I posted a similar thread for Paris a few months back, and got a series of excellent reccomendations that far outstripped the advice of collegues and friends. I imagine these threads may be of use to other users who use the search function later on.
So anyway I'm going to Amsterdam for two and a half weeks. Accommodation is free and sorted out already as my girlfriend currently works there. I'm going to have a lot of free time during the day to wander, so if anybody who's been or lives in Amsterdam has any recommendations, both specific and generalised, it would be really appreciated.
I'm particularly interested in:
Videogame stores and arcades
Record stores, particularly those specialising in rock, metal, noise or genres of this nature
Book stores, particularly specialist ones (porn, academic, comics, etc). I can only read English and French though :'(
Museums and galleries. Especially smaller, and more specialised ones. (Pretty excited by the pornography and torture museums!)
Vegan restaurants, but not especially fussy
Rock bars, tattoo parlours, parks.
Thanks all!
Amsterdam reccomendations
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jugemscloud
- Posts: 146
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2012 9:46 pm
- Location: glasgow
Re: Amsterdam reccomendations
one of the best video game shops is right next to central station its on hassleaergsteeg (its a lane more than a street) right hand side if central is to your back, its called game over?
lambiek the comic book shop one of the oldest in europe, they were in the process of re-organising/modernising last year when i was in and i found a few rare old books and prints that they didn't know they had and got a deal on one a free beer and a nice chat with one of the guys that has ran it, its mainly dutch but they do have an english section. henk is good also but mainly modern stuff and space oddity was cool but pretty limited compared to those other 2. comiccon is on some time in august there (or it was last year) though buy a ticket beforehand if your going to go as i turned up on the day and it had sold out.
i went to a bar on spuistaat (i think) called the minds its no more than 2 streets from dam square in the direction of spuistraat its a punk/rock kind of bar and had a pinball table it has a big bruedel or something sign across the top of the window, recommended for late night drinking its one of the few places with a late licence so when the others have shut this is a place people go to. or theres places like dolly disco and the place next door that are open late also and a restaurant next to them as well thats open late (ribs and steak at 2am late), they're all on the same lane that the dampkring is on (one of the best places to buy smoke in central)
if smoke if your thing try "girl scout cookie" from utopia (again right next to dam square), its a sativa so its a mind high rather than a body one and a bit pricy (16-18 euro a gram) but the smoothest smoke I've ever had (15 years of exp)
lambiek the comic book shop one of the oldest in europe, they were in the process of re-organising/modernising last year when i was in and i found a few rare old books and prints that they didn't know they had and got a deal on one a free beer and a nice chat with one of the guys that has ran it, its mainly dutch but they do have an english section. henk is good also but mainly modern stuff and space oddity was cool but pretty limited compared to those other 2. comiccon is on some time in august there (or it was last year) though buy a ticket beforehand if your going to go as i turned up on the day and it had sold out.
i went to a bar on spuistaat (i think) called the minds its no more than 2 streets from dam square in the direction of spuistraat its a punk/rock kind of bar and had a pinball table it has a big bruedel or something sign across the top of the window, recommended for late night drinking its one of the few places with a late licence so when the others have shut this is a place people go to. or theres places like dolly disco and the place next door that are open late also and a restaurant next to them as well thats open late (ribs and steak at 2am late), they're all on the same lane that the dampkring is on (one of the best places to buy smoke in central)
if smoke if your thing try "girl scout cookie" from utopia (again right next to dam square), its a sativa so its a mind high rather than a body one and a bit pricy (16-18 euro a gram) but the smoothest smoke I've ever had (15 years of exp)
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Dochartaigh
- Posts: 1570
- Joined: Thu Mar 02, 2017 6:53 pm
Re: Amsterdam reccomendations
You can honestly skip the porn, torture, weed, and even Heineken [Experience] museum. They're super lame (with Heineken being the least lame of those). Like they're not even worth the price of admission.
I've still not been to the Anne Frank house in my 3 or 4 trips there - I would book that in advance (or think they have an open window either earlier or late on a day or two). Van Gough museum is cool if you like art. Besides that, get out to the countryside - go and see some tulip fields and windmills (the De Gooyer windmill is actually a site to see- just because of it's size, and that's right East of the centraal station - they actually make a good burger at the restaurant right there too (still like 18 euro prob...). Definitely take BOTH a canal boat tour, and a tour of the harbor (if the canal tour doesn't go there). The harbor has all these cool pirate-esque ships from the 17 and 1800s (or at least they look like they're that old).
Besides that I just usually walk around, have some *coffee*, explore. The city really is one of the most beautiful I've ever been to (and that's from around maybe 30 countries I've seen so far) - it's probably because I just really like water though, and Amsterdam is a canal city through and through.
Also think about taking a day trip to Paris (good for multiple days) - it's 3 hours by train if my memory serves. Less to Brussels (good for 2 days max, honestly can see all the sites in a day - it's main square is one of the finest in the entire world FYI). Rotterdam very close by is supposed to be amazing.
I've still not been to the Anne Frank house in my 3 or 4 trips there - I would book that in advance (or think they have an open window either earlier or late on a day or two). Van Gough museum is cool if you like art. Besides that, get out to the countryside - go and see some tulip fields and windmills (the De Gooyer windmill is actually a site to see- just because of it's size, and that's right East of the centraal station - they actually make a good burger at the restaurant right there too (still like 18 euro prob...). Definitely take BOTH a canal boat tour, and a tour of the harbor (if the canal tour doesn't go there). The harbor has all these cool pirate-esque ships from the 17 and 1800s (or at least they look like they're that old).
Besides that I just usually walk around, have some *coffee*, explore. The city really is one of the most beautiful I've ever been to (and that's from around maybe 30 countries I've seen so far) - it's probably because I just really like water though, and Amsterdam is a canal city through and through.
Also think about taking a day trip to Paris (good for multiple days) - it's 3 hours by train if my memory serves. Less to Brussels (good for 2 days max, honestly can see all the sites in a day - it's main square is one of the finest in the entire world FYI). Rotterdam very close by is supposed to be amazing.
Re: Amsterdam reccomendations
Amsterdam is a super nice town just to kind of hang out in, walk along the canals, and enjoy life. It has this sleazy reputation, but actually you'll find it to be extremely clean and organized, a bit like a super liberal version of Singapore. Definitely visit one of the "brown cafes", traditional colonial era coffeehouses.
There's a nice arcade/burger joint in the Red Light District called Ton Ton Club. When I was there they had a nice selection of cabs, including some rarities, such as Sega's Rail Chase. It's a nice medieval area to walk around at night when things get really busy, check out the hookers and then stop to play some games.
If you're there for over two weeks, you're probably gonna want to take some day trips to other places as well, like The Hague, or possibly Belgium (which is basically the dirtier and more interesting version of the Netherlands, imo
).
There's a nice arcade/burger joint in the Red Light District called Ton Ton Club. When I was there they had a nice selection of cabs, including some rarities, such as Sega's Rail Chase. It's a nice medieval area to walk around at night when things get really busy, check out the hookers and then stop to play some games.
If you're there for over two weeks, you're probably gonna want to take some day trips to other places as well, like The Hague, or possibly Belgium (which is basically the dirtier and more interesting version of the Netherlands, imo
).Re: Amsterdam reccomendations
Cheers for the reccomendations all! I'm here for some time and it's currently pouring with rain so taking things slowly, but seems like a nice enough place to habg around for a fortnight.
Re: Amsterdam reccomendations
The biggest arcade in the Benelux was recently opened in Utrecht, which is an hour away from Amsterdam with the train. However I can't find anything on the internet about the games they offer. If you could take a look and see if there's any shmups on display, I'd be grateful.
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Re: Amsterdam reccomendations
I'm in Amsterdam atm too. With the family and meeting up with the in-laws so most of the time goes to making everyone happy (without weed .
Deffo get out of the city into the countryside. We took the Hop on hop off through Waterland, Voldam (grab lunch by the harbor), some other small towns and finally Zaanse Schans. It leaves from the A'dam tower. Take the ferry to Buiksloterweg from the central station.
Cut Throat has great burgers and barbers (if that's your thing) and Sweetella's got crazy desserts - grab a diabetic burger or a double waffle - not for the faint hearted
. Deffo get out of the city into the countryside. We took the Hop on hop off through Waterland, Voldam (grab lunch by the harbor), some other small towns and finally Zaanse Schans. It leaves from the A'dam tower. Take the ferry to Buiksloterweg from the central station.
Cut Throat has great burgers and barbers (if that's your thing) and Sweetella's got crazy desserts - grab a diabetic burger or a double waffle - not for the faint hearted