Amsterdam
Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands is a place where history and culture surround you, where you can absorb yourself in art, in a mug of beer or a self-rolled reefer. Amsterdam combines liberal attitudes with one of the most orderly societies on earth, a community that manages to be radical and sensible without being senseless or serious. Amsterdam is one of the coolest cities in Europe. Beautiful, hip, laid back, lots to do, lots to see, many pubs, food from all over the world and very friendly people. A visit to this very beautiful city is sometimes like taking a walk in the 17th century.
The center of Amsterdam has a lot of charming architecture dating from this period. Its an excellent city to tour on foot or bicycle. However, Amsterdam may boast a lot of 17th century architecture, but that's about all that's old fashioned about the place. Amsterdam was originally built on the shores of the saltwater 'Zuiderzee' but as a result of centuries of land reclamation projects the city now borders the freshwater of IJsselmeer. The center of Amsterdam is shaped like a horseshoe, surrounded by four famous canals called the "Singel", "Herengracht", "Keizersgracht" and "Prinsengracht".
Why Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a cosmopolitan melting pot that has been attracting immigrants and non-conformists for decades. It's a thriving city and going by the number of expatriates trying to bike around like locals, one of the hardest for travellers to leave. Amsterdam seems to thrive on its variety and there's very little tourist-fatigue, which can plague other backpacking cities. Perhaps, this is because Amsterdam's essential Dutchness shines through the 300-year-old architecture, the swarms of bicycles, the tree-lined canals and scattered parks all add to the mood of the city.
Amsterdam has as many facets as a diamond polished by one of the city's famed gem cutters — the capital and spiritual downtown — of a nation ingrained with the principles of tolerance. It is a font for home grown geniuses such as Rembrandt and Van Gogh; a cornucopia bursting with parrot tulips and other greener, potent blooms, a social scene that imbibes cosy bars, 'brown' cafes and outdoor flea markets.
Where does Amsterdam's huge appeal lie? In its cafes, its culture and its canals, sure, but it isn't just that. In its museums and its unique gabled canal-front architecture and its humpbacked bridges, sure, but not just there either. In its bicycles, its barrel organs and its beer, sure, but then, again, that isn't all of it. Actually, its appeal lies in less tangible things — its sun-drenched parks where, try as you might, you cannot think of anything more worrisome than plonking yourself down to enjoy your book, its chilly rainswept (more often this than the other) streets on which the smells of fresh-baked warm yummy things from the patisserie waft around die corner, its tolerant approach to everything, including drugs, homosexuality, sex and smut (makes it one of the safest big cities in the world) and its unshakeable determination to have a good time and to let everyone else do the same.
Amsterdam has every kind of cuisine from Brazilian to Surinamese to Vietnamese to Indonesian to everything else you can think of But some must-eats are an Indonesian rijstaffel (translates to rice table) — an elaborate 'thali' with some 25 different items — try the red light area for a host of good Indonesian restaurants; typical Dutch pannakoeken (pancakes) with stuffings as varied as ham and cheese, mushrooms and cheese and strawberry jam, and poffertjes (small balls of pancake batter dusted with butter and powdered sugar) at a pancake house (the one near the Van Gogh Museum is particularly good).
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
||
 |
 |