When we talk about
Amsterdam, Netherlands, it is very hard not to imagine misty cafes
and scantily clothed women moving provocatively in windows with red
lights. Many of the travelers from across the world return to this
ultimate city of “sin” because of these sights alone. Most of
them are busting with tales of the unexpected and if you get chances
to visit the place, I’m sure that you will also create your own
tales to tell.
Well, Amsterdam is
not just about sex and drugs; it has all the great things that Mother
Earth has to offer. The Netherlands has in fact that most amount of
great museums per square foot than anywhere else in the world. If
you take a tram ride 10 minutes from the heart of the city, you can
overwhelm yourself with those narrow streets occupied with nothing
else other than the cyclist and a car every now and then. The city
is in fact so quite, but interesting.
Things to See
in Amsterdam
The greatly
planned city of Amsterdam is one of the few cities in the world where
the people, the streets and the atmosphere are an attraction in
themselves. It is in fact well-known throughout the world as the
sole city where marijuana and hashish are sold legally. And, the
worldly known Red Light District is just as much an attraction as a
favorite hub for young men full of testosterone to go at night.
But as mentioned
earlier, there is far much more to the city than drugs and
prostitutes or sex. The city has long been considered as the “Venice
of the North” because it was built on a cobweb of canals. You can
greatly see most of the city from a canal boat, and from there you’ll
surely appreciate the unique architecture that Amsterdam has long
been proud to offer.
Furthermore,
Amsterdam is heaving with a culture. It has a lot of great museums
and libraries. Of all the interesting museums in the city of
Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank Museum and Van Gogh Museums
are names not to be missed.
Where to Eat
When you stroll
around in the city of Amsterdam, you’ll surely find a high volume
of restaurants. As commonly noted, you can see sandwich boards in
front of the many restaurants advertising their daily specials and
from a minute walk down the Damrak, the street facing Central
Station, there are some neon lights saying “pizza”.
If you delver
further into the city, you can find the Damstraat, the street on Dam
Square, also peppered with eateries. Further down again towards
Leidseplen, the Leidsekruisstraat and Leidsetraat have their good
share of restaurants too. It is necessary to note however that the
streets mentioned earlier are located in some of the city’s most
touristy areas. So, if you wish to steer clear of such commercial
centers, you have the chance to visit the Jordaan as some of the
city’s coolest restaurants are found there.
In case you prefer
to eat out in a restaurant beyond your budget during your tour, there
are also some fast food outlets all over Amsterdam where you can get
pizzas, chips or kebabs. However, just be careful when asking for
mayonnaise on your French fries for they will be completely drowned.
