Why go
Amsterdam is a treasure of a city. You have to go there to experience the charming canals that intersect the entire city, the locals making their way around on their bikes, the street art that can be seen everywhere; the glowing bulbs, sculptures and other mysterious artworks that are ubiquitous (you can even go on a hunt for the ever moving I Amsterdam sculpture), the vast parks where you can hear musicians in the spring, the streetcars and the quaint cozy bars and restaurants that smell like freshly baked apple pie. Additional pluses are the many fantastic museums and intriguing shops.
Insider Tips
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Buy an “I Amsterdam” card. You can purchase it from any tourist information office and it includes free public transport, entry to museums, a canal cruise and loads of other discounts and benefits (24hrs: €38, 48hrs €48, 72hrs: € 58).
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Catch the free ferry from behind central station to North Amsterdam (take a walk around and investigate) and back again for spectacular views.
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Rent a bike and explore Amsterdam the same way locals do (Be careful on the roads. There is pedestrian, bicycle, tram and car traffic to avoid!).
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Buy food from Albert Hein and have a picnic at Vondel or Wester Park. I lived off kwark which is a type of dutch yogurt (at 90 cents for a large tub, it's a bargain). You must try the local cheeses such as Gouda or Old Amsterdam. My bread of choice is the dark and seeded pain de boulogne. Remember that the discount prices displayed next to items are only accessible with an Albert Hein card. After eating take a walk through the park and enjoy the sculptures.
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If you are daring, go to the red light district and see the seedier and more notorious side of Amsterdam. Remember, though, it isn't all the city has to offer. The Sex, Erotica and Hash Museums are also interesting.
Where to stay
If you love a place with a sense of history and revel in beautiful art and antiques, you'll love the sophisticated yet cozy style of the Seven Bridges Hotel. Set in a 300 year old traditional Dutch canal house in the heart of Amsterdam, the hotel has just 10 stylish rooms, furnished not with antique reproductions but with authentic period pieces ranging from the Baroque to Empire to Art Deco periods, all acquired from Sotheby's, Christie's and other auction houses. Even breakfast (served in the comfort of your room, as there is no restaurant or lobby) comes in fine Wedgwood or Villeroy & Boch china. Plush memory foam beds are wonderfully comfortable as well. Note that this hotel does have a strict cancellation policy, so reserve only if your plans are certain, and also be prepared for stairs as there is no elevator. But it would be hard to find a more personalized and quintessentially Amsterdam experience for a romantic getaway!
What to eat
Indonesian food, due to Dutch Colonization, is now indigenous to Holland and I personally think it is the only Asian cuisine worth eating whilst in Amsterdam. A good place to feast on Indonesian specialties is Puri Mas. I ate a Gado- Gado (€ 4) a peanut covered salad of eggs, green beans, etc but it was so delicious I was tempted to come back again and try the Rijsttafel or rice table, a Dutch invention, where you can have a little bit of everything (€ 19.50 – € 39.00). My partner had the nasi goreng which was divine with the sambal chili sauce. Bintang beer perfectly complemented the meal.
Sample local delights such as oliebollen and poffertjes from food stalls that appear in public squares during winter. Oliebollen are similar to a donut in consistency but is a round ball without a hole.
Poffertjes are similar to tiny pancakes and it is worthwhile just to go and watch them being prepared at the street stands. It has never felt more like Christmas; standing in the snow, eating warm sweet pastries with a dab of butter and dusted with icing sugar, watching people ice skating at Leidseplein.
I love a big Irish breakfast (€ 9.90), no matter what time of day or where I am so the Aran Irish pub was perfect for me. My absolutely favorite thing about this establishment is the free live music on a Sunday where I'd enjoy a Guinness (€ 5) and listen to traditional Celtic folk music on the violin and guitar. The twosome that perform are so talented and I couldn't help but jig along. The atmosphere is so enjoyable with acoustic tunes to accompany your food and drinks. It's right across from the casino if you fancy a gamble. I personally love the giant chessboard and chess pieces just outside the restaurant.
What to see
I was so excited to see the work of Rembrandt, Vermeer and other masterpieces with my own eyes at the Rijksmuseum. I stood right up close trying to figure out how they captured light so immaculately with their paint. The museum building that houses the art is majestic and I was awestruck by the monumental sized portraits and scenes. The place oozes history. Their paintings span the 15th to late 19th century. I had free access because I bought the I Amsterdam card; otherwise a ticket costs € 11. I spent a whole day here and it still didn't feel like enough time. On top of the Dutch art collections there are also works by foreign artists and an Asiatic collection. I sat looking at The Kitchen Maid by Vermeer trying to figure out what she was thinking and contemplating what a different world I now live in. I, of course, couldn't help but think about The Girl With the Pearl Earring, since that particular piece of Vermeer's inspired a book and a movie.
I grew up with a print of Van Gogh's sunflower in my family's kitchen so it was just amazing to see the original painting at the Van Gogh Museum. The museum is conveniently located close to the Rijks Museum in the Museum Quarter. Entry is € 12.50 (free with I Amsterdam). More so than his paintings, I was fascinated by Van Gogh's life, filled with turmoil and madness. It is the place to put rumors to rest, such as ‘Did he really cut his ear off and post it to his lover?' The museum houses excerpts of letters between Van Gogh and his long time supporter, brother and art dealer Theo Van Gogh. Their relationship was a huge source of curiosity for me considering they died only months apart and were buried side by side. Van Gogh's painting style is unique and this museum is definitely one of the best things about Amsterdam.
The Rembrandt House Museum is an opportunity to be inside a historical Amsterdam house. It is huge and sprawling with rooms and a garden courtyard in the center. I took great pleasure in going through the titles of books Rembrandt had in his library. It is a complementary tourist destination to the Rijks Museum—try to visit both. The museum also houses some of Rembrandt’s paintings. The museum has Rembrandt's possessions in the rooms and kitchen, and original objects he used intact, as well as some historical replicas. You can even enter his studio where he used to paint. His bedroom had an incredible bed that I aspire to have one day, like out of a fairy tale, boxed into the wall with four posts. I wanted to climb in and pull the curtain across. The views of Amsterdam from the upper levels were brilliant. My entry was included with the I Amsterdam card or you can purchase individual entry for € 7.50.
Even with all the artistic masterpieces at Amsterdam's fantastic museums, the most wondrous outing I took in Amsterdam was to the Concertgebouw. I watched Carmina Burana in the Grote Zeal or Great Hall, where there was a magnificent giant organ colored turquoise blue that made the whole room reverberate when it was played. We sat up on the balcony in a seat number, according to the ticket seller, where the queen sits when she watches concerts. Being at Concertgebouw reinforced all the things I love about Amsterdam; the culture and the people. The ticket cost € 25 – € 33 and included public transport three hours before and after the event. Also beverages (alcoholic and non alcoholic) were free before the concert and during the intermission. The venue is astounding and the main hall has great acoustics. I was captivated throughout the whole opera/concert which is unusual for me, I usually get bored by the intermission. I strongly recommend that anyone traveling to Amsterdam should try and watch something at Concertgebouw.
Photos: Sue Elias, Seven Bridges Hotel, Maxpax, psd, J Luoh, BGO1