Tips & Tricks
In Amsterdam’s city center, driving a car is discouraged. Parking fees are expensive, and many streets are closed to cars or are one-way. The local government sponsors carsharing and carpooling initiatives such as Autodelen and Meerijden.nu Public transportation in this modern city is equally as advanced as it is efficient. It is nearly all run […]
‘t Blaauwhooft (Hendrik Jonkerplein 1, Amsterdam) — A plain neighborhood brown cafe in the gentrified Westelijke Eilanden (Western Islands) district has been transformed into a great Dutch eetcafé by the simple expedient of adding a kitchen and a menu. It partakes of the villagey setting on these tranquil islands — which feel isolated despite a […]
Anne Frank Huis (Anne Frank House) (Prinsengracht 267, Amsterdam) — where young Jewish girl Anne Frank and her family hid for two years during World War II. Today it’s one of the most popular attractions in Amsterdam, with almost a million visitors a year. Having fled from persecution in Germany in 1933, Anne, her sister […]
Ahoy Rotterdam (Ahoy-weg 10, Rotterdam) — This is one of the biggest indoor event halls in the Netherlands. World-famous musicians have been playing to packed halls here for decades, but Ahoy also hosts major sporting events and trade fairs, such as the “ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament” (a.k.a. Rotterdam Open) tennis tournament.
Amsterdam Museum (formerly known as “Amsterdams Historisch Museum”, Amsterdam Historical Museum)(Kalvertstraat 92) — Located in the very center of Amsterdam, this museum is crucial for understanding Amsterdam rich history. Apart from its permanent art treasures, Amsterdam Museum presents interesting temporary shows – not only about Amsterdam recent history, but also about its people, arts, fashion […]
Even though scholars note the history of the Netherlands (a.k.a. Holland) as far back as the days of the Roman Empire (when that country was a far-flung northern outpost), from a visitor’s point of view, the real history of the country started during its Golden Age (17th century). At that time, the Netherlands was a […]