There was a thread recently here on Amsterdam dining, so worth picking over that.
Are there any things you feel you ‘must see’ in Amsterdam? Although it’s reasonably easy to get around on the trams, it may make sense to be close to some of the key interests.
Personally we like to stay out well beyond the Museum Quarter (itself regarded by many tourists as the edge of the city or even beyond it). Somewhere between Vondelpark and Beatrixpark. This is more leafy suburb, or at least as much as a large city allows. The shopping is good, and it’s cleaner and more pleasant than the at times gritty / garish centre.
However for a first visit I think being nearer the centre makes a lot of sense, say inside the Prinzengracht canal.
I’m always loathe to say anything is a must see, as our tastes always vary, but I would encourage anyone to walk through the red light district to allow an opinion to be formed about whether this is sanitising an industry that exploits, or giving safety and security for an industry that is as old as time. Early/Mid evening is a good time to go, as there are usually lots of people walking around and there is a generally fun vibe to the area. However:
- around midnight the atmosphere seemed to change quite radically, as the crowds drift away and a definite edge emerged.
- Much as the coffee shops and legalised prostitution was meant to decriminalise and make the softer/safer options easy to access and this remove the shadier elements, the reality is they are still there to varying degrees (there are irregular ‘cleanups’ but I don’t know what the latest situation is). If there are street dealers offering ‘Charlie’ etc. then just show disinterest / ignore them and move along. This and the occasional (drugged out of their mind) street prostitute disturbed me, as I saw the whole point of the decriminalisation was to make the lesser stuff safer, but then focus on that which is patently unsafe.
- Always have your money somewhere very safe. Pickpockets are often rife and a teammate on our cricket tour had his wallet stolen (from inside jacket pocket) in early evening / daylight and when with 2-3 other teammates. Taking an idea from another forum, keep big money somewhere really safe (e.g. under insole of shoe) and then carry around smaller amounts that are more accessible.
This sounds like I’m warning you off this area, but I’m definitely not. It’s an important part of Amsterdam and helps us consider issues that we normally prefer to not think about.
On a lighter note, the cheese shop on Runstraat (Kaaskamer) is exceptionally good, but these 9 ‘animal named’ streets are all worth exploring for quirky / quality shops, including the remarkable toothbrush shop.
Also on the food+ side, the long Albert Cuypstraat market is worth a look though I’m told it gets ever more touristy every year.
I note there are walking tours of Amsterdam, and these should be a very good way to explore in a shortish period of time Jordaan District in Amsterdam | Amsterdam.info For the more adventurous, I recall little electric boats available to hire, and seeing Amsterdam from such boats will give a unique perspective on the city. That said, with the amount of drunken people in mid-late evening in the red light district, this is one area I would avoid at that time of night. The canal is sometimes an all too convenient rubbish bin or toilet.
regards
Ian