20 great things to do in Amsterdam
Discover world-class art, fabulous flea markets – and how to eat herring
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Woman on an Amsterdammer bike - © iStockphoto.com/KaisTolmats
1. Delve into Amsterdam's colourful past
Delve into the past of the city at the Amsterdams Historisch Museum, which maps the last eight centuries of urban evolution using quirky found objects like 700-year-old shoes. Next, hop over to the Museum Amstelkring, a charming attic church that has been wonderfully preserved since the 17th century. Round off your day with a trip to the Joods Historisch Museum in the old Jewish quarter. Housed in four former synagogues, it's crammed with photos, painting and artefacts exploring the history of Judaism in the Netherlands. There is an excellent children's wing, full of interactive exhibits.
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2. Step into the postcard city
When you think of Amsterdam, images like clogs, tulips, cheese and windmills spring to mind. But beyond the clichés lie unique sights. Just outside the city, there's a clog-making museum, Klompenmakerij De Zaanse Schans (Kraaienest 4, Zaandam; 075 617 7121, www.zaanseschans.nl), detailing the shoe's history and symbolism. The most famous place to buy tulips is the Bloemenmarkt, along the Singel, and you can find flavourful cheeses at the Wegewijs emporium. Meanwhile, eight windmills remain in Amsterdam, the most famous of which is De Gooyer. It's a great place to sip a beer, as it's right next to the award-winning brewery Brouwerij 't IJ.
3. Lose yourself in a maze of canals
Criss-crossed by bridges, 165 canals encircle the city of Amsterdam and keep the sea at bay. The waterways provide an attractive border to the arty locales of the Museum Quarter, the Jordaan and the Pijp. Within the pockets of land that their eclectic network creates, you can find shops, galleries and authentic cafés. The most picturesque of canals is Prinsengracht, lined by shady trees and funky houseboats. As you wander up to this area, you'll find the tall spire of the Westerkerk and the modest Anne Frank Huis. Smaller canal areas that are worth visiting include the historic Brouwersgracht and retail area of Leliegracht.
See all venues near the canals
4. Picnic with the locals
For the perfect picnic, head to the Vondelpark. The largest green space in Amsterdam, the park is named after its best-known poet Joost van den Vondel (1587-1679), whose controversial play Lucifer caused the religious powers of the time to crack down on 'notorious living'. Yet it continues to thrive in the summertime, when people gather to smoke here. If you like excercise, there are healthier activities such as football, cycling and walking. The park is a cultural hub, with a cinema at the Nederlands Filmmuseum and a Picasso sculpture. From June to September, music, dance and kids' activities take place at the Vondelpark Openluchttheater (www.openluchttheater.nl).
See all parks & gardens
5. Get on your bike
Cycling is a quintessentially Dutch means of getting around Amsterdam. Bicycles have long been part of a thriving democracy in the Netherlands. They played a vital role in the early-20th century campaign to secure women the vote and the absurd 1960s happenings of the Provos art group, when artists used them as a Socialist symbol. So, by getting on your bike, you'll prove yourself a free spirited citizen. There are plenty of places to hire them such as Mac Bike (www.macbike.nl) and Rent-A-Bike (www.bikes.nl), while clear cycle lanes stitch the city together. You can catch all the sights on a bike by booking a guided tour from the Yellow Bike company (www.yellowbike.nl). Bear in mind some golden rules. Never cycle next to your friend, put your lights on at night and lock your bike up.
6. Eat a raw herring
You simply must try raw herring. We don't want to hear any excuses. The best time to try one is between May and July when the new catch hits the stands, because this doesn't require any extra garnish such as onions and pickles, since the fish's flesh is at its sweetest. There's a quality fish stall or store around most corners. The best places to buy a herring include Altena, a stall at the Stadhouderskade/Jan Luijkenstraat in the Museum Quarter; Huijsman on the Zeedijk and Kromhout at Singel/Raadhuisstraat in the Old Centre, and Volendammer Viswinkel on Van der Helststraat in the Pijp. This fish is a bargain snack and makes for an authentic Dutch eating experience.
7. Take a sneaky peek in the Red Light district
Amsterdam's Red Light district has cultivated a notorious reputation on the international stage. But when you visit, you'll discover that the reality is a bit different. It's like a small, cutesy version of Las Vegas, with cheesy sex shops selling blow-ups, massive dildos and other outrageous toys. Situated in a rough triangle formed by the Central Station, it's the oldest part of the city. But its historical significance has been largely obscured by the popularity of window-shopping in the area. Along its streets, the multi-cultural community of prostitutes, junkies, clerics, carpenters and cops freely intermingle, exhibiting a strange kind of social cosiness. As a tourist, you'll be a mere voyeur.
See all venues in the Red Light District
8. Marvel at the Old Masters
Dip into the Golden Age with a trip to see the Old Masters Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum. The 17th-century era in which the artists made their names sparked the locals' enthusiasm for original artworks. The Rijksmuseum has amassed the country's largest collection of art and artefacts from the 15th century until 1900, including 40 Rembrandts and four Vermeers. The museum is undergoing a facelift at the hands of Spanish architect Cruz y Ortiz, and will re-open in 2010. Four hundred masterpieces are on display in the Philips Wing, including gems such as Rembrandts' Night Watch and Vermeer's Kitchen Maid and Woman Reading a Letter, plus a selection of works by the likes of Frans Hals, Jacob de Wit and Ferdinand Bol, and a wealth of decorative arts.
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9. Skate like a dream in Amsterdam
If you enjoy skating, you'll love Amsterdam. Traditionally in winter, the frozen canals provide a playground for ice-skating locals. Fearless skaters whoosh along narrow city canals at the marathon-style event of Elfstedentocht – a 200km race around Friesland. But due to warm conditions, the race hasn't been held since 1997. Indoor and outdoor ice rinks are rising in popularity, with the Dutch success on the international speed-skating stage. The largest skating arena is Thialf in Heerenveen (www.thialf.nl). In the summer, you'll find locals and tourists alike skating through the park. All year round, at 9pm on a Friday night, a group of skating enthusiasts meet opposite the Nederlands Filmmuseum in the Vondelpark to join a 20km, three-hour tour through the night streets.
10. Mix with Moderns at the Stedelijk Museum
In this city, you can mingle with great modern painters. The Stedelijk Museum has an amazing collection of 20th-century artists. It holds pre-war works by Cézanne, Picasso, Matisse and Chagall, plus a selection of paintings and drawings by Malevich. Post-1945 artists include De Kooning, Judd, Lichtenstein, Nauman, Stella and Warhol. Its Museumplein venue is closed for renovation until the end of 2009, so it's organising temporary shows in town. Another highlight is the Van Gogh Museum, which holds 200 paintings and 500 drawings produced by the troubled genius, as well as Japanese paints and works by his one-time collaborator Gauguin. It is housed in a Rietveld building, which has recently been enlarged with a new wing by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa.
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11. Have a good rummage
Visit the flea markets to discover the multi-ethnic spirit of Amsterdam. The most famous is the Albert Cuypmarkt, a large general market that snakes through the heart of Pijp. It offers a great insight into Dutch life, selling everything from smoked eel to Surinamese sherbets. Neighbourhoods have their own markets: the Dappermarkt in Oost and the Lindenmarkt in Jordaan are the most authentic. Also in the Jordaan, the Noordermarkt sells organic farmers' produce on Saturdays and hosts an antiques fair on Mondays – which is less touristy than the big, bustling bazaar of the Waterlooplein flea market.
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12. Hit the streets to see cutting-edge art
You don't need to head indoors for your fix of culture: Amsterdam has an active street art scene. Every corner of town is a place to discover images of all shapes and sizes, from freehand graffiti to stencils, sculptures and stickers. Dubbed the city's 'guerilla poet', Laser 3.14 scribbles one-liners over city walls, whereas DHM glues tribal tattoo-style animals all over the urban jungle. Many urban galleries have picked up on the street art scene, including Studio Apart (Prinsengracht 715, 422 2748, www.studioapart.com), and clothing shops like Hanazuki (Vijzelstraat 87, 422 9563, www.hanzuki.com) and Wolf & Pack (232 Spuistraat, 427 0786, www.wolfandpack.com) host their own exhibitions.
13. Spice things up with an Indonesian
For a touch of spice, order an Indonesian rijsttafel (rice table). Along with the fondue, it's the food of choice for celebratory meals. Its origins lie in the post-war years, when rich Indonesian dishes spiced up the Dutch palette, after the colony was granted independence and the Netherlands welcomed in Indonesian immigrants. Now many venues serve it up. Take your pick from the cheap Surinamese-Indonesian-Chinese snack bars or visit the purveyors of the rijsttafel (rice table), an extravaganza of veggie, fish, and meat, served in small but mouth-watering portions. The spiciest place to eat this is a cosy, classy restaurant called Tempo Doeloe. Make sure that you book ahead. If you find it's packed, then its neighbour Bojo is a great restaurant too.
See all Indonesian restaurants
14. Discover the city's secret garden
At the Begijnhof (www.begijnhofamsterdam.nl), a secluded garden and courtyard offers a hidden sanctuary where traffic sounds dim and the bustle of the city fades into the distance. Established as a 14th-century convent, it formerly housed the religious and liberated sisterhood of the Beguines. In the centre of the courtyard stands the Engelse Kerk, the principal place of worship for the local English community. It's worth stepping inside to take a good look at the pulpit panels, designed by Mondrian. Although it's popular with tourists, noise levels never rise above a whisper.
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15. Visit the home of the diarist Anne Frank
Contemplate the tragic history of the Jewish community with a visit to the home of the diarist Anne Frank. Prinsengracht 263 was the canal-side house where the young Jewish girl Anne Frank and her family hid for two years during the Second World War, having fled from persecution in Germany in 1933. A bookcase marks the entrance to the unfurnished rooms of the annexe in which they lived, sustained by the efforts of friends. In the new wing, there's a good exhibition about the persecution of the Jews during the War, and displays charting racism, neo-Fascism and anti-Semitism. To avoid the long queues, arrive early in the morning, or after 7pm during the summer.
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16. Drink as the Dutch do
To mingle with the locals, have a drink in a café (or bar). Central to the Dutch way of life, it serves as a home-from-home during the day and a hub of nightlife after darkness falls. Most cafés open in the morning and don't shut until 1am or 3am during weekends. The range of choice means that you'll never be thirsty for long. Twee Zwaantjes and Wynand Fockink are old-school favourites. A music-loving bunch heads to Kamer 401, while Prik is a bustling gay bar. Away from the neon, several bruin cafés (stained brown after years of smoking) occupy Jordaan. Now that the area has been gentrified, the cool Café Thijssen (Brouwersgracht 107, 623 8994) is popular.
See all bars & pubs with 'local flavour'
17. Jam up the volume
If you enjoy watching great rock bands stripped down, then Melkweg and Paradiso are Amsterdam's cosiest music venues to visit if you're short on time and money. The cornerstone of the pop and rock music scene is Paradiso, a former church that often hosts several events in one day, due to the high demand. It's a great space at which to watch diverse new talent in intimate surroundings. Similarly, the Melkweg, a former dairy, is home to music of all styles, with two decent-sized concert halls that offer a bustling programme. It also houses a theatre, cinema, art gallery and café, and puts on club nights at the weekend.
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18. Move with the music
In the fashionable eastern Docklands, you'll find the grand new music theatre Muziekgebouw aan't IJ. Designed by Danish architects 3xNielsen, the state-of-the-art music complex is among the most innovative in Europe. It plays host to the legendary home of jazz, Bimhuis, and a whole slew of the nation's foremost contemporary music ensembles, among them the Asko, Ives, Nieuw and Schönberg Ensembles, the Orkest de Volharding and the Amsterdam Sinfonietta. You can choose from a diverse programme of classical and world music, and experience cutting-edge multi-media concerts as well as performances of traditional pieces. A resounding success, the venue has jump-started the cultural flowering of the eastern Docklands.
See all Jazz venues and classical music venues
19. Discover the art of worship
Despite the Bohemian front, religion continues to play a vital role in Dutch life. The city's oldest church is the Oude Kerk, which had 38 altars during its heyday of the mid-1500s. Although its original furnishings were destroyed in the Reformation, it has retained a 15th-century painted wooden roof, along with stained glass windows from the 16th centuries and a mixed Gothic and Renaissance façade above the northern portal. Rembrandt's wife Saskia is buried here. In contrast, the Chinese Fo Guang Shan He Hua Buddhist Temple at Zeedijk (420 2357, www.ibps.nl; open noon-5pm Tue-Sat, 10am-5pm Sun) is a place of cultural enlightenment, with a library, internet café and vegetarian restaurant.
See all religious sites and buildings
20. Get a snapshot of the art scene
Art comes alive in the picturesque area of the Jordaan. Here, you'll find about 40 specialist galleries occupying former homes or shops. The Rockarchive, owned by Jill Furmanovsky, displays iconic photographs, ranging from digital snaps to gelatine prints. At Gallery Vassie (1e Tuindwarsstraat 16, 489 4042), you may discover unearthed treasures and classic works by Lee Miller and Antoni & Alison. Jordaanese galleries displaying contemporary art include the Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam, Torch, Galerie Diana Stigter and the Galerie Fons Welters. If you want to see art being crafted, then visit the studios at Open Ateliers Jordaan (www.openateliersjordaan.nl).
Comments
Im goin dam in July and can't wait to visit the most liberal country on earth so far I have planned
Coffee shops ( yeeeeaaaahhh)
Thai massage at love club 21 (has to be done google it)
Trip to Heineken factory
Where going to a shooting range
Canal boat tour
Doobey in the park
And just generally have a mooch about and see the sights n stuff
Im sure it's gunna be the bizznezz and wether u a yank aussie dutch or brit whateva man if u rollin the next one then u sound in my books man. If any one else got sum ideas lemme no
oh yeah I won't be one of them tourist hu gets mashed and spews up everywhere I'm not a massive drinker anyway and finally
BIG UP THE DAM
Amsterdam is a real beauty!At least for me.
Although i like to toke frome time to time,it is shame that this magnificant urban village is,at first,assosiated with pot and RLD windows by many.In fact there is soooo much more to the city than pot and RLD.
And if possible go there in warmer months as it is great to hop on the bike and roam around A'dam.
Also Vondelpark and lots of other city's parks are great places to be during warmer months.
If you are a backpacker looking for dirt chip place to sleep google camping Zeeburg.Bring a tent or pay a bit more for the huts they have!
One of the things which makes Adam special is it's size.Unlike hughe places like Paris or London,Adam is small and compact.You can get anywhere with a bike using great infrastructure made for biking.While doing that just enjoy cool arhitecture as Adam is kind of a living museum.
Going from oldest part of city center,todays red light,you can find houses dating from Dutch golden age onwards.
Grotjes!
I agree Lauren, I would like to add three things to your list.
1) Shop in the shops and markets for a simple picnic lunch with fresh bread and produce!
2) (not that it's entirely possible) Experience moving into a zolder with a rope and a pulley! Dutch stairs make this technique necessary, and it's unique to say the least!
3) Talk to people in the parks.
4) Don't walk in the bike lane!!
5) Try the Belgian fries
6) You MUST try a fresh stroop wafel!
7) Definitely walk along the canals as much as possible (at night, too)
8) Try a Kroket at FEBO
9) Explore Amsterdam on a classic sidecar motorbike - www.amsterdamsideways.com
10) Visit Keukenhof
I recently returned from a week-long mission trip to Amsterdam, and though I didn't do much on this list, it was a truly Dutch experience! My list for anyone wanting a fantastic and authentic time in Amsterdam:
1) Shop in the shops and markets for a simple picnic lunch with fresh bread and produce!
2) (not that it's entirely possible) Experience moving into a zolder with a rope and a pulley! Dutch stairs make this technique necessary, and it's unique to say the least!
3) Talk to people in the parks.
4) Don't walk in the bike lane!!
5) Try the Belgian fries
6) You MUST try a fresh stroop wafel!
7) Definitely walk along the canals as much as possible (at night, too)
I'm not Dutch, and I was only there a week, but for me, the "anti-tourist" experience was all I could have hoped for!
Stop being idiots, Megha just asked a simple question! There are plenty of good and bad things about every country and this is not the place to discuss if Europe or America is better.
Thanks for the brilliant article, I can't wait to go there this Easter holiday!
Thanks for the compliment Heather! I agree there should be less sniping at nationalities. I was just fed up with the American bashing and had to speak up. Every country has its good and bad eggs. I actually leave for Amsterdam in two days. I'm so excited I can barely focus on my midterms. I might report back here if I find anything particularly awesome.
I was in Amsterdam in April/May 2011. I simply loved the place. We visited the museums, canals, keukenhof and spent plenty of time on site seeing. I have never felt so comfortable and safe in another country. The hotels were excellent and the cleanliness of the city was overwhelming. I really appreciated the tranquility and pace of life. I would recommend a visit especially when the tulips are in bloom!! they are absolutely magnificent.
saw this about Amsterdam and thought that as I had been there I would add some info as asked. Having read other comments I was stunned by the sheer rubbish written. mindless gable. We had four/five days in Amsterdam. visited the Van Gough museum, loved it,the pictures were just brilliant. we did the canal boat trip. well worth doing, you can hop on and off to see such things as the Anne Frank museum and loads of things worth seeing. We saw the red light area just to say we had seen it, its not as i thort not crude or anything you have got to see it when you are there. The skating area is nice too. The cafes wid the smell of smoke is an experience even if you dont try it.!!! The dutch people are friendly helpful polite and very helpful. overall we had a great time there and would re visit Amsterdam again if we could. Its a lively colouurful multi cultural city full of life and enjoyment.
Don5t hesitate and thinlk about going . you should go its a fantastic city!!!!!!
OMG - do you think you lot could limit your comments to ones relevant to Amsterdam please? Whilst Im sure your opinions on Americans, Europeans or anyone else are highly accurate (!) this page is about 20 great things to do in Amsterdam... you might note that none of those things involves moaning, bitching or generalising about national groups! Having said that - Patricks comments were witty ;-)
Now get on with the business of sharing info ab experiences of the Dam people!
Hi I would be traveling to Amsterdam on Feb.29 to Mar.2, 2011. I am 28 years old, I am a Filipina From the Philippines. I am currently holding a student visa in Germany and I have the chance to see Amsterdam for two days. Maybe somebody wants to join me to explore the city. WOuld be nice. Girls or Boys..Please keep updated. Thanks!
I am here for a week... Can please anyone guide how I get most of in a week
I am here for a week... Can please anyone guide how I get most of in a week
My firend and I are coming June, we're Canadian I hope no one thinks we are trying to complain :( I can't wait to come !!!
Hi everyone! I'm in Amsterdam for 3 weeks while my husband is here working. I did this whole list in just 2 days and loved it! I loved Zaanse Shans with the windmills. Its so cold here in December so I have not ridden a bike. This has to be one of my favorite places in all of the travels ive done around the world. Not sure what I'll do with the rest of my time, might hop on a train at central station and go on a day trip.
By the way, I am American, Im in love with cultures, Ive visited every continent atleast once, and Im extrememly respectful to the people of every country. Everywhere Ive been Ive encountered rude people and amazingly nice people. Every country has bad and good people, and I feel sorry for anyone who is so closed minded that they dont see this and instead catagorize ALL people from a country a certain way based on a bad expereince. Its just the rude closed minded people Im ashamed of, I dont pick on the whole country they are from, because if I did I would end up hating every single country of this world including my own! Be realistic!
By all means, let's just broadly generalize about a nation of over 300 million people. They must all be the same ignorant, rude people. Thank god there are no inconsiderate people from Europe or anywhere else. Just the United States. On behalf of all Americans, I'd like to apologize to Kat, who seems quite knowledgeable about our hellish country. How did she know that all we eat is Pizza Hut and KFC? Since you live in Australia, I assume that you travel in a giant kangaroo with a seat in its pouch and that dingoes are the leading cause of infant mortality.
it makes me sad that americans can be like that.. i myself love to immerse myself in foreign culture and spend time with locals seening the cities as they do, visiting the little places that are more unique.
& I LOVE 'Dam. Was there for 4 nights in June, when I spent 2 months travelling Europe & going back to spend 5 nights there for New Year. It is paradise & I have never felt safer or more relaxed in any other city in the world. Takes me about 24 hours flight time from Perth, Western Australia & about $7,500 for Businesss Class airfares, & worth every cent.
Have to agree with mij 100%. I've travelled the world extensively & NOTHING makes people run faster than the sound of an American accent. And they complain about EVERYTHING. NOTHING is like it is in America, so they expect & loudly demand discounts & freebies at hotels & restaurants... they miss the whole point of travelling, to experience different food &cultures. If they want KFC & Pizza Hut, they should stay home & let those of us who like to travel to enjoy places in peace. Even locals in Europe hate Americans. I'm sure there must be some intelligent, nice, tolererant Yanks, just never met one in Australia or overseas.
I'm an american that wants to visit Amsterdam. I've heard great things about the country. Me and 2 friends wanna go in November and we were just looking at what there was to do. Were curious
Hi, getting away from people's indifferances, anyone hired a motor boat for the day, which is the best if there is any, any experiences. Is canal traffic mild or wild. In Amsterdam
Cheers. Kevin
wow.. Ignorance to they point a whole continent is being genealised by one woman's second hand experience? you bring shame to all of those wonderful Amercian people I've met on my travels and work with. Do you even realise Europe is not a country? Probably not.. I'm Scottish by the way, not European.
Hey all I can't believe that a site like this has become such a dig site, this site is out there to help people, don't kill the idea of passing on of ideas and feelings by insulting each other, I have been traveling for about 6 years now and have found that yes every culture is different but if you make that extra effort to push yourself out of our comfort zones then we are amazed at what we can do, so please share things but be respectful to each other and there culture, 6 best years of my life many friends made loved Europe going back again and just finished another 4 months in the USA loved it all
Dear Taja and everyone else who are related to Megha's post:
I lived in Europe for a while in college and I had the opportunity to travel around to several countries and I must say, based on my own personal experiences Europeans seem extremely rude. But when it comes down to it I think its just a difference in culture, really. And still, there are just some plain old rude people out there. My experience living in Amsterdam was horrible. Really horrible made so by a handful of people. Julie, I'm sorry your sister is having a hard time. I hope she gets to come home soon. You should encourage her to get out because the city itself is beautiful.
Tarja, did you stop to think that she asked the question because she really didn't know the answer? There are no stupid questions, just stupid answers and your response kind of falls in that category. I don't think she was being ethnocentric at all but you were.
Here you can enjoy a beautiful photography from our last trip to Amsterdam! We would love to hear your feedback.
http://www.roxandsan.com/alookondutchlifestyle.html
http://www.roxandsan.com/xxxamsterdamvoyeur.html
www.roxandsan.com
We are off to Amsterdam this afternoon for three days, We are Aussies and so far we have found that the European culture is very unique and highly underated. I have had the best time on my first ever overseas holiday and the European people are extremely nice Yes communicating can be hard at times but with a smile and patience from both sides it is easier to ask a question if you have a translation book, It showes respect for them if you at least try and speak their language you will not be thought of as ignorant or better than them. We are going to Amsterdam to experience everything we can in what little time we have there before going Home to Australia and I will be telling everyone back home that Europe is one of the best places to go. The whole idea of our holiday was to experience different aspects of this amazing world we live in whether the English language is used or foreign language is. My partner and I recommend travelling to Amsterdam for more reasons than just the drug culture and the Red light district but we will be seeing and trying it all as well.
Dear Julie,
I love how your opinion of Europeans is based on a few comments on a website, some tourists in Mexico and your sister's (no doubt) first experience of living in a foreign country. Firstly, by making such gross generalisations, you are not doing any favours in convicing us 'Europeans' that many 'Americans' have a clue of what's going on outside of their continent and secondly, Europe is spelt with a capital E.
So stop asking stupid questions and we'll start giving nicer answers. And try to get to know cultures outside of your own with an open mind and you'll find that different ways of communicating does not mean that people are rude. It takes both sides to meet somewhere in the middle.
Btw, I am going out with a wonderful wordly American and I cannot wait to discover the US more. And finally, Amsterdam rocks.
Why are people in europe so gosh dang rude! My husband and I went to Cancun in September and there was lots of people visiting from europe there and I thought to myself oh I've heard they are such nice people! They will not even look at you and if you say hi they ignore you!!! Now my sister is there because her husband had to go for work and again they is made to feel very unwelcome, won't even say hi and she doesn't even want to leave the house. I come on this website to look for things to do for her and I look down on the comments and low and behold I see two people harassing an American asking a simple question. You guys need to get a grip and realize EUROPE and Europeans aren't the most important in the world either!!
Megha: US Dollars are ofcourse NOT accepted. Why on earth would we use several currencies parallel to each other? We're not the third world here y'know.
Anyway... you can pay with Euros in all countries that belongs to the EMU ("Economic and monetary union of the European Union"). Not all EU contries are members of EMU, so those countries use their own currencies and not Euro.
As for the Schengen-agreement that is something completely different and it has nothing to do with currencies.
This was quite informative .. thanks. I had a question ..is US Dollar accepted in Schengen countries as currency, or conversion to Euro is a must?
You can visit this site with beautiful photos from Amsterdam:
www.amsterdamian.com
Sounds a lot like this article written by a local expat; http://angelarhodes.blogspot.com/2009/09/amsterdam-must-dos.html
Going to Amsterdam from Chicago to see The Black Keys and Cake what a week its going mto be!!!!!!!!!
I agree with culturevulture, Amsterdam has so much more to offer, the above list is fantastic and smoking pot would definitely not be included in my list..
shrooms are illegal, but those little rascal truffles aren't! you can still get those and trip your tits off...
Beautiful city with lots to offer! Amsterdam does have a unique charm! I've been here for 3 years, and i cant get enough of it.
If anyon would like more tips on what to do and what to see, feel free to email me rivero_729@hotmail.com
Check out the Californian band ... WEEKEND... at the Paradiso ....AWESOME !!!! is not a BIG enough word for them, a massive crowd pleaser...bring your cameras and phones..
@Travel To Europe,
Just so you know, shrooms were made illegal there in 2008. Just saying
omg how can you forget what amsterdam is renound for the best bud in the whole of the world and being able to smoke it without the worry of the police get high+booze= red light district amsterdam is the place of dreams
We have been to amsterdam 15 times now and we are going again tomorrow. last time we went we had a day out at the Nemo Centre. Fantastic day out for the kids. there are also some great bars.
I Soooooooooooo want to go to Amsterdam i also think getting high should be on that list of to do....
wise up...i think amsterdam has alot more to offer than pot...
Thanks for the nice information. I have plan to visit Europe this vacations. I wants to see Amsterdam. I will definitely try this things you are listed here.
http://www.europevoyage.net/
sounds very nice.
Im going to Amsterdam in a weeks time, and id just like to say, you forgot to add numbers 21 and 22 -
21) Get hightastically stoned
22) Buy some shrooms and trip your sack off until the early hours of every morning, and then some.
Smoke some of the worlds best buds? Duh shouldnt that most def. be on this list? I think so...yes!
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