It may be too cold in February but Vondelpark is very beautiful. One fun & somewhat "off the beaten path" thing to do if you get a rainy day is... Tropenmuseum
https://tropenmuseum.nl/en

Again not sure about winter-time but there were some amazing street performers in Leidseplein in the evenings/night.

I've only been to Amsterdam once, stayed 5 days, and barely scratched the surface of the inner city.

<i>Amsterdam for 5 days - HELP
Posted by: travelbuff127 on Aug 21, 16 at 3:12pm
Surprising husband Feb 2017 with bucket list trip to Amsterdam- seems PALENQ is pretty knowledgable and hoping he will lead off in sight, restuarant and hotel recommendations for mid lifers
Naturally we need to cover the highlights of sights, wondering about trip to Hague and maybe even a private tour guide who can drive us around for a day.</i>

I'm not your PalQ but I've lived and worked in Holland and have been back many times. Here are some ideas.

For sights get the Michelin Green Guide to Amsterdam. Whatever you like you can find it in Amsterdam, except a warm sunny beach.

There are several restaurants on Spuistraat south of the castle, including a couple of my favorites. Try the Luden and Five Flies ($$$), and the Cafe Luxembourg for lunch at the Spui. After business hours try the Cafe Hoppe at the Spui. You'll have friends in minutes.

Hotel Ambassade on Herengracht is a unique classic.

A day trip to Haarlem will give you a truer sense of Holland. It is mostly locals with a great town square, the Grote Markt. I'm partial because that's where I lived for four years.

Take the train, but use individual tickets and not that rip-off OV-chip card. You will need the OV-chip card for trams and buses.

As Menachem says, be ready for raw weather in February. Dress in layers. It won't get bitter cold, just real nasty and can turn on a dime.

Be on guard against pickpockets at all times. This is especially true in the train station and busy streets like Kalverstraat and Damrak.

Do not walk on a bike path. Be nimble crossing tram lines.

Bookmarking for an upcoming trip.

WOW! You all have been so insightful. I have sincerely enjoyed (and appreciated) all of your replies!!!i have no doubt they will serve me well in my planning.

Although you have all been so thorough, no one has really spoken of private tour guides. Why?

Sights we will see are:

The Hague
Anne Frank House
Van Gogh Museum
Canal cruise
Resistance Museum
Vondelpark
Red light district
Beer tour

Did I miss any other good highlights.

My husband is a simple man who never really does anything for himself. Whenever we talk about our bucket lists, he always says, "the two places I wish I had experienced in my younger years are Amsterdam and Rio!" He is madly curious about seeing the red light district and drinking a lot of Amstel/Heineken beer. Hopefully he enjoys and appreciates this once in a lifetime experience.

Thank you to all of you and keep them coming.

Dukey, PalenQ, hahaha!

travelbuff, vondelpark in february is no fun!

also, go north of the IJ to NDSM and/or Noorderhoek for the "alternative" experience. That's where quirky Amsterdam is now, not in the city center anymore.

One place where I would employ a private guide is around the RLD, because this is one of the oldest, and most beautiful parts of Amsterdam. Visit the Old Church, and the catholic secret chapel Our Lord in the Attic, a buddhist temple on Zeedijk, the Waag, where Rembrandt painted Dr Tulp's Anatomical Lesson. But also the area beyond, to the east, Kromboomsloot, Lastageweg, Schans: all canals that are as interesting as the "official" canals but far quieter.

google translate the page and book a walk in English: Oude Binnenstad is the code name for roughly the RLD

http://www.gildeamsterdam.nl/stadswa...e-binnenstad/9



Tropenmuseum, lots of people have memories of this, the reality now is that it's underfunded, soon to be not funded and is in the process of closing down bit by bit, while real estate developers are already eyeing it to convert it into - you guessed it - a luxury hotel.

Meachem: thank you for your post. However, can you specific how one goes about employing a private guide.

To all other posters: has anyone had any experience with the the following hotels? And can you speak of their location in terms of sights and safety:

Amsterdam Marriott
Hotel Okura
Grand Amrath

Thank you all.

Frankly, the A-dam Marriott puts you physically close to sites like the Rijksmuseum and even Vondelpark but it gets very mixed TA reviews.

Be aware of the places you want to visit AND the location of the various tram lines.

These days if we are not "splurging" on places to stay we have ended up at the Crown Plaza since it is close to Centraal Station, on two major tram lines, etc.

Am sure others will comment as to the exact neighborhood you simply <B>must stay in or else!</B>

Just to point out that there is a lot more to Dutch beer than Heineken and Amstel. There are many places which have a variety of good beers (some frighteningly strong!)

Gosh, yes! Amstel and Heineken are almost as bad as Budweiser. Please have him try some GOOD Dutch beers.

Thank you for the (sad) update on the Tropenmuseum. I will refrain from recommending it in the future. I have a very fond memory of walking there from the central area and seeing a new part of the city on the way.

Wit_Van_ Brug. I hear you loud and clear. Tell me, is Blue Moon or Shot Toop popular on your end?

Dukey1 I guess I should investigate the tram lines before booking. Vi aapreciTe your valid point.

Praying February 2017 will be a mild weather one for Amsterdam.

Thank you all. But if anyone out there can lead us to a tour guide please do so.

travelbuff, if you go the page I linked, you can book, stating your preferences re language, group size, duration.

this is the page linked to

http://www.gildeamsterdam.nl/bestellen/1/9

Suze, Tropenmuseum is still there and open, the building is gorgeous, but it's a shadow of its former self, sadly.

Sheesh, people, I wasn't claiming Heineken to be the world's greatest beer.

Simply saying that it was available, on the little boat, and I thought it was a fitting drink for our canal tour.

So you drank canal water on your canal trip? ;-)

Did anyone write about the Sex Museum?
More places to visit----
A'dam Look Out Toren:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJwwWWtmWdI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaIjFGIHtd0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKHKhHF45PQ
Some helpful tips some rubbish:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnp2IkoOppY
A drive around AMS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6Qk5nN-yYQ

Did anyone write about the Sex Museum?>

Or Hashish Museum?

Sex Museum? Hashish Museum? Tame stuff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VWy_XcvRJQ

Brussels now is today's Berlin of 10 years ago, Berlin was the Amsterdam of 2010, and Amsterdam was great back in 1991

...but the good times didn't last

funeral of Peter Giele

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Kw_NanaDps

travelbuff:

Should see the Rijksmuseum as well as the Van Gogh. It's just a short walk between them and the Rijks is filled with Golden Age Masterpieces.

Get the Museum Pass.