[Platinum Joinee West]

So, suggestions? All sorts welcome; food, drinks, music, museums, places to sit and watch the world go by...

[Silver Joinee Rachel]

Anne Frank's house is definitely worth a visit. The queues do get massive though at peak times, but I believe they open quite late into the evening, so maybe then would be a good time!

The Red Light District is certainly a... curiosity worth seeing. Have a walk down the main street at least once during the night and the day - it seems very different! The peep show booths are also worth a good giggle for 1 euro or so - where else can you see a not very attractive girl revolve on a beanbag?

We were only in Amsterdam for 48 hours on a group visit, so we didn't really get much chance to explore. However, I did hear very good things about the Bols Museum, and the Heineken Brewery.

Hope that helps!

PS Phil says, and I quote because he is sitting next to me watching as I type this, "Look out for poos in bread crumbs, in vending machines. You'll know what I mean once you see them. Surprisingly tasty!"

[Grandaddy Steve]

If you can get there I totally reccommend the Beverwijk Bazaar.

"The Bazaar at Beverwijk has more than 30 years where different cultures come together and consists of several parts market, 'Black' Market, Eastern Market, Grand Bazaar, Computer Market, Hall 30 and Outside Markets."

A bit like the Dutch Camden Markets but bigger.

A9 to Alkmaar from Amsterdam. From Amsterdam, take the A9 Alkmaar Amsterdam. You take the Wijkertunnel and exit at exit 8 (Bazaar) motorway. At the end of the exit turn right at the roundabout on the highway. At the next roundabout, go straight and at the third roundabout (Ringvaartweg). On your right is the P1. Infiltrate SMART ROUTE: From Amsterdam Sloterdijk (N202) to Beverwijk!

An amazing experience.

This post has been edited by Grandaddy Steve: 01 February 2012 - 10:42 PM

[Grandaddy Steve]

http://www.amsterdam...t-try-dish.html

[joinee_doug]

Say hello to this chap:

True Fact:*
The city of 'Amsterdam was named for the large hordes of roving hamsters that greeted the original settlers. Unlike domestic hamsters, however, these fellows averaged 1m tall at the shoulder and weighed approx 175 lbs. They had in place a complex network of byways, constructed primarily of tubes resting on wood-shavings.

*Neither true, nor a fact.

But also, aren't they renowned for their cheeses? Ask them if you can concoct your own personal cheeses...

This post has been edited by joinee_doug: 02 February 2012 - 12:47 AM

[Platinum Joinee Plub]

I went to the most awesome pancake place in Amsterdam!!! I'll see if I can remember the name/location of it, it was lovely!!

[LillyK]

I had a mad pizza in Amsterdam once, it had banana on it. I saw it on the menu and kinda had to order it. Surprisingly nice!

[joinee coolio]

If you aren't going just yet, then I'd suggest http://www.keukenhof.nl/#, which is more of a Spring thing. I haven't been but would love to!

If you are going very soon, consider taking your skates with you as when they have very cold weather everyone skates on the canals and lakes (I'm assured that this is safe and they mention in the weather forecast where it is safe to go skating. Might be worth a google!)

[Platinum Joinee West]

Well I would, because that sounds amazing, but we're hand luggage only and I fear my ice skates may not be acceptable! That and John hates skating...

We're going at the end of Feb for my birthday.

[joinee coolio]

If it is cold from now until then it will almost certainly be skating time! You may be able to rent skates there. John won't mind as it's for your birthday!!

[Joinee Hathorn]

Take a long train journey (160km round trip) to go to Den Bosche ('s-Hertogenbosch), then go to the cake shop on the right on the road opposite the station and buy some bossche bollen, Mmmmm bollen (http://www.bosschebollen.nl).

Oh, actually go to Banketbakkerij, Haarlemmerdijk 156-158, 1013 JJ AMSTERDAM... apparently they are the only place to buy them in Amsterdam.

[Joinee Meek]

The flower market is worth a walk through just cos the flowers are pretty.

[Gaz]

Buy the weekend pass that gets you on the trams/buses/tube and also lets you into the art galleries/museums. Otherwise it will cost you LOADS. And even if you don't like museums, buy the version that's just for travel.

Well worth a look are the street with houses from around the world (mainly because it's epically rubbish). Don't bother with the big brewery tours - just find a nice little pub instead. It'll be cheaper and have a better selection. I'll ask Janey to ask her brother's mate who lives there for some good bar suggestions as his local was really nice.

Also, there are a couple of good iPhone apps that have maps you can use offline and suggestions of things to do.

[Platinum Joinee West]

Joinee Hathorn, on 02 February 2012 - 11:57 AM, said:

Mmmmm bollen (http://www.bosschebollen.nl).

If they're what's in that photo; I don't really like chocolate!

[Hernaic Tom]

Ah! Zena!!! I went there on the way back from a conference in Wageningen just before Christmas, and I was hoping somebody would ask that!!

I love wandering around the Jordaan, as it is just magical! Not in a "oooh isn't this a quaint, pseudo-archaic district choc full o' history fer the tourists" kinda way, but for the sheer diversity of Stuff Going On^TM. I was looking through a window (perhaps in a lost orphan kinda way) of some sorta clothes shop, or fashionista emporium or whatever the kids call it nowadays, after hours, as it was full of people of all ages dancing to music and chatting and having fun! I was friendlily beckoned in, and it turned out to be a s#!$&y swishing event! I was swiftly handed a glass of champagne and some sort of (Mostly orange) caftan that I tried on (s'only polite), and as four or five people were looking at me and nodding in that "Yeah, it looks....errr...good on you" way, I decided that the day could certainly be counted among my Most Fun In Recent Memory ^TM.

Ahhhhh.... Dear diary....

Silver Joinee Rachel, on 01 February 2012 - 10:34 PM, said:

Anne Frank's house is definitely worth a visit.

Speaking of which, I recommend wandering around Anne's house while listening to the album "In the aeroplane over the sea" by Neutral Milk Hotel (A tad unsociable if you're with someone maybe), an album inspired by the Anne Frank story... Beautiful, really enhances the experience.

Also, the whisky cafe, if only for the snobbiness of the staff (and of course, the range of whisky)!! Don't ask for ice...


http://amsterdam.unl...0-Whiskycaf-L-B

Oh! I almost forgot, also in the Jordaan, there's an Afghan restaurant called Mantoe, at which you just inform them of any dietary requirements, and then they bring out course after course of amazing Afghani food.... Not too expensive either, taking into account how much food you get!!! I have the card here... It's at:

Mantoe,
Afghaans restaurant
Tweede Leliedwarsstraat 13
1015 TB Amsterdam
Tel: 020 421 63 74
www.restaurantmantoe.nl

Silver Joinee Rachel, on 01 February 2012 - 10:34 PM, said:

where else can you see a not very attractive girl revolve on a beanbag?

You've never been to Romford, have you?

[Captain K]

There's a comedy club at the northern corner of Leidesplein where you can book really good boat trips around the canals and river. They use very small, restored traditional boats, and are run by volunteers. Totally independent of the big organised cartel of tour companies, they go literally wherever you'd like to see around the city in a very informal way. Lots of fun

[Joinee Hathorn]

Platinum Joinee West, on 03 February 2012 - 12:07 AM, said:

If they're what's in that photo; I don't really like chocolate!

Hmmm, well they are mostly cream... but there is a lot of chocolate. Also, it's not completely clear there but they are the size of a cricket ball.

[DG Joinee NEMESIS]

• Cheese Market - Awesome
• Flower Market - if you like flowers
• Rijksmuseum - LEGENDARY - have a "muffin" before you go, so to speak
• Rembrantplan for "things"
• Eat at the steak restaurant undernether the "orange tulip" (it's opposite the Grasshopper 2 just down from the central station - you can't miss it as it is next to Hooters)
• Hooters
• Red Light (go after 10pm - it's rubbish during the daytime)
• Banana Bar
• Pink elephant
• Cannabis Museum
• Torture Museum (this is awesome)

That's about it - if you want some good recommendations on smoking places - i have those too from my yoof :-)





R

[Platinum Joinee West]

DG Joinee NEMESIS, on 14 February 2012 - 06:17 PM, said:

[*]Hooters

pffft, we've got one of them in Nottingham! (all you can eat wings, £6.99 on a Monday night. Awesome win)

And with regards to smoking places, I feel my asthma would not appreciate such an adventure. I shall stick to muffins. Well, muffin, singular, I AM getting old you know

[Silver Joinee Rachel]

I like the red light district in daytime! It's a mix of bleary eyed skinny girls and grannies knitting, all in the weird windowbox situation.

Also if you do fancy going to a "show" they're a lot more cost effective in mid afternoon. And very bizarre when you step into the daylight after seeing the sort of things that go on in there.

This is phil btw!

GJC
CTID