Mary

Hi all. My husband & I are flying to Amsterdam this summer after a 2 week stay in Italy. We are very excited since we have never been to Amsterdam. We will be arriving mid-afternoon on a Friday & leaving late evening Monday. Since this is our first time, I have a few questions.... <BR> <BR>1) Is this enough time to see Amsterdam? There is a chance I might be able to take a day or two away from Italy & get to Amsterdam sooner - should I? <BR> <BR>2) Also, we booked rooms at the Hotel Filosoof. I heard this is located near Vondelpark. Is this a good location or should we book something closer to Center? <BR> <BR>3) What are "must sees" and "must do's" for a short trip? <BR> <BR>4) Any restaurant recommendations are appreciated!! <BR> <BR>Thank you, <BR> <BR>Mary <BR> <BR>

Bill

Even if you don't care for art, be sure to see the Rembrandt and Von Gogh collections that are just a short trolly ride from downtown. "Night Watch" is worth the trip. You will be very busy with just the short weekend. If you can borrow a couple of days you may find it worthwhile.

wes fowler

Mary, <BR>For some interesting background reading on the Netherlands and the character of its people, you might want to look for "The Embarassment of Riches" by Simon Schama. It's a history of 16th and 17th century Netherlands that addresses the tremendous impact the untold wealth materializing from the Dutch merchant navy had upon the Calvinist ethos of the Dutch. A fascinating, but heavy read. <BR> <BR>Consider Aalsmeer. It's a town about 9 miles from Amsterdam where every morning millions and millions of cut flowers are trucked into a mammoth warehouse and auction rooms, auctioned off, then shipped all over Europe for sale the same day. You can tour the whole proceedings on a catwalk high above the warehouse floor and look down upon millions of cut flowers arrayed in two tiers on carts that are pulled into the auction rooms then linked to other carts and trucked to loading docks. <BR>The colors are overwhelming and the fragrances are truly breathtaking. <BR>It's an early morning event but well worth every minute of the experience. <BR> <BR>In Amsterdam, take a stroll along the Herrengracht. It's the canal between the <BR>Singel and the Keizersgracht and has the most notable collection of Amsterdam's <BR>impressive canal houses. You'll obviously note the varied and distinctive gables of the houses, but keep your eyes open, too, for the cartouches on many of them. There are fascinating details by and over doors and windows that are too frequently overlooked by sightseers. It will only take a few minutes walking for your curiosity to be aroused about what the innards of one of these houses are like. At 605 Herrengracht at the canal's eastern end near the Amstel is the Willet-Holthuysen museum, a furnished three-story home dating from the late 17th century. The museum also has a fine collection of silverware, glass and ceramics. As a bonus, there's a garden in the French style! If you want to pass up the museum, the garden is visible from the Amstelstraat, the street on the banks of the Amstel River. <BR> <BR>Since most of Amsterdam's museums are closed on Monday, you might want to look into the Van Loon museum, another late 17th century home with a lovely formal garden, which is only open on Monday. It's at 672-674 Keizersgracht, the canal just south of Herrengracht. On your way you might want to stop in at the Six collection. Another house dating from the late 17th century it houses a number of 17th century paintings including a number of Rembrandts (Six was his patron). For admission, you need a card of introduction available from the information desk of the Rijksmuseum on presentation of your passport. If an early morning trip to Aalsmeer is out of the question since you really should be there long before 9AM, look into the Bloemenmarkt, a retail flower market held on a dozen or so canal boats by the Mint Tower. The flowers and bulbs come from the tulip fields around Haarlem and from the Aalsmeer auction house. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

April

I wish I was taking your trip! <BR> <BR>Early on, either at night or in the daytime (or both), I would take a canal cruise. From the starting point you will see the lovely train station building. <BR> <BR>If you're staying near Vondelpark, you can easily walk to the Van Gogh museum (great on the inside) and Rijksmuseum (great also on the outside), and it might be best to do this early in the day. I wanted to visit the cafe of the Hollandse Manege - the Dutch riding school near Vondelpark, but couldn't find it. <BR> <BR>People will tell you to visit the Anne Frank house, but even if you don't, the area where it is situated is a another interesting one to walk. The Westerkirk has a small statue of her in front. <BR> <BR>We didn't often use public transportation in Amsterdam. The best part is in walking. Try to remember to stay out of the biking lane. <BR> <BR>We were most fascinated by the crooked canal houses (some bent in a couple directions), the "white icing" decorating on some, and the "Van Gogh style" bridges, and we were taken by the very friendly people.

frank

If you get a multi journey tram ticket (a 15 -ticket strippenkart between you is fine for a weekend) your location is OK.You are away from the centre but near the musueums. <BR>April: I have been in the riding school - it really exists, you enter from the Vondelpark, beautiful old cafe, they weren't doing much with the horses while I was there.

April

Frank, <BR>Maybe that was my mistake. I was looking for the address on the street which seemed to stop and start. We wound up at the Café Américain instead.

donna

Hi Mary- I would spend the extra time in Netherlands, but I sure many would debate it. Anyway,please check my reply to a February question about Amsterdam under title" Going to Amsterdam 1st time much needed advise" on this forum. I listed specific restaurants we enjoyed and other people gave good advice too. I like unusual museums and artwork- we loved the little towns of Makkum (pottery, etc) and Workum (fabulous Jopie Huisman art museum and a"junk" shops) just north of Amsterdam a bit.I loved "Madurodam"!(in Den Hague)Trains are easy to take from the Central Station . <BR>Going back myself in July and exploring Southern provinces this time!

Re Carroll

For Amsterdam alone, you have enough time to get a good taste. As was prev. mentioned, wander along the canals (Singel has the flower market & shopping whereas the other 3 are more residential), do take a boat cruise - it's cheap & lasts about 1 hr. & you get a different perspective from the water. Take the Circle tram (#20) - it takes about 1 hr. to do the circuit & covers most of the touristy areas - you can see what interests you & go back to it later. Be prepared to get lost - - there is always something to see down another street and just wandering around for hours is fun. First visits to A'dam can be very "in your face" - it's very touristy & sleazy in many parts but underneath that is lots of charm & history. In my opinion, you're staying in a better area than the hotels around Central Station (I stayed on Prinsengracht canal & found it much more peaceful than downtown). You'll also be near Albert Kupyt flea market if you have any interest in that. You have to walk around at night & see everything lit up - it's beautiful! If you feel like it, you could take an easy train ride to many of the smaller towns (Delft, Gouda) or Zans Schaanse - a recreated open air museum but really, A'dam has lots to keep you busy for your short stay. I ate at the Pancake Bakery on Prinsengracht - they specialize in pancakes but they're huge & a good selection. Also, try rijstaffle (spelling?) - an Indonesian banquet - there are lots of places around that feature this. Personally, I wouldn't leave Italy early for A'dam but either area has lots to see & do - you're lucky you've got the option. Feel free to contact me directly if you want more info. I just returned from a visit there in May & spent 6 nights just in A'dam but I used it for a base to see nearby towns too.

Mary

Thank you all so much for the wonderful tips and information. Unfortunately, I will not be able to stay in Amsterdam longer so I must keep my stay to the weekend alone. I am really looking forward to seeing Amsterdam & will use your feedback to help make my trip even better! Someone wrote that museums are closed on Mondays - is this true even for summertime?? <BR> <BR>Thanks so much again, <BR> <BR>Mary

vosaki

I'm sure you'll really enjoy yourselves in Amsterdam. My only observation is that if you have a food budget, allocate most of it to Italy. As far as I can tell, there is no such thing as Dutch cooking. The city has a great variety of restaurants, but nothing that you won't find in NYC or LA. So eat fast food. <BR>On the other hand, Italy offers many unique dining experiences that you won't find at home.

Sjoerd

Re: the last post. There is such a thing as Dutch cooking, although I admit there are few restaurants that are good at it! But when I cook at home, wow! <BR>We have restaurants from virtually every country and continent in Amsterdam. My present favourites include IndoChine (Vietnamese) in Beulingstraat, De Brakke Grond (Belgian) on Nes, Flamboyant (Indonesian) at Amstel 111. <BR>Try Indonesian Rijsttafel. This you won't find (or not the same quality) in New York.