Hostelworld Guide for Amsterdam

Colm Hanratty
Known as the 'Venice of the North', Amsterdam is a city built on a cobweb of canals that boasts one of the
most picturesque settings in the world. True, it is a city full of hazy coffee shops where stoners smoke all
day and where prostitutes standing in red-lit windows try to lure in prospective customers, but there is
much more to the Dutch capital than hookers and hash. It boasts world-class museums, great architecture
and a buzzing nightlife making it the perfect city for a few days break.
In this Guide...
Useful Information
After Dark
Places to Eat
Top Attractions
Budget Tips
Where to Shop
The Essentials Climate
Getting There
By plane: Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport is 15km
southwest of the city. An express train service
connects it to Centraal Station. The journey takes
20 minutes and costs 3.60.
By train: Centraal Station in the city centre is
where all trains arrive. There can be some shady
characters around it so have your wits about you at
all times.
By bus: Buses going to Amsterdam from around
Eur ope go t o Amst el st at i on whi ch i s 3. 5km
southeast of the city centre. It is connected to
Centraal Station via metro.
Getting Around
On foot: Using Centraal Station as your focal point,
places such as Dam Square and the Red Light
District are within walking distance.
By tram: You'll need to use trams to get to other
maj or pl aces such as the Lei dsepl ei n and the
museums. They are easy to use and most routes
leave from Centraal Station.
By bicycle: By far the most enjoyable mode of
transport is the bicycle. One in every two people in
the city owns one. You can rent them for about 9
for the day.
Useful phrases
Hello: Hallo
Goodbye: Doei
Please: Alsjeblieft
Thank you: Bedankt
You're welcome: Geen probleem
Yes: Ja
No: Ne
Of course: Natuurlijk
Excuse me: Pardon
How are you?: Hoe gaat het?
Open: Open
Closed: Gesloten
What is your name?: Hoe heet je?
My name is...: Ik heet...
How much?: Hoeveel?
May I have the bill?: Mag ik de rekening?
Amsterdam experiences cool winters and mild
summers. The col dest months of the year are
January and February when temperatures can drop
bel ow 0C. In some i nstances the canal s can
freeze up in these months, although it doesn' t
happen too frequently. The average temperature
takes a considerable jump in March, and by April
the days begin to get mild, although can still be
chilly enough in the evening. During the summer the
weather is quite warm, with temperatures rising to
an average of 22C although they can climb to
27C.
Useful Information
Language: Dutch
Currency: Euro
Electricity: 220 Volts, AC/50Hz
Telephone Codes: +31 (Netherlands), 020
(Amsterdam)
Emergency Codes: Ambulance/Fire/Police 112
Time Zone: Central European Time (GMT + 1)
Central Post Office: Singel 250-256 at
Raadhuisstr
Main Tourist Office: VVV Office, Stationsplein
10 (in front of Centraal Station)
Embassies
USA: +31 (0)70 310 9209
UK: +31 (0)70 427 0427
Canada: +31 (0)70 311 1600
Australia: +31 (0)70 310 8200
South Africa: +31 (0)70 392 4501
Ireland: +31 (0)70 363 0993
Germany: +31 (0)70 342 0600
Spain: +31 (0)70 364 3814
Italy: +31 (0)70 302 1030
New Zealand: +31 (0)70 346 9324
France: +31 (0)70 312 5800
Unless stated, all embassies are in The Hague.
Hostelworld Guide for Amsterdam www.hostelworld.com
Cheap Eats After Dark
Eat Mode, 105-107 Zeedijk, Nieuwmarkt Located
in the heart of Amsterdam's Chinatown, Eat Mode
specialises in Asian fusion cuisine rather than just
Chinese food. Here you an enjoy Thai Tom Yam
soup, Japanese style curry and much more, all at
reasonable prices. They're also known for their sushi
which is always fresh. Open daily 12 noon-11pm.
't Blauwe Theehuis, Vondelpark 5 A sandwich
here is a tad more expensive than in your average
sandwich bar, but the setting is worth the extra
couple of Euro. Overlooking Vondelpark, if the sun is
shining you can't beat a couple of hours relaxing
here, watching the rollerbladers zoom through the
park. Open daily from 9am-1am.
The Pantry, Leidsekruisstraat 21 It is a crime to
travel to a country and leave without trying out some
native dishes. So if you fancy a Dutch culinary
delight come here. Located just 5 minutes from
Leidseplein, the staff are friendly and the meatballs
are particularly tasty. Open Mon-Fri 5pm-11pm, Sat
& Sun 12 noon-11pm.
In the words of Vincent Vega...
At the beginning of 'Pulp Fiction', Vincent Vega
talks to his partner in crime Jules about the little
differences between the Netherlands and the
USA. One of them he mentions is how the Dutch
drown their French fries in mayonnaise. He
wasn't lying. All over the Dutch capital are fast
food outlets where you can get burgers, kebabs
and such fare. If you get chips and you're asked
whether or not you want mayo, be warned - they
really do drown them in it!
FEBO, various locations No matter where you are
in the Dutch capital, you will never be far from a
FEBO outlet. For around 2 you'll be able to get
yourself a burger of some description.
Escape, Rembrandtplein 11 Located on the
vibrant Rembrandtplein in the city centre, Escape is
Amsterdam's number one club. Holding over 2,000
people, the biggest night is 'Chemistry' which is on
every Saturday. Dress to kill if you plan on fitting in
with the rest of the city's clubbers. Open Thurs-Sun
11pm-4am (7am on Sat); admission varies.
Boom Chi c a go, Le i ds e pl e i n The a t r e ,
Leidseplein Si nce openi ng twel ve years ago,
Boom Chi cago has become an Amst er dam
institution. Every night this improv-comedy group
entertains packed audiences with their formula of
scripted material and improvisation comedy. Open
daily from 12 noon-1am/3am; shows nightly at
8.15pm; tickets 12-20.
Gay / Lesbian Amsterdam
Amsterdam is one of the gay capitals of Europe
- fact. While there are gay bars and clubs all
over the city, there are four main areas.
The Warmoesstraat area is the most central
and also the most daring as this is where the
'leather bars' are located. The
Reguliersdwarsstraat area is the trendy gay
area. Close to the Leidseplein, the Kerkstraat
area is the oldest gay area, while around
Rembrandtplein and the Amstel is also popular
with the gay community.
Red Light District, Oudezijds Achterburgwal No
visit to Amsterdam is complete without a trip to its
infamous Red Light District after dark. There is no
denying that it is an extremely seedy part of the city,
but it is a tourist attraction in its own right and the
Dutch capital is as well-known for its hookers as it is
for its canals. Keep in mind though that it can be an
intimidating place at the best of times, and while it is
safe enough due to all the tourists, avoid walking
through it alone at night.
Melkweg, Lijnbaansgracht 234 Just minutes from
Leidseplein, Melkweg has been around for a long,
long time and has something for everyone. Not only
does it play host to some of the world's biggest DJs
and live acts, but it also doubles up as a cinema
and art gal l ery. Open ni ghtl y from 9pm-4am;
admission varies.
Leidseplein/Rembrandtplein These two squares
are the liveliest in the city and are fringed by a wide
host of busy bars and clubs. During the summer
months both squares get very busy, particularly
Leidseplein where everyone sits under canaps.
Don't Miss Mark Your Calendar
Anne Frank House, Prinsengracht 267 A visit to
the house where Anne Frank hid from the Nazis for
over t wo year s i s an ext r emel y emot i onal
experience, yet also a very enjoyable one. The
museum tells the history of the eight people in who
hid there between 1942 and 1944 and those who
helped them during their hiding. Open daily from
9am-7pm (10pm March-Sept); admission 8.50.
Amsterdam's largest museum
Rijksmuseum, Jan Luijkenstraat 1 The
Rijksmuseum is regarded as one of the ten
principal museums in the world and is acclaimed
for its collection of Netherlandish paintings from
the 15th to the late 19th century. Its most
famous painting is Rembrandt's
Nightwatch.Open daily from 9am-6pm;
admission 12.50 (18 and under free).
Van Gogh Museum, Paulus Potterstraat 7 With
over 1.3 million visitors in 2004, the Van Gogh
Museum i s t he Dut ch capi t al ' s most popul ar
museum. It houses a permanent collection of over
200 paintings and 500 drawings by Van Gogh and
tells the story of the eccentric Dutch artist. Open
10am-6pm (10pm Fridays); admission 14 (17 and
under free).
Heineken Experience, Stadhouderskade 78
Divided into 19 different rooms, this self-guided tour
is surprisingly enjoyable and the combination of
nostalgia and modern technology work particularly
well. Open daily 11am-7pm; admission 15.
Lindbergh Canal Cruise, Damrak 26 To ful l y
appreciate Amsterdam's architecture, get a canal
cruise around the city. Lasting an hour, they tell the
stori es behi nd some of the ci ty' s most famous
bui l di ngs. Tours depart every 15-30 mi ns from
10am-4.30pm/6pm (April to Sept); adult tickets from
11.49 (children from 7.07).
February/March - Ice skating in Dam Square
Every year in front of the Royal Palace on Dam
Square, a huge ice-rink is set up to allow locals don
their skates for another year.
March - Stille Omgang This silent procession
through the streets of Amsterdam commemorates
the 'Miracle of the Host' from 1345 where a dying
man vomited after being given his last rites!
April - Queen's Day Over 1 million people take to
the streets on April 30th for the year's biggest party.
The whole city goes into overdrive for the day when
everyone wears orange and has boot sales.
Ma y t o Augus t - Vonde l pa r k Summe r
Amsterdam's answer to Central Park is awash with
activitiy during the summer months. On the open-air
stage i n the mi ddl e of the park you can catch
concerts along with dance, theatrical and dramatical
performances.
May - Liberation Day Shortly after Queen's Day,
Liberation Day (5th) is celebrated throughout the
country to mark the end of World War II. Street
parties take place all over the city and live music
can be heard everywhere you go.
June - Holland Festival This annual festival is the
biggest arts festival on the Dutch calendar and lasts
more than three weeks. Over 80,000 people attend
theatrical, musical and other types of performances.
August - Canal Parade Part of 'Amsterdam Pride'
whi ch occurs every August, thi s parade sees
thousands of Amsterdam's gay community take to
the canals for the year's most outlandish parade.
September - Flower Parade Not as risqu as the
aforementioned canal parade, this one involves
flower floats which parade from the flower auction
at Aalsmeer to The Dam in the city centre.
October - Canoe Tour Over 500 i l l umi nated
canoes and kayaks light up the city's canals for this
annual event making the city look prettier than ever.
November - Cannabis Cup Definitely one for the
stoners, different coffee shops compete for such
coveted awards as 'Best Import Hash' and 'Best
Seed Company (Sativa)'.
December - New Year's Eve Celebrations If you
are lucky enough to ring in the New Year in the
Dutch capital make your way down to Dam Square.
Hostelworld Guide for Amsterdam www.hostelworld.com
Get Connected Retail Therapy
easyI nt ernet caf , Damrak 33 The second
easyInternetcaf to open in Amsterdam, this one is
the most central, only 5 minutes from Dam Square.
There are over 140 terminals so you won't have a
probl em f i ndi ng a f ree one. Open dai l y f rom
9am-10pm; 2 per hour; minimum purchase 1.
The Internetcaf, Martelaarsgracht 11 While the
proprietors of this cyber caf didn't wrack their
brains when trying to come up with a name, they
did find a wonderful location as this place is only
100 meters from Centraal Station. Open Sun-Thurs
9am-1am, Fri & Sat 9am-3pm; 1 per half hour
(plus compulsory drink).
Cyberlounge, Elandsgracht 144 Located i n
between Leidseplein and the Anne Frank House in
the middle of Amsterdam's beautiful Jordaan area,
Cyberlounge is an internet caf which enjoys a cosy
lounge setting. Internet access is speedy thanks to
a broadband connection. Open Mon 10am-7.30pm,
Tues-Fri 9am-7.30pm, Sat 10am-6pm; 2 per half
hour, 3.25 per hour.
Softland, Spuistraat 222 This internet caf attracts
a strange sort as, not only does it supply the facility
to write emails home, but they happen to be one of
the city's many suppliers of soft drugs. Open daily
from 12 noon-midnight; 3 per hour.
Bulldog Sports Caf, Leidseplein Perfect for a
qui ck mai l when you' re havi ng a beer as thi s
popular bar has some terminals out back. Open
Mo n - Th u r s / Su n 9 . 3 0 a m- 1 a m, Fr i & Sa t
9.30am-3am; 1 per 10 mins.
www.
www.underwateramsterdam.com
www.boomchicago.nl
www.amsterdamtourist.com
Magna Plaza, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 182
Magna Plaza, located just behind the Royal Palace,
is an old restored 19th century post office which was
later transformed into a shopping complex. There
are over four floors here, with shops specialising in
everything from clothes to jewellery. Open Mon
11am-7pm, Tues-Sat 10am-7pm (until 9pm Thurs),
Sun 12 noon-7pm.
Leidsestraat This street between the Leidseplein
and Spui is jammed with shops which cater for
everybody. It's only downfall is that you have to be
careful not to get run over by the many trams which
travel up and down it!
Kalverstraat If you don't find somewhere to do
some damage to your flexible friend in Magna Plaza
or Leidsestraat, chances are you will here. Running
parallel to Rokin, it is lined with shops selling jeans,
trainers, music and much more.
Albert Cuypmarkt
Located ten minutes the city centre via tram, this
market is worth a visit if nothing else but to get
out of the inner city for a while. Over a hundred
stalls line each side of the market. Every type of
cuisine under the sun can be sampled but you
can also pick up everything here from cheap
toiletries to cut-price portable stereos. Open
Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm.
Ni euwendi j k Si mi l ar t o Kal ver st r aat , t hi s
pedestrianised street is the closest shopping street
to Centraal Station and has all the usual culprits -
clothes, trainers and music shops.
Bloenmarkt (Flower Market) This market along the
'Singel' canal is popular with tourists thanks to its
tul i ps and cl ogs on offer. A strol l past i t i s an
extremely enjoyable experience.
Budget Tips A Day in Amsterdam...
Catch a free concert (1) Every Wednesday
afternoon (Sept-June) you can catch a free concert
in Amsterdam's Concertgebouw which is located at
Concertgebouwplein 2-6. The concerts take place at
12.30pm and doors open at 12.15pm.
Chill out in Vondelpark Just south of the ci ty
centre, Vondel park i s Amsterdam' s answer to
Central Park. Stretching for around one and a half
kilometres, it has numerous paths, lakes and open
green areas. It also has a restaurant/bar which is
perfect for people-watching.
Rent a bicycle for the day
Rent a bike for the day Without question, the
best way to get around Amsterdam is on the
trustworthy bicycle. They say one in every two of
the city's inhabitants has one. You can rent out a
bike, either for the day for around 6.50, or for
24 hours for around 9. You will definitely get
your money's worth if you go for the latter option.
Catch a free concert (2) The Boekmanzaal, which
is part of the Muziektheater (Opera House), hosts
free concerts every Tuesday afternoon at 12.30pm
( Sept ember t o May) . Per f or med by ei t her
Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, the Choir of
the Netherlands Opera or the Netherlands Ballet
Orchestra, they shouldn't be missed.
Ge t t o Nor t h Ams t e r da m f or f r e e Th e
'Buikersloterwegveer' (the ferry that leaves from
behi nd Cent r aal St at i on and goes t o Nor t h
Amst er dam) i s f r ee. Whi l e i t i sn' t t he most
adventurous of journeys, there is a nice view of the
harbour behind the station.
Go on a FREE walking tour Leavi ng from the
National Monument in Dam Square daily at 11.15am
and 1. 15am, New Europe Tours operat e f ree
walking tours of the Dutch capital.
Before doing anything, go and rent out a bike
for 24 hours. They are the best way to get
around the city.
To avoi d the queues vi si t the Van Gogh
Museum early. This is presently the most
popular museum in Amsterdam.
Not f ar f rom t he museum i s t he Al bert
Cuypmarkt. Here you can pick up everything
from toiletries to personal stereos for 20.
Cycle up to Damrak, park your bike, grab
your lunch somewhere and sit down in Dam
Square to watch life go by for a while.
Make your way to the Damrak 26 and get a
cruise around the city's canals. Lasting an
hour, they are a great way to see the city in
its entirety and learn about its architecture.
After the canal tour, relocate your bike and
cycle down to Vondelpark. Full of lakes and
greens, it's a great place to chill out.
Another unmissable museum is the Anne
Frank House in the charming Jordaan area.
Explore it for an hour or two.
Dotted around the Jordaan are brown cafs
and many restaurants. For a taste of real
Amsterdam dine out here.
Park your bi ke back wherever you are
staying and go down to Leidseplein, home to
numerous bars.
After a few beers, finish the night off in one
of the city's best clubs such as Escape or
Melkweg.
Hostelworld Guide for Amsterdam www.hostelworld.com