Amsterdam in July
Mar 24th, 2009, 01:57 PM
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Amsterdam in July
My husband and I will be visiting Amsterdam for the first time in the middle of July for 3 nights, so far, Lord willing. We have made reservations at the Brouwer Hotel for the Van Gogh room. I had hoped for 4 nights, but, perhaps 3 nights is enough (they will look to see if there is a cancellation at that time for the extra day.)
Would like to know if anyone who has stayed in that room may give us a little idea of how it is, and if they may have heard of another double room being a better choice. Now, of course it is not like the large hotels where more comforts are available. This hotel does not have air-conditioning, but a fan. There are windows surrounding the room which I suppose can be opened for a breeze. Not withstanding a heat wave, I suppose I could be fine with an evening breeze.
Really, with 2-1/2 days to tour (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), what are the popular, recommended sites to make sure we see? The same question for recommended restaurants, would be appreciated. We would like to see Anne Frank's House, Van Gogh Museum, a windmill, and take a canal ride (recommended boats or lines to take). If by chance there are excursions outside the city that are a must do, please let me know of your experiences, and a good Tour company to guide us.
After our stay, what would be the closest recommended city to add on for a couple more days, or, even if we have to go to another hotel, would just basing ourselves in the city be a good idea?
Thank you.
Would like to know if anyone who has stayed in that room may give us a little idea of how it is, and if they may have heard of another double room being a better choice. Now, of course it is not like the large hotels where more comforts are available. This hotel does not have air-conditioning, but a fan. There are windows surrounding the room which I suppose can be opened for a breeze. Not withstanding a heat wave, I suppose I could be fine with an evening breeze.
Really, with 2-1/2 days to tour (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), what are the popular, recommended sites to make sure we see? The same question for recommended restaurants, would be appreciated. We would like to see Anne Frank's House, Van Gogh Museum, a windmill, and take a canal ride (recommended boats or lines to take). If by chance there are excursions outside the city that are a must do, please let me know of your experiences, and a good Tour company to guide us.
After our stay, what would be the closest recommended city to add on for a couple more days, or, even if we have to go to another hotel, would just basing ourselves in the city be a good idea?
Thank you.
Mar 24th, 2009, 02:08 PM
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This may be too much information, but here are my notes from our 5 night stay in Amsterdam, in mid-May, three years or so ago. We loved it there:
"Final stop: Amsterdam. Five nights’ stay, first visit for all of us.
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Amsterdam! You always hear of the Red Light district and the coffee shops and the laissez-faire attitude, but you don’t hear how open and friendly the people are, how lovely the canals and side streets, how wonderfully trendy the restaurants and cafes, how people are out strolling at all hours of the night and you feel safe everywhere. I think I’d expected it to be quaint and charming (which it is), but in a dark wood-paneled cliché way, not in the young and contemporary way it is.
The standard reply we were given in Amsterdam, when we asked for anything, was always “Of course!” How refreshing.
We stayed in a fabulous location, at The Hotel Residence le Coin, which was directly across a small street from the Hotel de l’Europe, down the street from the Hotel Doelan, on Nieuwe Doelenstraat (sp?). A great neighborhood in the heart of old Amsterdam.
The hotel has a lift and A/C, also free use of the hotel’s washing machine and clothes dryer in the basement (which was welcome as we’d been traveling over a week when we arrived there). Each room has a little kitchenette, a nice-sized bath, large rooms with wooden floors and a sitting area. It’s fairly new, so everything sparkles. Very friendly front desk, too.
Two cafes on the same block as the hotel were wonderful: Café Katoen for a university atmosphere, and Café le Jarden, for great table seating on the canal.
Amazing dinners at two restaurants in particular:
“Stout!”, at Haarlemmerstraat 73 (www.restaurantstout.nl). Fabulous ‘foamy asparagus’ soup with shrimp, chateaubriande, fresh fish, dessert course, wine list. Very trendy lighting. Great service. We’d gone to the neighborhood in search of a restaurant called “Lof” which we’d seen written up. We didn’t like its atmosphere, but were lucky that Stout! was just across the street.
Also at “Restaurant Dining Eleven” we had a great dinner. It’s at Reestraat 11. Also trendy and contempory, well-presented and beautifully-served meal.
Another nice dinner at “frenzi”, at Swanenburgwal 232. Very simple and contemporary. We arrived shortly after 10:00p.m., when most restaurants close in Amsterdam, and persuaded the owner to sell us any left-overs they had in the kitchen! They put together a nice Caesar salad with cooked-in-the-shell shrimp and mango. Very nice.
Also a good brunch at a place across the street from frenzi—called “Puccini”. Creative salads and sandwiches. Very nice also.
We took a canal cruise one evening. Toured the Anne Frank Huis and the Van Gogh Museum. Visited the Nieuwe Kerk (sp?) Our teens went to a concert at the Paradiso and loved it.
One afternoon we did the 2:30 “Best of Holland” excursion to Volendam and Marken, with a stop to see wooden clogs made, Gouda cheese created, and to visit windmills. It was by bus, with a boat from Volendam to Marken. A lot of fun. Even our two teens liked it.
Our teens also liked shopping at one street in particular, between our hotel and the museum district. Also a Zara shop there, and many others like it. They thought the selection and prices were better in Amsterdam than what they’d seen in London and Paris even.
A detail about Amsterdam if you go there-- carry enough Euros in cash, because many places won't accept a credit card for a 'small' purchase (i.e. under 25 EU)."
"Final stop: Amsterdam. Five nights’ stay, first visit for all of us.
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Amsterdam! You always hear of the Red Light district and the coffee shops and the laissez-faire attitude, but you don’t hear how open and friendly the people are, how lovely the canals and side streets, how wonderfully trendy the restaurants and cafes, how people are out strolling at all hours of the night and you feel safe everywhere. I think I’d expected it to be quaint and charming (which it is), but in a dark wood-paneled cliché way, not in the young and contemporary way it is.
The standard reply we were given in Amsterdam, when we asked for anything, was always “Of course!” How refreshing.
We stayed in a fabulous location, at The Hotel Residence le Coin, which was directly across a small street from the Hotel de l’Europe, down the street from the Hotel Doelan, on Nieuwe Doelenstraat (sp?). A great neighborhood in the heart of old Amsterdam.
The hotel has a lift and A/C, also free use of the hotel’s washing machine and clothes dryer in the basement (which was welcome as we’d been traveling over a week when we arrived there). Each room has a little kitchenette, a nice-sized bath, large rooms with wooden floors and a sitting area. It’s fairly new, so everything sparkles. Very friendly front desk, too.
Two cafes on the same block as the hotel were wonderful: Café Katoen for a university atmosphere, and Café le Jarden, for great table seating on the canal.
Amazing dinners at two restaurants in particular:
“Stout!”, at Haarlemmerstraat 73 (www.restaurantstout.nl). Fabulous ‘foamy asparagus’ soup with shrimp, chateaubriande, fresh fish, dessert course, wine list. Very trendy lighting. Great service. We’d gone to the neighborhood in search of a restaurant called “Lof” which we’d seen written up. We didn’t like its atmosphere, but were lucky that Stout! was just across the street.
Also at “Restaurant Dining Eleven” we had a great dinner. It’s at Reestraat 11. Also trendy and contempory, well-presented and beautifully-served meal.
Another nice dinner at “frenzi”, at Swanenburgwal 232. Very simple and contemporary. We arrived shortly after 10:00p.m., when most restaurants close in Amsterdam, and persuaded the owner to sell us any left-overs they had in the kitchen! They put together a nice Caesar salad with cooked-in-the-shell shrimp and mango. Very nice.
Also a good brunch at a place across the street from frenzi—called “Puccini”. Creative salads and sandwiches. Very nice also.
We took a canal cruise one evening. Toured the Anne Frank Huis and the Van Gogh Museum. Visited the Nieuwe Kerk (sp?) Our teens went to a concert at the Paradiso and loved it.
One afternoon we did the 2:30 “Best of Holland” excursion to Volendam and Marken, with a stop to see wooden clogs made, Gouda cheese created, and to visit windmills. It was by bus, with a boat from Volendam to Marken. A lot of fun. Even our two teens liked it.
Our teens also liked shopping at one street in particular, between our hotel and the museum district. Also a Zara shop there, and many others like it. They thought the selection and prices were better in Amsterdam than what they’d seen in London and Paris even.
A detail about Amsterdam if you go there-- carry enough Euros in cash, because many places won't accept a credit card for a 'small' purchase (i.e. under 25 EU)."
Mar 24th, 2009, 06:48 PM
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We also took the “Best of Holland” excursion to Volendam and Marken. it was alot of fun. The Guide Person was a hoot.
I have taken an evening canal cruise 3 times and LOVED it. Will go again this fall with DH when we visit Amsterdam.
My favorite areas are Jordaan and Pijp. We will stay in Jordaan again. The little canals are so charming.
Venice of the North some say.
Buy tickets online for Anne Frank House and Van Gogh museum. No waiting in lines that way.
I have taken an evening canal cruise 3 times and LOVED it. Will go again this fall with DH when we visit Amsterdam.
My favorite areas are Jordaan and Pijp. We will stay in Jordaan again. The little canals are so charming.
Venice of the North some say.
Buy tickets online for Anne Frank House and Van Gogh museum. No waiting in lines that way.
Mar 24th, 2009, 07:50 PM
#6
It was a few years ago, but I was in Amsterdam in July. The weather was good, both warm and cool. I liked the area out around Leideplein, and saw great street performers there one night. Vondelpark was another highlight. Gave myself a walking tour around the central area, the Dam, Red Light District by day, etc. What I didn't do, but would suggest, is one of the canal boat tours. Museum of the Tropics was fun and kooky but probably not a must do in a short stay.
Mar 25th, 2009, 01:31 PM
#7
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Thanks. Still would like to know about the Van Gogh room at the Hotel Bouwer and the surrounding area. Anyone who has experienced a time there and would like to share about it, please do.
Mar 25th, 2009, 03:04 PM
#8
Hi; We had a wonderful dinner for 25 people at this restaurant. www.theeboom.com For the Anne Frank house, make sure you get tickets on line, because the day of your visit, lines can be long. www.annefrank.org/content.asp iris1745/dick
Mar 26th, 2009, 04:19 AM
#10
Hi; If you enjoy castles with a lot of history and a 'murder plot, visit the town of Muiden, a few miles south of Amsterdam. www.castles.nl/muid/muid.html iris1745/dick
