Amsterdam 2 days
May 12th, 2017, 02:29 PM
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Amsterdam 2 days
I will be in Amsterdam July 3-5 visiting friends for 2 days with my teenage daughter. I'm looking for cool/fun things to do while there! Trendy areas, neighbourhoods, riding bikes.etc... ideas??
Thanks!
Thanks!
May 12th, 2017, 03:20 PM
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The exhibition "Body World" is a cool and non-tradition thing to see, if you're not of fainted heart. They have several interactive machines there, try them for fun.
Riding bike or boat touring the canals can't be bad either. The floating flower market Bloemenmarkt is a colorful and lively space. If Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh museum don't quench your thirst, try Nemo science museum which looks just like a ship, and offer excellent view of Amsterdam, especially during sunset.
Riding bike or boat touring the canals can't be bad either. The floating flower market Bloemenmarkt is a colorful and lively space. If Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh museum don't quench your thirst, try Nemo science museum which looks just like a ship, and offer excellent view of Amsterdam, especially during sunset.
May 12th, 2017, 06:26 PM
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I would agree with Fury Fluffy and add that no one can be disappointed exploring Jordaan neighborhood as it is very beautiful, historic, and full of restaurants, shops, galleries, and many things to do.
I also suggest visiting the islands. They are an easy walk or bike ride from almost anywhere in the center and very beautiful to look at. A lot of nice architecture. They are kind of a peaceful non-urban feeling in the middle of what is a very busy city, kind of their own little world. I like to picnic there. Nice little restaurants and cafes near them as well where you can grab some food to enjoy on a little picnic, and grocery stores too if you need to grab something to drink.
Of course you will want to try Belgian Fries and the best are here: http://www.mannekenpis.nl/
This is nearby the palace and Dam Square too and just down the street from the BodyWorlds exhibit.
The nice thing is no matter where you decide to go Amsterdam has very good public transportation and the metro is quick.
Go to the market at Waterlooplein for sure: http://waterlooplein.amsterdam/en/
Lots of unique things there and many times for a good price. It's not open Sundays. It's also a pretty neighborhood and close to the river where you can walk for some amazing views or rent bikes and ride.
I definitely think a walk around the Red Light District is worth it too just for the experience and of course you'll find more beautiful canal views and architecture because the city is full of this. Amsterdam's Red Light District is just a unique place in the world and I think as long as you don't actually go into any live shows or anything, there's nothing a teenager can see in the windows that they haven't seen in films or on TV and nothing that will break their minds and cause delinquency. I'd suggest a walk around both at night and in the day because the day is a different atmosphere and at night the red lights on the canals make for very nice photos.
If you like to shop and need chain stores mixed with cheaper boutiques and all in between Kalverstraat probably has everything you need and then some. It's definitely a place teenage me enjoyed very much.
For nature the city has very nice parks, Vondelpark probably being the most famous and great to ride bikes around and just enjoy. Plus it's in a posh area of town where you will get more nice photos and it's nearby the museums so it could be a great thing to do after spending a day at museums. When you're going it will be light about 20 hours per day.
I can probably think of more things but 2 days is not very long!
I also suggest visiting the islands. They are an easy walk or bike ride from almost anywhere in the center and very beautiful to look at. A lot of nice architecture. They are kind of a peaceful non-urban feeling in the middle of what is a very busy city, kind of their own little world. I like to picnic there. Nice little restaurants and cafes near them as well where you can grab some food to enjoy on a little picnic, and grocery stores too if you need to grab something to drink.
Of course you will want to try Belgian Fries and the best are here: http://www.mannekenpis.nl/
This is nearby the palace and Dam Square too and just down the street from the BodyWorlds exhibit.
The nice thing is no matter where you decide to go Amsterdam has very good public transportation and the metro is quick.
Go to the market at Waterlooplein for sure: http://waterlooplein.amsterdam/en/
Lots of unique things there and many times for a good price. It's not open Sundays. It's also a pretty neighborhood and close to the river where you can walk for some amazing views or rent bikes and ride.
I definitely think a walk around the Red Light District is worth it too just for the experience and of course you'll find more beautiful canal views and architecture because the city is full of this. Amsterdam's Red Light District is just a unique place in the world and I think as long as you don't actually go into any live shows or anything, there's nothing a teenager can see in the windows that they haven't seen in films or on TV and nothing that will break their minds and cause delinquency. I'd suggest a walk around both at night and in the day because the day is a different atmosphere and at night the red lights on the canals make for very nice photos.
If you like to shop and need chain stores mixed with cheaper boutiques and all in between Kalverstraat probably has everything you need and then some. It's definitely a place teenage me enjoyed very much.
For nature the city has very nice parks, Vondelpark probably being the most famous and great to ride bikes around and just enjoy. Plus it's in a posh area of town where you will get more nice photos and it's nearby the museums so it could be a great thing to do after spending a day at museums. When you're going it will be light about 20 hours per day.
I can probably think of more things but 2 days is not very long!
May 12th, 2017, 07:11 PM
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OK I have a different slant on this, skip the red light district. You say they are teenagers, I think they need to know some history of the Dutch people/resisitance, they are old enough. Get tickets to the Anne Frank house over the Internet, in the Jordann district. If you get a museum pass when you get there, they are only .50 cents US to get the time fixed to get into the AF House and you need to get it right now to get it, or 2 months ahead. Teens can go shopping anywhere, but they probably know of Anne Frank, so take them there, then to the resistance museum to see how the Dutch tried to subvert the Nazis, then get them the paperback on Anne Frank if they have not read it. This they will remember, not shopping or red light garbage. Then do the canal cruise and more fun type stuff.Sue (of course the Rijs and VAn Gogh museums are great too)
May 15th, 2017, 09:53 PM
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Why not do alternative Amsterdam? Go lounge at Volkshotel, have dinner at an Amsterdam Institution (Bern, book ahead, it's always packed), do some window shopping at Pol's Potten at KNSM Eiland (and see some of the architecture too). Take the ferry to NDSM and look at Amsterdam from across the IJ at Noorderlicht.
No to RLD, no to Anne Frank house and museums, no to biking. Jordaan is quaint and for tourists. The eastern end of Wibautstraat is now all the rage.
No to RLD, no to Anne Frank house and museums, no to biking. Jordaan is quaint and for tourists. The eastern end of Wibautstraat is now all the rage.
May 16th, 2017, 08:08 AM
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May 16th, 2017, 08:44 AM
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We did not go to the Anne Frank House (because we dislike standing in line and making reservations, but we did go to Corrie ten Boom House in Haarlem that deals with the same period and issues but can be visited by walking up to the door, as few people tour it. Haarlem is a quiet change of pace.
