Sjoerd

On another thread, someone wrote: "As for Amsterdam, it's a great city for a bunch of guys on vacation, but most women I know have not been as intrigued by the city."
What do you guys and girls think?

Julie

I can only speak for myself but I have been to Amsterdam several times and each time I was by myself and had a wonderful time. I love cities where I have the option to go to museums & galleries, see dance companies & theatre, go to concerts, shop, have a choice of places to eat (anything from the frites stands to Christophe's) and sometimes just to be able to walk, walk, walk or kick back and hang out in the parks/coffee shops/brown cafes. I also love architecture and history and I even found the Red Light District fascinating. I live in New York, but I find Amsterdam versatile enough to offer any woman a great and safe trip. The minute there's a good airfare and an opportunity for me to head off to this charming city, I'm there.

Geoff

I remember working in London and running into a British lady that said Amsterdam was her favorite vacation spot. Favorite pasttimes were the great places to eat and just riding the trolleys - specifically the lines with the most twists and bends and turns as sort of a poor man's roller coaster.

Then agai, if Amsterdam was only guys, there would be a certain attraction there. ;-)

It's

I see no reason why whorehouse display windows, trashy canals, "weed" cafes, on-every-corner drug sales, and piles and piles of dog poop (why is there so much dog poop in this city?) shouldn't appeal equally to females.

s.fowler

I responded on that other thread and no -- I think A'dam is a GREAT town for everyone. It's charming, there are at least 3 world class museums, the restaurants are great and the shopping -- oye...... it's a miracle I had any money left And there are great kid things too! Not to mention a rich selection of music and theatre.

We went to A'dam on business last March [in the snowstorm] and were VERY sorry that we didn't have more time.

MJS

I have the feeling that guy's comment says more about him than about Amsterdam or about women. I'm a middle-aged woman, and I enjoy Amsterdam for most of the same reason that Julie noted above. So do a number of my female friends. If you go there and see nothing but drugs and sex (and dog poop) perhaps you should take your eyes out of the gutter.

s.fowler

MJS -- Thank you for saying what I was thinking

Kathy

I think Amsterdam is a great place for a woman to enjoy. I went there with my husband and had a wonderful, romantic time... and did not see the Red Light District at all. There is plenty of shopping, museums, flower markets and charming scenery. Plus, everyone speaks English!

sarah

I spent a weekend in Amsterdam with a couple of girlfriends and we had a great time. Its not the most beautiful of cities, but it has a great character and theres lots to do and see. As well as the sex and drugs there are some great museums, Ann Franks house,a diamond factory, the Royal Palace and of course the flower market. If you are into the sex thing apparently women are catered for just as much as men-but we had better things to spend our money on!!!!

k

I loved Amsterdam! The shopping is killer, the canals and houses are charming, the cafes are cozy (it was cold and rainy when I was there), people are friendly, museums are very good... I know not everyone likes it, but it definitely depends more on your taste than your gender.

Martin

At first I thought the heading read "for GAYS only", and my thought was "no, but if you're gay it sure is nice to be in Amsterdam!"

Seriously, though, gay or straight, male or female, young or old... it's a great city with a tremendous amount of variety. Not to mention warm, funny, fun-loving (and English-speaking!) residents.

My favorite city in Europe. Full of history. You can walk anywhere, but there's great public transport. And the countryside just outside the city is great for exploring.

Marj

I've been there with my family (including 2 kids ages 9 & 11 at the time). We all loved it. There's much to do besides the RLD.

Capo

I'd be curious to know why the person who wrote that feels that most women he/she knows have not been as intrigued by Amsterdam as men are. Because of the red light district, perhaps? (For what it's worth, I've been to Amsterdam with two different girlfriends and both of them found the red light district to be rather fascinating.)

Anyway, I first visited Amsterdam in 1980, for two days, before heading to Paris. I love the canals, find the people very friendly, admire the social freedoms vis-a-vis "vices" in the Netherlands, and enjoy spending a few hours there during layovers but, after visiting cities like Paris, Barcelona, and Rome, it's not a city I'd choose to spend much time in anymore.

Not For Me

I dont see what is interest about a red light district. Last time I visited and walked near that Amsterdam district. I saw one of the most pathetic little prostitute girls coming from one of the houses and I felt so sorry for her. She looked like she had a drug problem, too.
I don't see what the charm of this area is. I am a woman and did like some of the residential areas of the city.

Capo

Perhaps it's interesting to people -- men and women -- since it's something one rarely sees, especially in the U.S. where prostitution is outlawed everywhere except for a few counties in Nevada.

To be sure, the idea of people selling sex really bothers some folks. But what Amsterdam understands is what many other places don't: making it illegal doesn't make it go away; it merely drives it underground where women are often forced to seek the "protection" of pimps and the like.

As a Dutch cop in a TV special about prostitution in the Netherlands said, "Here we protect them. In your country [the U.S.] you harrass and arrest them."