It's not hard to fall in love with Amsterdam, and it is one of the most Cosmopolitan cities, or the most if I may say so. Eighteen years ago, I immigrated to Holland and lived in a small town called Amersfoort. Its 'wild' and 'wonderful' but I advise you to go with a partner. Personally I would never reccommend that you do it on your own, but thats my opinion.
Surrounded by larger European countries, many Dutch speak at least two or three other languages, (and are proud to make it known) which makes it a great place for less intrepid travelers to visit. It's less intimidating than Paris and avoids London's big-city hustle (and its cultural similarity to the U.S.). And unlike those cities, you can see almost all of Amsterdam on foot in a weekend.
TIP: If you are visiting HOLLAND for the first time, be prepared to experience the true meaning of 'freedom' America eat your heart out.
Dutch Truths
Bicycles
in Amsterdam and for that matter all over Holland, nearly outnumber people, I had 5 bikes stolen from me in one year. It happens all the time, you rob my bike if yours has just been robbed and I go rob someone else's. (I never did rob one though) So the problem is solved, and you always have a bike at arm's length. Amsterdam is a bite-sized city. The public transport system there is next to none. The Amsterdam airport (Schipol) is known to be the most user friendly airport in the world. Refrain from renting a
car -- or houseboat -- until you're well outside the city.
Amsterdam is a vacationer's utopia: you can do pretty much anything and everything you desire. Prostitution is legal, (and I am not insinuating that thats what you would like to do,) LOL but its synonamous with Holland, thats the first thing which comes to mind. and so is, "recreational hemp." (weed) The city is a favorite weekend destination for Europeans, especially for big groups of bachelor parties flying in from the U.K. Yet even though Amsterdam definitely has a wild side, it's easy to feel comfortable and at home here.
Most Amsterdammers have a tolerant, laid-back attitude mixed with a wry, self-deprecating twist of humor, using obcenities is the norm. Their city is home to lots of good-looking blondes, massage parlours which offer a lot more than a massage, delicious cheese, chocolates, and coffeehouses, (not necessarily to drink coffee in) Rembrandt and Van Gogh, from sex to drugs to great architecture, history, quirky modern fashion and design. So there's plenty here to satisfy anyone.
AMSTERDAM the Good the Bad and the Ugly
Amsterdam
is a narrow city -- the houses, canals, stairways, and cobblestone lanes and
streets are often extremely unpredictable and zigzag every which way. Some of the buildings are so ancient that they look that they are going to crumble, But don't
worry, people still live in them and are quite satisfied too. Almost everyone is a tourist there and the Dutch are very helpful with directions.
Trust me, I always need directions, I am the kind of person who will get lost in my own house.
I have never been there on my own and always made sure to visit with a person who knew Amsterdam well. The one thing which never ceases to amaze me was, no matter who visited us from overseas, the first place they wanted to visit was. 'The Red Bridge' (the red light district) and that goes for my female guests and family too. You get stopped on the road by pedestrians solicitating on the streets. trying to sell you something or the other.
For some of us, it's an adventure; for others it's a total nightmare. No matter how panicky you may feel, remember it's inevitable to lose control once in a while. That's what makes traveling fun. Believe me I know what I am talking about, I have travelled all over the world, in all modes of transportation. Sometimes in luxury and sometimes in situations somewhat less. You're supposed to push up against your comfort zone a little, otherwise, why bother to leave the house?
Home of the tulip, Amsterdam is a city of bodacious flowers. Check out the big floating flower market (Bloemenmarkt) near the city's epicenter. Beautiful wrapped bouquets are plentiful and surprisingly cheap, $5.00 for a bunch of freshly cut flowers. A great impromptu gift for your loved one. The Dutch love to take flowers over when they visit someone.
Something which really bothers me though about HOLLAND is their CHRONIC 'AGEISM ATTITUDE'. If the Dutch deny they have any discrimation in their country. Its a 'myth'. Age discrimination is rampant. If you are over thirty and need a job. Head for the bottom rung of the ladder 'baby', You are way too 'OLD'. I'm not too sure about 'Race descrimination'. They send mixed signals about this. Though they claim to be anti racist. I am beginning to think they are becoming xenophobic as well. The Government is welcoming all and sundry. The people on the other hand are a bit wary of the fact and I dont blame them at all. The country is filling up with golddiggers, bums, people who are down right exploiting the system, and living on the fat of the land. Holland is a small country with only sixteen million people. And while you are there, you just have to check out the marijuana growing kits, for sale alongside the rows of tulips, a great photo opportunity -- but no souvenirs please!
The Dutch love plants, and every window is crammed with potted plants almost giving the place a jungle atmosphere. They hardly ever draw their curtains, and its not abnormal to see swarms of passers by gazing into other peoples windows, and nobody minds that at all. Passive exhibitionism I guess. My son Mario on the other hand used to go ballistic if he saw people gazing into our window. And would often show them 'the finger' which is also a much used jesticulation. I was horrified, but he told me. Its Okay, everyone does it.
Amsterdam, incidentally, is a paradise for smokers of all kinds. The city's brown cafes, or bruine kroegen, are named after their traditional decor -- walls stained with a years-old nicotine patina. You can go there to linger over a coffee (the dutch drink coffee like its going out of style) and pretend to read your Dutch newspaper. Vehement non-smokers may as well hang it up. Tobacco smoking has been a part of this city's culture since the 16th century. If you're really suffering, sit in one of the larger Cafes and ask for the non-smoking section -- perhaps more aptly called the "passive inhaling" section. Otherwise, surrender!!
Now that I have given you a kind of image of what the city and its people are like. If you do go there, drop me a line when you get back to share your thoughts. EMAIL
One last bit of advice.....NEVER and I mean never visit anyone at or around 6.00pm thats the time Dutch people eat supper. They will simple ask you to leave, or if you are able to enter the house everyone will stiffen up on the setee looking at the clock and appearing quite uncommunicative. Its just that supper time is special family time and outsiders are not welcome. Like it or lump it every culture has their own idiosyncracies.
Dont get me wrong, I love Holland with all my heart, and have some really wonderful friends there but I just like to tell it how it is. I now reside in Canada so my next touristic repotage will be...Yep you guessed it...Tillsonburg ofcourse!!! Boy!! have I got a story to tell