Amsterdam

Subject: Amsterdam
From: CET
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 08:22 PM

Do any Catters have recommendations about places to go in Amsterdam? I will be taking part in the Nijmegen Four Day Marches and will have the chance to stay overnight in Amsterdam on Saturday, July 24. Only one day, alas, which doesn't give me much time to explore one of the great cities of Europe. Any good bars or pubs?

Edmund

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 06 Jul 04 - 09:05 PM

FOR a quick overview try Rick Steve's "BackDoor" site.

http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/graffiti130.html

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/countries/bel.htm

http://www.explore-amsterdam.com/38/Amsterdam_Nightlife.html

In Amsterdam - Skip the clubs get into the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museum.

Also while you are parading on the Nijmegen border and since you are so near - you MUST swing over to Arnheim - to the Kröller-Müller Museum - the park, the sculpture, the design, and the Van Gogh's. It is one of the treasures of the Netherlands.

http://www.kmm.nl

http://www.comforttours.nl/paginas/veluwe.html

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

It appears "nuts" but you should also visit a "pan-cake-house" out by the border.

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 01:05 AM

Go down to Amsterdam's favorite area (Oude Zijd) for a stroll, looking at the girls sitting in their storefront windows, knitting, etc.- until someone goes in to buy their offering (price is set by the city).
Excellent for people watching- especially the tourists and locals who are seeing the sights, pointing, remarking, and passing on to the next window. Many years since I have had time there, just quick overnighters at the Hilton (wonderfully quiet, outside the noisy, always shaking city center). The Oude Zijd redlight area is probably overloaded with tourists and kids but I doubt that the action has changed radically (except prices).
The Nieumarkt, a square east of the redlight district but still part of the Oude Zijd, has good restaurants (look at posted menus or ask someone who looks like a local) and bars in the surrounding streets (and some of those places mentioned by Gargoyle).

The area is perfectly safe. Just ask for directions and recommendations at your hotel. Your friends in Nijmegen (sp?) will have introduced you to junge genever, but if you survive, stick to beer from then on (the beer is very good).

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: sian, west wales
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 03:03 AM

Somewhere around the Oude Zijd I came across a tiny museum which was one of the hidden Roman Catholic Churches (when RC was banned) in the attic of a merchant's house. It's in all the guide books and I thought it was absolutely amazing!

I also bought the city tour day ticket for the canal barges (hop on hop off at will) which I thought was very good value and good fun.

sian

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 04:02 AM

Micca and I went to Amsterdam at the beginning of June and had a wonderful time...and I brought back a Dutch fiddle. Try and have a walk around the Jordan, there are various instrument makers and small shops where you can pick up some bargains. Foodwise...there are a alot of Argentinian restaurants and if you like steaks I recommend them! A canal trip at night...I think the last one goes about 10pm is nice...the city looks so pretty with all the houses and bridges lit up. There is of course the coffee shops and the shows which are interesting too!!

Have fun!

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 04:56 AM

If you like Van Gogh, don't miss his museum.

..xx..e

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: GUEST,Keith A o Hertford
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 05:22 AM

What team are you marching with Edmund?
Keith

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: greg stephens
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 05:53 AM

I have visited Amsterdam several times, busking, playing the odd gig, visiting friends and family. Unaccountably(in common with many other visitors) my recollections of exactly where I have been are a bit hazy. But you can guarantee yourself an interesting time by just wandering around and following your inclinations, whether they are museums, beer, ladies sitting in windows, music, canals and boats, architecture or just sitting in cafes smoking jazz tobacco and talking rubbish.

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: greg stephens
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 06:06 AM

Actually, I will try to remember something. you mention bars or pubs as what you are looking for. Now, what they call the "brown bars" (cant remember what that is in Dutch, maybe the same?) are probably what you are looking for. Thse are old fashioned kind of places. Now, when I was in Amsterdam, several different friends who knew I liked pubs recommended the Smacksail.I am being phonetic here, I am sure it isnt spelt like that. It means smack as in fishing smack and sail as in sail.If you view the canal system of Amsterdam as being about three quarters of a circle running from around 3 to 10 o'clock, my recollection of the Smacksail is that it was at about 9 o'clock.
   I could describe its location very accurately: a little bar by a bridge over a canal. Trouble is, this describes the location of every other building in Amsterdam as well! Anyway, if you go and look for it, you are bound to find somewhere equally interesting on the way.
Good hunting. Ask a native for the Smacksail, they'll know if it's still worth visiting. But do explain whether you want beer or drugs when looking for fun, the premises are quite different.

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 11:33 AM

Too many people, too much graffiti, nowhere to take the weight off your feet that doesn't involve expensive alcohol or coffee (no benches or public seating of any kind, even in Dam Square - only cafes/bars with tables outside).

Good when I was 20, bad now I'm 57!

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 11:37 AM

We were in Amsterdam at the beging of June. We found it very cheap...cheap alcohol and coffee and food. As for seating there were benches in all the squares and along the canals. I love the place and hope to go back there very soon. If you are into the sex shows and such like they are expensive and heavily publisised in the area. It is interesting to have a walk through that area.

Khatt

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: greg stephens
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 11:40 AM

The really expensive thing is carparking. Once I drove into the middle of Amsterdam to go busking, and found the meter was swallowing money faster than we could busk. We left the car out of town on subsequent days of that trip.

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 11:49 AM

One thing to beware of are the trams and the bicyles...they are everywhere crossing the road can be very daunting!!

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 12:35 PM

I'll stick with Scotland. :0)

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: greg stephens
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 12:39 PM

For a full and rewarding life, you need both!

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: open mike
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 12:39 PM

is jazz tobacco marijuana?
i hear it is legal there...
any news on this?

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 12:45 PM

OM I don't think it is legal but tolerated and controlled

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 12:56 PM

Another reason to stay away. But that's another story :0)

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: JennyO
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 12:58 PM

When I was there 3 years ago, there were "coffee shops" where it was quite legal to order your favourite blend from a menu and smoke it there. I don't think it's legal to walk around the street with it though.

I don't think anyone has mentioned the circle tram yet either. It will take you on a round trip of some of the points of interest in town. You can get off anywhere and get back on another one and continue your ride. This was the case 3 years ago anyway. I seem to remember it was number 20.

CatsPHiddle mentioned bikes too. I've never seen so many. An amazing sight for me near the railway station, was a parking station, the size of a multi-level carpark - for pushbikes.

And yes, the Van Gogh museum is a must.

Jenny

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: Rasener
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 04:11 PM

When I lived there (13 years) it was great.

Main focus for cafes and restaurants is the Leidseplein and Rembrantsplein together with some clubs. If you had the nedd you coul;d drink for 24 hours a day.

Trams are the best way to travel.

You are allowed to carry a very small amount of hash, but be careful. If you exceed the limit you will be done for drug trafficking.

Do not play games with the hookers - they have pimps who watch over them - slightest sign of trouble and you have a problem. Just be sensible :-)
Stay on the main canals in the red light district - don't wander down narrow dark alleyways.

The Anne Frank house is well worth visiting on the Prinsengracht.

Restaurants are varied and excellent.
My favourites are French, Thai, Indian, Bruin Cafe Bistro's and Indonesian (especially the rijst tafels)

My favourite breakfast is an an Uitsmijter.

Visit the markets they are excellent. Albert Kuip market

Pancake houses are great.

Visit the Begijnhof by the Kalverstraat. Its a treasure hidden away from the tourist.

Well worth a visit is the following towns
Leiden
Delft
Gouda
Maasstricht
Volendam

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 08:09 PM

Greg: Wow! You drove in central Amsterdam? I'm impressed. I tried it once only and found the trams terrifying. I swear they circled private cars and then all rushed at you at once.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: CET
Date: 07 Jul 04 - 09:50 PM

Keith: The Canadian Forces are sending about sixteen teams. I will be marching with one from the Ottawa area. There's a special connection between Canada and the Netherlands since war becayse the Canadian Army played a major role in the liberation.

Thanks for all the information. I wish I had more time to meet folks over there.

I intend to stay clear of the jazz tobacco. I defend people at courts martial - I have no desire to appear at my own.

What is Uitsmijter and where might you find it?

Edmund

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: Rasener
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 01:42 AM

Edmund
An Uitsmijter can be had at most cafes that serve food.
It is normally 2 slices of fresh bread with ham on and freshly cooked egg with salad. It is very nice and is a meal in itself and pretty cheap.

Rhiannon
I drove from the first day I moved there. I made sure I had somebody who was Dutch with me as a navigator. It was an experience and a half. I survived it with trembling knees. After that it was plain sailing. The rules are "Don't hit a cyclist or you are in trouble" and "avoid the tram otherwise you are mincemeat".

With "don't hit a cyclist" in mind and driving to work on my ownsome, I was driving along a main road on the outskirts of Amsterdam and this cyclist was crossing the road, so I slammed on my brakes and came to a grinding halt,and brought the traffic to a standstill. Afterwards I found out that the cyclist did not have right of way on this road. I smile about it now, but was very embarrassed at the time.


Incidentally Dutch people do not get overly upset in Amsterdam if you are late for an appointment, which I found out one day.
I decided to take a side canal road one day to avoid the traffic jam, and had a important meeting to go to. I learned a very good lesson. Always look along the canal road to see if any lorry is delivering goods to a business or shop as the roads are very narrow. I didn't and entered the road and about half way along came to a halt becuase a big lorry was offloading goods. I was about to reverse and saw that there were a load of other cars behind me. 30 minutes later the lorry finished and moved on. Needless to say, I was late but the people just said, dont worry it happens all the time.

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: sian, west wales
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 05:48 AM

Oh yes! Bicycles! Don't walk on the pink pavement! Ever! You'll have bike tyre (tire) marks on you for the rest of your life!

sian

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: Fossil
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 09:06 AM

One of the little-known pleasures of Amsterdam, for the yachtie/boat owner is the nightly parade of yachts either coming up from the south heading for the Ijselmeer or going back the other way. If the weather is bad, the North Sea outside route up and down Holland is not attractive and there may be 30 or more yachts in the convoy. If you have a mast on your boat, you are restricted to a very narrow time slot, dictated by the time when they open the main railway bridge, just outside the central station - this only happens at two AM.

What happens is, going north, you come up the canal until the motorway bridge near Schipol Airport. There the convoy gathers for the Amsterdam run. At about 11:00 PM, everyone gets underway and a lock-keeper rides along on his scooter (they used to use bicycles, but have been mechanised in recent years) opening bridge after bridge to let the convoy go through. It's a very weird feeling to be on your boat passing through miles and miles of residential Amsterdam, looking into people's houses as you pass (the Dutch don't use net curtains at all....). Nearer the city centre, you pass by the bars and restaurants and the red-light district, before waiting before the railway bridge - a massive structure which rises slowly into the air to let you through. You sometimes have to be a bit quick, for there's another convoy waiting to come the other way, too!

Once out of the lock, you exit into the Grand Canal which runs through the middle of the city and head for the nearest marina, to sleep for what remains of the night.

We've done this trip several times now, in both directions and it never fails to thrill. It's not accessible to the casual tourist (you need a boat to take part), but it's certainly interesting.

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: Amos
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 01:02 PM

Beautiful descritpion, FOssil!! Thanks!

A

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: Rasener
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 01:04 PM

Very interesting Fossil. Takes me back.

Its amazing how the dutch dont close their curtains.

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: John J
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 01:48 PM

Good luck with the Nijmegen Marches! I'm doing a 50 miler (24 hours) the previous weekend and so will be in recovery mode!

John

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: greg stephens
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 02:08 PM

Fossil: fantastic account of what must be a fantastic experience. Thanks very much

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 09:51 AM

gARG...IS THAT YOU?


brussels and brugge
went on a holiday weekend and there was a huge stage in the grand place in Brussels. The old men of yesteryears are rolling in their graves! what a terrble way to ruin the only place I wanted to enjoy there.there was broken glass all over the streets Get over the frites they are the same as here.dont stay at the hotel Mozart unless you want to get into political disussions on Bush and certain ethnic groups etc. Brugge was a delight.Another stage on the square in Brugge.What are they thinking? Rent a bike it is a the only way to go!!! ride to Damme for a toile-like views.guy at the station tried to rip us off for the already paid supplement on the Thaylis.Watch out
greg
fl   USA   Wed 05/12/2004

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: GUEST,Keith A
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 10:02 AM

Good luck Edmund.
Several Brit units put teams in too.
Keith.

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: Rasener
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 10:27 AM

Brugge is a lovely city and very often considered a mini Amsterdam. Very good restaurants, but some distance from Holland.

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: CET
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 08:03 PM

Thanks for the kind thoughts, Keith.

John J: Fifty miles in 24 hours! My entire body hurts just thinking about that.

Edmund

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: John J
Date: 01 Aug 07 - 03:34 AM

Not long since back from the Nijmegen Marches 2007- excellent. Heard some wonderful marching songs in many languages, I can't wait for Vierdaagse 2008!

JJ

Subject: RE: Amsterdam
From: CET
Date: 05 Aug 07 - 11:27 AM

I'm just back myself. I had a wonderful time marching with the International Team of Friendship - mostly retired senior officers and senior NCOs - although four of them were sergeant-majors from Northern Ireland, and still serving. I picked up a couple of great marching songs from a German lieutenant-colonel. I probably won't be back next year, but I certainly hope to do it again some day.

Edmund