thanks for all the good/bad reviews. I'll be in Amsterdam at the end of jan/08 for 6 nights. I'd like to try to find small, homemade polish/eastern european restaurants. also, do you know if the canal boats run at this time and if we take the train to zaanse schans for some beach combing for a few hours will there be a place to have lunch and warm up? we prefer outdoor amusements.thanks sue

The canal boats will be running.
Zaanse Schans is not on the sea - I think you mean Zandvoort. Not a very insprirng beach for combing - just dunes and flat sands. The dunes can be interesting to explore. But yes places will be open, though maybe not that many.
Zaanse Schans is where the windmills are. That will be open, and has a cafe.
If you enjoy walking you could try the Amsterdamse bos, or for a day trip Hoge Veluwe National Park. There are plenty of nice woods closer to Amsterdam if you are interested in them.
Or hire a car for a day and head for the Ijsselmeer, or further up the coast.
I'll ask my son about Polish restaurants for you!

It's not Polish as you can see by the name but I think it has the ambience you like -- restaurant Dubrovnik. There is one in Haarlem and one in Zandvoort. About 30 years in business. Very good food and service, and reasonably priced.

For warming up there are small bars and cafes everywhere. Ask for <i>erwtensoep</i> (heavy pea soup with sausage, raw bacon, and rye bread) or an <i>uitsmijter</i> (two fried eggs with ham or cheese on bread plus garni) for filling lunches and cheap. To knock the frost off your nose have an ice cold genever. If you are out exploring and don't want to sit to eat, stop at a fish stand for a <i>haring</i> (raw herring).

Thanks for the tips so far. Yes, We were planning to visit Zandoort and Zaanse Schans and maybe den helder. i thought Den helder would be a nice day trip by train. I've read somewhere there are good beach treasures there. treasures are of anything interesting that is not plastic. have you been there? I have to consult my map for &quot;ljsselmeer', but I'm open to most adventures. i'm traveling w/ my 18 old son who is more interested in coffee shops which i enjoy also, so we have a good balance of fresh air in the day and herbal air in the pm. thanks again Sue

The only Polish/Russian restaurant my son knows of is Polonia, 3e Oosterparkstraat 72, Amsterdam
T: 020 - 663 26 25

He hasn't eaten there so can't comment on the quality. Kind of surprising he hasn't eaten there as it is just round the corner from where he lived, and he spent a year trying different cuisines in Amsterdam.

It sounds a bit of an experience in any case: http://tinyurl.com/27w76d

well thanks for your efforts. we will try to eat at all of them. I can't wait.I've also located Hoe Veluwe park on my map and plan to visit there for a day trip. Can you recommend anything along the way/back to visit or eat?