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-   -   Need something Amazing in Amsterdam for b-day surprise (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/need-something-amazing-in-amsterdam-for-b-day-surprise-563381/)

Dr_Andrea Oct 9th, 2005 09:15 AM

Need something Amazing in Amsterdam for b-day surprise
 
Its my husband's birthday when we are in amsterdam. Can anyone think of something amazing that I could surprise him with? It would be a Sunday night in January.

greyhaze Oct 9th, 2005 09:56 AM

A couple grams of double bubble gum from Grey Area coffeeshop.

francophile03 Oct 9th, 2005 10:02 AM

Doc, what is it exactly that you have in mind? Is it a fantastic hotel, a special restaurant, or a "couple grams of double bubble gum from Grey Area coffeeshop"?

Please be specific.

Dr_Andrea Oct 9th, 2005 10:38 AM

Maybe a great restaurant or some type of amazing experience. My hubby will definitely smoke some pot....so it won't be a surprise if I get it for him.

yk Oct 9th, 2005 02:27 PM

I haven't been, but heard/read lots of great things about restaurant De Kas. It's located just outside of Amsterdam, and the restaurant is sort of a green house and quite beautiful.
http://www.restaurantdekas.nl/

yk Oct 9th, 2005 02:28 PM

Nevermind. De Kas is closed on Sundays.

LoveItaly Oct 9th, 2005 02:48 PM

Sorry, I just can't resist. Love the way smoking pot is the thing to do but heaven help the person that smokes a cigarette!!! Personally I just don't get it.

MrAmazed Oct 9th, 2005 02:54 PM

I'd go to one of the Indonesian restaurants and get a Rice Table (Sorry, can't spell the Dutch word for it, but someone here will). I went to Sarang Mas, on Damrack. It was an adventure. Also, how about a nightime canal boat ride? They have a wine and cheese ride.

Flyboy Oct 9th, 2005 03:09 PM

By far the most unique place we've found is the Supperclub:

http://www.supperclub.nl/open/eng_index.html

It is very different, to say the least.

Travelnut Oct 9th, 2005 05:46 PM

I've always wanted to try this:

http://www.boomchicago.nl/

Nimrod Oct 9th, 2005 06:54 PM

Not sure I can help with anything that will be <i>amazing</i> but I'll make suggestions that could make for a <i>memorable</i> birthday.

For dinner you might go to In de Waag in the Nieumarkt. You must go after dark (not a problem with January's short days) as it is lit only by hundreds of candles. Romantic with bags of history + atmosphere.

http://www.indewaag.nl/en/index.htm


If you enjoy any form of jazz, head over to The Bimhuis, now housed in a fantastic new building overlooking the IJ.

http://www.bimhuis.nl/new_bim.php?lang=en

For local, or maybe bigger name, rock/modern music there is always something at the Melkweg (Milky Way). It's a big multimedia venue housed in an old dairy (hence the name).

http://www.melkweg.nl/home.htm


Have you already booked a room? If you're looking for a cozy, romantic room I can suggest one.




Dr_Andrea Oct 9th, 2005 08:14 PM

Thanks for the suggestions!! I don't think I have hit on the perfect idea yet! Please keep the ideas coming! We already booked a hotel so we are already set with that. We will actually only be in Amsterdam for two days because we are heading for a safari in South Africa.

Tulips Oct 9th, 2005 11:31 PM

Perhaps the Supperclub Cruise? www.suppercruise.nl

DAX Oct 11th, 2005 11:10 PM

Amsterdam in January is somewhat dead, so it's hard to find something exciting in the cold winter night assuming you're looking for more than just a nice restaurant.

One unique thing to do in Amsterdam is SPEED/ICE SKATING ON THE FROZEN AMSTERDAM CANALS. Maybe you can start the surprise in the afternoon by skating the canal to get to a brown cafe of your choice. I've never been to Amsterdam in the dead winter, but I imagine it should be quite popular among the locals considering skating is their national sport.

Ask your hotel where you can rent skates(hard to find since most Dutch own their own skates). Supposedly there is one skating rink that lets you rent &amp; take the skates out of the rink on Radioweg 64, Amsterdam. Good luck with your plan and I hope you post after your trip.

Voyager2006 Oct 12th, 2005 12:53 AM

And if the canals aren't frozen?????

Tulips Oct 12th, 2005 03:01 AM

Usually the canals do not freeze enough to allow skating.

Voyager2006 Oct 12th, 2005 03:59 AM

I can think of all sorts of &quot;amazing&quot; things you could show your husband in Amsterdam, particularly after he got wasted, but since this is supposedly a G-rated board I'll dispense with that....rent the skates and PRETEND the canals are frozen??????

DAX Oct 13th, 2005 12:11 AM

Ok let's dump the speed skating idea and find out what Voyager has in mind besides a donkey show.

Voyager2006 Oct 13th, 2005 02:01 AM

LOL, DAX...not so much what I &quot;have in mind&quot; but rather what I've already seen and experienced first-hand..and believe me, &quot;donkey shows&quot; are soooooo ten minutes ago. I'm thinking more about what some human beings do in that city with absolutely no need for animals of the four-legged variety.

Perhaps a really AMAZING thing would be (thinking particularly of some of the posters here) to eat at MacDonalds and actually come back and TELL people you did it without any regrets whatsoever!

DAX Oct 13th, 2005 12:56 PM

Sorry we have to drop the four legged animal show also, even though it's in theme with their african safari trip plus .... she's a doctor.

As bad as it is, speedskating on a semifrozen canal is way more amazing than eating in Mcdonald anywhere in the world especially if you have to TELL someone. Don't you think?

OK, I'm just topping. Someone is bound to have a really Amazing idea for our Fodorite doctor.


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