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.

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

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.

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.

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/

Nevermind. De Kas is closed on Sundays.

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.

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.

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.

I've always wanted to try this:

http://www.boomchicago.nl/

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.

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.

Perhaps the Supperclub Cruise? www.suppercruise.nl

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.

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

Usually the canals do not freeze enough to allow skating.

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??????

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

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!

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.