Amsterdam for teens
 

My friend and I are 18 years old and are going to Europe for 12 days and are interested in going to Amsterdam and Berlin for a few of those days. Any suggestions for things to do or places to go while we're there? Also, any suggestions for other places we could go in that area besides those two cities?

18 lets you drink alcohol legally in Holland and Germany and if into nightlife both cities has loads of great places for young folk your age. Amsterdam has coffeeshops where you dan buy and smoke cannabis legally - pick from a menu of stuff - not sure what age limit is for those but probably 18 - even if you don't smoke an elightening experience to go into one.

In Amsterdam the Melkweg (Milky Way)) is a youth center for folks your age and up - good concerts and other entertainments. the Paradiso has really big-name concerts and is also a city-owned youth center. Great place to meet Dutch 'kids' (pardon the kids) your age.

You may want to walk thru the Red-Light District and window shop- well besides 'vices' Amsterdam has lots of offer - what kind of things are you interested in. Vondel Park on a warm weekend afternoon is a Venice Beach type place with all kinds of eclectic characters and free outdoor concerts.

How about renting a bike and do as the Dutch do bike around town or into the countryside. MacBike is a well known reputable bike rental place and they provide either guided tours or info on doing your own tour by bike - city biking can be hectic so I'd head out of town and into the Dutch countryside - if interested I'd give you several recommendations based on my extensive biking experience in the area.

The canals are great and you can rent pedalos to do your own canal putz - especially nice at night when all the bridges are old facades lining the canals are sublimely illuminated.

Amsterdam has great museums - the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh museums are musts as if the Anne Frank House - buy a National Museum Card which pays for itself with just a few museums - buy it at any participating museum - think there is an especially cheap price for folks you age. Don't do like my French son did when he was your age and go to Amsterdam and only stay in coffeeshops or cafes but hit the museums and many cultural attrations (the only museum he and friends saw was the Hashish Museum!)

Amsterdam has some really neat hostels and youth hotels and some downright dumps - get a copy of Let's Go Europe and check out their recommendations - some of the youth hotels are lots of fun with their own bars and lots of folk your age from all over.

Cheers!

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ite-things.cfm

Some things me and others liked about Amsterdam!

Info on the museum card:

http://www.amsterdam.info/museums/museumkaart/

The nice thing about the museum pass is that you can go into lots of museums you normally would not pay for and check em out - like the Lord in the Attic - a hidden church - the Ship Museum of lots of old sailing vessels - the Jewish Museum - the Rembrandt Museum - the Dutch Resistance Museum, etc. and if you do a day trip to a regional Dutch town the pass is good all over Holland.

I would highly recommend Zaanse Schans - a possible biking destination from Amsterdam:

https://www.google.com/search?q=zaan...HS5KANEQsAQIGw

Some great towns to day trip to are Haarlem, right on Amsterdam's doorstep' Zaanse Schans Windmills - a short train ride from Asmterdam (museum pass covers the museum there - a large collection of windmills outside are free)- Utrecht - a bigger and lively city and many more.

If you are female and even if you are male you might find it an utterly depressing experience to walk through the Red Light district. Many of the most accomplished people I know do not drink or take drugs. It's not a great accomplishment to turn 18 and do those things -- and you certainly don't want to then go bicycle riding! Actually, most people caution tourists against cycling in Amsterdam's busy traffic.

I've been to Amsterdam several times and have never gone to the Anne Frank House (and won't the next time I am in Amsterdam either) nor have I gone to the Van Gogh museum (but probably will do that).

I highly recommend that you and your friend spend some time with a couple of guidebooks in the library deciding what you want to see in both cities, and also join the Thorntree forum on Lonely Planet where you will find lots of people close to your age (most here are over 55 and thensome).

Lke it or not the Red-Light District is called Amsterdam's top most frequented tourist sight by tourists - it is yes eye-opening to see and it is harmless for folks to walk thru and see what it is all about - even if it disgusts you as it in fact does me - but when I was that age I wanted to see it - somethings you just have to see to understand what they are - closing your eyes to things is not always the best.

And as I said legal pot and booze should not be a focus of your trip but as an 18-year old from the U.S. anyway something the average person that age may want to experience - but in moderation of course and be sure to see Amsterdamn's many other delights.

I thought the Red Light District (and one of the 'sex museums' there) was very interesting to walk thru one afternoon.

I would never recommend renting a bike in the city, I can't believe anyone who's seen bike traffic in Amsterdam would say to do this!

One of my favorite things was street performers (fire dancers) in a square in Leidseplein one evening. And if the weather is nice, definitely walk thru Vondelpark.

One thing I didn't do but would next time, some kind of canal boat tour.

You could go on a bike tour out of the city, if you want to, rather than trying to ride in the city.
You may enjoy visitng Rotterdam, very modern, vibrant, and a complete contrast to Amsterdam.

Have a look online at what there is to see in Amsterdam, and also what is on during the tie you are visiting.
Likewise for Berlin.

Here is a link to Melkweg www.melkweg.nl/en, and one for Paradiso, www.paradiso.nl/web/English-Agenda.htm to get you started.

Hopefully Menachem will see this thread and come up with some good ideas for you too.

I'm not a prude by any means but find the Red Light district in Amsterdam very depressing. Most women working there are not rally happy about it and IMHO it is tack in the same way that Gentlemen's Clubs in the US are (don't want to ban them - but think they are really just sad and depressing).

(Sorry - but as a child of my generation recreational sex should be based on lust and joy - not money.)

Both Amsterdam and Berlin are great choices - and if your 12 days is really 10.5 days I suspect (you can;t count the day you depart and the day you arrive is only 1/2 day) minus the day to get from Amsterdam to Berlin you only have 9.5 days - 4.5 in Ansterdam and 5 in Berlin. If you do one day trip from each your time is gone.

Consult bahn.de for details of trains from A to B - but trips with no changes take about 6 hours - so about 7 hours from hotel in A to hotel in B.

And agree that the Let's Go guides are great - esp for choosing hostels - some of which are great and some of which are dumps.

We have first class Eurail train tickets already that work for the whole length of the time we will be there. We are there for a week or so with our fathers and will see Austria and northern Italy with them before going with them to Frankfurt, where they will fly back home. Another friend or two of ours might end up meeting us at the airport when we depart from the fathers.

From there, we will most likely go straight to Berlin for a few days and maybe go to Copenhagen on our way to Amsterdam.

Knowing myself and my friends, I would say that the clubs and nightlife sound like a lot of fun. However, we are not just interested in partying all day every day. I was particularly interested in the Van Gogh museum.

What can we do in Berlin or Copenhagen during the day? Also, what are the best clubs for people our are in those cities?

As for sleeping arrangements, we will be staying in youth hostels. Are there any youth hostels that we should definitely look at?

Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions.

Copenhagen is NOT on the way to Amsterdam. It's in a completely different direction - and by train the trips will be interminable. Have you looked at bah.de?

For clubs and youth hostels you need to look at the Let's Go student guide or the thorn tree web site - Fodor's is not filled with teen travelers.

As for what to see/do - have you looked at the destinations section above? Have you read any guide books? You really need to do some research. (Learning how will serve you well in college - assuming you are't there yet.)

Dropped Norway then.
A word of caution for Amsterdam from an old timer.
Sex and red light :
I visited red lights of Amsterdam and Hamburg when 18. I still feel depressed about it. Sex for money is just ugly. If you like it you'll know you are part of the problem.
Beer :
Nothing wrong with that. The worst that can happen is getting plastered and sick (goes usually together).
Pay attention to cars and bikes.
Alcohol :
Some youngsters love to drink shots.
I brought one recently to hospital and waited there for her father. Nothing fun in ethilic coma. You can even die of it.
Drugs :
Not an expert here. My neighbor son got back from Amst last week and smoked all week. Maybe he did more than smoke. He didn't yet tell his psychiatrist nor his best friend since he knows his best friend is an undercover cop he won't talk to him anymore.

Bikes.
Locals bike without much consideration for pedestrians. Pay some attention.

My 2 cents from a father of kids your age.

Oh my god.. some good and some bad advice here.. up to you to decide which is which.. but..

I went to Amsterdam with friend at 23.. and Ann Franks house still sticks with me DECADES later.. its history.. there something there.. I hate some would dismiss it.. its more then just the one young girl.. take a break from drinking and smoking pot and go there.. its worth it.. pre purchase tickets online as its a busy sight now( when I went there was no lines)

As for coffee houses.. interesting point.. you CANNOT buy alcohol at them. only pot.. At places you can buy alcohol.. you cannot buy pot.

Try both .. ( I mean try visiting both.. you don't have to smoke pot at a coffee house.. you can literally just get a coffee,, no one will care) its just an experience to see the "menu"..

As for red light district. Seriously.. we were walking thru it for some time before my hubby even clued in.. the ladies stand in windows in lingerie.. but the window are black light so not not like neon, he didn't even notice them at first, and I do not find it depressing.. these women are protected licenced business women.. good for them. Ignorant abounds here.

Hi Justine

What I meant is that prostitution should not exist.
I can't believe women are wanting to do that nuless forced into it. And a man who goes for sex money is not a good man.
My opinion, no need to elaborate...

And I can tell you that 30 years ago the windows in Hamburg were well see-through. I don't remember about Amsterdam to be honest. Just not interested.

Women are not prostitutes because it's fun (these are not Heidi Fleiss girls making a fortune). They do it because they have no choice and it is not pretty. Imagine having to have sex with every portly, bald 60 year old guy that turns up and wants who knows what.

Yes, women are free to do what they want with their bodies. You can imagine how few of them actually want to do this.

Honestly, the best place to go for information for your situation is 4chan's travel forum. They are more your demographic: http://boards.4chan.org/trv/

How did this thread turn into a discussion on booze, pot, and sex? Oh never mind, I know who started it.


tegan, please do yourself a favor and get hold of those guidebooks everyone has been telling you to read, and DO it! There is a world of things to do and see in Amsterdam and in surrounding towns and cities. The place is fascinating! Go to Het Loo, go to Delft, go to Antwerp, go to Utrecht...!

Berlin is possibly one of the world's most avant-garde cities, full of cutting-edge artists of all kinds. And that's just the gravy on top of all the history and architecture and old culture.

Read the guidebooks. Google the official websites of the cities. Read, read, read...study maps. It's not the slightest bit hard to completely wow yourself over all that Europe has to offer, even before you get there.

As for coffee houses.. interesting point.. you CANNOT buy alcohol at them. only pot.. At places you can buy alcohol.. you cannot buy pot.>

I have been in several that do serve beer - unless changed in last few years.

http://goamsterdam.about.com/od/bars...eeshopbeer.htm

And they are coffeeshops, not coffee houses.

It is possible to visit Amsterdam as a teenager and avoid all such places. It isn't compulsory to visit them. Depending where you are from in the US it is robably easier, and potentially safer to get you weed legally there. Nederwiet, Dutch grown weed, is exceptionally strong.

Amsterdam has plenty to offer besides drink, drugs and sex.
The prostitutes are for the most part trafficked, not free choice business women.

Coffeeshops are not licenced to sell alcohol.. at all.. but there are places that sell alcohol and may be "smoker friendly" meaning you may smoke what you bring in..

As I said.. make a reservation for Anne Franks house... its a sight you won't forget and totally worth seeing.. more so then coffeeshops, red light district, and wooden shoe and Delf Factory tours..

Amsterdam has plenty to offer besides drink, drugs and sex.>

Yes and I say the same thing in my posts, which show lots of things besides those - those were just a small part of my post and I feel that the coffeeshops and red-light districts should be mentioned if doing a total overview at the city - folks like St-Cirq forget when they were a curious 18 because it is so so long ago for them - try to put yourself in the shoes of a curious young adult - would you blind your eyes to a significant aspect of the city - well I guess St-Cirq would but who knows what these younguns are looking for - give them all the info and let them decide - don't be prescriptive as some have - I say about coffeeshops you do not have to even smoke but it is eye opening to pop into one to see what it is all about - and if you want to meet folks your age from all over Europe those are a great place even if you do not toke up - the Bulldog Palace is one of the major ones where lots of American college age 'kids' gather - right on the Leidesplein- I've been in there way past 2007 and folks buy cannabis down below and can smoke the in large sports type bar up top - but I don't know or care.

Put yourself in the shoes of a typical curious young person and don't be so judgmental. That said Amsterdamned is a whole lot more yes than those things as I dwell on in my first posts.

<What I meant is that prostitution should not exist.>

Your opinion only. And this is not the place for that discussion.

RLD is a fact of life in Amsterdam. If you aren't interested in seeing the neighborhood, don't go there. Others may well want to take a look what it's all about.

You can't smmoke in bars. Any sort of soking is illegal.

Not being judgemental Pal, but you do tend to assume everyone is going to Amsterdam for the same reasons you visit the place.

hetismiji2 must be new law.. as you most definitely could smoke pot in some places that sold alcohol in 2011.. as I know people who did do so in fact.. and were not reprimanded .

Berlin has a ton of sights to fill six days but you may want to do some easy day trips - like to Potsdam, very close to Berlin, and Sans Souci Palace and Park - the Prussian Versailles as they call the lavish palace and sprawling neat park. Take the S-Bahn there - about 40 minutes each way:

https://www.google.com/search?q=sans...HUJhD3EQsAQIHg

Another interesting and sobering day trip can go to suburban Sachsenhausen Memorial, the remains of a WW2 concentration camp where ruins of gas chambers are clearly seen and the grim barracks, etc. Lots of trains go there too:

https://www.google.com/search?q=sach...HXwdC8sQsAQIHg

Speaking of trains there is an overnight train link between Amsterdam and Berlin you could take - great experience for many - bring any food and drink aboard (but NOT pot!) - save on a hotel and day time travel time. For lots of info on night trains and European trains in general check www.seat61.com - good info on discounted train tickets between Amsterdam and Berlin available on day or night trains; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Booking early is imperative to guarantee the limited in number discounted ducats. But they are non-changeable and have a hefty refund charge and as sold in limited numbers must be booked in stone weeks ahead of time to guarantee - but savings can be immense.

Berlin is full of outdoor and indoor beer gardens that are a real treat - good beer hall food and those lovely oompah bands belting out beer hall favorites like:

"There is no beer in Heaven
Because we are all here'
Etc.!

http://www.metrolyrics.com/in-heaven...ave-combo.html

Oops got those lyrics wrong - but if you go to a German beer hall or garden with the traditional oompah band you will hear this lovely song at least once if not a lot!

Amsterdam has some of the best clubbing on the continent. But not at Melkweg! That's for the over 40s.

However, if you know when you're going, book tickets while still at home for the many festivals, club sessions, that are on continually throughout the year.

I think it would be good also to leave the beaten track that the hostel set treads (beer, "smoking", wandering around the red light district, going to the Heineken brewery) and go where it's interesting.

A few recommendations (can be googled)

Blijburg
Magneetfestival
Amsterdam Dance Event
Awakenings Festival
Anything happening at NDSM

venues like
De School
Sugarfactory
Bitterzoet
Most things happening at Westergasfabriek
OT301
Tolhuistuin is starting to be good (generally, the "Noord" area, north of IJ is becoming very interesting)
De Nieuwe Anita
Nataraj @ ClubLite

Be aware that tickets sell out fast. Best bet is to follow venues on Facebook so you get alerts to tickets early.

Rotterdam is now the emerging "second" city

Whatever you do, don't "smoke" and ride a bike.


I think the best bits of amsterdam are not around the RLD or in coffeeshops. Electronic Dance Music is exploding right now and Amsterdam is one of the best places for it. Ever innovative, always fresh and with a friendly and accessible network of venues and clubs. Safe too.

A fun day out is to head to Halfweg (nowaday it has its own trainstop) and visit Ruigoord, a hippy enclave hemmed in by encroaching docklands) Its solstice celebrations are rightfully famous, as is its "Landjuweel"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UupjkJaatuU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewIdlmoDnZY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obnx8p9SeAI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uy1gaVjZ9w

PS, don't worry about the language, off the beaten track. Amsterdam is extremely international, so English will be the lingua franca anyway. And you'll have had an Amsterdam vacation truly unlike anyone else's.

Thanks to everyone for the tips. Quick question about the clubs listed above. I was told by a few people that the one club that I had to check out was Melkweg. What makes you say that it's for people in their forties and up? From the musical lineups I've seen, it looks like most of the events would be more interesting to people my age.

My personal opinion is that what's on at Melkweg is second rate, and not quite as on point as what's happening at De School for instance. Things are more exciting at the venues I listed. The line-ups better, the visual design way better, the entire experience. At Melkweg: lots of hiphop, Popschool, which is basically amateur night. The only thing in the january agenda where I might want to go is 50Hurtz, the Dubstep thing. Other than that: bands. Can be had anywhere. Oh, and HipHop.

I've been to some great nights at Melkweg, but it's slipped behind. They publicize it a lot to tourists, who think it's great, also because it's at Leidseplein. But there's so, so much more. And better.

Oh, and one bar recommendation, but don't tell them I told you: DIEP on Nieuwezijds voorburgwal, just off Dam Square. It and its next door neighbour BEP are owned by the same guy. Laid back place, everyone welcome, meals at BEP are great, they have hilarious bingo nights.

Fail to see how one needs to satisfy curiosity about a place where women are displayed as if they were animals in a zoo. It's true this is legal in Amsterdam - but one doesn't have to look at it.

And there are similar areas in any city. I would be very surprised if many 18 year olds have not seen prostitutes in the less pleasant areas of their own towns - and not been particularly enthralled.

Sort of like making a visit to the town dump because you are curious.

Quick question about the clubs listed above. I was told by a few people that the one club that I had to check out was Melkweg. What makes you say that it's for people in their forties and up?>

total ignorance - relatively few folks there IME anyway are older than their 20s and if the concert is cool with younger folks like you found they will dominate. Ignore that comment - totally inaccurate as these images will tell you:

https://www.google.com/search?q=melk...w=1745&bih=868

after all it is a city-owned youth centre.

https://www.google.com/search?q=para...w=1745&bih=868

The Paradiso - a few blocks from the Melkweg in the Leidesplein area is a pure concert hall and gets I believe really big name bands from all over and the crowd is 20s or younger IME of seeing folk swarming into the place.

You a man Suze ?
Just curious.
Maybe not actually.

Oh PalenQ, you sometimes infuriating, yet also weirdly endearing geezer!

Hahaha. Sorry.

<You a man Suze ?>

No. Female. Why?

There was nothing wrong with Suzes comment, I agree with it actually.. and neither of us is a man.


Whathello was inferring you must be a man to make such a statement.
Which , if one has ever walked through the area.. is a silly statement as I have seen just as many women as men walking through.. tourists mostly looky looing.. or simply on their way to other areas.. no need to cut a wide berth around the area unless easily offended.

Whether someone things legal prostitution is right or wrong is not the point.. in the Nederlands it is..

You think I must be a man to support a women's legal right to do what she wants with her own body?

<<What I meant is that prostitution should not exist.>>

Uh, good luck with that one, Whathello.

Yes I do.
Can't imagine a woman backing it, one way or another.
One bit or whole of it. And can't be mate with a man who thinks prostitution is ok, far less goes to prostitutes.

You can call me Don Quichotte. But I'm devastated to see you don't understand.

Actually no, I don't care. But I don't understand.
Just cannot understand that anybody can not say that prositution is wrong, plain wrong, irregardless of it being legal or not (is it legal or is tolerated ?).

I think it was legal to kill one's slaves in US if the slave ran away, no ? Was it ok ? You tell me.

Won't make me lose sleep. And it is not travel-related.
But what in this thread is...

Ridiculous analogy...

Prostitution is a woman's choice and right.

Killing a slave was certainly not the slave's idea.

And it's Don Quixote.

'Prostitution is a woman's choice and right.'

Really ? In how many cases ? 0,01% ? Hiding behind an excuse to do nothing. Next you'll say the world has always been so. Prostitution is not a women's choice, it is human trafficiking - same as slavery.

I'm sure there were a lot of nice people in southern plantations speaking like you 150 years ago.