Amsterdam - My Favorite Things!
Dec 2nd, 2013, 01:03 PM
#161
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Thanks for the thanks - not so sure finding accommodations that include King's Day would be harder than say in summer - King's Day (Queen's Day when I last experienced it seems more a local thing that a tourist attraction - in fact some tourists avoid Amsterdam on that day because everything shuts down - trams, trains into Centraal Station, etc - the town is too too crowded for many.
So I suspect but am not sure that finding accommodation that straddled King's Day may not be that hard - just a one-day stay though could be.
So I suspect but am not sure that finding accommodation that straddled King's Day may not be that hard - just a one-day stay though could be.
Jan 10th, 2014, 12:16 PM
#162
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http://www.oba.nl/pagina/22992.central-library.html
Europe's self-billed largest public library is a treat to explore and relax and from the very top there is a dynamite view of Amsterdam - 360 degree view all around and especially over the harbor. And it's free and anyone can enter IME.
Right next to the main train station and right on the harbor!
Europe's self-billed largest public library is a treat to explore and relax and from the very top there is a dynamite view of Amsterdam - 360 degree view all around and especially over the harbor. And it's free and anyone can enter IME.
Right next to the main train station and right on the harbor!
Apr 20th, 2014, 08:05 AM
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http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-amsterdam.cfm
A thread on a potential mosquito problem in Amsterdam. Personally I have seen none in years and years but others say otherwise - hotels seem a problem - you can always buy repellent once there but I have never ever had to use any anywhere in decades of European and Amsterdam travel.
A thread on a potential mosquito problem in Amsterdam. Personally I have seen none in years and years but others say otherwise - hotels seem a problem - you can always buy repellent once there but I have never ever had to use any anywhere in decades of European and Amsterdam travel.
May 1st, 2014, 11:37 AM
#167
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http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...etherlands.cfm
"The First Ever King's Day" - replacing Queen's Day when Holland got their first king in many a moon after a parade of queens.
Anyway this is an awesome even that will forever be one of my very most cherished travel memories in decades of world travel.
"The First Ever King's Day" - replacing Queen's Day when Holland got their first king in many a moon after a parade of queens.
Anyway this is an awesome even that will forever be one of my very most cherished travel memories in decades of world travel.
May 19th, 2014, 06:44 AM
#168
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http://www.amsterdam.info/red-light-district/
Interesting take on Amsterdam's infamous Red-Light District, which is now undergoing a huge transformation - gentrification if you have it.
According to an NPR report city officials are offering lower rents to place like cafes and other non-prostitution-related places - so far of the 550 brothels, many in picture windows, only about 350 now survive in the city's attempt to bring other businesses into the area - some in complete hopes of doing away with the red-light district all together.
Interesting take on Amsterdam's infamous Red-Light District, which is now undergoing a huge transformation - gentrification if you have it.
According to an NPR report city officials are offering lower rents to place like cafes and other non-prostitution-related places - so far of the 550 brothels, many in picture windows, only about 350 now survive in the city's attempt to bring other businesses into the area - some in complete hopes of doing away with the red-light district all together.
Jun 15th, 2014, 08:34 AM
#169
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http://www.eatingamsterdamtours.com/jordaan-food-tour/
there was a blurb in today's Sunday NYTimes Travel section on this new food sampling tour that winds around eateries and pubs in the fabled Jordaan section of Amsterdam - which has to be one of the cutests of many cute places in good ole Amsterdam. They have other food tours as well here and in other European cities.
there was a blurb in today's Sunday NYTimes Travel section on this new food sampling tour that winds around eateries and pubs in the fabled Jordaan section of Amsterdam - which has to be one of the cutests of many cute places in good ole Amsterdam. They have other food tours as well here and in other European cities.
Jun 20th, 2014, 01:32 PM
#171
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Early in the thread someone recommended booking the Anne Frank Museum online to avoid waiting in line on the day of your visit. Does the Museum Card allow you to bypass the line, or just give you free entry? I ask because the tickets for Anne Frank are timed.
Just beginning to plan our first visit to Amsterdam next May, so this thread was a happy surprise!
Thank you.
Just beginning to plan our first visit to Amsterdam next May, so this thread was a happy surprise!
Thank you.
Jun 21st, 2014, 05:23 AM
#172
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Good question, kagoo - if you find out please post - right now I doubt it - museum card IME does not always provide priority admission as you often have to wait in line to get a 'free' ticket.
Jun 21st, 2014, 06:11 AM
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We spent a week in Amsterdam last month. The museums were spectacular, it is a great, great walking city, the people are friendly and ready with the next joke but the food was step above vile.
I guess you have spend money to get something decent. We went to what supposed to be one of the best restaurants in The Jordaan, De Reiger. It was the best meal we had, but for the price, it could never make it our neighborhood.
We stayed in a residential neighborhood and tried eating all over town with the same result. For lunch almost every restaurant had a quirky menu of chicken satay with fries, a veal croquette on a lonely slice of bread that you are supposed to smash, and a burger. They varied from edible to mediocre.
We have been to over 40 countries and live in one of the best restaurant neighborhoods in the US for value and variety and Dutch food is at the bottom of first world countries list for cuisine.
I guess you have spend money to get something decent. We went to what supposed to be one of the best restaurants in The Jordaan, De Reiger. It was the best meal we had, but for the price, it could never make it our neighborhood.
We stayed in a residential neighborhood and tried eating all over town with the same result. For lunch almost every restaurant had a quirky menu of chicken satay with fries, a veal croquette on a lonely slice of bread that you are supposed to smash, and a burger. They varied from edible to mediocre.
We have been to over 40 countries and live in one of the best restaurant neighborhoods in the US for value and variety and Dutch food is at the bottom of first world countries list for cuisine.
Jun 21st, 2014, 07:40 AM
#174
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For gourmets Dutch food may be a let down but for gourmands like moi it is a treat - albeit a fattening one - I love FEBOs for their french fries served in a paper cone and topped with a myriad of sauces of your choice.
And Chinese-Indonesia restaurants, vestgies of the era when Indonesia was the Dutch East Indies, never fail to delight me - check out the famous Rijstafel - Rice Table that was talked about way up in this thread.
Dutch are famous for pancakes too and if you like smoked fish - the ubiquitous hering stands are all over the place - eat them the way the Dutch do - hold by the tail and drop down your throat - or as they seem to do - hering not being a favorite of mine.
But yes Dutch cuisine ranks low - just about British I think, IMO overall if talking fancy restaurants - but I have never tried the many 'petit restaurants' featuring French cuisine, etc. so really can't judge but will take IMD's word on that - certainly a much better judge of that than I, who has to be dragged into a formal restaurant!
And Chinese-Indonesia restaurants, vestgies of the era when Indonesia was the Dutch East Indies, never fail to delight me - check out the famous Rijstafel - Rice Table that was talked about way up in this thread.
Dutch are famous for pancakes too and if you like smoked fish - the ubiquitous hering stands are all over the place - eat them the way the Dutch do - hold by the tail and drop down your throat - or as they seem to do - hering not being a favorite of mine.
But yes Dutch cuisine ranks low - just about British I think, IMO overall if talking fancy restaurants - but I have never tried the many 'petit restaurants' featuring French cuisine, etc. so really can't judge but will take IMD's word on that - certainly a much better judge of that than I, who has to be dragged into a formal restaurant!
Jun 21st, 2014, 08:51 AM
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<i>IMDonehere on Jun 21, 14 at 10:11am
We have been to over 40 countries and live in one of the best restaurant neighborhoods in the US for value and variety and Dutch food is at the bottom of first world countries list for cuisine.</i>
Following PalenQ's suggestions for where to eat could be why you came away with a lousy opinion. Holland is not France or Belgium when it comes to food but it outranks the UK and Nordic countries by leagues.
"live in one of the best restaurant neighborhoods in the US" -- and would you like to mention where this is?
We have been to over 40 countries and live in one of the best restaurant neighborhoods in the US for value and variety and Dutch food is at the bottom of first world countries list for cuisine.</i>
Following PalenQ's suggestions for where to eat could be why you came away with a lousy opinion. Holland is not France or Belgium when it comes to food but it outranks the UK and Nordic countries by leagues.
"live in one of the best restaurant neighborhoods in the US" -- and would you like to mention where this is?
Jun 21st, 2014, 12:09 PM
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We tried a variety of sources for food besides Palenq. We looked forward to the french fries which were mediocre. We tried different neighborhoods and tried to avoid the more touristy areas when we could. The worst meal was near the museum district on a Sunday and I had the daily special of lamb that a sharpened jackhammer would not be able to cut.
And unfortunately we did not try Rijstafel.
We also visited Belgium where the pastries, bread, and chocolates were world class.
The food has improved in Ireland and England and I would put Holland beneath them now.
I live in the East Village in NYC. Please note that I wrote that live in one of the best restaurant neighborhoods in the US for VALUE and VARIETY. There are other areas that have better restaurants but not for the price or variety. And currently for the best inexpensive ethnic food it is Queens, NY. We have one block with 12 Indian restaurants and that is down substantially from years ago. We have Korean, Persian, Middle Eastern, African, various regional Chinese, various regional Italian, French bistro, both cheap and excellent Greek, Mexican, Peruvian, a number of high quality pizza places, southern, seafood, Thai, Aussie, Italian pastries Spanish, Polish, German, hip American, number store made ice cream stores, etc. And except for a few hamburger chains and now pizza, the neighborhood is known for eschewing chains.
And unfortunately we did not try Rijstafel.
We also visited Belgium where the pastries, bread, and chocolates were world class.
The food has improved in Ireland and England and I would put Holland beneath them now.
I live in the East Village in NYC. Please note that I wrote that live in one of the best restaurant neighborhoods in the US for VALUE and VARIETY. There are other areas that have better restaurants but not for the price or variety. And currently for the best inexpensive ethnic food it is Queens, NY. We have one block with 12 Indian restaurants and that is down substantially from years ago. We have Korean, Persian, Middle Eastern, African, various regional Chinese, various regional Italian, French bistro, both cheap and excellent Greek, Mexican, Peruvian, a number of high quality pizza places, southern, seafood, Thai, Aussie, Italian pastries Spanish, Polish, German, hip American, number store made ice cream stores, etc. And except for a few hamburger chains and now pizza, the neighborhood is known for eschewing chains.
Jun 21st, 2014, 01:34 PM
#178
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<i>IMDonehere on Jun 21, 14 at 4:20pm
Sorry to hijack the thread with NY. Please return to Amsterdam.</i>
I asked. You answered. Thank you. Why did you have to make me hungry dammit?
No loss in missing rijstafel, unless you like stinky oily fried food.
<i>The food has improved in Ireland and England and I would put Holland beneath them now.</i>
No argument on the improved but they are still mostly garbage cans. You have to be selective in Holland but very selective in England.
Sorry to hijack the thread with NY. Please return to Amsterdam.</i>
I asked. You answered. Thank you. Why did you have to make me hungry dammit?
No loss in missing rijstafel, unless you like stinky oily fried food.
<i>The food has improved in Ireland and England and I would put Holland beneath them now.</i>
No argument on the improved but they are still mostly garbage cans. You have to be selective in Holland but very selective in England.
Jun 21st, 2014, 01:48 PM
#179
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rijstafels served in Amsterdam are often called tourist oriented - one time patrons - so rijstafel, whose cost is based on the number of side dishes served with unlimited heaps of rice, often IME in these places included a dish of peanuts or olives, etc - kind of a sham on the real rijstafel like served in restaurants in Amsterdam outside the tourist center - not saying there are not good rice table restaurants - or Chinese-Indonesia restaurants serving traditional rice tables but some I've been in were yes lots of cheap side dishes just to say so many dishes come with the meal.
Jun 21st, 2014, 02:34 PM
#180
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It would have been interesting to try even a tourist rijstafel, even though they did seem expensive. It is something we have never had and I am not sure when we will be Indonesia to try the real thing.
