Frommer's Portable Amsterdam, 3rd Edition

193 Pages·2005·4.29 MB·English

by  George McDonald

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P O R T A B L E
Amsterdam
3rd Edition
by George McDonald
Here’s what critics say about Frommer’s:
“Amazingly easy to use.Very portable,very complete.”
—Booklist
“Detailed,accurate,and easy-to-read information for all price
ranges.”
—Glamour Magazine
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Published by:
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Contents
List of Maps vi
1 Planning Your Trip to Amsterdam 1
1 Visitor Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
2 Entry Requirements & Customs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Amsterdam on the Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
3 Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
4 When to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Amsterdam Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Staying Safe in Amsterdam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
5 Specialized Travel Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
6 Getting There . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
2 Getting to Know Amsterdam 22
1 Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Your Passport to Amsterdam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Neighborhoods in Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
2 Getting Around . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Fast Facts: Amsterdam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
3 Where to Stay 44
1 In the Old Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Family-Friendly Hotels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
2 Along the Canal Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
3 Around Leidseplein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
4 Around Rembrandtplein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
5 In the Jordaan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
6 Around Museumplein & Vondelpark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
7 In Amsterdam East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
8 In Amsterdam South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
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4 Where to Dine 69
Secrets of the Rijsttafel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
1 In the Old Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
2 Along the Canal Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
Family-Friendly Restaurants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
3 Around Leidseplein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
4 Around Rembrandtplein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
5 In the Jordaan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Tea, Coffee, Cakes & Ice Cream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92
6 Around Museumplein & Vondelpark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
7 In Amsterdam East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
8 In Amsterdam South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
9 In Amsterdam West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
10 In Amsterdam North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
5 Exploring Amsterdam 100
1 The Big Three . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
2 More Museums & Galleries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
3 Historic Buildings & Monuments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
4 Sights of Religious Significance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
5 Multimedia Attractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123
6 Green Amsterdam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126
7 Offbeat & Alternative Amsterdam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128
8 Especially for Kids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
9 Organized Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
6 Shopping 135
1 The Shopping Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
2 Shopping A to Z . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140
3 Street Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152
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7 Amsterdam After Dark 155
1 The Performing Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156
2 The Club & Music Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159
3 The Bar Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163
Great Dutch Drinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167
Smoking Coffeeshops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .170
4 The Red Light District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172
Index 174
General Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .174
Accommodations Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .179
Restaurant Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180
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List of Maps
Amsterdam Central Amsterdam
Neighborhoods 26 Attractions 102
Central Amsterdam Museumplein Area &
Accommodations 48 Amsterdam South
Central Amsterdam Attractions 106
Dining 74
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ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
George McDonaldis a former deputy editor of Holland Herald, the in-
flight magazine for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Now a freelance journalist
and travel writer, he has written extensively on Amsterdam and the Nether-
lands for magazines and for travel books that include Frommer’s Belgium,
Holland & Luxembourg; Frommer’s Europe;and Frommer’s Europe from $70
a Day.He is also the author of Frommer’s Irreverent Guide to Amsterdam.
ANINVITATIONTOTHEREADER
In researching this book, we discovered many wonderful places—hotels,
restaurants, shops, and more. We’re sure you’ll find others. Please tell us
about them, so we can share the information with your fellow travelers in
upcoming editions. If you were disappointed with a recommendation, we’d
love to know that, too. Please write to:
Frommer’s Portable Amsterdam, 3rdEdition
Wiley Publishing, Inc. • 111 River St. • Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
ANADDITIONALNOTE
Please be advised that travel information is subject to change at any time—
and this is especially true of prices. We therefore suggest that you write or call
ahead for confirmation when making your travel plans. The authors, editors,
and publisher cannot be held responsible for the experiences of readers while
traveling. Your safety is important to us, however, so we encourage you to
stay alert and be aware of your surroundings. Keep a close eye on cameras,
purses, and wallets, all favorite targets of thieves and pickpockets.
Other Great Guides for Your Trip:
Frommer’s Amsterdam
Frommer’s Irreverent Guide to Amsterdam
Frommer’s Belgium, Holland, & Luxembourg
Frommer’s Brussels & Bruges with Ghent & Antwerp
Frommer’s Europe
Frommer’s Europe from $85 a Day
Frommer’s Europe by Rail
Frommer’s Gay & Lesbian Europe
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FROMMER’SSTARRATINGS,ICONS& ABBREVIATIONS
Every hotel, restaurant, and attraction listing in this guide has been ranked
for quality, value, service, amenities, and special features using a star-rating
system.In country, state, and regional guides, we also rate towns and regions
to help you narrow down your choices and budget your time accordingly.
Hotels and restaurants are rated on a scale of zero (recommended) to three
stars (exceptional). Attractions, shopping, nightlife, towns, and regions are
rated according to the following scale: zero stars (recommended), one star
(highly recommended), two stars (very highly recommended), and three stars
(must-see).
In addition to the star-rating system, we also use seven feature iconsthat
point you to the great deals, in-the-know advice, and unique experiences that
separate travelers from tourists. Throughout the book, look for:
Finds Special finds—those places only insiders know about
Fun Fact Fun facts—details that make travelers more informed and their
trips more fun
Kids Best bets for kids and advice for the whole family
Moments Special moments—those experiences that memories are made of
Overrated Places or experiences not worth your time or money
Tips Insider tips—great ways to save time and money
Value Great values—where to get the best deals
The following abbreviationsare used forcredit cards:
AE American Express DISC Discover V Visa
DC Diners Club MC MasterCard
FROMMERS.COM
Now that you have the guidebook to a great trip, visit our website at www.
frommers.com for travel information on more than 3,000 destinations.
With features updated regularly, we give you instant access to the most cur-
rent trip-planning information available. At Frommers.com, you’ll also find
the best prices on airfares, accommodations, and car rentals—and you can
even book travel online through our travel booking partners. At Frommers.
com, you’ll also find the following:
•Online updates to our most popular guidebooks
•Vacation sweepstakes and contest giveaways
•Newsletter highlighting the hottest travel trends
•Online travel message boards with featured travel discussions
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1
Planning Your Trip
to Amsterdam
A
msterdam isn’t hard to get to grips with even if you arrive there
cold (in the preparedness sense). The city is foreign, of course,
but not impossibly so, one reason being that so many Dutch speak
English.
1 Visitor Information
TOURIST OFFICES
Before leaving for the Netherlands, you can obtain information on
the country and its travel facilities by contacting the Netherlands
Board of Tourism (NBT), which maintains offices in countries
around the world. Their Internet address is www.goholland.com,
and the e-mail address is [email protected].
For the U.S.and Canada,you can reach them at: 355 Lexington
Ave., 19th Floor, New York, NY 10017 (&888/464-6552or 212/
557-3500; fax [phone]).
For Britain and Ireland, NBT has a mailing address only:
PO Box 30783, London WC2B 6DH (& 020/7539-7950;
premium-rate brochure order line &09068/717777;fax [phone]-
7953; www.visitholland.com/uk; [email protected]).
You can also contact the umbrella organization in the Nether-
lands for the country’s many local tourist information organizations:
Netherlands Board of Tourism (NBT),Vlietweg 15, Postbus 458,
2260 MG Leidschendam (& 070/371-5705; fax [phone];
www.visitholland.com; [email protected]).
2 Entry Requirements & Customs
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Citizens of the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New
Zealand need only a valid passport for a visit to the Netherlands of
less than 3 months. If you are a citizen of another country, be sure
to check the travel regulations before you leave.