Living Legends Guidebook

to

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

by Saskia Wenniger

Table of Contents

Section page

Section 1: Welcome! Preparing your stay and arriving 2

Section 2: Moving around Town and places to visit 4

Section 3: Places to Stay 8

Section 4: Places to Eat 9

Section 5: Places to Work 10

Section 6: Options for Fun Exercise 11

Section 7: Attractions, Entertainment, and Fun 12

Section 8: Other Nearby Cities/Sites 13

Section 9: Notes & other Cool Things to Share 14

Section 1: Welcome & Arriving

Welcome to Amsterdam all LYL visitors!

Planning your stay

Here are some more ways to find out what you might want to know about the city to prepare

for your stay:

http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/visiting

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/the-netherlands/amsterdam

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/the-netherlands

A note on the Dutch demeanor

Dutch people are generally friendly, but very to the point and blunt, which can seem quite rude

to foreigners. They love to show off their knowledge of a foreign language, which results in very

funny conversations in what we call "steenkolen engels" or "Charcoal English" otherwise know

as Dunglish http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunglish

People tend to be understood this way however, which is why most English speaking guests still

have no clue how to speak Dutch, even after living here for years sometimes. Any effort in that

direction is appreciated immensely thought, so please do not give up trying. Just bear in mind

your Dutch host/guide/friend/waiter might like to display their talent at your native language

too….

Transport to Amsterdam after arriving

From Schiphol Airport you easiest and most environmentally friendly

way to get to the city is by train. The train company is called NS and

has yellow and blue logo and signs all over Schiphol. The train

platforms will be pretty easy to locate once you have passed customs.

If you are travelling to Amsterdam City Centre look for trains to

"Amsterdam Centraal Station"

You can buy a public transport card with a RIF chips -called "OV

chipkaart"- anywhere near large stations and in most newsstands.

Look for the AKO stand or NS counter near the train platforms on

Schiphol. You can get 24 hrs/ 48 hrs or 72 hour passes for use on trams and busses in and

around Amsterdam (public transport companies include the GVB inside of town and the

Connexxion busses to out of town destinations) on an OV card that you can charge with credit

for use on the train. Buy the card, put some credit on it, make sure to allow trainrides to be

charged to the card (this requires a minimum credit on the card, check the amount at the

machine). You can choose to add a one (or more) day pass for the trams and busses to it later,

or right away, depending on when you arrive and if you think you'll be travelling that same day.

The annoying thing about these passes is that you cannot charge them on the tram or bus. You

have to do this beforehand at a yellow machine.

For further information, please take a look at:

https://www.ov-chipkaart.nl/aanvragen/welkekaartpastbiju/toeristen/?taal=en

http://www.ns.nl/en/travellers/ov-chipkaart

If you already know where you are going to stay, I'd be delighted to give you some more

detailed instructions on how to best get to your destination inside of the city.

Central Station is much improved as a location for arriving tourists since the 90's, but still:

ignore any and all people pressing you with offers of help trying to find you accommodation, a

taxi (there's a line at the front of the Station), drugs or entertainment. Make it clear you are not

interested and move on. And be aware of pickpockets and their nasty distraction tricks.

If there is ever a more serious problem: most policemen in Amsterdam are very used to helping

out tourists and in crowded places one is never far away. So just approach one for help

whenever needed.

Section 2 Getting around and places to see

Transport options during your stay and some sightseeing tips.

You may want to rent a car for exploring all over the Netherlands, but for travel in and around

Amsterdam I definitely recommend using the excellent public transportation options and a

(legal!) taxi here and there for late nights or when you are otherwise indulging yourselves.

Amsterdam has been very strict in regulating the taxi's after the "taxi wars" a few years back. If

there is a line make sure to respect it and always get an official looking cab with a lit sign on the

roof. Taxi drivers have a bad rep, and it's true that Amsterdam taxi's are expensive. But I've

found a friendly approach, some personal questions (like have they had a nice shift so far) and

asking for an estimate and a bill at the end upfront, but tipping fairly when you pay it, usually

works wonders! Especially the old crowd warms to you instantly…

http://whatsupwithamsterdam.com/taxis-in-amsterdam/

The city centre is a great place for walking, especially in the old "Jordaan" quarter and the

canals. There is so much to see, old houses, the beautifull canals. You'll miss all that from a bus

or tram. Another nice place to spend a day walking around is the museum quarter. Here you

can visit the Rijksmuseum, the van Gogh museum, the Stedelijk museum and the

Concertgebouw (Music hall) (please let us know if you want us to book you tickets in

andvance!).

It's also a great idea to rent a couple of bikes and go exploring. Most natives travel around the

city by bike. Make sure you have working lighting on the back and front your bikes in the

evening (available for 6 euros a pair at most shops). Fines are steep and you are much less

visible to cars without them than you might think. Helmets are not compulsory and usually only

worn by children. They are compulsory for all motorized vehicles though.

Taking a ferry to the north side of the "IJ" behind the Central Station is also a great idea. This

part of town is becoming more and more booming, especially since the impressive new

locations of the Filmmuseum "EYE" was opened on its shores.

Scott & Chelsea, during your stay I will be spending many a day there as a volunteer for the

IMAGINE film festival (which may or may not be to your taste… have a look here to decide:

http://www.imaginefilmfestival.nl/en ) . But they also have many other decent films showing, a

great standard exhibition and usually very impressive temporary exhibits as well.

Canal ride

You have not been to Amsterdam if you have not taken one of these. There are plenty of

options to choose form, most leaving form around the Central Station. The evening boats trips

are very romantic, with the lit up canal bridges in the dark. But if you are interested in the

architecture of the Dutch Canal houses nothing beats a daytime trip….

Anne Frank house

Amsterdam has been marked deeply by the events of the second world war. Less so in it's

buildings, (sister harbour city Rotterdam was half destroyed in the bombardments and rebuilt

slowly during the fifties and sixties) but definitely in it's spirit. Ever since the 16th century

Amsterdam has had a large Jewish population and the Nazi regime had a profound effect on the

city. As an internationally recognized symbol of the horror that befell our fellow citizens, none

is better known than Anne Frank and her family…

The line for the Anne Frank House is usually very long, so prepare for a loooong wait. The

exhibit has been nicely updated. Inside spaces can be cramped and there are lots of stairs to

climb. But it is a unique and perhaps overwhelming experience to be in the actual house,

behind the actual bookcase that you've always read about. However. Anne's story is certainly

not unique and we have tons of weird, funny and heartbreaking stories about the war,

resistance and stow away people.

Scheepvaart museum

This museum was recently updated and now puts much more perspective on the "good old

days" of our history, which were also "bad old days " when looked at from a contemporary

point of view on slavery and other injustices of the time. Changes to the exhibits, the stories

told around them and the interactive elements added to attract audiences of all ages were

controversial with the old and loyal public of the museum.

Outside of Amsterdam you may want to visit the Zaanse schans, which is an exhibition of Dutch

mills. This technology is part of what made us great in the era of Michiel de Ruijter and the

VOC. We were using clean wind energy to power our pre-industrial advances before anyone

else! It allowed us to saw wood and manufacture ships at a very fast rate. The Zaanse Schans

also has a tiny old fashioned Albert Heijn store, the Dutch greengrocer that is now also

conquering America….

However if you are short on time we may be able to arrange a private tour in one of

Amsterdam's oldest mills still standing "de Bloem" (This name is a pun. It is a grain grinding

mill decorated with a blue cornflower and "flower" and "flour" are the same word in Dutch).

My father in law happens to live in it….(see picture on the front for a wintery impression of it…)

Markets

Local markets can be a great place to visit. I can point you to the best local ones near you place

to stay. but for now I will recommend the Monday flea market on the Noordermarkt, the

farmers market on that same location on Saturday (all biological food) and the famers market

on wednesday at the Haarlemmerplein

Financial tips.

The currency is the Euro. Most - but not all -places allow payment with credit cards, but normal

bank cards work almost everywhere. There are some shops that have stopped accepting cash

payments as a safety precaution. This is usually clearly marked.

Haggling is only appropriate in markets and not very common there either. Tipping between 5

and 10% is certainly appreciated, but that rule can ignored if service is not to good. Waiters

and other staff get a decent wage even without tips, compared to the States.

Safety

Amsterdam is generally a very safe place to be. You may want to avoid parks like the

Vondelpark after 23u at night, you should avoid being drunk or otherwise intoxicated and on

your own near the water, not wave your cash around, certainly avoid photographing windows

in the red light district and other such common sense practices, but other than that, I have no

explicit precautions to give you. Especially if you are staying inside the minor highway ring after

dark.

Shopping

Shopping options are endless in Amsterdam, tips in this area really depend on what you are

looking for an how much you are willing to spend.

Foodshopping

Amsterdam has plenty of supermarkets around the city.

Biological produce in sold in (almost) all of them. It is usually

marked with this starred leaf and/or the words "biologisch" or

even "biodynamisch"

Amsterdam also has a growing number of health food stores such

as "de Natuurwinkel", "Ekodis", "Ekoplaza" and more recent additions such as the 'sustainable

food store' "Markqt"

As mentioned, they are also plenty of healthy food markets like the farmers market on the

Noordermarkt on Saturday (all biological food) and the farmers market on Wednesday at the

Haarlemmerplein…

Section 3: Places to Stay

You have your choice of AIRBNB's available in Amsterdam, but also lot of hotels, ranging from

rotten tourist trap to perfectly nice. SInce we are locals we do not have much experiences with

hotels, except for the Blue Tower hotel near our home. They were very friendly to relatives of

my husband who came to visit!

If you do decide to stay in an AIRBNB be aware that it has gotten a bit of a bad rep lately

especially in the city centre, because of tourist being loud and disturbing and generally not

respecting the quiet and privacy of the neighborhood. Please set a good example if you stay in a

AIRBNB so they can continue offering places to stay in this format.

I would advise booking a place located inside of the major ring highway. These are usually the

nicer neighborhoods and it also makes travelling to you destinations during the daytime much

easier.

Nice areas bustling with activities are "de Pijp" in the east of Amsterdam, the city centre, the

Jordaan and of course our very own "BOLO" or "Bos en Lommer", an up and coming

neighbourhood in the west of Amsterdam. We've been living in this area for the last 18 years

(my husband even longer) and we love it here….

Section 4: Places to Eat

Most restaurants offer at least one vegetarian dish on the menu. Biological, sustainable food is

on the rise. We ourselves hardly ever go out to eat in Amsterdam, we save our budget for the

holiday.

It's probably wise to avoid places smack in the city centre, around the really touristic hotels and

such.

Do try one of the Indonesian restaurants. Holland has a huge history in Indonesia and its cuisine

has become a part of our culture, especially the "rijsttafel" which is a Dutch invention

combining many Indonesian dishes. Usually lots of vegetarian options are available too.

Our favourite is Ed's http://www.edscatering.nl/index-2.html

A more upscale option is Kantjil and the Tiger, very nicely situated in the centre.

http://www.kantjil.nl/en/

We love these two places serving more classic, european food:

Wink is very intimate, with a small dedicated team. Real flavour

artists. http://www.bijwink.nl/

Rijssel is inspired by Belgium cuisine. Great food, great atmosphere and

great service http://rijsel.com/en/

Also café Amsterdam offers simple and

honest cuisine in an impressive location for

a reasonable price http://www.cradam.nl/

Here are some sites that list restaurants that serve biological food:

https://www.iens.nl/restaurant/amsterdam/biologisch

http://www.iamsterdam.com/nl/uit-in-amsterdam/zien-en-doen/eten-en-drinken/uit-eten-in-

amsterdam/top-10-biologisch-eten-in-amsterdam

http://www.puuruiteten.nl/uitgebreid-zoeken

Section 5: Places to Work

Great place to work flexible are the seats2meet locations

https://www.seats2meet.com/en/locations

and the Impact HUB https://amsterdam.impacthub.net/

Also most café 's*, lunchrooms and restaurants offer Wifi and don't mind if you sit and work

there as long as you order something once in a while.

* please be aware if you ask for a coffeeshop in Amsterdam you will be directed to a place

where you can buy and smoke weed! This term is not used for places like Bagels and Beans or

Starbucks!

See wikipedia: " Dutch coffee houses not serving cannabis are called koffiehuis (literally "coffee house"),

while a café is the equivalent of a bar."

I like working at Eye filmmuseum myself. It's not set up for working perse . But the view is

great! https://www.eyefilm.nl/

I also like my local Bagels and Beans a lot http://www.bagelsbeans.nl/en

For shipping you can go to a postoffice or one of many postoffice agencies inside magazine

stores like Primera and tobacco shops. You can use our national postservice Post NL or DHL or

Kiala.

There are also copyshops all over the city if you need some printing done.

https://www.google.nl/maps/search/copyshop/@52.3711395,4.8562535,14z/data=!3m1!4b1

Section 6: Options for Fun Exercise

This is not my area of expertise. I mostly do yoga at home.

The city is full of places to work out, though. Just search for "Sportschool" in google maps and

see what appeals to you.

A fun fact is that most parks in Amsterdam have some open workout tools available. As seen

here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nONq9Khnxgw&ab_channel=StandingStrong

Again, Google maps is your friend…

This guy offer training using such tools in the Amsterdamse Bos, an outdoor park

http://www.xtraining.nl/

I have no personal experience with him.

A new and interesting place for training, if

you like dance is the Chassé Dance Studio in

the Chassé straat.

http://www.chassedancestudios.com/

This is one of the location where the new dance exercise craze Barre Concept is being offered.

http://www.barreconceptnederland.nl/

A friend of the family, Noelle Mos teaches there.

Also I like what Rasalila is doing with Burlesque

Dancing and Aerial Yoga

http://www.rasa-lila.nl/website/

And I have good experiences with yogayoga when it comes to

very mindful and precise hatha or flow yoga. They really know

their stuff!

http://www.yogayoga.nl/

Section 7: Attractions, Entertainment, and Fun

This really depends so much on your preference for music, art, theatre, dancing, clubbing or

whatever. This city has it all. Please ask me for advice suiting your needs!

One thing I can always recommend is a concert at the Concertgebouw (classical)

http://www.concertgebouw.nl/en

or Paradiso (known as Amsterdam's temple of pop) http://www.paradiso.nl/

And dance by Scapino Ballet! We have a great modern dance tradition in the Netherlands and

this is the best company around!

https://www.scapinoballet.nl/en

Section 8: Other Nearby Cities/Sites

This, again depends on you preferences. Do you like nature? Or do you prefer cities. Please ask

me for personal advice!

The City of Volendam and de Zaanse schans http://www.dezaanseschans.nl/en/ are almost

mandatory touristic sites to see if you want to know more about the Dutch traditions and

history.

Rotterdam is a great city, very modern compared to Amsterdam, because of lots of rebuilding

after the WWII bombings. It's 90 minutes by train and well worth a visit. It does not have a LYL

group yet.

Haarlem, Leiden, Utrecht are also great nearby smaller cities to visit.

Amerfoort has an interesting old centre.

You should visit the The Hague area which also has a LYL group!

Madurodam is located there too. That is a nice place to see, if you want to take in the Dutch

landscape in miniature…

http://www.madurodam.nl/en/

Section 9: Notes and other Cool things to Share

We hope you have fun in our great country and city! Please drop in at the Live Your Legend

Local Amsterdam Facebook group if you are planning a visit so we can meet some international

LYL people!

This guide was written during a crazy busy period and is in no way complete. Please get in touch

with me through the Mightybell platform or Facebook if you need to know more and to get

some advice tailored to your needs!