What should I do for a week in Amsterdam?
July 13, 2016 6:50 AM Subscribe
I'll be in Amsterdam for a week in October. I like eating, drinking, and old things. What should I be sure to not miss?
I'm going to Amsterdam with a friend who was born there but lives in the US now. She knows what she likes to do, but wants to know what I'd like to do. I have no idea so I'm asking y'all. I'll be skipping the jazz cigarettes (random drug tests at work), but if anyone has any favorite bars, restaurants, or historical sites, please share.
I'm going to Amsterdam with a friend who was born there but lives in the US now. She knows what she likes to do, but wants to know what I'd like to do. I have no idea so I'm asking y'all. I'll be skipping the jazz cigarettes (random drug tests at work), but if anyone has any favorite bars, restaurants, or historical sites, please share.
Hi! I live here.
If you're into art but don't want to do every museum in the city, I highly recommend the Van Gogh, even if you aren't a huge fan of his. The museum was founded by his family and is unique in that, unlike many artists, Van Gogh left behind a HUGE trove of letters and diaries that chronicle both his mental decline as well as his inspirations and motivations for the work he created. The museum also host special exhibitions comparing Van Gogh's works to those of his peers. Previously this year they had an exhibit on Edvard Munch, and another one on the depiction of prostitution in 19th century painting. Both were excellent. Be sure to buy tickets online so you don't have to wait at the door.
The best way to explore this city is on foot. It's just a wonderful place to wander around, see the old buildings and streets, and stop whenever you have thirst or hunger. There are several free walking tours for various topics, including an alternative Amsterdam one that I have yet to do but that sounds awesome.
If you like beer, craft brewing is exploding here, with both Dutch and Belgian breweries well-represented. For Belgian brews, check out Gollem — there are four locations in the city but my faorite is the one off Spuistraat. Arendsnest, in the Jordaan, serves strictly Dutch craft brews.
It's touristy as hell but the canal boat tours can be quite fun and interesting. It's amazing to see the city from the water. There are basic tours but also, like, a wine & cheese tour and tours with dinner included.
Finally, if you have time you should take the free ferry to Noord, an industrial area across the river from Centrall Station. If the IJ-Hallen is in town you can visit it, the largest flea market in Europe (it's monthly). Otherwise, have a meal at Noorderlicht or Pllek and enjoy the view from the water.
posted by Brittanie at 7:46 AM on July 13, 2016 [3 favorites]
If you're into art but don't want to do every museum in the city, I highly recommend the Van Gogh, even if you aren't a huge fan of his. The museum was founded by his family and is unique in that, unlike many artists, Van Gogh left behind a HUGE trove of letters and diaries that chronicle both his mental decline as well as his inspirations and motivations for the work he created. The museum also host special exhibitions comparing Van Gogh's works to those of his peers. Previously this year they had an exhibit on Edvard Munch, and another one on the depiction of prostitution in 19th century painting. Both were excellent. Be sure to buy tickets online so you don't have to wait at the door.
The best way to explore this city is on foot. It's just a wonderful place to wander around, see the old buildings and streets, and stop whenever you have thirst or hunger. There are several free walking tours for various topics, including an alternative Amsterdam one that I have yet to do but that sounds awesome.
If you like beer, craft brewing is exploding here, with both Dutch and Belgian breweries well-represented. For Belgian brews, check out Gollem — there are four locations in the city but my faorite is the one off Spuistraat. Arendsnest, in the Jordaan, serves strictly Dutch craft brews.
It's touristy as hell but the canal boat tours can be quite fun and interesting. It's amazing to see the city from the water. There are basic tours but also, like, a wine & cheese tour and tours with dinner included.
Finally, if you have time you should take the free ferry to Noord, an industrial area across the river from Centrall Station. If the IJ-Hallen is in town you can visit it, the largest flea market in Europe (it's monthly). Otherwise, have a meal at Noorderlicht or Pllek and enjoy the view from the water.
posted by Brittanie at 7:46 AM on July 13, 2016 [3 favorites]
Bars: In de Wildeman, Gollem, and Cafe Belgique for beer, Vesper Bar and Hiding in Plain Sight for cocktails.
Food: Kind of depends on the style you're interested in; Amsterdam Foodie is a good source for recommendations. I agree that Restaurant Blauw is a good choice for Indonesian.
Old things: Of course, the museums on Museumplein are great. The Royal Palace has some beautiful artwork, but you only get to tour one floor. Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder is another good one; it's a Catholic church hidden in a canal house. Also check out if there are any exhibitions at the Hermitage and the Bijbels Museum that interest you. If you like to wander neighborhoods, the Jordaan is a solid choice. Also, the Begijnhof is pretty; it's an old inner courtyard.
If you're interested in a short day trip, I recommend Haarlem; it's less than 15 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal by train, has a lovely old central square, and has some nice museums. Be sure to get a beer at the Jopenkerk or Uiltje Bar.
If you're interested in a longer day trip, I recommend Utrecht. Its city center is gorgeous (once you get through the construction around the train station) and its canals are different from Amsterdam's. Cafe Olivier is a great place to get a beer, and Vino Veritas has good wine and Italian food.
posted by neushoorn at 8:07 AM on July 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
Food: Kind of depends on the style you're interested in; Amsterdam Foodie is a good source for recommendations. I agree that Restaurant Blauw is a good choice for Indonesian.
Old things: Of course, the museums on Museumplein are great. The Royal Palace has some beautiful artwork, but you only get to tour one floor. Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder is another good one; it's a Catholic church hidden in a canal house. Also check out if there are any exhibitions at the Hermitage and the Bijbels Museum that interest you. If you like to wander neighborhoods, the Jordaan is a solid choice. Also, the Begijnhof is pretty; it's an old inner courtyard.
If you're interested in a short day trip, I recommend Haarlem; it's less than 15 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal by train, has a lovely old central square, and has some nice museums. Be sure to get a beer at the Jopenkerk or Uiltje Bar.
If you're interested in a longer day trip, I recommend Utrecht. Its city center is gorgeous (once you get through the construction around the train station) and its canals are different from Amsterdam's. Cafe Olivier is a great place to get a beer, and Vino Veritas has good wine and Italian food.
posted by neushoorn at 8:07 AM on July 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
When my wife and I went to Amsterdam a couple of years ago the one thing multiple people told me to make sure and do was eat at a rijsttafel. This turned out to be such good advice that we did it twice, most notably at Tempo Doeloe. We also had a few drinks at various really old bars, but I'm having trouble remembering exactly which ones we visited.
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:43 AM on July 13, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:43 AM on July 13, 2016 [2 favorites]
Sit on the terras people watching, drinking and eating fried snacks.
posted by humboldt32 at 9:43 AM on July 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by humboldt32 at 9:43 AM on July 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
Do you have to actually stay in Amsterdam or are you willing to venture out into the rest of the Netherlands. If you can travel an hour east I highly recommend the Hoge Veluwe national park.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 10:05 AM on July 13, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Confess, Fletch at 10:05 AM on July 13, 2016 [2 favorites]
I don't have a huge sweet tooth, but LOVE this chocolate shop Puccini Bomboni so yummy!
Close by is Cafe de Jaren, which has a patio area on the canal and lots of international newspapers (well, at least it used to). The patio is a nice place to hang out and absorb some atmosphere and drink coffee and maybe have a sandwich ("oud" for the aged gouda, yummmm...). I never ate dinner there, so not sure how the food is.
And for coffee/hot drinks/desserts an important bit of dutch "mit slagroom" = "with whipped cream" :)
And I think this (Winkel 43) is the place for apple pie. It's close to the Noordermarket too.
For a day trip there's the Kroller Muller Museum, a small but impressive collection, great sculpture gardens, all in a beautiful setting.
posted by pennypiper at 11:06 AM on July 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
Close by is Cafe de Jaren, which has a patio area on the canal and lots of international newspapers (well, at least it used to). The patio is a nice place to hang out and absorb some atmosphere and drink coffee and maybe have a sandwich ("oud" for the aged gouda, yummmm...). I never ate dinner there, so not sure how the food is.
And for coffee/hot drinks/desserts an important bit of dutch "mit slagroom" = "with whipped cream" :)
And I think this (Winkel 43) is the place for apple pie. It's close to the Noordermarket too.
For a day trip there's the Kroller Muller Museum, a small but impressive collection, great sculpture gardens, all in a beautiful setting.
posted by pennypiper at 11:06 AM on July 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
I have a friend who, every time he goes to Amsterdam, asks me to remind him where that really good pancake place is.
He means The Pancake Bakery at Prinsengracht 191.
I was also going to suggest the useful phrase "mit slagroom", though you can pretty much speak any language and the Dutch will understand.
(Although I'm enjoying working my way through dutch on duolingo, so if anyone else is learning, it would be good to have some friends)
I enjoyed the Bols museum at Paulus Potterstraat 14 for a fun hour or so smelling booze and practising juggling bottles and then drinking booze also.
It's a small country and it has excellent trains, so if you're there for a week I'd probably suggest jumping on a train to see a different bit of the country on one day.
Also I have very fond childhood memories of Efteling. A fantasy themed park which is about 2 hours out of A'dam by train.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 7:02 AM on July 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
He means The Pancake Bakery at Prinsengracht 191.
I was also going to suggest the useful phrase "mit slagroom", though you can pretty much speak any language and the Dutch will understand.
(Although I'm enjoying working my way through dutch on duolingo, so if anyone else is learning, it would be good to have some friends)
I enjoyed the Bols museum at Paulus Potterstraat 14 for a fun hour or so smelling booze and practising juggling bottles and then drinking booze also.
It's a small country and it has excellent trains, so if you're there for a week I'd probably suggest jumping on a train to see a different bit of the country on one day.
Also I have very fond childhood memories of Efteling. A fantasy themed park which is about 2 hours out of A'dam by train.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 7:02 AM on July 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
tsk tsk "mit" is German. The Dutch really appreciate if you don't confuse the two.
posted by humboldt32 at 8:54 AM on July 14, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by humboldt32 at 8:54 AM on July 14, 2016 [2 favorites]
Cafe P96 for a mint tea (which comes stuffed with fresh mint and a snack slice of cake) and bitterballen. Sit on the canal boat across the street and daydream.
Mint tea in general. They do it really well.
Seasons for a delicious dinner. Best duck I've ever had. Also Restaurant Daalder and Cafe de Klepel.
I booked an airbnb in Zunderdorp, which is north of Amsterdam-Noord. The owner lent me a bicycle and I rode all around that area. It is gorgeous, with canal farms, pretty old towns (especially Durgerdam), neat little cottages (along Zwartegouw) and riding on the seawall gives you a nice view. If you want to see a bit of the countryside, give it a try.
posted by BeHereNow at 12:57 PM on July 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
Mint tea in general. They do it really well.
Seasons for a delicious dinner. Best duck I've ever had. Also Restaurant Daalder and Cafe de Klepel.
I booked an airbnb in Zunderdorp, which is north of Amsterdam-Noord. The owner lent me a bicycle and I rode all around that area. It is gorgeous, with canal farms, pretty old towns (especially Durgerdam), neat little cottages (along Zwartegouw) and riding on the seawall gives you a nice view. If you want to see a bit of the countryside, give it a try.
posted by BeHereNow at 12:57 PM on July 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
uhh.. yes.
"met slagroom" (my accent is clearly atrocious...)
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 4:53 PM on July 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
"met slagroom" (my accent is clearly atrocious...)
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 4:53 PM on July 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks everyone! Lots of great ideas, the only drawback being that I have to wait until October...
posted by Ducks or monkeys at 2:45 AM on July 17, 2016
posted by Ducks or monkeys at 2:45 AM on July 17, 2016
a little late to reply, but my partner and I just got back from a week in Amsterdam. the things we enjoyed most were walking/wandering around and stopping for drinks/coffee/food at various places throughout the city to people watch (Amsterdam is a great walking city!), spending some time in Vondelpark, and visiting the Van Gogh museum.
on our last night, we had an incredible meal at Woo Bros. we just happened upon it on our way back to Centraal station and we wished we had found it earlier in our trip. really great food.
have fun!
posted by gursky at 2:31 AM on July 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
on our last night, we had an incredible meal at Woo Bros. we just happened upon it on our way back to Centraal station and we wished we had found it earlier in our trip. really great food.
have fun!
posted by gursky at 2:31 AM on July 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
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