Amsterdam.
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DanielJames

Original Poster:

7,543 posts

199 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
Going tomorrow evening with my girlfriend for a day, never been, really excited!

Getting from Rotterdam port to Amsterdam, train looks the best option, is the port far from the station?

We're doing the ferry there ferry back with no hotel, We'll hopefully have around 8 hours in dam before we need to head back.

So apart from the obvious, coffee shops etc, what does Pistonheads think we could do with our day?

Dan

Mark.

11,104 posts

307 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
We are going next Friday - so can you post back what you did/found? biggrin

A friend whose brother lives there gave me this little list.
Tempo doeloe: http://www.tempodoeloerestaurant.nl/ have the rice table they do both veggie and non veggie is about 27 million courses and is divine, this is an absolute must - and you will need to prebook as when you turn up you have to ring on the door bell for entry.

Royal Thai: http://www.royal-thai.nl/en/restaurant/2-restauran... nothing beats Tempo Doeloe - but this is fab

When in Rome: http://www.coffeeshop.freeuk.com/Rokerij.htmlsmile

This is a one off experience and in my world quite an eye opener: http://www.annefrank.org/ - book tickets before you go so you avoid queues etc

http://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/vgm/index.jsp?page=194... - if you like Art - no need to special pre book - but has some amazing pieces in it

http://www.greatamsterdamexcursions.com/excursions... do a trip at night - the canals and streets are REALLY pretty...

Better than chelsea (some say): http://www.viator.com/Amsterdam-attractions/Keuken...

http://www.artsholland.com/city/amsterdam

User33678888

1,147 posts

168 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
Rotterdam or Hook of Holland?

dmitsi

3,583 posts

251 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
Off the ferry you have to get on the train to Rotterdam central, then get on a train to Amsterdam. Hook of Holland train station is just outside the terminal, 30 mins to Rotterdam, then 30 mins to Amsterdam.

Muzzer79

13,247 posts

218 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
Amsterdam Zoo is good.

Anne Frank's house is excellent.

Tussaud's is....OK.

Apart from that, walk around. It's a cool place.


DanielJames

Original Poster:

7,543 posts

199 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
User33678888 said:
Rotterdam or Hook of Holland?
Rotterdam, that's what they say at least!

Just checked on Google maps and it's quite a bit away, bugger

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=PO+Ferries+-+Rotter...


DanielJames

Original Poster:

7,543 posts

199 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
Mark. said:
We are going next Friday - so can you post back what you did/found? biggrin
Sure will, thanks for the links!

Mark.

11,104 posts

307 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
DanielJames said:
Sure will, thanks for the links!
thumbup

DanielJames

Original Poster:

7,543 posts

199 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
Just gave P and O a quick ring and booked transfers from the euro port to amsterdam.

£13 return lol, be stupid not to!

Although my travel sickness is going to be going nuts tomorrow... train... ferry.. bus drunk

Migsy

531 posts

268 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
Writing from a little central hotel in Amsterdam....

Loads to do - Anne Frank house definitely worthwhile, try and book online for fast-track entry as queue is about an hour otherwise.

With a 12 yr old in tow, itinerary more focused for his likes, but you can pack lots in as everything is easily walk able and close together.

- walking tour or by bus, good for getting bearings as is canal cruise for spotting places of interest
- the dungeons are a bit of interactive fun and good for big kids
- vondelpark - good place for a coffee and a stroll
- lots of museums to choose from, we've picked Diamond (not that good/small), Resistance (for WWII mad son), Hermitage as new Peter the Great exhibition plus some of the Van Gogh is there until the main one is back open next month.
- nemo science centre and Glow Golf in the basement of a pub to do tomorrow

I'd recommend having a look on trip advisor for the top things to do, get a map, plot what you want to do and make the most of the time out here.

Weather pretty much same as UK - very dry, bitterly cold wind, but the sun's been out all day everyday this week so far.

Enjoy!

clarkmagpie

3,710 posts

226 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
quotequote all
Don't bother with the VG museum, utter waste of money.
I really like art and museums but thought it was a complete rip off.

The canal cruises are a nice, interesting way of seeing things.

The red light district is an eye opener, all shapes and sizes!

It's a great place to wander around and some cracking bars smile

Enjoy,

Americana

7 posts

164 months

Wednesday 3rd April 2013
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Been Amsterdam over last 20 years and in its early days was a very different place and had a real edge about it. It's pretty much cleaned up now.
Couldn't agree more, one of the places I'd never been was the VG museum so made a point to do it; what a load of rubbish and waste of time. Big disappointment.

Enjoy the canals, cafes, and Dutch peeps.


DanielJames

Original Poster:

7,543 posts

199 months

Sunday 7th April 2013
quotequote all
Well i'm back

Anyone who goes with PandO its a great break and the staff are great (well had to deal with a knob in the UK but nothing bad)

You have to board the ferry 90 mins before its departure at the latest. Food and drink is reasonable prices, we went to the restaurant rather than the buffet and prices were fair - the staff are very polite - and all asian as with all PandO - quite odd at first

With PandO you get to Amsterdam around 11am and have to leave at 5pm. 6 hours is enough i would say. We visited 4 coffee shops, had a few walks of the centre to laugh at prostitutes, had lunch in a restaurant and went to the sex musuem for giggles

Of the coffeeshops we visited i would say Smokeys was the best, good staff and you felt welcome - you get the same feeling at the Bulldog but Smokeys had Amstel on tap hehe of the 300 or so coffeshops there are in Amsterdam we saw maybe 30? No idea where the rest were

I'll be going again smile






g3org3y

22,520 posts

222 months

Monday 8th April 2013
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Thanks for the update. Out of interest, what's this malarkey I've heard about only being able to buy weed at the coffee shops on presentation of a Dutch passport? There were claims they were going to stop selling to tourists.

DanielJames

Original Poster:

7,543 posts

199 months

Monday 8th April 2013
quotequote all
g3org3y said:
Thanks for the update. Out of interest, what's this malarkey I've heard about only being able to buy weed at the coffee shops on presentation of a Dutch passport? There were claims they were going to stop selling to tourists.
Utter bullst.

I was also told you couldn't drink beer and smoke, that's crap too.

I think they proposed the law, and everyone started talking about it, it never got passed...

rich85uk

4,386 posts

210 months

Monday 8th April 2013
quotequote all
DanielJames said:
Of the coffeeshops we visited i would say Smokeys was the best, good staff and you felt welcome - you get the same feeling at the Bulldog but Smokeys had Amstel on tap hehe of the 300 or so coffeshops there are in Amsterdam we saw maybe 30? No idea where the rest were

I'll be going again smile
They are there trust me, if you go again print this map off i have done so on my last 2 visits:

http://www.coffeeshop.freeuk.com/Map.html

Worth a mention that there are some great smoke friendly bars and pubs (and a nightclub we were in aswell!)

best thing you can do is buy a tram pass and just go explore thats when you see just how great it is smile


lord summerisle

8,174 posts

256 months

Tuesday 9th April 2013
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my fave coffee shop has always been Cafe 420: just off damrak, but tucked away from the tourist traps - most will head for the bulldog or other larger coffeeshops.
http://www.420cafe.com/

If you want to buy some decent Belgium & dutch beers, head over to http://bierkoning.nl/ near to the Palace on Paleisstraat.

Anne Frank House is very moving. The Dutch Resistance museum near to the zoo is also facinating.

Hugo a Gogo

23,438 posts

264 months

Tuesday 9th April 2013
quotequote all
away from the coffeeshops, anyone been to the re-opened Rijksmuseum yet? it was well worth a visit before it was redone

(was amused by the name of the director on the news the other day, Taco Dibbits)