Amsterdam Visit
 

My wife and I are visiting Amsterdam May 11-15. We are around 40 years old, like food, drink and culture.

We are interested in hearing about any good sidetrips, such as Windmills, Keukenhof, Hague and Haarlem. Especially interested in whether you took excursions, the train, etc.

Also, any good restaurants in Amsterdam?

Thanks, Ken

While you're waiting for a response from someone knowledgeable (I've never been to Amsterdam)... this is one of my son's favorite cities in Europe.

He suggest you go to the web forum: channels.nl for great information like here on Fodors, just specific to the Netherlands.

Have fun planning!

Your best bet for windmills would be either Kinderdijk, near Rotterdam, or Zaanse Schans, an "open-air museum" north of Amsterdam. The windmills of Kinderdijk are far more impressive, but Zaanse Schans offers other attractions as well (e.g., wooden shoe making, cheese making, etc.) and is easy to get to by public transportation. Kinderdijk is best visited by rental car, but you can combine a visit with a stop in Delft. As an amateur photographer that has shot throughout much of western Europe, some of my favorite pictures are of the Kinderdijk windmills.

A visit to Keukenhof would be straight forward by either car or public transportation from Amsterdam. I believe you take the train to Lille and then get a bus to the park. If you decide to go by car, try to drive past some of the nearby bulb fields, which are very different and, I think, more impressive than the carefully cultivated park. The stunning colors and the vastness of the bulb fields are unforgettable. The second week of May is not the optimal time to catch the tulips at their finest, but it is awfully close.

The main attraction in The Hague is the Mauritshuis, which has several immediately recognizable paintings by Vermeer. Otherwise, the city is not as nice as smaller towns like Delft or Leiden. With only five days, I would consider ignoring The Hague, but you may have other reasons for wanting to visit.

In Amsterdam, the Leidseplein area (especially the area "behind" the square - toward the Dam) is full of ethnic restaurants. Indonesian, Thai, Indian, even an American-style steakhouse or two. The Leidseplein is also considered a big nightlife spot, so there are plenty of places for drinking, as well as many nearby hotels.

The most notable native Dutch food is found in the pancake houses. Dutch pancakes are nothing like the pancakes most of us are familiar with. The differences are so great that I won't try to describe them, but you should try them. The Dutch eat them at all hours, not just for breakfast.

Good luck.

At least one of the windmills at Zaanse Schans, the so-called "color ill" which was used to grind pugments can be toured (inside); if you can go inside one or more of the mills at Kinderdijk that might be a better option.

Sorry..that should be "color Mill."

I had 5 days in Amsterdam and easily filled them all with doing things just within the city itself. So didn't do excursions or take the train. I didn't have the best luck with restaurants either so guess I'm not much help! Did enjoy seeing the city though. Vondelpark and the Leidseplein were favorite places.

You definitely have to try to french fries (frites), with mayonnaise if you are open-minded enough. Best I've ever had (and no, I wasn't stoned at the time); doesn't really matter where you get them, just a little store on the street is fine. I'd also recommend trying the Indonesian food; it's a former Dutch colony, so it's like Indian in the the UK, very good and quite common.

If you're up for it and you have decent weather, rent bikes in Amsterdam, Haarlem, Leiden, or Delft. The BEST way to see the cities (though you have to be traffic-savvy in Amsterdam!). When you go to the Keukenhof, you can rent a bike (http://www.rent-a-bikevandam.nl/keukenhof.htm) and take one of the routes around the surrounding bulb fields. Stop at a cafe for a Dutch or Belgian beer or two before you return the bikes!

I would suggest heading over to the canal ring district or the Jordaan and look for either a cafe or canal side restaurant. The cafes will have a variety of good food at reasonable prices and its a nice area for walking around. We are returning to Amsterdam in early June - we are planning a daytrip this time to Arnhem to see the museum where there are free bikes and lots of VanGoghs.

i've been to the netherlands three times. why not consider a day trip to utrecht; it's only 30 minutes by rail from amsterdam centraal station, and more interesting than haarlem i think. get off at utrecht centraal station and head east towards the old canal. walk south along the canal; there are many shops, pubs, restaurants, etc. at street level and below. utrecht's canals are uniquely sunken and there are restaurants along parts of the canal take stairs down to water level. the dom church tour is interesting (partly destroyed during a 16th hurricane). absolutely astounding views from the top (on a clear day you can see amsterdam). the nederland railway museum is there too - if that's your fancy and morning walks along the new canal, particularly if there's mist in the air, are truly surreal. a most beautiful old town - founded by the romans in 49A.D. "Trajectum ad Rhenum" or "Ford on the Rhine" there are canal tours, and other sights as well. i think utrecht makes a great day-trip from amsterdam and you'll get away from amsterdam's maddening crowds as well. PS. if you like to eat ribs, try Gouchos Restaurant downstairs along the old canal. just ask someone where it is - you'll think you're at a genuine texas BBQ (albeit in the heart of holland). and if you're a beer drinker - try dommelsch [spelling?] it's smooth yet potent. and if you're into strong belgian beers, "Bush" comes in a small 8.5 oz. bottle but packs a real punch at 12% alcohol!!! have a great trip....

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