Just booked me and our lass on a trip to Amsterdam for christmas shopping trip, going via hull, 4 nights, 2 on board ship, and 2 in Amsterdam, any tips what to do, what to see, and what not to do, we have never been before, all advice welcome, cheers Paul
Probably best not to go window shopping in De Wallen, especially as you will be with the Mrs.
I drink a lot of coffee when I'm there!!!
Relise the difference between a coffee shop and a Cafe'!!
You will soon work it out, both serve nice coffee but the brownies have a bit of additive in one of the shops!
[Edited on 9/12/12 by Krismc]
It depends what sort of stuff you like. There is obviously the usual stuff you can do........ I am sure I dont need to tell you what Amsterdam is
famous for 
I probably spend about 10-15 weeks a year in 'Amsterdam' for work. We stop in a city / town just outside Amsterdam though called Haarlem. It
is a lovely place with a large central square with a beautifully kept Catherdral / VERY big church in it and there are LOADS of shops there to go
looking round too. It is a lot different in Haarlem to what it is in Amsterdam as it attracts a different type of tourist / person. It is only a 15
minute train ride from Amsterdam to Haarlem so not wasting time travelling.
http://www.visithaarlem.org/home.html
My favourite highlight of Haarlem is the Jopen brewery though. It is a micro / mini brewery which is in a converted church. It has all been done up
inside and the brewing is done inside the church, and can all be seen behind the bar. Its a lovely place. Even does food.
http://www.jopen.nl/jopen/de-brouwerij
If you stay in Amsterdam though, the canal trip on a boat is always nice, and a good way to see some parts of Amsterdam you might not have seen just
walking around. Always nice to look in the floating houses as you are going round too 
Brewery tour is well worth a visit
Apart from the obvious Amsterdam attractions, there is the cheese factory at Edam, & if you can get over, to Broek Im Waterland & Vollendam & Marken (SP?) they are fascinating
Well worth a visit here
Nothing wrong with a walk around the window shopping precinct, me n swimbo sat in a cafe overlooking a lot of the shop windows, took bets on how long
the curtains would be drawn, makes an interesting game, you see lots of couples in this area, guess it as to be seen whatever sex you are ?
I also treated swimbo to this went down very
well.
eta a couple of ferry tips.
Take a Philips screwdriver, remove speaker from cabin ceiling, pull a wire off and put speaker back, otherwise you will get a 5am bing bong telling
you restaurant's are open.
Try to sneak into "drivers" lounge for breakfast & dinner, great carvery for evening meal and superb buffet for breakfast, if you want a
quiet evening on ferry English TV will be on in drivers lounge along with a decent drink to be had.
Traveling on a Friday ? Then its disco boat time, will be lively around main stage sometimes have some very good turns on.
Take a few bob for the tables if you fancy a go, passes an hour away nicely.
Dont drop the soap in the shower, you will have to open the door to bend down & pick it up.
[Edited on 9/12/12 by Jon Ison]
Swmbo took me for the day in October half term.
Krentenbolen - Dutch currant teacakes aren't to be missed. The Jordaan's pretty interesting for a wander round, but the red light district
is also worth a look, just to say you've been. It's not a seedy place though, more a caricature of what you'd expect. There are all
shapes and sizes in the windows.
Begijnhof is a nice bit of tranquility away from the hustle and bustle of the rest.
We ended up walking just under 7 miles in the day we were there. I wouldn't try to cram too much into each day if you're there for 3 days.
Just have a wander and absorb the culture.
I'm not sure if we found a dud flower market, but the one marked on the tourist map wasn't worth the shoe leather getting there. Stall after
stall of tacky wooden tulips.
Great info everyone thanks, I am sure I will give the coffee and brownies a try, the boat trip looks just what I was after Jon, going to book that,
and the Ann Frank museum I think our lass will find that interesting, some good tips for the boat too. Begijnhof looks worth a visit, and will give
the tea cakes a try. Broek In Waterland & Vollendam & Marken all look good aswell as does Haarlem and the brewery trips, don't know how
much of it we can fit in the three days we are there
I have to say I thought there was only one reason people went!
I had a bit of a bad experience with brownies, nothing to do with Amsterdam though 
If your there for 2 days and fancy sampling the coffee shop cakes, that will be your 2 days gone for sure! It's very easy to loose a few hours or even a few days in Amsterdam! Great city and lovely people .....
quote:
Originally posted by vanepicoI had a bit of a bad experience with brownies, nothing to do with Amsterdam though
beer is very expensive!!
quote:
Originally posted by b3ngy
beer is very expensive!!
quote:
Thats ok, I might not have to drink much after a couple of cookies, brownies or a bit of space cake
hi ,
i live near amsterdam if i can help you with something let me now
cheers
quote:
Originally posted by mkindy
hi ,
i live near amsterdam if i can help you with something let me now
cheers
, regards Paul Go down to Delft - and have apple pie at Kobus Kuch...
That was a recommend from a Locoster, cannot recall who, but so pleased we did.
stroopwaffels with your coffee and buy some vla (yoghurty/custard drink i really liked) alsp we went to a really good cheese shop, quite a few
around.
paul
quote:
Originally posted by Peteff
quote:
Originally posted by vanepicoI had a bit of a bad experience with brownies, nothing to do with Amsterdam though
Did you get mugged by this lot ?
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