What do we need to know/ take to Amsterdam? (going on Friday)

[LoveMyGirls]

I know clothes toiletries and passports but is that it? Do we need to take our Euro card thing? (used to be E111?)

Anybody been? Any words of advice? Places we should go/ avoid?

Neither of us have been abroad for a very very long time and when dp did go he was only 11 and the last time I went I was 17.

TIA

Yes to Euro Card.

Awww....I'm so jealous. Was in Amsterdam for a long weekend this time last year. It was bliss. Such a wonderful city.

Definitely go to the Van Gogh museum - it's absolutely amazing and worth spending a few hours there.

Definitely hire bikes and cycle round the centre of the city and the Vondelpark.

Definitely go on a canal boat cruise.

Erm...if you like just wandering, then there is an absolutely lovely ring of streets around Prinzengracht. So nice to just mooch around in, and loads of places to enjoy an early evening beer in the sunshine. It's also got some nice un-touristy coffee shops, if that's something you want to experience.

We didn't have time to visit the modern art museum, but it's meant to be fab.

The red light area's pretty grim, although quite interesting in its own way. Be prepared to fight your way through 100s of pissed British stags if you go.

Can't tell you how jealous I am. It's one of my favourite cities.

Dont eat the cake.

Definitely do eat the cake - all in the interest of a balanced point of view you understand........................

IME Dont east too much cake then......

eat not east

You can't go wrong in Amsterdam. It's a really lovely city which got a bad reputation owing to Stag nights etc. It is actually a really welcoming and overall a safe feeling place imo. I worked there quite a bit and felt very safe wandering around on my own day and night. Even Red Light District is not that threatening - just different.

I've eaten here www.timeout.com/external_link/?www.brasserieharkema.nl a few times - it has good atmosphere (open plan noisy, not romantic candlelit) Seems to get slated on the service, but I have been midweek and had no problems.

Thanks for idea's and reassurance (I am a bit nervous about going to a different country)

Dp wants to go to Anne Franks house - has anyone been there?

Will we be able to find places easily or should we just wander and see what we find?

Anne Franks house OK but can have big queues.
Spent several lovely afternoons in Rijksmuseum even though I know rock all about art. Worth it for the Vermeers

I knew this would be your thread have no experience of amsterdam, so no advice other than to let your hair down have a fab time and a well deserved break from all the hard work you do

Thanks Me23

Anyone else any thought's/ experiences?

If you like fish, then you should eat from one of the fish stalls. I would recommend a broodje haring which is a roll with herring on it, or perhaps a broodje paling which is roll with smoked eel. They will ask if you want onions or not. Oooh, just the thought of it is making my mouth water!

go to Ann Frank as soon as it opens, have breakfast afterwards!! It does have big queues, so get there early. There is a pedalo boat stop just opposite, so you could hire one of those and meander the canals.

Loved Van Gogh museum.

Have a great time!