Amsterdam - what do I ^have^ to see?

[NotQuiteCockney]

I'm going this weekend. I'm staying somewhere central, will no doubt bike around ... No kids!

nqc, i'm rofl

No, I think the only penis museum is in Iceland - I just regret not going to it when I was there, and feel I may regret not going to the Dutch one when I'm there. If I don't go.

NQC gaets asked at the airport, business or pleasure trip?

No, I've come for the penises

is it jimi and not jimmy?

Ah, yes, it's Charlie999's fault, she mentioned the sex museum.

Jimi

ahhhhh. That might explain why there was no human one there.

I felt sure that a dutch penis museum would have a human one.

IIRC there is a condom museum in Amsterdam as well. But we visited Amsterdam over 10 years ago now and it might have be pulled out

Anne Franks is a bit touristy now, not the same as when I first went years ago.

Boom Chigago comedy club (Leidseplein).

St Nicholas Boat Club canal trip(small old preserved boats that only seat about ten and can get where the bigger ones cant).

Ethiopian restaurant, Semhar (Marnix-straat).

Its worth having a look at the museums as we came across a fab video art exhibition by Bill Viola.

This reminds me, I have to go to the London sex museum, there was a good review of it in the Guardian a while back ...

thanks camm
I'm still laughing at the icelandic lack of diversity

ok I want a list of three things I might find in a sex museum

Apparently it has an "extensive collection of erotic pictures, paintings, objects, recordings, photographs and even attractions".

I went to the Anne Frank house before they tarted it up and added a visitor centre. We just knocked on the front door and a lady let us in and we looked around by ourselves. This was in about 1980. It was going to be pulled down until a campaign saved it. Really worth visiting. Took dd there when she was 6 or 7. Really teaches you something.

Dont go on the houseboat museum, not at all worth it, just a erm, houseboat...

It was next to a really posh one that we couldn't afford called Jean's, which I can remember cause that is my Mum's name. The one I mean is right next to Jean's (although I suspect it was a French Jean not a Scottish Granny one). We had a yummy Italian meal, the restaurant was really lovely.

I have to agree with NQC, we didn't go to any of the museums, philistines all, we just like wandering around soaking up the atmosphere.

Get a pass for the boat/barge/canoe??- you know the boat thingies - its a great way to get around and you can jump on and off like a bus.

OMG, I've realised, I can rent a kayak! That would be good. I've found somewhere close to Amsterdam that rents them out, too. At least, I think it's close to Amsterdam, details are here.

I don't speak Dutch, just German, but as far as I can make out the kajak hire place is 13km from Amsterdam and on a bus route. Sounds like fun.

Hi NQC. I lived on a houseboat in Amsterdam for a few years.

I second Boom Chicago on Leidseplein, it's very funny (US comics).

Try to have rijsttafel (Indonesian Rice Table - lots of little dishes) - very nice.

The sex museum is actually quite interesting. The Red Light district is otherwise completely over-rated and full of pissed Brits on stag dos (avoid flying over with Easyjet on a Friday).

How about the Heineken Experience? It's on Stadhouderskade.

The boat hire you've found is a way out of Amsterdam. It might be better to ask at the 'VVV' (vay vay vay) if you're particularly after a kayak (not a canoe ).

What about downloading a walking tour for your ipod?

lived in amstterdam 1 year. Miss it!

Do ride through vondelpark. Enter at leidseplein gate and ride on the left side of the park and exit around emmastraat and ride through posh neighbourhoood. emmastraat has nice delis to stop for sandwich and miles away from redlight district seady ambiance. Pretty, leafy.
Ride to Beethoven straat and go into Beatrix park (my favourite).
Back to Van BAerlestraat/Roelof Hartplein(top of beethoven straat). There is a cafe with a huge terrace, parisian style. Great to watch the world go by.
Then carry on towards Albert Cuyp 5 mn away.

My personal favourite hangout is the AlbertCuyp market area. Nice local feel similar to the Jordaan. The main street that runs in the middle of the market has nice cafes (chocolate is a really cool pub and grub)
You can walk down to heineken experience from there (I personnaly never went)

Another rreally nice spot near leidseplein but away from the hustle and bustle is Spui square.
If you go for a coffe shop then try Kadinsky just off spuistraat. Grown up place. Jazz music, games and no loud behaviour.
One of the best rijstaffels is right there at the begining of spuistraat. I don't rememebr the name but you can't miss it.

Enjoy!

(sorry so long, but very nostalgic....)

then from spui, continue into the 9 straatjes and jordan.

Oh I forgot. The islands north of central station are little known but worth a visit. Modern art studios and huge trendy warehouse style restaurants.

If you want contemporary art then head for Cobra museum in amstelveen.

pfffffffffff....................i wanna cry now!

Go to the Vincent Van Gogh, museum - it's beautiful and no they're not old paintings. Very very peaceful place and a short tram ride away from everywhere.

Buy a strippenkaart - 10 tickets, get it stamped for the no. of zones you're travelling and it's valid for an hour on trams buses etc. Sorry if repeating what anyone else has said.

Shopping browse in the Bijenkorf at the Dam. Tea at the Krasnapolsky. Avoid the Zwanenburgwal area - Triads and not very safe, well unless they've cleaned it up. Red light district is seedy to be honest.

Try the poffertjes - scrummy. You can get a boat from the canal on the Rokin - normally cheaper there.

Agree with everyone about the Leidseplein area - great for a night out.

Goedereis .

Hey, alipiggie, are you Dutch?

I was about to post about Poffertjes and you beat me to it ... am drooling at the thought.

Not wanting to put a dampner on this thread but I think it should be COMPULSORY for every visitor to Amsterdam to visit the Anne Frank house, regardless of whether it depresses you, you feel it is too touristy or whatever. Lest we forget and all that.

Anyhoo ... ROFL at NQC and her dismissal of priceless art ... and all the talk of willies and sex ... LOL.

Nope, but lived in Amsterdam for most of the 90's and married a Dutchman . Sat looking at an ancient poffertje pan as I type this. Love the things and keep promising the boys I'll make them some.

Yes, everyone should visit the Anne Frank Museum. It truly believe a visit there, puts a great many things into perspective.

Ah, I grew up in Holland, where is your DH from?
My Dutch is hopeless though, I only went to dutch kleuterschool and then later when we went back (after a bit in England) I went to the British School there.
I can understand it though.

I wish I had a poffertjes pan I wonder if I can find one in Australia?