evarcht

My wife and I spent a few days in Amsterdam (first time there, but seasoned European travelers) at the beginning of July. We liked our time there. I think the tour guides over emphasize the pot smoking and red light district.....it's there if you look for it, but there is so much more to see. The people of Amsterdam are super friendly, speak English very fluently and don't seem to mind speaking English (unlike some other places in Europe). There is a variety of food....great museums...and it is such a unique place. We would like to return. We stayed here prior to getting on a river cruise...so I have a few posts about what we did in Amsterdam on my travel blog. You can check it out here: jonestravelblog.com.

PalenQ

You did not find it super super mobbed everywhere with tourists - locals here say that is the case and Amsterdam is simply not worth visiting - what did you see - a swamp of tourists everywhere? Some locals on Fodors say Amsterdam ain't worth going to anymore - yet you seemed to have loved it?

Like comments on this current thread:

"Overtourism" has reached Amsterdam

suze

I agree with your observations from my limited experience of one trip. Don't miss Vondelpark next time, if you haven't been yet.

PalenQ

So you were not also totally turned off by the tourist mobs?

KTtravel

We were there a few years ago and did not find it mobbed at all. At least, no more so than most European destinations of interest.

PalenQ

Locals IME may view something much different than ordinary tourists who yes see similar mob scenes lots of places - but locals' lives are also severely impacted by it and tourists just view it as another very popular town.

ribeirasacra

Just as crowded.
https://whatsupwithamsterdam.com/vondelpark/
http://www.partyearth.com/amsterdam/.../vondelpark-2/

hetismij2

Haleluja Pal finally gets it. People live in Amsterdam, and living there is becoming increasingly difficult and nasty.

PalenQ

I also get it that some and I suspect many tourists still love Amsterdam - still lots of reasons to go there - locals have to take their grievances to local officials.

menachem

The culprits are supra national predators who won't be regulated because their business is not the hotel business.

menachem

And indeed they have done so and voted in a liberal green-left coalition, also because of the Green Left platform of curbing overtourism, something the last council wasn't able to do.

PalenQ

Well will there be some real actions to lessen tourism? - hopefully in general and not just a certain class of tourist. Will be first place ever to do so I think a least on citywide basis - Yosemite has done so by restricting private vehicles from some parts I think and having public transit only. Will be interesting to see what will be done.

ribeirasacra

why are we having two threads on this???

PalenQ

the discussion should be on the other thread.