OReilly

Hello all:

I will be in Dusseldorf on business, starting week of 27th January, and will take the opportunity to spend the following weekend in Amsterdam, based on excellent advice from PalanQ (many thanks PalanQ!).

I can definitely do the Saturday and Sunday, and may be able to do Monday as well.
I have ordered books from Amazon, which should arrive on Thursday.

In the meantime, I have reviewed information on Fodors, and have decided on my ‘Musts’ and ‘Likes’. I’d appreciate your help in planning the trip, particularly to do with timing – I always try to do too much, in too short a time! Please feel free to critique, and help me make the best use of my time.

Museums: Total time – 14 hours: Already there is a problem, as I could spend both Saturday & Sunday in the Museums!
- Rijksmuseum: 3 hours minimum (Committed to this one, I could spend an entire week there)
- Van Gogh Museum: 2 hours (could shorten it)
- Hermitage: 2 hours (Seems interesting)
- Stedelijk: 2 hours (Could skip it)
- THE TROPPEN MUSEUM: 2 hours (Really interested in seeing this one)
- Our Lord of the Attic: 1 Hour (Committed to this one)
- Jewish Museum: 2 hours (Committed to this one)

Canal Cruise: Definitely want to do it: How long does it take – I assume about 3 hours? Can you recommend a good one?

Walking: I want to walk as much as I can, if the weather is forgiving. The books I have ordered will provide good walking tours which I can do on my own. Should I consider an organized tour? I assume a walking tour of major sites will take about a full day?

Food: On previous visits, several years ago, I had the most magnificent Indonesian food. I want to eat Indonesian food for lunch and dinner on this trip. Please share your favourites.

Thank you in advance for your kind assistance.
Bes regards ... Ger

PalenQ

Canal Cruise: Definitely want to do it: How long does it take – I assume about 3 hours? Can you recommend a good one?>

Some go into the harbor and some don't - take the ones that go thru the harbor as it gives you a frontal view of Amsterdam from the water - quite a site- otherwise the cruises are peas in pods if you ask me - there are two depots right at the main train station exit - both very reputable and been in business a long long time.

This Fodor's thread may give you some insight.

http://www.fodors.com/news/amsterdam...ours-6657.html

Lexma90

I'm going to be no help at all, by recommending another museum - the Dutch Resistance Museum. We (2 teens, 2 adults) all found it fascinating.

Another that we much enjoyed, as a very good example of a Dutch home of the time, was the Rembrandt House Museum. Having visited both, I would choose this over Our Lord in the Attic.

I could spend a week in the Rijksmuseum as well. Plan to spend as much time as you want here, then visit another museum if you have time on that day.

Walking in Amsterdam is beautiful, especially in the Jordaan and areas near there. I would wake up early, before the rest of the family, and just wander around the streets. We didn't take any formal tours.

We didn't choose to take any canal boats, so my opinion is not based on personal knowledge. But especially if you love to walk, I would say to take 3 hours of your limited time, spend most of it in the museums, and the rest of it just walking around the streets.

menachem

If the Jewish Historical Museum is a must, you might want to go on one of their walking tours through jewish amsterdam. I believe it also takes in the Portugese Synagogue if you go on the sunday, and Hollandsche Schouwburg.

PalenQ

to see a modern part of Amsterdam hop the Ijs Tram from Centraal Station that rolls thru the restored docks and then over a bridge and under a tunnel under the harbor to a spanking new part of town - one part early on is meant to evoke Venice with small canals and Venetian like bridges, etc - the towns on the new islands or refilled areas (looks like to me) are just being built and the future is a bit in doubt due to financing I read but still a lovely lovely unique tram ride.

http://www.crystalgraphics.com/power...tos.asp?ss=ijs - note the play on the word Ijs - ice cream motif throughout. I hope I got the spelling right for Ijs Tram - along the Ijs or harbor.

OReilly

Many thanks for your responses. I will review this evening.

My books have arrived from Amazon:
- DK Eyewitness
- Insight Fleximap
- Everyman Mapguides

Now I can plan, and put your recommendations in context.

BYW, I have definitely decided to extend the trip to Monday.

Best regards ... Ger

hetismij2

The Tropenmuseum is closed on Mondays so make sure you do that in the weekend.
You can buy tickets for the Rijks online.

OReilly

Many thanks for your recommendations:

Lex: I will definitely try to work the resistance Museum into my schedule and thank you for the recommendation.

Menachem: Excellent suggestion. I have sent an email to the Jewish museum to find out about tours.

hetismij2: Thanks for that information. Would it be best to do the Rijksmuseum on Monday to avoid the crowds? What is the prediction for weather in early February?

PalenQ : Many thanks for your recommendations, and sharing your passion about Amsterdam. Your link to Indonesian food on the previous thread is excellent!

Best regards ... Ger

PalenQ

Some chinese-Indonesia food can be had in FEBO and similar snack stands automats - put coins in to get a prepared food behind the window that opens after you put the coin in - try the Bami - I believe pictured in the link:

http://www.febodelekkerste.nl/catalog/?v=2&id=9

FEBO snack stands are ubiquitous in Holland - on any shopping street and just about any corner it seems - not the only one but the most prevalent - try the various delights you see behind the windows or get Frites - french fried potatoes served up fresh with your choice of toppings - mayo, ketsup, curry sauce or my favorite the Frites Speciaal - mayo, ketsup and onions all smothering the frites served in paper cones.

https://www.google.com/search?q=FEBO...=1600&bih=1074

menachem

nooooooo, not FEBO, please please please, nooooooooo.

and certainly not the Bami blok. That's not chinese food, that's an abomination

PalenQ

Well the first thing I do every time I go to Amsterdam is to go to the FEBO near the Leidesplain and have a Frites Speciaal - each to their own taste - lots of Dutch seem to have abominable appetites!

OReilly

my list of restaurants:

http://www.tempodoeloerestaurant.nl/en2.htm

http://www.samasebo.nl/en/

http://www.tujuhmaret.nl/

http://www.kantjil.nl/en/

PalenQ

http://www.oba.nl/pagina/22992.central-library.html

Europe's self-billed largest public library is a treat to explore and relax and from the very top there is a dynamite view of Amsterdam - 360 degree view all around and especially over the harbor. And it's free and anyone can enter IME.