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Sights & Attractions in Amsterdam

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Amsterdam Sights

There are no straight lines in central Amsterdam, but once understood, it's an easy city to navigate—or purposely get lost in. For starters it is only about 9 square miles. Think of it as an onion whose layers come together at the stem to make a cohesive whole. With Centraal Station as the stem, the Center folds out as layers of the onion, each on a somewhat circular path under the guidance of the Canal Ring. To stay oriented, just follow each onion layer around, which will lead you east/west, while the thoroughfare streets run north/south. Amsterdam is different from most major cities as the center lies north and the suburbs are mainly south. To stay safe, always watch out for bikes and trams. Do not walk on bike paths, which are well-paved and often mistaken for sidewalks. Bikers have the right-of-way, so if you hear a bell, move quickly. Trams function similarly, and will also ring their bell (a much louder one) before they move. Just look both ways, and look both ways again before crossing streets.