AMSTERDAM: CITY OF CANALS: TRAVEL TIPS

If one is to believe what they hear second hand, they will think the Bohemian city of Amsterdam is a city of sex, drugs and rock-n-roll. Of course there is the infamous Red-Light district and coffee shops for marijuana and hashish, but that is because the progressive Dutch government, decriminalized these and thus there is abundant regulation and control. For those from conservative countries, you might want to spend a wild weekend in Amsterdam, but they miss out  on all the cultural and natural beauty of Amsterdam. An amazing tiny place, with so much going on everywhere and it all runs like clockwork. If admiring the accomplishments of human architecture, art and design, throughout the ages and water technology in creating land interests you, then Amsterdam is a must see.

Built on the on river Amstel, Amsterdam is a series of circular water paths in the form of canals. There is water where ever you go. Big days on the canals are King's Day 27 April or in August for Gay pride. You will have the time of your life, if you like crowds, colour, buzz, music, and diverse parties. It is really unique. In all my travels, only the Thai New Year compares to it.  Once every five years is Sail, which is a magnificent hosting of beautiful ships from around the world. The next will be in August in 2020. It is held on the Ij, the water behind the Central Station.

 

 

King's Day is an Orange day, the national colour  

  

Sail 2015 

 

Crowds for Gay Pride 

For quiet sightseeing, and if culture and architecture is your thing there are loads of things to do. Be careful if you arrive at Central Station, because you will get swept up with the crowd direction (extremely busy) which will lead you straight down the Damrak to the Dam, a war monument and square with the Royal Palace with the Red light district on your left, behind the Krasnapolsky.

The best way to see Amsterdam is by bicycle. Hire one and cycle all the canals to enjoy the beauty of the UNESCO Heritage centre. You can also take the Canal Tourist boats, but cycling gives better views as you can take all the higgeldy, piggedly alleys, winding canals and bridges. If you lock your bicycle to go the museums, take care to attach it to a fixed object, that is, if you can find a place to park it :)  Please do stay on the red cycle track and watch out for traffic from all sides. Amsterdam is busy!  Here are some canal pics in different parts of the city, in different seasons and thus what you can expect to see while riding, or walking, though the latter will take longer

         Cathedral on Prinsengracht next to A. Frank house 

                      Boat riding canals in autumn 

 

 

Nieuwemarkt 

  

The higgeldy piggeldy beautiful variety of quaint architecture on the Amstel. Behind the houses is. Rembrandt Square 

 On the Amstel taken from Hotel De L'Europe near Rembrandt square

 

Keizersgracht  

 

Skating on the canals when they freeze over - last time 2012

Late autumn

  

One of the many famous Red-doored shutter old Warehouses turned Canal House in winter 

 

THE ROYAL PALACE WHICH LOOKS GREAT WITH A BLUE SKY BEHIND BUT REMEMBER MUCH OF AMSTERDAM IS BELOW SEA-LEVEL, UP TO TWO METRES, SO IT'S WET AND AN UMBRELLA IS A GOOD ACCESSORY :)

On the Prinsengracht (gracht is canal) is the beautiful West Church, gay monument and Anna Frank's house is around the corner. There will be queues so so don't go at opening time. Left of the Anna Frank house is the Jewish Quarter, the Jordaan. A super area with ateliers, small shops, dining cafes and boutiques. Don't miss the Mouse Mansion, a Doll's house shop with tons of handcrafted rooms of cardboard along a huge wall decorated in tiny accessories!  On the Herengracht is the Ladies Handbag museum, really delightful and the Van Loon museum, which is an old canal elitist house on show in its original state. There is also an art exhibition area at the back of the garden. On the Museum square, jnot far from Leidse square  is the Rembrandt Rijk's museum. The building and its contents are an absolute must see! Rembrandt was the master artist in working with dark and light. De Nachtwacht (Night Watch) is enthralling. Close by is the Van Gogh museum, which is also worth visiting. His pastoral scenes are spectacular and there are old letters between him and his brother to read and listen to. The main museum area is south Amsterdam and there are super cafes and hotels to visit for lunch or tea. 

  

West Church on Prinsengracht around the corner from Anna Frank's house

 

Handbags in the museum on Herengracht which alas went bankrupt during Corona 

 

Herengracht lanterns

Rembrandt Rijk's museum, viewed from  one of the many Herengracht side streets

 

Photo: NOS.NL  Obama's visit to NL with the Minister President in front of  Rembrant's Nightwatch

Naturally, in the centre of Amsterdam  there are great architectural wonders to admire. Do visit the inside of the Royal Palace, as the outside doesn't say much. The Amsterdam museum is around the corner. The Central Station was designed by the same architect as Rembrandt Rijk's museum. There are also Gothic and baroque churches dotted around and the Magna Plaza behind the Dam, opposite side of the Red light district has wonderful structure and steeples to photograph.  Don't forget the floating flower market on the Singel close to the Munt Plein a walk away from Rembrandt square, which is also full of cafes and restaurants. If you are not cycling, public transport will take you everywhere. There are trams every few minutes in all directions, so modern flexibility and convenience in between the ancient 700 year old wonders is all there.

 

Saint Nicholas church, left of the Central station 

 

Saint Nicholas closer up 

 

Gothic church on the Singel a minute away from the flower market  

If you're on the bike and you venture out of the city centre, you will continue to find canals, squares and parks with green lawns and boats. These are some pics of Western Garden suburbs in different seasons. 

 

Go sailing, canoeing or kayaking on the Sloterplas near Van Eesteren Museum (the architect of Amsterdam expansion after WW2)

Spring is a lovely time - Many crokers, snow-clocks and tulips

Autumn suburban canals 

Concerning culture, the hardworking sober Dutch take everything in their stride, and are open and transparent. Amsterdam is cosmopolitan which hosts the most nationalities in the world as a city, 177 to be exact. The atmosphere is easy going and people are not surprised, impressed or concerned with what others do, so no need to be wild :). Everyone politely and quietly goes along their way, unless you walk across the cycle path without looking. The adage, when in Rome do as the Romans applies.

Do try local specialities as in raw herring with chopped onion and gherkin, eel, Belgian frites and try out a Dutch restaurant, amongst every other cuisine there is to choose from.  There is of course loads more to do but that is up to the traveller to further research.

Amsterdam  is really not all there is to see in the Netherlands and in fact it is not even the icing on the cake. Amsterdam is quaint, Dutch smaller cities and villages are even quainter, with their characteristic architectural charm, gable roof housing, city squares, churches and canals.  So many, I will have to keep them for another blog. Fijne dag nog en totziens! Happy travelling....