After spending over a month in Amsterdam this winter, I grew to love the city almost more than any other I have visited this year.
It’s hard to put my finger on exactly why I loved it so much, but it truly is unlike any other city in the world. Although the word “Amsterdam” conjures up many things for many people – usually alcohol, marijuana, the Red Light district – it is so, so much more than any of these things suggest. In fact, in the four weeks I was there, I didn’t visit the Red Light district or indulge in marijuana once (unfortunately I can’t say the same for the alcohol). I truly felt at home there and can’t wait to visit again in the future and visit all of the stores and bars that I came to love.
Here are some of my best bits (and not-so-good bits) about this amazing city and my month of Amsterdam travel.
The Good
The Food
With a diverse immigrant and expat community, Amsterdam was always bound to have a wonderful collection of restaurants, cafes and takeaways. Let alone that it is so close to Belgium that the influence of delicious fries (yes, yes, I’m talking about fries again – I’m obsessed), chocolate and beers has also permeated the city. African, Indian, Argentinian, French, Italian, Greek, English, Dutch, Surinamese….you name it and you can find it in Amsterdam.
Bars and Coffee Shops
I don’t know what it is about the city – maybe it’s the architecture and the layout – but the bars are just so…cool. From the old “brown” bars which have served locals for years, to the quirky modern drinking establishments and infamous weed coffee shops; the bars in Amsterdam are eclectic, welcoming and unique. They also have a great, lively atmosphere no matter what night of the week you visit. We were able to find a really great place to stay in Amsterdam that was close to a delicious coffee shop. The warm inviting smell of the coffee beans brewing was the perfect way to wake up each morning.
The Sense of Community
During the month I was there, I was probably greeted a cheery “hello” by a stranger in the street at least twenty times. People in the city always seem to be in good spirits, despite the usually dreary and cold weather. Service is friendly, if often laid back and people are always willing to help. It is also a great bonus that most of the population speak almost-perfect English.
The Architecture and Canals
There is something very special about the layout of the city and the shape of its buildings, especially when lit up by lamplight at night. The lights twinkle off the water and the cobbled streets make the city look like something out of a movie set. The uniquely-designed Dutch-style buildings just add to the charm and photogenic appeal of the city.
The Bad
The Weather
Amsterdam has never exactly been known for its good weather. Being constantly right near the water wherever you are, there is always a chill in the air, particularly when I was there in the month of November. It also has a tendency to rain in short, sharp bursts, ensuring that you get absolutely soaked before the sun makes a quick appearance again. Wrap up warm and always carry an umbrella and you’ll be fine.
Cost of Public Transport
There’s a reason everyone rides bicycles in Amsterdam: the cost of public transport is high. (Also, it’s pretty damn cool.) Tickets purchased on one mode of transport (i.e. tram) can’t be used on any other mode of transport and are valid only for an hour. You can purchase tickets which are valid for 24 hours, but again, these can only be used on one mode of transport and if you’re staying for longer than a weekend, like I did, then it isn’t really worth your while.
The most economical alternative is to hire a bike. You can hire old bicycles for as little as 10 Euros a day if you look hard enough and a great tip is that if there are two of you and you don’t expect to be cycling great long distances, only in the city, then only hire one and the other person can ride around on the back. You see many of the locals doing this when they are giving someone else “a ride” and for short distances you will get there faster and cheaper.
Museum Entrance Fees / Cost of Amsterdam Attractions
As with everything in a large tourist city, entrance fees are expensive. I was lucky as the lady whose apartment we were staying in had left me her Museumcard, which allowed me free access to many of the main museums in Amsterdam – even the Anne Frank House. The cost of these cards is around 45 Euros, but considering that the Van Gogh Museum admission costs 17 Euros alone, it is definitely worth it if you are planning on hitting a lot of the museums. In some cases, you don’t even have to wait in line as some museums have ticket desks just for card holders.
The Ugly
Street Urinals
Amsterdam have come up with what they seem to think is an ingenious way of stopping men peeing in the streets when the urge arises by setting up small metal enclosed spaces which act as enclosed urinals. There is no urinal in it, however, so the men are still basically peeing straight on to the street, but at least passers-by don’t have to see it. I could understand these being placed in the city centre and being used quite frequently during the drunken chaos, but when I saw one placed on the street near our apartment (in a residential area) it seemed a tad unnecessary.
Getting Run Over By Cyclists
Despite how great it is to ride around the city and watch all of the cyclists go zooming by, it isn’t so great when, as a pedestrian, you are constantly hearing the tinkling of warning bells and the whooshing of air past your ear as a cyclist narrowly misses colliding with you as you cross the street. Be warned – the cyclists in this city are fearless and they also have greater power than road traffic, so they expect to be given the right of way, even if they are the ones in the wrong. Just make sure to always look both ways before you cross a street or cycle lane and keep your wits about you, unless you want a torrent of angry abuse headed your way.
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