Amsterdam: My list of things to do/see is ready - Pls help in daily planning
Jul 6th, 2014, 05:43 AM
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Amsterdam: My list of things to do/see is ready - Pls help in daily planning
Hi,
This is my shortlist of stuff I wanna experience in Amsterdam:
Van Gogh Museum
Rijks Museum
Anne Frank House
Canals cruise
Library - for the views
Walk around Joordan
Visit a HEMA store (the MBA & Organised Retail enthusiast in me is curious)
Day-trip to Zaanse Schanse
Cycle around
Dam square - walk around
Buy souvenirs (magnets, Delft cutesy stuff, miniatures of windmills & canalhouses)
Eat as much falafel, hummus, etc as possible (can't get enough of it
)
Considering the location of some of the places mentioned above, opening hours & logistics, how should I plan each day & fit these in 3 days?
This is my shortlist of stuff I wanna experience in Amsterdam:
Van Gogh Museum
Rijks Museum
Anne Frank House
Canals cruise
Library - for the views
Walk around Joordan
Visit a HEMA store (the MBA & Organised Retail enthusiast in me is curious)
Day-trip to Zaanse Schanse
Cycle around
Dam square - walk around
Buy souvenirs (magnets, Delft cutesy stuff, miniatures of windmills & canalhouses)
Eat as much falafel, hummus, etc as possible (can't get enough of it
)Considering the location of some of the places mentioned above, opening hours & logistics, how should I plan each day & fit these in 3 days?
Jul 7th, 2014, 12:42 AM
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Plot them on a map. For one thing, walking around the Dam, and combining a visit to De Bijenkorf and a walk up Nieuwendijk (where there is one HEMA among several) should satisfy the retail investigator, and take half a day.
The Van Gogh and Rijksmuseums are close together, but I'd allow the best part of half a day each, myself.
Start one day with the Anne Frank house, perhaps, and then either walk around the Jordaan or take a canal cruise (or both). That would be a fairly leisurely day.
I'd forget about biking in Amsterdam if you're not used to urban/commuter cycling - there's been an extensive thread about this.
As for where to stay - anywhere in central Amsterdam is within fairly easy reach of Amstel station.
http://en.gvb.nl/pages/home.aspx
The Van Gogh and Rijksmuseums are close together, but I'd allow the best part of half a day each, myself.
Start one day with the Anne Frank house, perhaps, and then either walk around the Jordaan or take a canal cruise (or both). That would be a fairly leisurely day.
I'd forget about biking in Amsterdam if you're not used to urban/commuter cycling - there's been an extensive thread about this.
As for where to stay - anywhere in central Amsterdam is within fairly easy reach of Amstel station.
http://en.gvb.nl/pages/home.aspx
Jul 7th, 2014, 02:35 AM
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@PatrickLondon, the link & info you shared is quite useful. I saw the thread on Amsterdam city cycling & would prefer to cycle in a park or on outskirts.
What about stay near vondolpark / Joordan? Prices seem to be more reasonable (I am booking just few days in advance and all good & reasonable places seem to have been full / no single rooms available). Can I walk to the canal cruise point, museums, restaurants, etc from there?
Because I would be carrying luggage while arriving from Frankfurt, maybe it makes sense to stay near Amstel bus station? Would that be walking distance to all attractions?
What about stay near vondolpark / Joordan? Prices seem to be more reasonable (I am booking just few days in advance and all good & reasonable places seem to have been full / no single rooms available). Can I walk to the canal cruise point, museums, restaurants, etc from there?
Because I would be carrying luggage while arriving from Frankfurt, maybe it makes sense to stay near Amstel bus station? Would that be walking distance to all attractions?
Jul 7th, 2014, 01:57 PM
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Most of those questions would be answered by checking the map. Either the Vondelpark/Museums area or Jordaan would be better than Amstel station which is a long way from the centre; but you would probably be using the trams to get about wherever you stay. Personally, I wouldn't expect to walk both to the museums and to the usual canal cruise bases.
Jul 7th, 2014, 02:04 PM
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http://www.amsterdam.info/museums/museumkaart/
Be sure to buy the National Museum Card - good for one year but can more than pay for itself with just the sights you mention as going to - also priority entrance at some. Buy it at any museum. Then can come and go in a place like Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh, etc.
The Amstel bus station is way out and in no way stay there - a nice enough area but nothing like the fantastic city center - I love the Vondel Park area for its quietness and also it is close to the museums. Everything is walkable from there depending on how far you are comfy walking - a few miles to everything of major interest.
Be sure to buy the National Museum Card - good for one year but can more than pay for itself with just the sights you mention as going to - also priority entrance at some. Buy it at any museum. Then can come and go in a place like Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh, etc.
The Amstel bus station is way out and in no way stay there - a nice enough area but nothing like the fantastic city center - I love the Vondel Park area for its quietness and also it is close to the museums. Everything is walkable from there depending on how far you are comfy walking - a few miles to everything of major interest.
Jul 8th, 2014, 08:08 AM
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@PatrickLondon, you're right. I did check the maps. I am going to end up using the trams a lot.
@PalenQ, thanks, will check the card out. Last minute acco is going to be intresting to manage & I am close to booking it considering all factors. Will update later where I stayed & how was it
@PalenQ, thanks, will check the card out. Last minute acco is going to be intresting to manage & I am close to booking it considering all factors. Will update later where I stayed & how was it
Jul 8th, 2014, 11:29 AM
#8
Yes Vondelpark and Jordaan are nice areas to stay. You can bike in Vondel Park.
I stayed at Hotel Kap which is nearish the Heineken place and not too far from Leidseplein. Was very easy to walk around, I never used the trams (could have but preferred to walk).
I stayed at Hotel Kap which is nearish the Heineken place and not too far from Leidseplein. Was very easy to walk around, I never used the trams (could have but preferred to walk).
Jul 26th, 2014, 01:52 AM
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Hi all,
I stayed at hotel Manor Hampshire Eden. Very nice hotel. Trams right outside the hotel door taking to all main sights within 10-15 mins. Direct connection to train and bus station. And I did cycle one full day, went from one park to the other and covered most of the city. Luckily no problems with cycling traffic.
I stayed at hotel Manor Hampshire Eden. Very nice hotel. Trams right outside the hotel door taking to all main sights within 10-15 mins. Direct connection to train and bus station. And I did cycle one full day, went from one park to the other and covered most of the city. Luckily no problems with cycling traffic.
Jul 26th, 2014, 06:42 AM
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I'd stay near Vondelpark. Oddly, Jordaan is not that central, tucked away at the northern end of the canals. It means you have to leave the neighbourhood to get a tram for instance. The area around Vondelpark has much better trams.
De Pijp might be interesting to you as well.
The flagship store Hema is at Nieuwendijk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA29yoRcz2s
it's hitting a bad patch at the moment, probably due to their expansion in France and elsewhere. In the documentary I linked, this is still touted as a piece of wonderful corporate risk taking
De Pijp might be interesting to you as well.
The flagship store Hema is at Nieuwendijk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA29yoRcz2s
it's hitting a bad patch at the moment, probably due to their expansion in France and elsewhere. In the documentary I linked, this is still touted as a piece of wonderful corporate risk taking
Jul 26th, 2014, 07:59 AM
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I love Hema stores!
Especially their cafeterias with, for Holland, cheap coffee and snacks - and usually by their front doors is a nice take-out bakery with yummy iced bismarks - my favorite - but for anything you need of essentials Hema will be rock-bottom - they are ubiquitous in Holland.
I also love FEBO - the take-out snack places that are also ubiquitous - check out their automats - see treats behind glass doors - put your euro coin in and be surprised - bamis and nasis from Indonesia colonies or Frikandel - dried out sausage - from the counter get fresh Frites - french-fried potatoes served in a paper cone with a myriad of toppings - I like the Frites Royale - with mayo, ketschup and onions!
But the automats are unique - redolent of ones I saw in NYC years ago but which I think have disappeared.
Especially their cafeterias with, for Holland, cheap coffee and snacks - and usually by their front doors is a nice take-out bakery with yummy iced bismarks - my favorite - but for anything you need of essentials Hema will be rock-bottom - they are ubiquitous in Holland.
I also love FEBO - the take-out snack places that are also ubiquitous - check out their automats - see treats behind glass doors - put your euro coin in and be surprised - bamis and nasis from Indonesia colonies or Frikandel - dried out sausage - from the counter get fresh Frites - french-fried potatoes served in a paper cone with a myriad of toppings - I like the Frites Royale - with mayo, ketschup and onions!
But the automats are unique - redolent of ones I saw in NYC years ago but which I think have disappeared.
Jul 26th, 2014, 08:14 AM
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PalenQ, for heaven's sake: nasi and bami as sold by Febo are NOT from Indonesian. Frikandel is NOT dried out sausage.
Mayo ketchup an onions is Frite Special, NOT "royale"
Know your dutch snackfood. LOL
Mayo ketchup an onions is Frite Special, NOT "royale"
Know your dutch snackfood. LOL
Jul 26th, 2014, 09:09 AM
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Ah yeh Frites speciaal!
where do nasi and bami come from if not Indonesia - just always thought that - don't seem like Dutch foods.
wikipedia says Nasi is Indonesian:
Nasi goreng, literally meaning "fried rice" in Indonesian and Malay,
And bami seems to be Indonesia as well:
Bami Goreng Indonesian Stir Fried Noodles ) Recipe - Food ...
bami goreng from www.food.com
Perhaps you being a Dutch person should 'know you Dutch snack food' and I am surprised you did not know that these things were introduced to Holland from Dutch colonial days in Indonesia!
where do nasi and bami come from if not Indonesia - just always thought that - don't seem like Dutch foods.
wikipedia says Nasi is Indonesian:
Nasi goreng, literally meaning "fried rice" in Indonesian and Malay,
And bami seems to be Indonesia as well:
Bami Goreng Indonesian Stir Fried Noodles ) Recipe - Food ...
bami goreng from www.food.com
Perhaps you being a Dutch person should 'know you Dutch snack food' and I am surprised you did not know that these things were introduced to Holland from Dutch colonial days in Indonesia!
Jul 26th, 2014, 09:26 AM
#14
You might want to check the price of the museum card vs. entrance fees for the museums you actually plan on visiting. If that is not feasible for you I definitely suggest you buy your ticket for the Rijksmuseum on line so you can skip the ticket sales desk.
I visited last month and even though we were unable to go in when it first opened for the day going in before noon was helpful. Still, the really "popular" works, e.g., the Rembrandts have lots of viewers so be prepared.
I would also buy my entrance ticket for the Anne Frank House on line.
I visited last month and even though we were unable to go in when it first opened for the day going in before noon was helpful. Still, the really "popular" works, e.g., the Rembrandts have lots of viewers so be prepared.
I would also buy my entrance ticket for the Anne Frank House on line.
Jul 26th, 2014, 02:06 PM
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Oh please, a nasischijf or bamiblok or whatever you eat at FEBO is not nasi goreng nor is it "from Indonesia". I'm surprised you haven't discovered satay sauce with your fries and patatje oorlog, being the FEBO connoisseur you so obviously are.
Jul 27th, 2014, 03:34 AM
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If it's not from Indonesia where do those things come from - that is original Dutch cuisine?
love satay sauce - if that's the peanut-based sweet sauce - but no to curry sauce - but no never heard of patatje oorlog but will try it next time - wonder if FEBO has deep-fried Mars bars yet?
Not sure what a frikadel is but to me it tastes like a plain old dried out big hot dog. See picture - looks like a dried out sauasge, tastes like one, walks like one, is one?
http://www.febodelekkerste.nl/catalog/
love satay sauce - if that's the peanut-based sweet sauce - but no to curry sauce - but no never heard of patatje oorlog but will try it next time - wonder if FEBO has deep-fried Mars bars yet?
Not sure what a frikadel is but to me it tastes like a plain old dried out big hot dog. See picture - looks like a dried out sauasge, tastes like one, walks like one, is one?
http://www.febodelekkerste.nl/catalog/
Jul 27th, 2014, 03:36 AM
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Jul 27th, 2014, 03:58 AM
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>>If it's not from Indonesia where do those things come from - that is original Dutch cuisine?<<
>>Bamis sure look like something out of Asia!<<
So, in Britain, would the kind of ready-made chicken tikka marsala you can get from supermarkets, or the late and unlamented Vesta beef curry: but that doesn't mean it would be remotely recognisable to somebody from the sub-continent (likewise, in particular, the kind of meals you would get in a lot of cheap Indian/Chinese restaurants in Amsterdam). It's a very simple point.
>>Bamis sure look like something out of Asia!<<
So, in Britain, would the kind of ready-made chicken tikka marsala you can get from supermarkets, or the late and unlamented Vesta beef curry: but that doesn't mean it would be remotely recognisable to somebody from the sub-continent (likewise, in particular, the kind of meals you would get in a lot of cheap Indian/Chinese restaurants in Amsterdam). It's a very simple point.
Jul 27th, 2014, 06:36 AM
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Hey people!
1. For those people who sent in more suggestions after I posted I 'stayed' in Hotel Manor and 'cycled' around and 'took' tram, guys..thanks for your advice but my stay is complete...
2. For the enthusiasts discussing food, well..no comments food seems to evoke quite strong emotions in people!
1. For those people who sent in more suggestions after I posted I 'stayed' in Hotel Manor and 'cycled' around and 'took' tram, guys..thanks for your advice but my stay is complete...
2. For the enthusiasts discussing food, well..no comments
food seems to evoke quite strong emotions in people!
Jul 27th, 2014, 07:48 AM
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In the movie Pulp Fiction which I watched last night one bloke had just been to Amsterdam and said he was shocked that 'they eat mayonnaise on their french fries - he said 'can you imagine that - mayonnaise!'
Well I've learnt to love the mayo or some concoction close to it that they slather on my cone of chips in Amsterdam!
Well I've learnt to love the mayo or some concoction close to it that they slather on my cone of chips in Amsterdam!
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