Frommer's Portable Amsterdam (Frommer's Portable)

194 Pages·2003·1.85 MB·English

by  George McDonald

P O R T A B L E
Amsterdam
2nd Edition
by George McDonald

A New Star-Rating System
& Other Exciting News
from Frommer’s!
In our continuing effort to publish the savviest, most up-to-date,
and most appealing travel guides available, we’ve added some great
new features.
Frommer’s guides now include a new star-rating system.Every
hotel, restaurant, and attraction is rated from 0 to 3 stars to help you
set priorities and organize your time.
We’ve also added seven brand-new featuresthat point you to the
great deals, in-the-know advice, and unique experiences that sepa-
rate travelers from tourists. Throughout the guide, 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—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—some great ways to save time and
money
Value Great values—where to get the best deals
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
“Hotel information is close to encyclopedic.”
—Des Moines Sunday Register
“Frommer’s Guides have a way of giving you a real feel for a place.”
—Knight Ridder Newspapers
P O R T A B L E
Amsterdam
2nd Edition
by George McDonald
Published by:
WILEYPUBLISHING,INC.
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product or vendor mentioned in this book.
ISBN 0-7645-6748-9
ISSN 1531-7595
Editor: John Vorwald
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5 4 3 2 1
Contents
List of Maps vii
1 Planning Your Trip to Amsterdam 1
1 Visitor Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Amsterdam on the Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
2 Entry Requirements & Customs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Destination: Amsterdam—Red Alert Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . .4
3 Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
4 When to Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Amsterdam Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
5 Tips for Travelers with Special Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
6 Getting There . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
2 Getting to Know Amsterdam 23
1 1 Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Your Passport to Amsterdam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Neighborhoods in Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
2 Getting Around . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Biking in Amsterdam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Fast Facts: Amsterdam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
3 Where to Stay 47
1 In the Old Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Family-Friendly Hotels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
2 Along the Canal Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
3 Around Leidseplein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
4 Around Rembrandtplein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
5 In the Jordaan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
6 Around Museumplein & Vondelpark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
7 In Amsterdam East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
8 In Amsterdam South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
4 Where to Dine 76
Secrets of the Rijsttafel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
1 In the Old Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
In Search of Gezelligheid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
2 Along the Canal Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Family-Friendly Restaurants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
3 Around Leidseplein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96
4 Around Rembrandtplein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
5 In the Jordaan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
6 Around Museumplein & Vondelpark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
7 In Amsterdam East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
8 In Amsterdam South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103
9 In Amsterdam West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
10 In Amsterdam North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
5 Exploring Amsterdam 106
1 The Big Four . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106
2 More Museums & Galleries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
A New Museumplein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
3 Historic Buildings & Monuments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
4 More Attractions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
5 Green Amsterdam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127
6 Offbeat & Alternative Amsterdam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128
7 Organized Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
6 Shopping 134
1 The Shopping Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134
2 Shopping A to Z . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
7 Amsterdam After Dark 152
1 The Performing Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153
2 The Club & Music Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156
3 The Bar Scene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159
Great Dutch Drinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .162
Smoking Coffeeshops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164
4 The Red Light District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166
Index 168
General Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .168
Accommodations Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175
Restaurant Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176
List of Maps
Amsterdam Neighborhoods Central Amsterdam
30 Attractions 108
Central Amsterdam Museumplein Area &
Accommodations 52 Amsterdam South
Central Amsterdam Dining Attractions 112
80
To Ken Wilkie, Amsterdammer by inclination and
enthusiast–editor, who first gave me the chance
toliveandwork“below sea level.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’d like to thank Terri J. Kester, whose knowledge of Amsterdam’s eating
places is copious—and whose taste is pretty good, too. Also, Els Wamstecker,
Press and Public Relations Officer from the always helpful Amsterdam
Tourist Board.