I 3rd the recommendations for Have a look at Brouwerij 't Ij: http://www.brouwerijhetij.nl/homepage/spring-paasij/ - - I go there every time I pass through Amsterdam if the weather is halfway decent - - it's under a windmill, by a canal, the beer flows fast, and it is a convivial place. After that if you are serious about the beer itself, have a look at Ratebeer's recommendations:
http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/Count...terdam/144.htm

De Wildeman is my fave, for selection, great staff, and fine atmosphere. The Arendsnest has nice atmosphere and a selection of all-Dutch beers with many rarities. If the beer itself is not such an issue there are pubs all over the place!

Well don't know much bout Dutch micro beers but can give you high recommendations of coffeeshops if those are in your plans- the world-famous coffeeshops where coffee is not even served in many! One of the real high points of Amsterdamned to me! Even if not a midnight toker you mauy just want to look into one of these totally unique institutions.

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions!
@palenq, I'd love to hear about recommended coffee shops!

We are open to anything, so if anyone has a favorite activity or site etc. let me know, we'd love to try and experience new things that other people have loved!

<b>edye123</b>
You don't say when you are going to Amsterdam but if happens to be tomorrow you will find yourself in the middle of one of the greatest street parties on the planet, Queen's Day. See my photolog at http://tinyurl.com/55px5p.

Is it still Queen's Day or is it King's Day - someone said this year celebrations would not be up to snuff because on tomorrow I think old Queen abdicates and young whipper snapper Pricnce becomes King.

Maybe it will be Queen-King's Day?

Nope, it's the last Queen's day today. Which I spend safely at home in Rotterdam. Perhaps a bike ride to Houten is in order via Schoonhoven. Not sure yet.

Anyway, a nice off the beaten track spot to have lunch is at NDSM: take the NDSM ferry that docks behind the Central Station. It's a 20 minute boat ride down the IJ, which is nice in its own ride. Where it docks (mind the russian submarine permanently moored there) you can have lunch at IJkantine or on the tall ship Pollux. Or explore the NDSM area itself, an old shipyard, now turned artists' colony. Noorderlicht is the place to go there: beautiful views of the IJ, and PLLEK is open too, although that's only doable in good weather.

One word about coffeeshops: smoking cannabis is now not as accepted as it used to be. The mood is changing, as it were.