{"id":15907,"date":"2012-11-12T07:10:08","date_gmt":"2012-11-11T21:10:08","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.lastminute.com.au\/vc\/blog\/?p=15907"},"modified":"2015-03-18T14:51:28","modified_gmt":"2015-03-18T04:51:28","slug":"a-locals-guide-to-amsterdam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lastminute.co.nz\/vc\/blog\/a-locals-guide-to-amsterdam\/","title":{"rendered":"A local\u2019s guide to Amsterdam"},"content":{"rendered":"
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We\u2019ve joined Saskia on her travels everywhere from Berlin to Barcelona and London to Cape Town but today she gives us her insights into her very own city of Amsterdam. <\/strong><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Working for an Australian company while being based in The Netherlands means I get a lot of overseas visitors. These are the places I take them to and my best tips for spending a few days in our beautiful capital.<\/p>\n

How to get there<\/strong><\/h3>\n

From Schiphol Airport, the cheapest and quickest way to get to the city is by train. The trip to Amsterdam Central Station takes about 15 minutes. For all public transport in The Netherlands you can purchase a travel card that lets you check in and out for every trip (similar to London\u2019s Oyster card). You can buy these at train stations and kiosks. Trips work out much cheaper on this card than paying for each trip individually.
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Where to stay<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I am always asked to recommend places to stay in Amsterdam. These are my favourites:
\nPark Hotel Amsterdam<\/a><\/strong>
\nA very stylish hotel that looks different every time I visit. Their lobby is referred to as \u2018the Living Room\u2019 and always houses different art exhibitions. There is a chocolate counter that is impossible to ignore, and the flower arrangements are spectacular (I love it when hotels are not afraid to spend money on this \u2013 they do create an atmosphere that plastic fakes never will!).
\nThe hotel is famous for MOMO Bar, where Amsterdam\u2019s cool crowd can be found. The hotel is located on the corner of Amsterdam\u2019s posh shopping street, the PC Hooftstraat (more on that later), near the Museum square and Leidse plein.
\nBoutique Hotel Notting Hill<\/a> <\/strong>
\nAn odd name for a hotel in Amsterdam (their restaurant is called London) but a very cool address for your stay here! It is located near the Albert Cuyp market, just south of the canal ring and an easy walk to most major attractions. I love this hotel for all the little extras they provide for their guests and for the cool design \u2013 it\u2019s the kind of place where you just want to hang out all day. But you shouldn\u2019t: there is too much of Amsterdam to explore!<\/p>\n

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Albert Cuyp market<\/p><\/div>\n

Inntel Hotels Amsterdam Centre<\/a> <\/strong>
\nI love their d\u00e9cor of Amsterdam photos of places and faces \u2013 they are everywhere!<\/p>\n

Albus Hotel Amsterdam City Centre<\/a> <\/strong>
\nAgain some very cool design here, and THE best location if you want to go shopping, clubbing (a lot of the cool clubs are near Rembrandt Square) or party with the gays \u2013 the hotel is right behind the Reguliersdwarsstraat where the best gay bars can be found.<\/p>\n

When to go<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Amsterdam is at its best in the warmer months, from April until September. Summer here is no guarantee for nice weather (it can still be cold and rainy) but if you are lucky enough to visit on a sunny day, no place in the world is better!
\nThere are two major events that also show Amsterdam (and the Dutch) from its best side:
\n1. Queen\u2019s Day on 30 April<\/strong> \u2013 Our queen\u2019s birthday and a national holiday: millions of Dutch people dressed in orange partying all over the city. Music everywhere, and the crowds are crazy. People are allowed to sell things in the street so you might even pick up a bargain!
\n2. Canal Pride on the first weekend in August<\/strong> \u2013 Our gay pride parade takes place on the water! Boats go all along the Prinsengracht and the whole city becomes one big party with everyone dressed in pink.<\/p>\n

Where to go<\/strong><\/h3>\n

These are my must do\u2019s for a city break in Amsterdam.
\nSite seeing <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 Museum Square<\/strong> \u2013 Something for everyone here with the famous Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum, Van Gogh Museum all in the one spot. The square between the museums is an attraction in itself: when the weather is nice locals flock here to spend the afternoon. In this spot you also find the \u201cIAmsterdam\u201d letters, which make for a great souvenir photo.
\n\u2022 Vondelpark<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 Amsterdam\u2019s famous park is the best spot on a warm day. Enjoy a drink on one of the terraces or enjoy a picnic in the park itself.
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\u2022 Red Light District & Coffee Shops<\/strong>\u2013 Yeah yeah I know it needs to be done. As a local I have to admit it gets quite frustrating when foreigners associate your hometown mostly with drugs and prostitutes. But then we are still one of the most tolerant countries when it comes to this kind of thing. (Prostitution is a legal tax paying profession and smoking marijuana is still legal in Amsterdam\u2019s coffee shops – however the wheels are in motion to end this; soon it may be available to local \u201ccardholders\u201d only!) so I can understand why a lot of people are curious.<\/p>\n

A walk through the Red Light District is actually quite entertaining and perfectly safe, as long as you don\u2019t try to take photos of the ladies behind the windows \u2013 this makes them mad. And please don\u2019t do anything you wouldn\u2019t happily do at home \u2013 why visit a live sex show here if you would NEVER do this at home?
\nShopping<\/strong>
\n\u2022 PC Hooftstraat<\/a> <\/strong> \u2013 This is where the Dutch WAGs like to shop. Check out Dutch label Supertrash (owned by ex soccer wife and entrepreneur Olcay Gulsen), see if you\u2019re brave enough to walk past the mean looking security guards at Chanel or Louis Vuitton and for a more affordable treat check out the great collection of coffee table books at Taschen. For people watching you cannot beat a table at Brasserie Maxime, honestly it is just a parade of characters all day here.
\n\u2022 The nine streets<\/a> <\/strong> – Cute boutiques and quirky galleries, mostly in monumental small buildings.
\n\u2022 Bijenkorf<\/a> <\/strong> – Luxury department store located on Dam Square.
\n\u2022 Marlies Dekkers<\/a><\/strong> – The lingerie by this famous Dutch designer is worn by celebrities like Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Fergie, and by most Dutch women I know. A great souvenir!
\nWining and Dining<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 Wynand Fockink<\/a> <\/strong> – At this tiny place just off Dam Square they make their own liqueur, it’s great! You HAVE to drink the first sip without touching the glass with your hands, very funny. My favourite flavour is Speculaas, which is a Dutch spiced cookie.
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\u2022 In de Wildeman<\/a><\/strong> – Great beer bar with a huge number on special beers on tap. Must be consumed while munching on cubes of Gouda cheese dipped in mustard. No really. It\u2019s like, the law.<\/p>\n\"\"<\/a>\n

\u2022 Blue Amsterdam<\/strong> – Come here for the fab views, on the top floor of a shopping mall (Kalvertoren, take the elevator \u2013 it goes up above the building) in the Kalverstraat.<\/p>\n

\u2022 De Eetkamer van de Jordaan Restaurant <\/a><\/strong> – Traditional Dutch dishes and some international flavours, something for everyone.
\n\u2022 Caf\u00e9 de Kroon<\/a> <\/strong> – Great for late night drinks. Beautiful bar with a nice crowd, in the centre of Rembrandt Square (it’s upstairs).
\n\u2022 FEBO<\/a> <\/strong> – Now I am not technically recommending this\u2026..but a snack out of the wall is such a Dutch thing to have that you should try it, at least once (best served late at night after a few beverages). Try the kroket with mustard or the frikadel with ketchup, Mayo and onions (\u201cspecial\u201d) and try not think about what\u2019s in them\u2026..
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Day trips from Amsterdam<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you have a bit more time in The Netherlands, I recommend getting out of the city to check out our most famous tourist destinations. Of course you can book a tour from your hotel, however most places are easy to get to by public transport.
\n\u2022 Keukenhof<\/a> <\/strong> \u2013 The world famous flower park is only open in springtime. From Schiphol airport bus 58 takes you straight there.
\n\u2022 Volendam<\/a> <\/strong> – This fishing village is worth a visit for the opportunity to dress up in Dutch costume alone! It\u2019s a very good place to enjoy our lovely raw herring served with pickles and raw onion \ud83d\ude42 Take bus 316 to the Prinses Margrietstraat in Volendam, this is right near the harbour.
\n\u2022 Zaanse Schans<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 If you need a windmill and clog fix this is the place to go. Take bus 91 from Amsterdam Central Station to St. Michael College next to the Zaans Museum and Zaanse Schans.
\n\u2022 The beach!<\/strong> A surprising suggestion for Holland I know but when the weather is nice I recommend getting the train to Zandvoort aan Zee (about 20 minutes away). You will find some wonderful beach bars (most of which are there during the summer months only), where it is very easy to spend all day sipping rose wine in the sun. In the evenings the whole beach turns into party central with many of the bars hosting dance parties. There\u2019s even an Aussie themed bar in case you feel a bit home sick\u2026.
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