quick note on a nice little article posted on the Times Online website yesterday. Authored by the Rough Guide to Happiness guru Dr Nick Baylis is a great list of The ten happiest places to holiday - and our beloved Amsterdam males it into the list! According to Dr Baylis:

Amsterdam: saving our souls from the over-use of technology

In old Amsterdam, cars come a clear second to bikes, (in both legal precedence and practical terms), proving that we really can do it - rather like we’ve proved smoking can be stopped in public places. Chattering couples ferry each other around the canal-sides on big curvaceous bicycles with sit-up-and-beg handle-bars and two-tone bells. In fact, I own just such a beauty, with the unlikely name of The Sparta Granny.

It seems odd to agree with him on the 'saving us from technology' point while we are sitting here writing a blog, but we know where he is coming from! - We have made these points in numerous posts on this website.......

The History of Amstel Lager

2009-04-08T14:45:00.005+01:00

Bavarian style "lager" beer was growing popular way back in 1870; this is the year that the 2 year old son of C.A de Pester (Ernest de Pester) laid the first brick for the Amstel brewery.

There was already 559 brewery’s up and running across Holland at that time but there was only 2 brewing Bavarian style lager.

With the fast growing popularity of lager, 2 businessmen (J.H. van Marwijk Kooy and De Pester) caught on fast to the demand of the lager and started planning the build of the Amstel Brewery.

Amstel hails its name from the river that runs through Amsterdam in Holland and now produces ten different types of lager that sell in over 75 countries worldwide with Amstel Lager being the first produced, the most famous and most popular lager of them all, a true classic beer.

Amsterdam - Weird and Wonderful Stories

2009-03-25T10:58:00.008Z

A vast and vibrant city such as Amsterdam is never far from the news. Also, let's be honest, Amsterdam is one of the more liberal cities in the world which means that it tends to attract a rather eclectic mix of people. There is no shortage of weird and wonderful events taking place in Amsterdam on an almost daily basis, this constant churn of activity is part of what gives the city its unique character - lets hope that it doesnt lose this anytime soon.

Here are a few of our favourite Amsterdam stories of recent times:

This picture was seen on a drawbridge in Amsterdam, witty, subtle and disturbing all at the same time!:

Detailed and informative Time Magazine report on the efforts of the Amsterdam authorities to 'clean up' the city.
Some great photos of cyclists around Amsterdam! - three on a bike at once is not uncommon.

A greetings card from Anne Frank discovered outside Amsterdam - incredible find.
Amsterdam is so busy that these architects have proposed an underwater city!
This Google Map of Amsterdam shows a glowing star, where is this divine venue?

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Amsterdam Airport has flies etched into the urinals - studies reveal that most men aim for them!

These are but a few of our favourite Amsterdam stories, do you have any to share?, please let us know!

Tartan Army En Route to Amsterdam

2009-03-18T09:57:00.005Z

As a native Scotsman there are few things that stir the passions as much as football - and it just so happens that my team is taking on the Dutch masters at the Amsterdam ArenA on the 28th of March. This puts me in a rather awkward position as the match features my two favourite countries, but of course - i am fully behind Scotland.

Historically, the Scot's have has their moments against Holland - in 1978 Archie Gemmill scored one of the greatest goals in World Cup history, although Scotland won the match 3-2, they still went out the tournament - yet another glorious failure.

In 2003, Scotland played Holland in the playoffs for the 2004 World Cup - Scotland won the first match 1-0 at Hampden, only to fall to a 6-0 thrashing in the return leg. The Tartan Army being a resolute buch however, ensures that we enter the next couple of fixtures with a degree of confidence, with Holland not perhaps the force they once were. One thing is guaranteed - the Tartan Army will be there in force - they have already booked almost an entire DFDS ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam.

Good luck Scotland!

Amsterdam In Action

2009-03-11T09:28:00.005Z

As we have mentioned several times, Amsterdam is a wonderful city to visit at any time of year. However, we thought that it would be useful to post some videos to try and convey the character of Amsterdam and some of its tourist attractions. This is a selection of some of the best that we have come across, including general tourist guides, the Rijksmuseum, Cycling around Amsterdam and the Anne Frank Museum and the ferry to Amsterdam.

Lonely Planet Travel Guide to Amsterdam

Cycling around Amsterdam

Rijksmuseum State Museum Tour

Anne Frank Museum

Amsterdam in Spring Part 1

Amsterdam in Spring Part 2

There we go! - Hopefully these videos have given you a feel for the atmosphere around Amsterdam, as you can see it is a vibrant and exciting city - try and get there ASAP.

Navigating Around Amsterdam Ferry Port

2009-03-04T17:08:00.006Z

Amsterdam Ferry Port Information

Amsterdam Ferries Port by car

If you traveling to the ferry port by car from Amsterdam - the ferry port is only 18 miles from the city centre, if you head for Dan Haag along the A9 and exit at Ijmuiden/Beverwijk and join the A22, once you come to the town of Ijmuiden drive along the Noordzeecanal then just follow the signs to the terminal. If you are looking for the best deals on cheap ferries there are plenty of internet sites out there that offer some worthy discounts.

Amsterdam Ferry Port by Rail

DFDS seaways provide a connecting bus service from Central Station in Amsterdam to the terminal in Ijmuiden in connection with a local bus company. The coach leaves Central Station 1½ hours before the ferry departs at 18:00 hours.

Ferry Port Parking

While Parking is available at the terminal in Ijmuiden is at the owners own risk as there is no security.

Cycling Around Amsterdam

2009-03-04T14:25:00.006Z

Amsterdam City Bike Tour

If you are looking for a different way to explore Amsterdam then why not try out one of the bike tours on offer.
City Tour

This is off course the best tour and one of the best ways to explore Amsterdam. To start with there will be an historic introduction that will go through some of the fine sights that you will see while biking through the city, After that the tour heads of towards the town centre while cycling over wooden bridges, houseboats towards the royal palace at Dam square, once we have reached there we head off to the war monument before going to the Old church in the red light district where off course you will see the working girls in their windows, after that exhausting trip we head down to the fashion district where you can get a glimpse of all the latest fashion designs and names in Holland, The trip lasts about 3 hours and is one of the best ways to travel the city, there is no other way to see so much so fast in Amsterdam.

Countryside Bike Tour

If you would prefer to have a more relaxing cycling tour then why not try the countryside bike tour where you will visit the likes windmills, clog factories and cheese farms in the fantastic scenery of the Dutch countryside, this tour will last for about 4 hours if you decide to do this tour.

Definition of Brown Cafe

2009-02-17T10:24:00.005Z

Brown café or bar

Have you ever wondered why the Dutch word ‘gezelligheid’ (cosy) is so popular in Holland and have you ever wondered what it really means, Then you must visit an authentic Dutch Pub called the ‘brown café’. It is pretty obvious why these charming café-style pubs are brown: nicotine. The decor includes wooden tables with carpets (on them!) with the interior a little faded and a friendly barmaid who has been there since it opened.

Once you arrive in Holland by an Amsterdam ferry you will be able to find the best brown cafe's roundabout central station, in the Jordaan district and along the Utrechtsestraat. The other popular areas are Rambrandtplein and Leidseplein.

Amsterdam on a budget

2009-01-19T10:20:00.003Z

Like travelling to any city your'e not familiar with, it can be difficult to save cash, mainly because you sn unsure of where to go to purchase day-to-day goods at a reasonable price (as opposed to over-inflated tourist levels). This issue has become much more pointed in 2009, with the pound weakening against the Euro.

There are however, some steps that can be taken in Amsterdam to save some moolah:

1. Getting around - Bicycle or tram (Strippenkaart)

A great method of travel around Amsterdam is to hire a bike. There are numerous bike hire points throughout the city. See this site for more info (http://www.amsterdam.info/transport/bike-rentals/) If cycling is a little energetic for you then travelling by tram is by far the best way to get around Amsterdam. If you plan to use the tram, its a good idea to invest in a Strippenkaart. This enables travel around Amsterdam transport zones for just a set price. They can be purchased throughout the city.

2. Try and buy groceries from a supermarket

You can save some cash buying your food (and drink!) from a supermarket. Many offer substantial discounts on multipack deals.

3. Do your research if you plan to eat out

Planning to eat out? We weould advise that you shop around and compare prices. Those areas that are most popular with tourists (i.e.Damrak,Dam Sq,Damstraat) contain establishments that aren't afraid to charge!. Try venturing down some of the smaller streets - there are bargains to be had in these areas.

4. Museumkaart - A must for Art Afficionados

These are probably best value for those who regularly travel to Amsterdam or Holland. A Museumkaart lasts a yaer and entitles you to free entry to around 400 museums accross Holland (many of which are in and around Amsterdam).

5. Use your hotel

If your hotel offers any meals inclusive then try and take advantage of it. In particular, breakfast is 'the most important meal of the day' and will set you up for a hard days tourism! You could use this time to plan the day ahead and perhaps converse with the staff as to what they would do if they could, their local knowledge could be invaluable.

6. Save money getting to Amsterdam!

There are many operators offering a cheap ferry crossing to Amsterdam, as well as reasonable air travel tariffs. Do your research and you might save some Euros.

The Geography of Holland

2009-01-15T12:09:00.004Z

Holland is a hugely populated area where up to 60% of the residents stay in the coastal area's of the country. Holland is bordered by Belgium, Germany and the mighty North Sea. The low lying area of the Dutch coastal zone makes it vulnerable to natural defense erosion which can cause flooding during storms and with the effects of global warming see levels are rising, The Dutch have tackled the problem and have built the biggest and most extensive coastal defense systems in the world in which dams, and dikes protect nearly one half of the 451 kilometers (280miles) of the coastline. If you ever travel by ferry crossing to Holland you can see the extent the Dutch have went to protect there land against the ever violent North Sea.

Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam

2008-12-16T16:28:00.003Z

When visiting Amsterdam you can't miss out on visiting the Van Gogh museum. Opened in 1973 and is the home of one of the worlds greatest ever artists, Van Gough was born way back in 1853 in a Dutch town called Zundert. He had a good a education but left school abruptly in 1868 and a year later he managed to get an apprentice at the Goupil & Cie, An international art dealers which had headquarters in Paris. He moved to England in 1873 where his love for Art took a nose dive and he starts to lose interest and turns to the church and not so long after that he becomes a clergyman after being let go by his employers, through the years he gets more interest from helping others than anything else and does some work in Amsterdam helping the poor before moving to Belgium where he starts to give away his possessions so he can help the poor old mine workers who that time lived in appalling conditions, Aged 27 he decides he can still help the church wile learning to paint and in the Van Gough museum you can see that great collection of one of the greatest artists who has ever graced this earth. You can see and learn a whole lot more if you visit the van gough museum in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam - Essential Visitor Attractions

2008-12-08T15:50:00.005Z

As we have previously mentioned, Amsterdam offers an extremely rich travel experience. In fact, there is so much to do that it can be a little overwhelming for visitors. Luckily for you we have compiled this list on what are the not-to-be-missed atractions when visiting Amsterdam.

- Walking tour of Amsterdam

Walking around Amsterdam offers hours of sightseeing fun. Its a great option if you are on a budget as you can pick up a map at one of the Amsterdam Tourist Offices and go ahead and explore. Try strolling around Jordaan (trendy), the Central Canal Ring; Oude Zijde (historic area); or the Eastern Canal Ring and stately mansions. These areas are all very picturesque.

- Visit Van Gogh Museum

There are many superb museums in Amsterdam. However, the Van Gogh Museum is one of the best. The largest collection of Van Gogh’s work, the museum itself has undergone a refurbishment and this has improved the visitor experience immensley. There is also an option for an English language self guided tour.

- Sample the Dutch masters at the Rijksmuseum

The Netherlands largest national museum, the Rijksmuseum offers the finest collection of 17th-century Dutch works of art in just one wing of its massive Neo-Gothic structure (architecturally worth seeing itself). “The Masterpieces” exhibition is a must see, featuring works by Dutch masters Rembrandt, Vermeer and Frans Hals.

- Amsterdam Canal Cruise

Travelling along the canals is the only way to get a truly experience the uniqueness of Amsterdam. Infact, if you only have a short period of time in the city, we would recommend a canal cruise above all else. You can jump into an open-top canal boat or do-it-yourself on a canal bike. You can cruise doen the canals and soak in the atmosphere, viewing 17th-century mansions, tree-lined neighborhoods and stunning architecture, both ancient and modern. A night or sunset cruise is probabaly the best time to take a cruise.

- Visit The Anne Frank House

In a profound and moving experience, where Anne Frank penned her world-reknowned diaries during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam in World War 2. Visiting this museum is a profound experience. Avoid the queues by visiting early or late in the day, or by purchasing tickets in advance. The museum is situated in Westermark, central Amsterdam.

- Sample the cafe culture

Of course, no trip to Amsterdam would be complete without taking in the unique and laid back atmosphere of the many cafes that pepper the city.

These are just a few of our favourite attractions in Amsterdam. If you have any recommendations for Amsterdam essentials please let us know.

You can get a ferry to Amsterdam daily from the UK, our favourite way to travel.

Travelling To Amsterdam from the UK

2008-11-26T15:55:00.002Z

Ferries, Planes, Cars or Trains?

Luckily when travelling to Amsterdam from the UK there are a few options. We are based in Glasgow, Scotland.

Ferry - If like us, you want to take your time and relax, ensuring that you get into 'Amsterdam-mode' before you arrive - we would choose to travel from Newcastle to Amsterdam on a cheap ferry with DFDS Seaways. A far more chilled out experience than running about in airports or being stuck in traffic jams - these ferries have fantastic facilities on board, Restaurants & Cafés, Entertainment, Bars, Shops and Lounges ensures that there is something for everyone.

Car - According to Google Maps, driving the 746 miles from Glasgow to Amsterdam would take 12 hours and 27 minutes. Obviously, this doesnt allow for external factors ie time of day and traffic jams etc (the centre of Amsterdam is ver congested.) If travelling by car it is advisable to park outside the city centre and get a train or a tram, the Amsterdam public transport system is excellent.

View Larger Map

Plane - For those that just cannot wait any longer to get to Amsterdam, there are numerous airlines that fly from the UK. A quick search on cheapflights.co.uk reveals the cheapest of these to be from BMI Airlines at £133 return. A flight usually takes around 1 hour, 15 minutes from Glasgow Airport.

Train - Not so convenient for us in Glasgow as most of the Trains to Amsterdam depart from London and head through the chunnel (some even go via Brussels). Check out Rail Europe for more info.

In summary, if you have plenty of time on your hands and want a relaxing journey, we would choose the ferry to travel to Amsterdam every time. Obviously flying will get you there quicker, car travel can be problematic and the train is a last resort. However you get there though, there is a fantastic city waiting for you.

Welcome (Welkom) To Amsterdam City Breaks

2008-11-19T12:20:00.001Z

Amsterdam is one of our favourite cities on Earth. Being from the UK we love the open, relaxed atmosphere that permeates throughout the city. There is so much to do, whether it be enjoying an afternoon coffee in one of the myriad of cafes and bars, to enhancing our cultural standing by visiting one of the many superb museums. Infact, there is so much to do in Amsterdam that we have decided to blog about it. We are hoping to provide insight into the best destinations in Amsterdam, including those little gems that you might not find in mainstream travel guides and blogs. This will be an informal blog, written in a humorous manner. In the style of our favourite city we are hoping to have some great fun along the way. All contributions are welcome, whether you are a native of Amsterdam itself who can point us in the right direction or whether, like us, you are/were a tourist that found something of interest in Amsterdam. Dont be shy to comment or get in touch with us! We will have our first real post ready soon, detailing the best ways to travel to Amsterdam from the UK - by Ferry, Plane, Car or Train. Cheers!