Comments on: Off the Beaten Track in Amsterdam

By: Ben Britz

Ben Britz — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 00:19:01 +0000

I had been to Amsterdam many times en route to other places in Europe, but I didn’t get a chance even to spend a couple of days there until spring of 2010. I have to say, I have the same complaints about Amsterdam that I have about other major European cities–like Prague, London, Paris, Barcelona–that they are expensive, crowded with tourists, where locals are understandably jaded towards tourists, and that at the end of the day, they’re not all that different from one another. Obviously many would disagree, but these places all have tours and churches and museums and everyone’s capitalizing on a tourist’s passing interest in their culture.

THAT SAID: thanks for your pieces on Amsterdam! I did enjoy my stay, had excellent hosts (read about it here: http://www.theantitourist.com/2010/05/12/amsterdam-getaway-the-hotel-seven-bridges/) and next time I go back I’ll stay a while. Thanks for your advice!

By: Vanderhelst

Vanderhelst — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 14:18:06 +0000

Three tips, slightly more “off beat”.
1. The Concertgebouw. World famous for its accoustics and home-base for the Royal Concertgebouw Ochestra. They have cheap sunday morning / lunch concerts in the beautiful “small hall”. For the more affluent twenty-something hipsters: they have a regular series “Tracks” which consists of shorter concerts performed by young artists and, more importantly, the Bols-cocktail bar afterwards.
2. When you are riding the bike and weather permits, take a bike tour outside Amsterdam. To the north: take the Durgerdammerdijk, through Durgerdam and Ransdorp. Or to the south: follow the Amstel to Ouderkerk, pass “Rembrandt’s mill” and do the “Ronde Hoep” which winds through the amazing green fields and canals next to Amsterdam. Great picknick opportunities, and you will certainly have breathtaking views.
3. The “Krijtbergkerk”. Dead center of town, always overlooked. One of the few Catholic churches (Jesuist) that was untouched. You will never see more beautiful lightbeams falling through the stained-glass windows. They have free concerts every now and then.

By: Ciara

Ciara — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:26:39 +0000

So right about the flying pig! Def one of the best hostels in Europe! Thanks for all the extra suggestions of places to go, went in Jan and already want to go back!

By: Stove

Stove — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:44:26 +0000

The parrots are originally from the Artis Zoo in Oost, but somehow managed to escape years ago. They kept breeding in Vondelpark and made it their new habitat.

By: William Wallace

William Wallace — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:58:25 +0000

I have been to Amsterdam numerous times, and I don’t smoke shit and I’m not into paying for sex. I find it an amazing city for wandering around in, eating, drinking and just relaxing.

Each and every time I go to Amsterdam I stay in the Jordaan area, which has an amazing buzz to it, there are so many great bars and places to eat in. I especially like going to Amsterdam in the winter time around December/January when there are less tourists.

By: hannah

hannah — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:59:51 +0000

I couldn’t agree more with this! I do go to coffeeshops when I’m in Amsterdam, but I smoke in my everyday life anyway so it’s just an easier way. But the city has so much more to offer than that, and it’s one of my favourite cities I’ve ever been to. It’s a beautiful place and the people are so friendly; when I was first there at the age of 18, I asked a Dutch man for directions to a supermarket, and he just told me to hop on the back of his bike and he would take me there! And you’re so right about the Flying Pig – I’ve only ever stayed in their uptown location, and the staff are brilliant and it’s a really social hostel. It’s nice to see Amsterdam getting a write-up that shows it’s a much more diverse city than people realise.

By: Migration Mark

Migration Mark — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:35:56 +0000

Thanks for the tips on Amsterdam. I was there once about 6 years ago and saw a few of the museums but loved the city itself, especially the brilliant urban planning and design. Next time I will definitely check out some of the things you mentioned.

By: NP

NP — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:38:12 +0000

Thanks for the post! I was thinking of going to Amsterdam next summer. This will definitely help me plan for it.

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:44:45 +0000

I love museum, often the first thing I visit when at a new place

The ”older traveler” visit museum made me laugh a bit.

By: NomadicMatt

NomadicMatt — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:48:50 +0000

I’m going to be in the US by then! I might be visiting my cousins in Oslo next june though!