wonderful. I can see why you liked Amsterdam.
Did you partake of the weed :)

No he did not partake I believe as in previous to his trip posts I mentioned coffeeshops and he (she?) she that was not his/her bag! Not everyone's cup of tea of course even though I even encourage non-tokers to hop in one of these iconic places just to see what it is all about but also perhaps get a contact high!

Thanks for an informative report. Amsterdam is my favorite European city after London.

I've had an itch to return to Amsterdam lately. Your report is not helping! Last time I was there the Rijk was still closed for renovations.

I like the laid-back vibe of the city. There's loads to do and see, but it's not a stressful destination. You've managed to convey that here.

Thanks for sharing all this info.

Pal, Ger is a beautiful Irish Lass.

My first trip will be this April. You report helps considerably.

Thanks Mimi :)

Pal: Yes, I am a female. I tried it only a few times in my early 20s (only fours times when a took a few drags from the ciggies). I had horrific results re massive paranoia, strange beings with big heads coming after me, thinking I could fly, thinking my head had fallen off and trying to find it, forgetting who I was, predicting nuclear disaster. Some 'experts' say that I may be one of those that are violently allergic, some suggested that the ciggies were laced with acid. Needless to say, I didn't want to revisit these experiences in a foreign city, on my own!

@travelchat: yes, it really is that easy. the center is very compact, the canal rings are not complicated once you've studied the general layout on a map.

@OReilly: great you've found FOAM. It's one of my favorites, as is Huis Marseille. Regarding the Tropenmuseum, you need to understand that the institute behind it has now been completely dismantled due to budget cuts. Its library has been partly sold, partly pulped and the institute's building and library, adjacent to the museum, are now vacant. I did part of my thesis research in the KIT library and it's a shame, this state of affairs. The Dutch have never come to grips with their colonial heritage.

O’Reilly,

What a wonderful report! Kudos from a kindred spirit, a solo female traveler and museum addict. Haven’t been to Amsterdam in years, but you make a visit there seem so compelling. Really enjoyed your description of each venue.

“I arrived at Amsterdam Central Station with a big suitcase and a roll-on, and was quite embarrassed to take a taxi for the three-minute drive to the hotel.” I know the feeling – we hopped a cab from our hotel across from the station (think it had “Tulip” in its name) – such a short ride but we made it worth the driver’s while.

Again, great report…

As I am planning to visit Amsterdam this is great reading...thanks.

Hi Ger,

thanks for an excellent virtual tour of Amsterdam. We went once about 10 years ago at the end of a long trip and whether it was the mozzies in the hotel room, the rain, or just end of trip blues, we weren't enamoured of it.

Perhaps we ought to give it another go.

Here are some of the restaurants I checked out:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/tr...0&pagewanted=2

http://goamsterdam.about.com/od/what...namsterdam.htm

http://goamsterdam.about.com/gi/o.ht...luepepper.com/

http://www.tempodoeloerestaurant.nl/en2.htm

http://www.samasebo.nl/en/

http://www.tujuhmaret.nl/

http://www.kantjil.nl/en/

http://www.seatme.nl/srm/availableti...f=1406&lang=en

http://www.bojo.nl/

http://www.kantjil.nl/en/lunch/lunchkaart

http://deknijp.jubels.nl/

http://wildezwijnen.com/english.html

http://www.vijffvlieghen.nl/en/Home

http://www.deduvel.nl/index.php/eten

http://www.sampurna.com/menu.html

Great report! I LOVE Amsterdam as well!

I am salivating just thinking of the rijsttafel. I've been to Amsterdam twice, and ate at Kantjil three or four times!

You didn't get a chance to visit the Anne Frank Museum/House? It is an amazing place, filled with history. The diary served as an excellent and chilling primary source during the occupation.

Hello pempem: I actually visited Anne Frank museum on a previous visit. Breaks my heart.

Kantjil is so wonderful!

Best Ger

For me, Kantjil is too formulaic to me. I liked Tujuh Maret however for its Sumatran cuisine: quite different from the East Java/Sundanese flavors you usually get. Bojo is nice after a night out, but nothing fancy. Winner of the Tong Tong fair satay cup nearly every year is Djago, on Scheldeplein (South) and that, imo is the most authentic one, if only because it offers true Eurasian food.

Another Indonesian restaurant I liked is Sukasari on Damstraat, because it serves nasi gurih, a rare find, and it has female cooks, always a good sign in an Indonesian restaurant.

How cruel is this!

menachem, you give me this great advice AFTER I have come back from Amsterdam! You are just totally wicked :)

Bookmarking: hope to get more exposure than the airport on the next trip

Hi Ger,

Appreciate the links to restaurants you checked out. I am particularly interested in trying Indonesian cuisine while in Amsterdam. Thanks so much for taking the time to share this list with us!

@OReilly, you'll have to come back!

The nec plus ultra of Indonesian food is the Tong Tong fair in The Hague, which runs in mid may with an incredible Indonesian street food fair.

In general I'd say The Hague has better Indonesian restaurants and in Rotterdam we're blessed with Ap Halen, one guy in his own kitchen who invites people to his living room. That is the kind of "Indisch" cooking I was used to at selamatans for people's birthdays.