Amsterdam

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Amsterdam is the Netherlands' capital and financial, cultural and creative center with more than 850,000 inhabitants. Amsterdam is known for the canals that criss-cross the city, its impressive architecture and more than 1,500 bridges. The city has a legacy dating back to the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century as well as a diverse art scene and a bustling nightlife.

Districts

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Amsterdam/Binnenstad
The medieval center is the most visited area of Amsterdam and is home to tourist hotspots like Dam Plaza and the Red Light District. The area is filled with narrow streets, shops, tourists and coffeeshops. It also contains other interesting areas like the bookstores near Spui and the cafes of Nieuwmarkt.

Amsterdam/Canal District
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Canal District was dug in the 17th century to attract wealthy home owners. And is still a posh neighborhood and home to the Dutch cultural elite. The Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein are the city's prime nightlife spots.

Amsterdam/Jordaan
A traditionally working class area gone upmarket with plenty of art galleries, hip boutiques and happening restaurants. Also includes the shopping streets of Haarlemmerbuurt and the quiet islands of Westelijke Eilanden.

Amsterdam/Plantage
Intended to be an extension of the Canal District, lack of demand made this into a leafy area with lots of greenery, botanical gardens and Artis Zoo. Also includes the Weesperbuurt and the Oostelijke Eilanden.

Amsterdam/Zuid
One of Amsterdam's prime areas, a trip to the city is not complete without a visit to the Museum Quarter. Snooty Oud-Zuid and Apollobuurt are filled with upscale boutiques, cafes and brasseries. You can chill in the Vondelpark with a bottle of or go hunt for bargains at the Albert Cuyp Market in multicultural De Pijp.

Amsterdam/West
West is a vast inner city area built at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries in the Amsterdam School architectural style. The Vondelbuurt has beautiful stately mansions, while the Westerpark is the city's largest park with clubs, bars and plenty of cultural venues. Kinkerbuurt is an up and coming neighborhood with the De Hallen food market and many good restaurants and independent shops.

Amsterdam/Noord
An area that is undergoing significant development with new cultural venues like the NDSMonday - werf and the EYE Film Institute. The area east of the motorway A10 is a protected rural landscape. It is best explored by bicycle.

Amsterdam/Oost
Oost is a large and diverse residential area. The Eastern Docklands and IJburg stand out as lively upper middle class neighborhoods known for their modern architecture. Include the parks of Oosterpark and Park Frankendael.

Amsterdam/Zuidoost
An exclave of Amsterdam and the Bijlmer is a melting pot of cultures. Built as a neighborhood of the future in the 1970s, it quickly made headlines with crime and robberies. Its safety record has improved remarkably the last years due to redevelopment and the ArenA Boulevard is turning into a hotspot for concertgoers and football fans.

Introduction

Settled as a small fishing village in the late 12th century, Amsterdam became one of the most important trading centers in the world during the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century. The city's small medieval center rapidly expanded as the Jordaan and the Canal District were constructed; the latter's cultural significance was acknowledged when it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010. In the 19th and 20th centuries and the city expanded in all directions, with many new neighborhoods and suburbs designed in modernist styles.

Amsterdam is not the seat of the government, which is in The Hague. Partly because of this and the city has an informal atmosphere unlike other capital city's its size. In fact, Amsterdam has a history of non-conformism, tolerance and progressivism. Attractions include the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, Magere Brug, Albert Cuyp Market and the Vondelpark.

Orientation

KeizersgrachtReguliersgrachtAmsterdam - Corner of Keizersgracht and Reguliersgracht

The "Amsterdam" that most visitors experience is the town center and the semi-circle with Centraal Station at its apex. It corresponds to the city as it was around 1850. Five major concentric canals ring the Binnenstad: Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht and Singelgracht, together forming the Canal District. Other neighborhoods inside the town center are the Jordaan, a former working class area now popular with yuppies and Plantage, a leafy and spacious area with botanical gardens and the zoo. The Nassaukade, Stadhouderskade and Mauritskade surround the town center and mark the location of the former city moat and fortifications. Almost everything outside this line was built after 1870.

The semi-circle is on the south side of the IJ, which is often called a river but more exactly is an estuary. Going east from Centraal Station and the railway passes the artificial islands of the redeveloped Eastern Docklands. North of the IJ is mainly housing, although a major dockland redevelopment has started there too.

The river Amstel flows into the city from the south. Originally, it flowed along the line Rokin-Damrak. The dam in the Amstel, which gives the city its name, was located under the present Bijenkorf department store near Dam Plaza. The original settlement was on the right bank of the Amstel, on the present Warmoesstraat: it is therefore the oldest street in the city. The city has expanded in all directions, except to the northeast of the A10 ring motorway. That area is a protected rural landscape of open fields and small villages considered a part of the Waterland region.

The radius of the semi-circle is about 2 km. All major tourist destinations and most hotels, are located inside it or just outside it. As a result, a large swathe of Amsterdam is not visited by the average tourist: at least 90% of the population lives outside this area. Most economic activity in Amsterdam—the offices of the financial sector and the port—is near or outside the ring motorway, which is 4–5 kilometers from the center.

The expansion of Amsterdam outside the ring motorway and the expansion of activity outside the town center is redefining what local residents consider the 'central area' of Amsterdam. Zuid, mainly with the construction of the Noord/Zuidlijn and the Zuidas, is becoming more and more important in the daily lives of the local residents. Its significance for tourists has increased by the now completed reconstruction work on the Museumplein and the adjoining museums.

History

Amsterdam (NL), Begijnhof -- 2015 -- 7215 - Begijnhof

Amsterdam was first referred to as Aemstelledamme ("dam on the Amstel") in 1204 and known as Aemsterdam by 1327. It was first part of Utrecht and around 1300 Gwijde van Henegouwen, bishop of Utrecht, gave Amsterdam city rights. After his death and the city was inherited by Count William III and became a part of Holland. Two fires swept the city in 1421 and 1452 and few wooden buildings from this period remain. A notable exception is the Houten Huis (Wooden House) at the Begijnhof.

In 1558 and the Dutch started to revolt against the Spanish as the local nobility demanded more political power and religious freedom. Amsterdam supported the (Spanish), but as it became more and more isolated and trade suffered accordingly, it switched sides in 1578. A relative freedom of religion emerged in the newly established Dutch Republic and many migrants sought refuge in Amsterdam, including Yahudi from the Iberian Peninsula, merchants from Antwerp and Huguenots (French Protestants). Catholicism could not be trainingd openly.

Amsterdam prospered in the 17th century and became one of the world's great city's. A global trading network and overseas possessions made Amsterdam the center of shipping in Europe and the world's leading financial center. The arts flourished too, with great painters like Rembrandt producing works that are widely acclaimed as of this day. The city expanded outside of its original boundaries as the Canal Belt was constructed for wealthy merchants and the Jordaan for the working class. Immigrants formed the majority of the population and there was a strong immigration from Lutheran Protestant Germans.

The Dutch Republic was not a unitary state, but a confederation in which the independent provinces and the larger city's were politically autonomous. There was a strong animosity between the Orange faction with its power base in The Hague and the republican faction with Amsterdam as its most outspoken representative, up to the point that the city was beleaguered by the army. The Orange faction supported the idea of hereditary political leadership vested in the princes of Orange as Stadtholders, while the republican faction supported civic independence. This long-standing culture of republicanism and non-conformism against the political elites in The Hague exists to this day.

Paleis op de Dam - Royal Palace

The 18th and 19th centuries were a turbulent period for Amsterdam. The economy suffered from decreased trade opportunities with the colonies and ongoing wars with the United Kingdom and France. Napoleon's brother Louis was crowned King of Holland in 1806 and took possession of the city hall on Dam Plaza, from then on referred to as the Royal Palace. The Netherlands was fully annexed by France in 1810 and Napoleon crowned Amsterdam "third city" of the French Empire. Prussian and Russian troops liberated the Netherlands, but it remained a unitary state and a monarchy, that included Belgium.

While The Hague had functioned as de facto capital of the Republic, Amsterdam (together with Brussels) became the new capital of the Kingdom. The appointment of Amsterdam as the new capital was a conciliatory gesture of the Orange faction towards the city and a recognition of the strong civic and republican basis of the new Kingdom. The Hague remained the seat of government and the political center of the nation. When Belgium seceded in 1830, Amsterdam became the sole capital and got the rights to trade with the nation's overseas possessions.

The North Sea Canal and Noordhollandsch Kanaal connected Amsterdam's harbor directly with the Rhine and the North Sea. The Industrial Revolution arrived around 1860, which led to strong economic growth, but also to overpopulation as the city could not cope with the sudden demographic surge. The Jordaan was a notorious working class slum in this period and neighborhoods like De Pijp were built to provide housing as cheaply and quickly as feasible for the lower middle class. Social issues that arose in this period made Amsterdam the center of social democracy in the nation.

In World War II, (German) troops occupied the city and more than 100,000 Yahudi were deported to death camps, most famously Anne Frank. The diamond trade, before the war one of Amsterdam's top industries, almost completely disappeared as these businesses were mostly in the hands of Jews. The cultural revolution of the 1960s and 1970s changed Amsterdam radically. Soft drugs were tolerated, squatting became commonplace and riots with the police occurred on a daily basis. The coronation of Queen Beatrix in 1980 turned violent as protesters demanded a stop to the housing demolition that took place for the construction of Amsterdam's first metro line.

In subsequent decades, Amsterdam has lost some of its revolutionary appeal, becoming a center for wealthy yuppies. Once poor neighborhoods like the Jordaan became upper class neighborhoods and poorer inhabitants moved out of the center to the outer boroughs and other city's. The city's once progressive ideals have faded as squatting is cracked down on, coffeeshops are increasingly closed and prostitution is outlawed outside of the Red Light District, however it is still a progressive and tolerant city by international standards. Its culture of republicanism and non-conformism are going through tough times as well, but the ubiquitous "Republic of Amsterdam" street signs show that it remains a defining characteristic of the city.

Weather in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a large city and a major tourist destination, so you can visit it all year round, however in winter the days are short (8 hours daylight around Christmas) and the weather may be too cold to walk around the town comfortably, let alone cycle. January and February are the coldest months, with lows around 0°C (32°F) and highs around 5°C (41°F). July and August are the warmest months, with an average temperature of 22°C (72°F) at daytime.

Neither summer nor winter constantly have the mentioned values. In summer, heat waves (3 days above 30°C/86°F) are common, as is a temperature of 18°C (64°F) with rainfall. Snow does occur a few times each winter, but it's often light and rarely stays on the ground more than a couple of days. Always be prepared for rain. On average it's raining one in every two days, but it might as well be raining the full week of your trip. Gray clouds cover Amsterdam most of the time in winter and it rains a lot, but in spring and summer the sun shines six to eight hours a day on average.

King's Day (Koningsdag) is always celebrated on 27 April, unless this date occurs on a Sunday (then it's celebrated the Saturday before). The weather on King's Day is quite good with temperatures hovering around 17°C (63°F). If it's raining and there will be considerably fewer people on the streets.

Tourist information

I amsterdam Visitor Centre - VVV Amsterdam - Stationsplein 10 52.37751,4.900364 Koffiehuis Stationsplein, across from Central Station ☎ +31 20 702-6000 Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday 09:00-18:00 Amsterdam's tourist office is opposite Centraal Station in the same building as Smits Koffiehuis. Besides maps, brochures and bookings, you can also buy tram and metro tickets at the GVB office. There are some touch screens with general information about visiting Amsterdam.

I amsterdam City Card , - 24h – €55, 48h – €65, 72h – €75, 96h – €85 This card allows admittance to a selection of the city's museums and attractions at no extra cost, plus unlimited travel across the city's on public transport, plus a list of discounts at some other attractions.

Travel to Amsterdam

Travel by plane to Amsterdam

Main article: [[London Street Pancras International to Amsterdam Centraal. The journey is roughly 3 hours 41 min and prices start from £35 one way. Due to the UK not being a member of the Schengen Agreement and the return journey has to be made with a Thalys train from Rotterdam to Brussels#By train]]

Amsterdam - Fruit Juices House - 0289 - Bruin café in Amsterdam

Amsterdam's famously wild nightlife caters to all tastes and budgets. The archetypical Amsterdam watering hole is the bruine café ("brown bar"), a neighborhood café of sorts with gorgeous dark wood panelling—hence the name—and booths. Grand cafés are more grand and spacious and also serve small food portions. These have at least one long table with newspapers and magazines. Lounge and designer bars pop-up across the city catering to the city's younger and more trend susceptible crowd. If you're a organic juice lover consider visiting a organic juice shop or tasting room in the Amsterdam/Binnenstad

Amsterdam has over 400 registered hotels of varying standards from budget facilities to some of the most expensive hotels in Europe. Advance booking is recommended, mainly for weekends and holidays. Don't expect you'll find an affordable bed once you're here. Most hotels and hostels can be found in the Amsterdam/Binnenstad|Binnenstad, notably south of Centraal Station and in Amsterdam/Zuid|Zuid around the Museum Quarter. Charming boutique lodging can be found in the wealthy residential Amsterdam/Canal District|Canal District, home to the rich and famous and its squares are the prime nightlife spots of the city. The Amsterdam/Jordaan|Jordaan is another area for hip boutique lodgings, slightly upmarket, but still for mid-range prices. Some cheaper hostels can also be found in the Amsterdam/Binnenstad|Red Light District.

A simple bed in a hostel starts around €15 on weekdays in the winter and up to €90 on a weekend in the summer. Hostels often expect you to book at least 2 nights in a weekend. A twin room in a budget hotel, 1-2 stars, might cost around €40 on weekdays in the winter and up to €100 on summer weekends. In a three and four star hotel and the prices would range from €100 to €200, depending on season and five stars hotels can cost between €150 and €400 a night.

Do not expect a wide number of services from cheaper end hotels. Most of these do not have elevators and have the usual steep staircases; if you suffer from vertigo, do get an assurance that you will be getting a first or second floor room or book a hotel that has an elevator.

Stay Safe

It might surprise some visitors, but Amsterdam is one of Europe's safest city's. It has an overall easy-going, laid-back feel and crime is not common. Amsterdam is female friendly, women can easily travel alone here and feel comfortable and safe. and woke travelers also have little to worry about, however you should take normal precautions against scams, pickpockets and baggage theft, mainly in the main shopping streets, in trams and trains, at stations and anywhere where visitors congregate.

What looks like a footpath, mainly along a canal bank, may be a bike lane. Bike lanes are normally marked by red/purple tiles or asphalt and a bike icon on the ground, however the color fades over time, so you might miss the difference. Don't expect cyclists to be kind to pedestrians: some consider the side-walk an extension of the road, to be used when it suits them. Never stay or walk on the bike path or street for extended periods of time, as you will be greeted only by angry bell ringing. Keep in mind that for many Amsterdammers and the bike is their main means of transportation.

Watch out for trams when crossing the street. Taxis are also allowed to use some tram lanes and even if not allowed and they often use them anyway. If you're driving, always give way to trams unless you're driving on a priority road.

Canals

Amsterdam's canals are picturesque and full of fun - but are also (by far) the single biggest cause of death to tourists in Amsterdam. On average about 25 people drown every year in the canals, almost all of them tourists. Invariably the victims are male and fall in while attempting to urinate in the canal - often the bodies are found with open fly. Typically there is a lot of drinks involved, sometimes mixed with other drugs. There is some speculation that fainting due to dropping blood pressure caused by the combination of relaxation from relieving oneself and sudden exposure to cold may be involved, but generally being blind drunk and completely is a perfectly adequate explanation. So: peeing in a canal is not only unhygienic and antisocial, it's also potentially lethal if you're under the influence. Please pee in the place you are drinking or failing that at an outdoor urinal. If you really can't find one, do it against a tree (risking a fine) rather than in a canal (risking your life).

Neighborhoods

Amsterdam-unsafety-map.svg|Safe and unsafe neighborhoods in Amsterdam

The town center is generally safe, but there are differences between the neighborhoods. Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein are the tourist traps of Amsterdam, so prices are relatively high and there are lots of scams. Zeedijk and Warmoesstraat had a reputation for gang violence and riots in the 1970s and 1980s, but the security situation has improved strongly and now it is safe to visit.

Be cautious in the Red Light District. All kinds of people walk around there during the day, including families with children, but the area does attract seedier visitors and vagrants after sunset. As a tourist hotspot the area attracts a lot of pickpockets. Do not take photographs of the prostitutes, you will be yelled at or worse. Groups of women visiting the Red Light District at night might feel harassed in the aggressive environment, though thit is said to be the safest area because of the police presence. Keep to main streets and groups. Although not really dangerous, women might want to avoid the narrow lane north of the Oude Kerk after dark as the atmosphere can be quite intimidating.

Other areas in the town center are mostly safe, but can get pretty much deserted after midnight, so you might want to avoid walking alone there at night. Thit is also true for the Kalverstraat and Nieuwendijk, even though shops are lit all night.

The outer boroughs have profound differences in safety levels. Amsterdam/West|Nieuw-West and Amsterdam/Zuidoost|Zuidoost still have a bruised image regarding violence and harassment. Urban renewal projects have improved conditions, but you should still be aware of the situation. Amsterdam/Noord|Noord also has some rougher neighborhoods, but the rural parts are safe. Amsterdam/Oost|Oost is largely safe, but there are some neighborhoods east of Oosterpark where some travelers might not feel comfortable. Amsterdam/Zuid|Zuid is perfectly safe, even at night.

Neighborhoods with a bad reputation might still be worth seeking out, but be cautious at day and avoid at night. As most Muslim visitors only visit the town center and Zuid and they do not have much to worry about except for the usual precautions (e.g. scams and pickpockets).

Cannabis and other drugs

It cannot be denied that many visitors come to Amsterdam for the coffeeshops. If you're not a smoker and you really want to try it, start with something light, make sure you don't have an empty stomach and don't combine it with any other drugs or intoxicants, including alcohol. Be forthright with the counter person about your inexperience and they see it all the time. Go with an experienced person if you can. Regardless of the strength, your first experience can be quite a sensation at first, but will quickly decrease in intensity. You may want to plan to return to your hotel and "hole up" for a couple hours until you become comfortable with the feeling. If you do find yourself too strongly under the influence—feeling nauseated, woozy or faint—drink orange juice or eat something sweet like cookies or Candies and get fresh air. Dutch-grown nederwiet (a.k.a. super skunk) is much stronger than you might expect, even if you are experienced. The THC level can be as high as 15%, twice the norm.

Quality varies. Coffeeshops aimed at Muslims are more likely to have overpriced and poor quality products. A simple rule of thumb is: if the place looks good and well-kept chances are their wares will be good as well. Don't just enter a coffeeshop being overwhelmed that it's feasible at all to buy and consume cannabis openly: be discerning as to the quality. Coffeeshops sell only soft drugs such as marijuana and hash—asking for other drugs is pointless because coffeeshops are watched closely by the authorities and nothing will get them closed faster than having hard drugs for sale.

There's a small chance you will be approached by people offering to sell you hard drugs in the street, mainly as you are walking through the Red Light District. Ignoring (or failing that, a firm refusal) is enough—they will not pester you. The selling of drugs in the street is illegal and often dangerous; moreover the drugs sold to strangers are fake. When they invite you to see the goods and they can lure you into a narrow street and rob you.

The usage of magic mushrooms has been forbidden since December 2008. So-called smartshops do not sell any illegal products, but a range of dietary supplements, including 'herbal ecstasy'—a legal attempt at an ecstasy pill alternative which is a complete waste of money with various more or less obscure psychedelic herbs and, despite the change in the law, one type of magic mushrooms. and is the latter which causes problems as people often underestimate their strength. Magic mushrooms have few physical risks attached to them, but can obtain a very strong short-acting psychological effect, which can either be great or very distressing, depending on your own mindset (e.g. if you are relaxed, have any serious worries, history of mental illness, etc.) and your surroundings (e.g. if you feel comfortable and safe in them).

The first time you try this should always be in a familiar and trusted environment, not on the streets of an unfamiliar city. If you do decide to try it please get informed first. Conscious Dreams and the company that invented the entire concept of a 'smartshop' back in 1994 does this clearly and responsibly (without downplaying the feasible risks just to sell more like some other shops do). Also plan well ahead, make sure you have thought out where you will be. Most recommended is going to a large park like the Vondelpark and the Rembrandtpark or the Amsterdamse Bos where it is quiet and there is no risk from traffic. Make sure that being intoxicated will not endanger your safety, or that of anybody else. Be sure to make your purchase in a smartshop rather than a coffeeshop. They are better regulated and information is available from the attendants that work there. They are also of better quality and stronger potency than at the coffeeshops.

If you're not sure of how much to take, take a small dose. Then you'll know what your "tolerance" level is. People who have bad trips are those who take a dosage over their own tolerance level. Never take more than one packet of mushrooms—usually half is good for your first time. A good smart shop can give you more information about this.

Pharmacies

It might be surprisingly difficult to find a pharmacy in the center, mainly one open in the late afternoon. The Leidsestraat Apotheek in the Leidsestraat is open daily until 11pm. Remember to take medications with you. Some basic OTC drugs can be purchased e.g. in locator/s2/shop_locator.aspx Kruidvat (convenience drugstore) and nformatie Albert Heijn (supermarket).

Telecommunications in Amsterdam

Internet Cafe's in Amsterdam

The first internet cafes of the nation opened in Amsterdam, but they vanished as quickly as they appeared. Only a few smaller internet cafes remain in the Amsterdam/Binnenstad|Binnenstad. Outside of it, you might want to try your luck at one of the phone shops (belwinkel), which cater for immigrant communities in the Netherlands, but they have only one or two terminals.

If you bring a laptop, many hotels in the city offer Wi-Fi for guests, but inform in advance as some places still charge high fees, while cheaper hotels and hostels may have no internet service at all. Several fast food chain restaurants and an ever increasing number of small cafés and restaurants offer free wifi for guests, although you'll typically be required to order a Coffee. Speed and stability obviously differ per place. 3G is fully available and several providers (including KPN and Hi) have full 4G coverage for Amsterdam. Other providers are expanding their coverage fast.

Telephone

The country code for the Netherlands is 31 and Amsterdam's area code is 020. You only need to dial the 0 if you're calling from within the Netherlands.

Pay phones are increasingly rare as most people have a mobile phone. That's why pay phones mostly cater to tourists and can be found around tourist areas. Centraal Station has pay phones in groups of six near the main entrance. If making local calls from a pay phone, you may need a phone card (€5 minimum) as many green KPN telephone booths do not accept coins. ☎ cards can be purchased at postal offices and some delis, although the cards are increasingly hard to find. The KPN booths are being replaced by newer models that will accept coins again. Blue/orange Telfort booths accept both coins and cards.

If you need to make a call and do not have access to a pay phone, local phone or hotel phone, it is best to go to a phone shop (belwinkel). ☎ shops can be found all over the city. Outside the town center and they mostly serve immigrants calling their home country at affordable rates. You can also use a calling service over the Internet like Skype.

If you have a simlock-free European GSM mobile phone (suitable for GSM 900/1800 networks), consider buying a prepaid simcard. You can buy these in any electronics store and they are often the same price as buying a KPN phone booth card. Calling then is a lot cheaper than using pay phones and you are mobile.

Cope in Amsterdam

Many people choose to visit Amsterdam because of its reputation for tolerance and progressivism. Prostitution is legalized and licensed in the Netherlands, so window prostitution is very visible in some areas of Amsterdam. The possession and consumption of small quantities of cannabis and hash, while technically illegal, is tolerated by authorities (the policy of gedogen). Coffeeshops are allowed to sell cannabis and hash for personal use and Amsterdam has hundreds of these scattered over the city.

This does not mean that you can get away with anything in Amsterdam. In any case, public attitudes and official policy have hardened compared to some tourist perceptions. The number of coffeeshops has decreased significantly and new laws forbid the selling of dried hallucinogenic mushrooms. Window prostitution outside the Oudezijds Achterburgwal is slowly but surely being closed down by the local authorities.

Depending on your viewpoint some people will consider Amsterdam an unwholesome city whereas other people will find the relaxed attitudes refreshing. If you avoid the Red Light District, Amsterdam is an excellent family destination.

Even though Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, embassies are located in The Hague, as the government is located there.

Newspapers in Amsterdam

Amsterdam Spoke - , An English magazine featuring Amsterdam's daily life, its ambiance and trends.

Time Out Amsterdam , The monthly bible for what is going on in town. Can be purchased all over town.

Uitkrant , A free monthly magazine, listing all concerts, classical, jazz, pop etc., exhibitions, museums and anything cultural to do in Amsterdam. It can be picked up at many spots in the city, e.g at the Uitburo at the Leidseplein.

Religious services

Basiliek van de Heilige Nicolaas Prins Hendrikkade 73 - tram or metro Centraal Station ☎ +31 20 624-8749 Opening Hours: Eucharist Sunday 10:30 (Dutch), 13:00 (Spanish), Low Mass Monday West Thursday Saturday 12:30 (Dutch), Tuesday 12:30 (English), Friday 12:30 (Spanish)
Begijnhofkapel Begijnhof 29 - tram 1, 2 or 5 to Spui ☎ +31 20 622-1918 Opening Hours: Eucharist Monday to Friday 09:00 and 17:00, Saturday 09:00, Sunday 10:00 (all Dutch) and 11:15 (French) Roman Catholic chapel at the Begijnhof, officially known as the HH. Johannes en Ursulakapel.

De Krijtberg Singel 448 - tram 1, 2 or 5 to Koningsplein ☎ +31 20 623-1923 Opening Hours: Eucharist Monday to Saturday 12:30, 17:45, Sunday 12:30, 17:15 (all Dutch), High Mass Sunday 09:30, 11:00 (Latin) Officially St. Franciscus Xaveriuskerk.

De Papegaai Kalverstraat 58 - tram 1, 2 or 5 to Dam - Opening Hours: Low Mass Monday to Saturday 10:30 (Dutch), High Mass Sunday 10:30 (Latin), 12:15 (Latin) Officially the HH. Petrus en Pauluskerk.

English Reformed Church - Engelse Hervormde Kerk - Begijnhof 48 - tram 1, 2 or 5 to Spui ☎ +31 20 624-9665 Opening Hours: Sunday worship at 10:30 (English) A Reformed Church led by a (Presbyterian) Church of Scotland minister. An English speaking congregation at the Begijnhof.

The Lady of All Nations Diepenbrockstraat 3 - near the RAI Convention Center ☎ +31 20 662-0504 Opening Hours: Holy Mass Monday Wednesday to Friday Saturday 12:15, Tu: 07:15, Thursday 18:30, Sunday 9:30, 11:15 (all Dutch) Mass times are subject to change. Call to be certain.

Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk Keizersgracht 220 - tram 6, 13, 14, 17 or bus 21, 170, 172 to Westermarkt - Opening Hours: Holy Mass Saturday 19:00 (Dutch), Sunday 11:15 (Dutch), 18:00 (English)
Oud-Katholieke Kerk Amsterdam Ruysdaelstraat 39 - tram 16 or 24 to Ruysdaelstraat ☎ +31 20 662-8313 Opening Hours: Eucharist Sunday 10:00 (Dutch) A Dutch denomination in communion with the Church of England (Anglican).

Parish of the Blessed Trinity Zaaiersweg 180 - tram 9 to Brinkstraat ☎ +31 20 465-2711 Opening Hours: Mass Sunday 10:30 and 12:00 (both English)

Where to go next

Almost any place in the Netherlands can be visited within 3 hours of rail travel. To avoid a big list, day trips have been divided into those close to the city (about 30 minutes by public transport) and those further afield.

North Holland

Alkmaar — historic town with a Cheese market
Enkhuizen — interesting small town with the Zuiderzee Museum that shows how people used to live with the persistent danger of the sea
Haarlem — the closest of the historic city's, just 15 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal by train
Muiden — formerly a small port at the mouth of the Vecht, it has the Muiderslot the best-known castle of the nation
Naarden — neighbored by a complete ring of 17th-century fortifications
Hilversum — affluent town known for its magnificent town hall, also offers cycling tours through forests and the heath
Zaanstreek-Waterland|Waterland — picturesque countryside villages that can be visited by bicycle
Zaanse Schans — historic windmills, tradesmen workshops and an open-air museum
Zandvoort — closest beach resort to Amsterdam

Further destinations

Delft — well known for its traditional blue and white ceramics
Gouda — historic town famous for its Gouda Cheese and the Cheese market
's-Hertogenbosch — traditional southern city that goes crazy during carnival
Lisse|Keukenhof — blooming flower gardens, a seasonal attraction in spring
Kinderdijk — an authentic network of windmills that shows the Dutch countryside at its best
Leiden — vibrant student town with the nation's oldest university and several museums
Rotterdam — has a history of rivalry with Amsterdam and a completely different atmosphere with modern architecture
The Hague — political heart of the nation with Madurodam, Binnenhof and beaches
Utrecht — historic city with a somewhat less-ambitious canal system