Accommodations / Hotels in Amsterdam
Visitors have a wide choice of accommodation / hotels in Amsterdam ranging from 5-star luxury hotels to more modest lodgings. All of the global chains are present. Pensions are found throughout the city as well as Bed & Breakfast homes. For longer stays, apart-hotels are available. In the countryside, there are numerous accommodations in private homes and farms for overnight stays. Unique to Amsterdam are houseboat rentals. Many of these are quite luxurious with fully equipped kitchens, dishwashers, spacious bedrooms, and lounge. These can be found on the Prinsengracht canal in the center of Amsterdam. Prices are about 165 Euros a night for two people.
Attractions in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is situated on dozens of islands which are connected by hundreds of bridges which transverse the canals that flow through the city. Boat tours permit visitors to view the homes and edifices along these canals or to travel out into Amsterdam’s busy harbor. The architecture of the 17th century with its buildings of brick has been preserved and some 7 thousand structures have been designated historical monuments. For art lovers, there is the opportunity to visit to the world famous Rijkmuseum. Nearby are the Vincent Van Gogh Museum with a collection of his works and the Royal Palace. Fronting the Royal Palace is the National Dam Monument honoring the spot where the first dike was constructed in the 18th century. In the old section of the city, near the Central Station and the St. Nicolaaskerk, visitors can walk through historic Amsterdam and at the same time have the opportunity to experience adult entertainment in the world famous – or infamous – Red Light District – so named because the windows of the establishments are painted red. This is a favorite tourist spot with many ‘erotic’ clubs and bars. The Reguliersdwarsstraat is a popular ‘ hippie’ street that also has upscale bars and restaurants. The Rembrantplein is also a favorite entertainment district of Amsterdam with a multitude of bars, clubs, and restaurant. Other popular sites to visit are the huge Albert Culp outdoor market; the Film Museum; Nieumarkt; and the Heineken Brewery. The Vondelpark is a green oasis with lovely flowers and gardens. It is easy to tour areas outside Amsterdam to see the famous windmills and to sample cheeses and other Dutch fare. The famous Kinderdijk with its picturesque windmills is only a short distance from Amsterdam.
Dining in Amsterdam
The cuisine of the Netherlands is rich and varied – smoked eel, herrings, cheeses, ham, and sausages. Among traditional fare is ‘boerenkool’, made with cabbage and potatoes and ‘hutspot’ consisting of meat, turnips, onions, carrots, and potatoes. The Dutch favor a large breakfast but a rather light lunch. In Amsterdam visitors have the opportunity to partake of a virtual international smorgasbord of foods as immigrant populations now offer Indonesian, Pakistani, Indian and Arabian cuisine among others. Tasty snacks are sold by street-vendors. Excellent wines and beer are popular beverages.
