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Welcome to Mumsnet's holiday forum. Discuss all international travel here, including both shorthaul and longhaul trips. Related topics: UK holidays & day trips, skiing, camping & campervans.
Holidays
Amsterdam - 3 days. what to do?
SoTiredNeedHoliday · 20/10/2019 17:51
HI, I have never been and am going with kids 12yrs
What are the things I should do? Go to? look at?
I've looked into Anne Franks House already but that is it.
Love to hear your advice.
Thank you!
SoTiredNeedHoliday · 23/10/2019 18:51
exexpat do you know the name of the tour? Mine are very adventurous eaters!
We are also considering a cycling tour of the city. We love these and have done them a lot of places (like Tokyo etc)
exexpat · 23/10/2019 18:55
I think it was this one: www.eatingeurope.com/amsterdam/jordaan-food-walking-tour/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzNqyvvmy5QIVQ7TtCh17FggGEAAYASABEgKnePD_BwE
Not cheap, but there was a lot more to it than just food, and you don't need to eat much else for the rest of the day...
Iflyaway · 23/10/2019 19:00
Pinkstar, sorry, I'm not up on everything, you're probably right.
Iflyaway · 23/10/2019 19:07
I live here.
Definately recommend a canal cruise, some Museums (take your pick) and just wandering around... People watching is great (182 nationalities, all mixing 
.
And watch the bikes crossing the roads, bike lanes, pavements! Coming from every which way!
StickyProblem · 23/10/2019 19:14
Second NEMO and also the National Maritime Museum which is opposite NEMO. Canal tour. We got the trams and also took a double-decker train to Rotterdam and went up the Euromast tower and took a boat trip through the container port.
Pinkstars2501 · 23/10/2019 19:36
@Iflyaway no you're absolutely correct about the lovely carousel one. Opposite the brewery experience.
JadziaSnax · 23/10/2019 20:33
I'm in Amsterdam at the moment. So far, we've been to the Rijksmuseum and been on the city sightseeing bus and boat tours. We couldn't get tickets for Anne Frank house so we're going to Nemo science museum tomorrow.
TheRattleBag · 23/10/2019 20:50
I was in Amsterdam a couple of weeks ago.
I booked a ticket for the Anne Frank house on the day, online. I was in the queue slightly before 9am and was already number 500+.
It says not to bother waiting if you're lower down than 200th, but I'm stubborn so hung on and got a ticket for 8pm that evening. I only needed a single ticket which may have helped.
You don't know how many of the ones ahead of you in the queue are waiting for the 2 months in advance tickets, so it's a bit of a gamble really! And although it's meant to stagger visitors and keep numbers down, it still feels a bit too busy really. But having said that, I'm glad I went.
If you like steak then Loetje is fab - they have a few outlets in the city (we went to the one at Johannes Vermeerstraat 52).
Dutch apple cake is everywhere. We had it at Winkel which meant queuing for about 15 mins to grab a table. It was delicious but I'm sure it's equally delicious elsewhere without a wait!
When researching places to go I found one particular blog really helpful - Amsterdam Wonderland
Enjoy your visit - I loved it and am already looking forward to going back one day!
Iflyaway · 23/10/2019 23:43
Amsterdam has wonderful restaurants with terraces, just for a fag, a wine, a joint (disreet) where no while even bother you.
SoTiredNeedHoliday · 27/10/2019 17:32
Is there any specific canal tour that is great?
Is foodhallen good with teenagers?
SoTiredNeedHoliday · 27/10/2019 17:37
theRattlebag if you ordered a ticket online for Anne Frank how come you had to then lineup?
tentative3 · 27/10/2019 18:24
D&A Hummus Bistro is a fab place for lunch. We went twice last time we were there.
tentative3 · 27/10/2019 18:25
@Iflyaway I don't suppose you know of any shipping forwarding companies in Amsterdam? You know how you can order things that only deliver to the US, have it sent to one of those companies, and they'll send it on to the UK? Basically I'm wondering whether one of those exists in the Netherlands.
Iflyaway · 27/10/2019 18:38
Hi Tentative3,
Yes, there are shipping companies here, I once had to do it for work to send stuff to South America.
I suggest you google, I think the one we used was called All Round Shipping.
Good luck!
Iflyaway · 27/10/2019 18:49
a walk around the old town
No don't. Not with 12-year-olds - it's the red light district! (which incidentally is heaving with tourists).
The canals area - well, it's all canals really - is much nicer to wander around. Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht, going down from the Anne Frank House you have the 9 Straatjes area - 9 little streets - with quirky shops, cafes, etc.
exexpat · 27/10/2019 20:45
I presume Rattlebag means an online queue - a bit like being on hold to a call centre, they tell you how many people are ahead of you?
TheRattleBag · 28/10/2019 23:17
Sorry, only just spotted this.
Yes, my queue was online. It tells you when you access the site how many are ahead of you in the queue, and refreshes from time to time,
Hellohah · 29/10/2019 11:11
We are looking at going to Amsterdam in February, just me and DS (14yo). Does anyone have any hotel recommendations?
Judashascomeintosomemoney · 29/10/2019 19:17
Hellohah
We just got back and we stayed here
www.ihg.com/kimptonhotels/hotels/us/en/amsterdam/amsnl/hoteldetail
Obviously budget dependent, but it was excellent. Fabulous central location. We easily walked to the zoo, Rjiksmuseum, Anne Frank huis etc. from there. We visited most of the things already mentioned, but a really good one for the teens was the A’dam Tower Over the Edge swing. The Hop on - Hop off canal boat was really good, see a lot of the canals and used it as transport between attractions. We didn’t want to spend a fortune on food and found some good mid range places that were really excellent quality. Stand out was Nepalese food at Ashoka, breakfast and brunch at Hop and Stork, and despite being one of the millions of Argentinian restaurants, the vegetarian DDs said the veggie burger at Cau was the best they’ve ever had.
SoTiredNeedHoliday · 31/10/2019 18:46
We just came home and I wanted to say thank you for the recommendations!
exexpat · 31/10/2019 19:19
So what did you end up doing, and what would you recommend in turn?
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