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Getting Around Town:
From Schipol Airport (15km away) take the train into
AMS. Once in AMS, trams, buses, metro or ferry will
take you around town. For short trips, just pay the
tram driver the fare. For longer or multiple trips,
get a "strip ticket" ("strippenkaart"--long
ticket with little boxes) from the hotel gift shop.
This ticket works on the tram, bus or the metro. (At
the metro use the ticket office). Show the tram or
bus driver your ticket and tell him where you are
going. He will stamp appropriate box, based on how
many "zones" you are traveling through.
You can get on and off in either direction for one
hour and a half. After that you must have it stamped
again. Keep unused portion - it's good next time (do
not tear off used portion or it's void). Service runs
until midnight - after that use night buses. Buy tickets
at Amsterdam Tourism and Convention Board, Municipal
Transportation Company, Tobacco shops and large hotels.
Conductor at the back of the tram sells tickets, but
it is more expensive. Concierge will give directions
to major attractions, maps available at front desk. In some cases tickets for major museums can be purchased at concierge.
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| Restaurants
We Like:
- Haesje Claes- traditional Dutch, prix fixed menu
- across from National Museum
- Casa David - Italian - near the Flower Market
- Gauchos - ribs - walking distance
-
Dorrius - traditional Dutch, elegant - located in
the Crown Plaza Hotel
- Castel - ribs - near the Lieden Plein
- Ristorante Savini - Italian - easy walking distance
- New King (Chinese) Red Light District
- Micro-distillery "Wynand Fockink" -
a "proeflokaal" (tasting room) from 1679 -for great selection of distilled spirits.
Down the alley (to the right) of the Hotel Krasnapolsky in
Dam Square at Pijlsteeg 31. (Thanks, Katina!)
- In De Wildeman - more than 80 beers from around the world in this old proeflokaal ("tasting house") walking - Kolksteeg 3.
- The Pancake Bakery - just past the Anne Frank House - classic!
- Many little sandwich shops around town
- Hotel offers 25% discount in the pub and the restaurant
(not on room service); hotel restaurants are very
good.
- The College Hotel restaurant - offers meals prepared
by students - near Museum Square - expensive
Tipping:
-
Service is typically included; round up to the nearest
Euro for small amounts, and the nearest 5 for larger
amounts. |
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Shopping
Finds:
All
prices in the Netherlands by law include tax and
tips: the price you see is the price you pay. Credit
cards are becoming more widely accepted, but it's
a good idea to ask before you buy. Bulbs must have
a certificate attached or customs will confiscate.
Cut flowers are fine (when clearing customs in US,
stop at Customs/Ag). Hard cheeses. Delft blue pottery.
Many little independantly owned shops in Amsterdam.
"Claudia Strater" is an upscale clothing
shop on the shopping street, near the Flower Market,
(thanks, Barb R.!). Gift Shop in the hotel and sister
shop down the street to the left, offer a nice discount
with airline i.d. Flower market is fascinating.
The Jordaan district has a wide range of shops which
sell art and clothes. Antique dealers are found
in the Spiegelkwartier. Negen Straatjes (nine little
streets) is an area between Singel and the Prinsengracht,
Raadhuisstraat and Leidestraat-a fascinating neighborhood
for shopping and architecture. VAT coupons available
at some stores for larger purchases. VAT refund
is at airport to the right of passport control.
Shops are open in the center of town 7 days/week.
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|
What
to See:
|
Flower Market - 7 days/week |
Bike
Tours |
| Rembrandt
House |
Museum
Amstelkring - Our Lord in the Attic - (Mon-Sat
10-5, Sun 1-5) |
|
Van Gogh Museum |
Amsterdam
Historical Museum (Mon-Fri 10-5, Sat-Sun 11-5) |
|
Rijksmuseum (under renovation until 2010, but
400 major works on view in the Philips Wing) |
Dam
Square is center of activity |
| Anne
Frank House- Best to go at opening or two hours
before closing to miss the crowds. Some days
open until 9 p.m. (off-season till 7 p.m.) |
Canal
tours |
| Madurodam
- miniature city copy of The Netherlands |
The
Hague |
| Diamond
Factories Tours |
Red
Light District |
| Heineken
Brewery (Tues-Sun 10-6) |
Holland
Casino |
| Hermitage Amsterdam Museum - located at Nieuwe Herengracht 14 - houses a small temporary exhibition from the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg |
From mid-May until sometime in September there is a sandsculpture exhibition in Vijfhuizen (close to Amsterdam) |
| The Tulip Museum ( did you know tulips originally came from Turkey?) |
Hortus Botanicus - botanial garden |
| The Stedelijk Museum - temporarily located near the Central Train Station while the original home is under renovation until sometime in 2008- modern art and design |
Allard Pierson Museum - the archaeological museum of Amsterdam |
| Science Center Nemo |
|
Most museums close around 5 p.m. Purchase a one
year museum card for ease of entrance and discounted
rate. |
What's
On Around Town:
Queen's Day (April 30)- huge street party! Wear orange.
May 5th is Liberation Day, a festive day in Holland
(celebration of the end of German occupation during
WWII). April 29 - May 2 there are lots of parties
on the Nieumarkt with the "Aprilfeesten"
Annual Keukenhof
Flower Show runs March 18 through May 16,
2010, check with concierge for dates, tours and tickets.
Go to www.keukenhof.nl for more information. Buy a
Museum Card which is good for one year at several
museums. Flea Markets are located at Waterloo Plein
(next to City Hall -tram #9, 7 days/week). IJ-hallen
Market - first or second Sunday every month - huge
- if you like flea markets - take the left ferry behind
central station - stops at IJ-hallen buildings. |
| Travel
Time to the Hotel: 25 min. |
|
Flight
Time from IAD: 7 hours (+ or -) |
| Nearest
ATM : Train station or easily accessable on shopping
street (near Dam Square) and around town |
| Nearest
Grocery: Albert Hein (does not accept credit cards),
about 10 min. walk from hotel. |
| Closest
Gym: There is a passable gym in the hotel, better
gym at Fitness First - ask concierge for directions |
| Best
Place to Run: Out the back side of the Train station
and take the left hand free ferry or go to the Vondelpark
(tram 1 or 2). |
| Good
Walks: Go for a stroll in the Jordaan district, the
Pijp neighborhood or the Vondelpark (like Central
Park in NY). Check out the four main city center canals:
Prinsengracht, Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Singel. |
| Easy
Day Trips: The Hague, Haarlem (voted best shopping
town in Holland), Delft, Volendam (old fishing town). Arrange a 3 hour boating outing with one of our colleagues in AMS - for more information check out www.oldgirl.nl. (Email in advance for reservations - it looks like fun!) |
| Safety:
See our sister site Realworldsafety.com
and check the US State Department Travel Page at www.travel.state.gov |
| Misc: The motto of the city is "Valor, Resolution and Mercy" hence the three XXX's (St. Andrew's crosses) on the coat of arms - and everywhere else! |
