Amsterdam Itiniary
Mar 11th, 2014, 08:02 AM
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Amsterdam Itiniary
Hello everyone!
I have been working on my itiniary for the Amsterdam part of my trip and have roughed out the following schedule for 5 days. I would very much appreciate any advise anyone can offer! I think I did a good job of keeping everything kind of together in different sections of the city but who knows? Those little maps in the books and on line make everything look so much closer and easier than it usually is. The one thing I'm sure you will all see off the bat is that I'm not hitting the Van Gogh & Rijks together-that is on purpose-my husband will wig out if I drag him through 2 big museums on the same day!
Day 1-
Arrive on early flight-train to Amsterdam -get settled in Hotel
3 Hour City Walk
History Museum
New Church (on walk)
Day 2-
Jordaan neighborhood Walk (about 90 minutes)
Houseboat Museum
Van Gogh Museum
Canal Boat Tour
Anne Frank House (late visit in the evening)
Day 3-
Rijks Museum
Tropical Museum & Botanical Gardens?? Not sure about this..any comments appreciated
Rembrant House
Amstelkring Museum
Late Afternoon Red Light District Walk & sites
Day 4-
Hermitage Museum
Heinekin Brewery Tour
Ferry across the Harbor for the amazing view I read about?
Day 5-
Zandervoot Beach (I collect sand from around the world so I always hit the beach!)
This is where I'm lost! The next stop is Brugge-should we leave on a later train this evening to go to Brugge or did I miss anything fantastic we should see on this day and leave for Brugge early the next morning? We will only have 1 full day in Brugge then on to France. By my schedule I have an empty day on Day 5-so am I trying to do too much on the other 4? They don't seem that crowded to me.
Thank you so much for any info you an give me!
I have been working on my itiniary for the Amsterdam part of my trip and have roughed out the following schedule for 5 days. I would very much appreciate any advise anyone can offer! I think I did a good job of keeping everything kind of together in different sections of the city but who knows? Those little maps in the books and on line make everything look so much closer and easier than it usually is. The one thing I'm sure you will all see off the bat is that I'm not hitting the Van Gogh & Rijks together-that is on purpose-my husband will wig out if I drag him through 2 big museums on the same day!
Day 1-
Arrive on early flight-train to Amsterdam -get settled in Hotel
3 Hour City Walk
History Museum
New Church (on walk)
Day 2-
Jordaan neighborhood Walk (about 90 minutes)
Houseboat Museum
Van Gogh Museum
Canal Boat Tour
Anne Frank House (late visit in the evening)
Day 3-
Rijks Museum
Tropical Museum & Botanical Gardens?? Not sure about this..any comments appreciated
Rembrant House
Amstelkring Museum
Late Afternoon Red Light District Walk & sites
Day 4-
Hermitage Museum
Heinekin Brewery Tour
Ferry across the Harbor for the amazing view I read about?
Day 5-
Zandervoot Beach (I collect sand from around the world so I always hit the beach!)
This is where I'm lost! The next stop is Brugge-should we leave on a later train this evening to go to Brugge or did I miss anything fantastic we should see on this day and leave for Brugge early the next morning? We will only have 1 full day in Brugge then on to France. By my schedule I have an empty day on Day 5-so am I trying to do too much on the other 4? They don't seem that crowded to me.
Thank you so much for any info you an give me!
Mar 11th, 2014, 11:09 AM
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The IC train from Amsterdam to Bruges takes about three and a half hours. If you leave the morning of your one day planned in Bruges, you will really have a half day and an evening.
Be sure to get your Anne Frank House tickets ahead of time or you will be standing in line.
The Rijksmusem has a million pieces of art. Your itinery workablity depends on how long you plan to stay at the museums.
Be sure to get your Anne Frank House tickets ahead of time or you will be standing in line.
The Rijksmusem has a million pieces of art. Your itinery workablity depends on how long you plan to stay at the museums.
Mar 11th, 2014, 01:37 PM
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Personally I would skip both the RLD and Heineken tour.
If you want a brewery look at brouwerij 't Ij www.brouwerijhetij.nl instead.
Day 1 may be too ambitious if jetlag is a possibility.
The beach is Zandvoort. When is your visit, because if it is a hot summer day it will be packed, and hard to get to and from, you need some flexibility on that one.
Buy as many entrance tickets online as you can, especially for Anne Frankhuis, and be prepared for some queuing even with tickets at some museums.
If you like modern art consider the Stedelijk museum too.
If you want a brewery look at brouwerij 't Ij www.brouwerijhetij.nl instead.
Day 1 may be too ambitious if jetlag is a possibility.
The beach is Zandvoort. When is your visit, because if it is a hot summer day it will be packed, and hard to get to and from, you need some flexibility on that one.
Buy as many entrance tickets online as you can, especially for Anne Frankhuis, and be prepared for some queuing even with tickets at some museums.
If you like modern art consider the Stedelijk museum too.
Mar 12th, 2014, 05:26 AM
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Thank you LILT & hetisnij2! Good advise-Unless there is a problem we will be at the hotel by noon and I don't think jetlag will be an issue. MY DH and I are only good for about 2-3 hours in any given museum so that should make up for que time.We will be in Amsterdam in early August so I am sure the beaches will be crowded but since I have a full day 5 empty it should be ok. Since neither of you pointed out anything glaringly wrong with the schedule I think I will go ahead and train to Brugge on day 5 evening so we can get up early and have a full-long day in Brugge. Thank you so much for your help!
Mar 12th, 2014, 06:25 AM
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Whenever we visit Amsterdam we spend at least half a day in Jordaan relaxing in the sun, sipping coffee at the outdoor cafe seating watching the locals, it's the best part of Amsterdam for me personally. You may miss out on the essence of Jordaan if you power walk it in 90 minutes. Have a pizza outdoor sit among the easygoing locals.
I'm not an expert on Amsterdam but I come there just about once a year. I prefer to rent a bike then sit on the canal boat tour. The boat is so low in the canal, half the view is the canal wall, I see more by walking.
My wife always gives me an option to leave a museum if it gets too much(boring), so I can sit at a nearby cafe (good for jetlag) or see a gadget /tool store nearby while she enjoys more paintings! I rarely left her in the museum alone but it sure feels nice to know that I can exit anytime without causing any melt down.
I'm not an expert on Amsterdam but I come there just about once a year. I prefer to rent a bike then sit on the canal boat tour. The boat is so low in the canal, half the view is the canal wall, I see more by walking.
My wife always gives me an option to leave a museum if it gets too much(boring), so I can sit at a nearby cafe (good for jetlag) or see a gadget /tool store nearby while she enjoys more paintings! I rarely left her in the museum alone but it sure feels nice to know that I can exit anytime without causing any melt down.
Mar 12th, 2014, 06:31 AM
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Dax: My husband and you are sole mates! I have a feeling he will be visiting a lot of pubs if I try to spend more than 2 hrs in a museum..he is a beer junkie and I am positive he will be a very happy man in Amsterdam. We are staying in the Jordaan so I plan on hanging out there during the relaxing moments...most of our evenings & nights are free so far. We love to walk city's I find that you get such a good feel for the personality of a city if you get lost in it. I can't wait to get to Amsterdam!
Mar 12th, 2014, 09:02 AM
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Uh you caught my drift with the "cafe", needless to say there are lots of great pubs and wine bars. It's the best way to enjoy Amsterdam. It's better to create a memorable experience in Amsterdam then trying to see all of it. Glad you're staying in the right area. The most pathetic area of Amsterdam is the red light district, I understand that you just want to see what it's like once, but if you have to sacrifice time it would be that & the canal cruise, totally artificial IMO.
Mar 14th, 2014, 09:09 AM
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I'd give Zandvoort a miss. Not really worth it getting to it, even if you do collect sand.
Great you're staying in the Jordaan. You could decide to play it by ear a little bit more, perhaps. Jordaan is great for hanging out, so just wander aimlessly, but consider it your base that you return to each afternoon, to be explored at night.
Also, Tropenmuseum is an outlier, and it's slowly being dismantled, but a visit to the Hortus Botanicus can be exceedingly nice, they have a nice pavillion for lunch or tea and you'll be near Rembrandthuis en Amstelkring etc.
Houseboat museum: tourist trap (sorry, but it's true)
Canal boat tour: tourist trap, but you do get a nice overview of the city if the route is any good.
For the beer lovers: not the Heineken experience, but treat yourself to a drink at Brouwerij Het IJ: they brew on site, and it's in a windmill. What's not to like.
Instead of your Zandvoort day, you might consider a trip to KNSM eiland, or to Overhoek and NDSM, or a walk to Het Sluisje on Nieuwendammerdijk.
A few restaurants I always felt were rather nice
Bordewijk on Noordermarkt
WInkel (apple pie!!!)
Kapitein Zeppos (Nes)
Land van Walem (coffee, tea, lunch, drinks)
Blauw aan de Wal is a nice neo-Indonesian restaurant in the red light district and there is always Kantjil of course.
What part of the Jordaan are you staying in? North of Rozengracht or south of there? There's quite a difference.
Great you're staying in the Jordaan. You could decide to play it by ear a little bit more, perhaps. Jordaan is great for hanging out, so just wander aimlessly, but consider it your base that you return to each afternoon, to be explored at night.
Also, Tropenmuseum is an outlier, and it's slowly being dismantled, but a visit to the Hortus Botanicus can be exceedingly nice, they have a nice pavillion for lunch or tea and you'll be near Rembrandthuis en Amstelkring etc.
Houseboat museum: tourist trap (sorry, but it's true)
Canal boat tour: tourist trap, but you do get a nice overview of the city if the route is any good.
For the beer lovers: not the Heineken experience, but treat yourself to a drink at Brouwerij Het IJ: they brew on site, and it's in a windmill. What's not to like.
Instead of your Zandvoort day, you might consider a trip to KNSM eiland, or to Overhoek and NDSM, or a walk to Het Sluisje on Nieuwendammerdijk.
A few restaurants I always felt were rather nice
Bordewijk on Noordermarkt
WInkel (apple pie!!!)
Kapitein Zeppos (Nes)
Land van Walem (coffee, tea, lunch, drinks)
Blauw aan de Wal is a nice neo-Indonesian restaurant in the red light district and there is always Kantjil of course.
What part of the Jordaan are you staying in? North of Rozengracht or south of there? There's quite a difference.
Mar 14th, 2014, 09:13 AM
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Mar 17th, 2014, 07:25 AM
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menachem:
Thank you for your input..it is much appreciated. Is there a beach worth a day trip? I think I have most of a full day to waste so I could take the train to another coastal town. Is that what they below are?
(Instead of your Zandvoort day, you might consider a trip to KNSM eiland, or to Overhoek and NDSM, or a walk to Het Sluisje on Nieuwendammerdijk.)
I have seen a couple of other posts with negative remarks about the Tropenmuseum so I think I will take it off my itinerary. Thanks for the restaurant ideas, I have never eaten Indonesian food-can't wait! I'm in the deep south so I am waiting to get something authentic!
We are staying at the Hotel Sebastian which looks like its around the corner from the Jordaan-the address is Keizersgracht 15 - 1015 CC Amsterdam-I hope it is a good location and hotel. If you have an opinion please do tell! I have plenty of time to make a change.
I am definitely going to look into the brewery you suggested-I have also seen posts about skipping the Heini experience so I will leave that up to the hubby-he is the beer lover!
Thank you for your input..it is much appreciated. Is there a beach worth a day trip? I think I have most of a full day to waste so I could take the train to another coastal town. Is that what they below are?
(Instead of your Zandvoort day, you might consider a trip to KNSM eiland, or to Overhoek and NDSM, or a walk to Het Sluisje on Nieuwendammerdijk.)
I have seen a couple of other posts with negative remarks about the Tropenmuseum so I think I will take it off my itinerary. Thanks for the restaurant ideas, I have never eaten Indonesian food-can't wait! I'm in the deep south so I am waiting to get something authentic!
We are staying at the Hotel Sebastian which looks like its around the corner from the Jordaan-the address is Keizersgracht 15 - 1015 CC Amsterdam-I hope it is a good location and hotel. If you have an opinion please do tell! I have plenty of time to make a change.
I am definitely going to look into the brewery you suggested-I have also seen posts about skipping the Heini experience so I will leave that up to the hubby-he is the beer lover!
Mar 17th, 2014, 10:24 PM
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Going to suggest something completely out of the way, beach wise, and it will involve trains and buses, but you'll also get to the thing nearest "surfer culture" we have in NL
Wijk aan Zee
If you look south, you'll see the massive Tata steelworks, if you look north you'll see the beautiful Kennemerduinen
To get there, take a train to Beverwijk via Haarlem, then a bus to Wijk (9292.nl is your friend)
it's somewhat of an expedition, but if you have a day to kill... If you plan it around the weekend, you could also make a detour to Beverwijk's Zwarte Markt (black market, a huge, "regulated" ethnic affair, think lots of Turkish and Morroccan traders in an indoor complex)
Hotel Sonnevanck, right off the beach is a great place for lunch or dinner. Their cooking is good and often they have slightly off beat, but always expertly picked acoustic live acts
on the beach you'll find masses of surfers and kite surfers and a number of cabana restaurants, like timboektoe, always a favorite
http://www.timboektoe.org/
http://www.hotel-sonnevanck.nl/uk/wi...zee/index.html
Keizersgracht 15 is almost on the corner from Brouwersgracht, also nice! Great location for exploring Noordermarkt, Lindengracht, but also Haarlemmerstraat, gourmet food heaven!
Wijk aan Zee
If you look south, you'll see the massive Tata steelworks, if you look north you'll see the beautiful Kennemerduinen
To get there, take a train to Beverwijk via Haarlem, then a bus to Wijk (9292.nl is your friend)
it's somewhat of an expedition, but if you have a day to kill... If you plan it around the weekend, you could also make a detour to Beverwijk's Zwarte Markt (black market, a huge, "regulated" ethnic affair, think lots of Turkish and Morroccan traders in an indoor complex)
Hotel Sonnevanck, right off the beach is a great place for lunch or dinner. Their cooking is good and often they have slightly off beat, but always expertly picked acoustic live acts
on the beach you'll find masses of surfers and kite surfers and a number of cabana restaurants, like timboektoe, always a favorite
http://www.timboektoe.org/
http://www.hotel-sonnevanck.nl/uk/wi...zee/index.html
Keizersgracht 15 is almost on the corner from Brouwersgracht, also nice! Great location for exploring Noordermarkt, Lindengracht, but also Haarlemmerstraat, gourmet food heaven!
Mar 17th, 2014, 11:07 PM
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Another vote for just wandering around a bit.. that's how I found Kapitein Zeppos, a really nice place for eating and drinking.
Honestly, the Red Light District is largely overrated (for good or bad), IMO. Obviously, you still can do that special type of window shopping there but also have an abundance of regular clubs/bars and eateries. As prostitution is legal almost everywhere in Europe, the WOW or OMG factor is somewhat limited.
It's in a pretty central location so you can walk through but I would say that you need 10-15 minutes to get the idea. So it's not something that fills a late afternoon as a sight of its own as it is simply too boring compared to the many other sights A'dam has to offer.
IF you still want to take a look, you should go after sunset so you have at least a bit of an "ambiance" compared to waltzing through it at bright daylight. If you don't you haven't missed much.
Honestly, the Red Light District is largely overrated (for good or bad), IMO. Obviously, you still can do that special type of window shopping there but also have an abundance of regular clubs/bars and eateries. As prostitution is legal almost everywhere in Europe, the WOW or OMG factor is somewhat limited.
It's in a pretty central location so you can walk through but I would say that you need 10-15 minutes to get the idea. So it's not something that fills a late afternoon as a sight of its own as it is simply too boring compared to the many other sights A'dam has to offer.
IF you still want to take a look, you should go after sunset so you have at least a bit of an "ambiance" compared to waltzing through it at bright daylight. If you don't you haven't missed much.
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