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The Canals  The
canals of course are one of the major attractions of the 'Venice of the
North'. By daytime already very charming, by night they become even more
enchanting because a lot of the canal houses and bridges are beautifully
illuminated. The four main city center canals are Prinsengracht, Herengracht,
Keizersgracht and Singel, and of course there are numerous smaller canals,
of which the Brouwersgracht, the Bloemgracht and the Leliegracht are especially
pleasant.You can sample the canal views by taking a canal tour with one of the shipping companies on the Damrak or Rokin. You could also try the more adventurous pedal boats, rental outlets are at strategic points in town, including the Anne Frank house and the Rijksmuseum. Life on water is very different from life ashore, and if you care to venture into the canals on your own you'll soon find out that it's difficult to get your bearing while afloat. Bring a good map! You can also order a water-taxi (Tel: 622 21 81) to get you from A to B in a pleasant though more expensive way. Albert Cuyp  Amsterdam's
most famous day market, with stalls lining both sides of the Albert Cuyp
street. Like all other day markets, in part due to stronger legislation
regarding the sale of perishables, this icon of Amsterdam street trade sees
a shift towards the sale of cheap textiles. It still retains some of its
old charm though, and especially on a sunny day the Albert Cuyp is a bustling
multicultural street filled with the famous Amsterdam humor. Don't miss
the fish vendors, and if you're lucky you might witness the unsurpassed
act of a hawker trying to sell you the latest in potato peelers. Open: Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 6 pm (closes earlier in winter, or due to bad weather). Top Anne Frank House  The
Anne Frank House is situated in the center Amsterdam: the hiding place where
Anne Frank wrote her famous diary during World War II. Anne Frank was a
normal girl in exceptional circumstances. For more than two years her diary
described the events in her daily life.In the original Anne Frank House the visitor is informed about what happened during the period of hiding. The front part of the house has being returned to the style and atmosphere it had during the period of hiding. Due to conservation the rear part of the house has remained entirely in its original condition. 
Anne Frank's story is told using quotes from her diary, and each room's
function and atmosphere as described in the diary are reconstructed. To
reinforce the story, original objects, documents and photos from the time
can be seen.The Anne Frank Foundation was founded in 1957 to save the Anne Frank House from being demolished. In 1960 the house was opened as museum and since then it has been visited by millions of people from all four corners of the globe. Address: Prinsengracht 263. Open: Monday to Sunday, from 9 am to 7 pm (September-March) or till 9 pm (April-August). Dam Square  During
the sixties flower power in the Netherlands was symbolized by the famous
Damslapers, a 'bunch of hippies' camping out on Dam square. Nowadays the
square has lost a lot of its former easygoing charm but it's still one of
the focal points of the city. Not surprising, as Dam square is the physical
center of the city ever since the dam was built to keep the Zuiderzee (Southern
sea) out. In the midst of the square is the Nationaal Monument, dedicated
to the Dutch soldiers and members of the resistance who died during World
War Two. The west side of the square is flanked by the Royal Palace.Top Royal Palace  The
Royal Palace is located on the Dam in Amsterdam. It is not Queen Beatrix's
place of residence but she occasionally receives important guests there.
Then the red carpet is rolled out and the Dutch flag flies above the Palace.
When the important guests have departed, then everyone can take a glimpse
of the Palace.The Royal Palace was built 350 years ago as the City Hall of Amsterdam. In 1808, Napoleon Bonaparte came to Amsterdam. He sought a new residence in Amsterdam and saw the beautiful City Hall. The mayors had to leave and the offices were converted into bedrooms, dining rooms and ballrooms. After Napoleon's departure the building remained as a Palace. However, you can still see the building's original function in the Palace. There are magnificent paintings and delicate sculptures, which point towards the governmental and administrative functions the building previously had. Leidseplein  During
the sixties when Amsterdam was divided between Nozems (greasers) and Provos
(hippies) the Leidseplein was the major Nozem hangout, and thus a very cool
place. Nowadays the area has deteriorated a bit, with an abundance of fast
food, travel agencies, and money changers. Nonetheless, the Leidseplein
itself is a pleasant enough small square, flanked on three sides by bars
and with a large tree-shaded terrace in the middle. During summer the square
comes alive with street performers, everything from jugglers and fire-eaters
to percussionists, mime players and clowns.Top Red Light District  This
area is famous for its window prostitution, which is legal in Holland. The
windows are illuminated by red lights, hence the name. Though you might
suspect otherwise this section of town isn't really that seedy, and it's
a very common sight to see a busload of tourists take an organized tour
of the district. Besides the windows the area sports various 'erotic' bars
and theaters.Reguliersdwarsstraat The Reguliersdwarsstraat is definitely the hippiest street in Amsterdam, as far as nightlife is concerned. The street is a mixture of upmarket gay bars, restaurants serving expensive French cuisine, and assorted night clubs all catering to a slightly older crowd of media buffs, businessmen and local celebrities. Rembrandtplein  This
is the major 'entertainment' area for rowdy Amsterdammers and out-of-towners.
Bars chock-a-block with people singing along to Dutch folk songs at the
top of their voices, and a few large disco's with heavy security at the
door. Because all bars and disco's close at the same moment, sometimes things
get out of hand a bit. Strangely enough the square are surrounded by major
gay spots like the iT, and just off the square is the Halvemaansteeg, a
small street packed with gay bars. No problems here, so maybe Amsterdam
really is a tolerant city. Also nearby is Reguliersdwarsstraat, currently
the hippiest nightlife street of Amsterdam.Top Vondelpark  The
largest park of the city, close to the Leidseplein and the big museums and
by far the most popular with visitors and locals alike, especially during
summer and on sunny winter days. As you would expect, the park is always
alive with skaters, joggers and all sorts of street performers. In the summer
the Vondelpark open air theater stages regular performances, while you can
quench your thirst in the nearby Dora's Blikkenbar. There are several other
bars in the park, all of course with their own outside terrace, and Vertigo
also offers good food at reasonable prices. All in all a very pleasant place
to spend a lazy sunny afternoon.Waterlooplein  After
a temporary relocation the Waterlooplein in the center of the former Jewish
neighborhood is again host to Amsterdam's largest flea-market. In the old
days the merchants on this square used to sell everything from bric-a-brac
to genuine antiques, genuine junk, goods of dubious origin and second-hand
clothes. Since the reinstatement of the flea market on its original location
the merchandise has become more geared towards visiting tourists with lots
of second-hand apparel and smoking paraphernalia, but for cheap clothes
it's still hard to beat.Top Diamond Factories  Amsterdam
is one of the world's most important diamond centers, where many famous
diamonds were cut and polished. When the diamond trade was introduced to
Amsterdam in the 16th century, this city developed into one of the world's
most important diamond centers. After the Second World War almost nothing
remained of this. During the War more than 2000 Jewish diamond polishers
disappeared from Amsterdam into concentration camps in Germany and Poland.
After the war the diamond trade was in part returned to its former glory
due to the efforts of the diamond merchants and help from abroad. Nowadays
the diamond trade attracts millions of tourists and buyers from around the
world. Most diamond polishers as well as diamond traders give demonstrations
in diamond cutting. Many diamond shops can be found in Amsterdam including
Gassan Diamonds, Amsterdam Diamond Center, Van Moppes Diamonds, Stoeltie
Diamonds and Coster Diamonds. |
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