I always suspected that Amsterdam was full of mysteries. Otherwise, why are so many pleasures available in the Netherlands prohibited in other countries? In December, I accidentally found myself in this city and found a place to live with the help of couchsurfing, after which there were even more unsolved secrets. Now I read everything about Amsterdam and try to figure out its secrets. Collected in this post 25 funny or little-known facts - I'm sure you will also be interested.
Amsterdam is now in my TOP-3 cities in the world along with Paris and Moscow
The first streets of Amsterdam
- There is a joke about the Dutch language. A drunken German sailor comes ashore in England and tries to speak English. What he does is the language spoken on the streets of Amsterdam.
- The first event in the life of Amsterdam worthy of a chronicle took place in 1204. Then locals decided to build a dam on the Amstel River near their fishing village to get rid of the constant flooding. "Amstel" in translation from ancient German means "expanses with an abundance of water."
- And what was happening at the same time in other cities of the world? Shortly before that, Moscow was founded as one of the fortresses to protect the Suzdal lands. Medieval Paris, they say, then did not yet differ in particular splendor, but in London they just built the London Bridge, which stood for 600 years and for half a millennium remained the only bridge across the Thames. The Mongols just at that period completely destroyed the city, which was on the site of modern Beijing.
View from the central station of Amsterdam to the "vastness with an abundance of water" - At the end of the 13th century, a terrible natural disaster happened - a terrible flood. It turned Lake Flevonian, on the shores of which Amsterdam was located, into a bay. This event was the best in the history of the current capital of the Netherlands. It made a small fishing village a big city, a center for maritime trade and a meeting place for sailors. Amsterdam rose a lot when it started trading with the Hanseatic League, acquiring grain and timber. Already at the beginning of the 14th century, it officially became a city.
- The streets of Amsterdam were literally built by the hands of residents. Excess moisture was pumped out by the legendary mills that have become the business card of Amsterdam and sung in the paintings of Flemish painters. The townspeople conquered every section of the drained territory, throwing stones at it, brought by the earth, absolutely any rubbish.
Does it look like the houses of the sorcerers? - Buildings on the streets of Amsterdam stand on 20-meter piles and resemble houses for birds or dwellings of sorcerers and magicians. The wider the facades of the houses, the richer it means that the owner was. The fact is that in the old days there was a tax on windows and the width of the facades.
- Seamen of the 14th century, who arrived in Amsterdam from all over the world, often confused women of easy virtue with ordinary ladies who walked along the embankments. So the prostitutes were forced to walk with red lights and were assigned a separate area - De Wallen, better known as the Red Light District in Amsterdam. He concentrates around the Old Church, the oldest building in the town.
Old church Amsterdam - the center of the Red Light District - In the 16th century, the Netherlands became part of Spain. However, it was not easy for the Dutch to live in the power of Philip II. Thus began the War of Independence, which lasted for 80 years. As a result, the revolutionary leader of the revolution, William of Orange, nicknamed the Silent One, made the Netherlands a republic.
- According to legend, during the Spanish domination, one evil governor executed 18 thousand people in four years, and then banned the curtains so that the Dutch would not organize secret gatherings. True or not, life without curtains is still very common in Amsterdam. Spying on the home theater of Dutch life is incredibly interesting.
Canals of Amsterdam and other signs of the "Golden Age"
- The first whale of explosive economic growth was the politics of freedoms. Scientists, artists, writers, teachers, alchemists, tired of the inquisitorial methods of the authorities of other countries, poured into the country. True, during the years of the Inquisition, many of them were executed by the New Market Square on suspicion of witchcraft. If a woman's weight was less than 50 kg, she was recognized as a witch and burned. The "witch hunt" lasted 200 years in Europe.
Canals of amsterdam - The entire 17th century is called the "Golden Age" of Amsterdam. It was then that he was considered the most successful "business center" and the largest seaport in the world. Dutch merchants traveled to Africa, Brazil, Indonesia, the famous East India and then the West India Company was created, and the Netherlands became the leader of world trade. Henry Hudson explored the coast of North America, and then the Dutch founded "New Amsterdam" there, which the English colonists later renamed New York.
Mysterious city on the Amstel river - The great painter Rembrandt lived in Amsterdam in the 17th century. Marrying an ugly but wealthy girl, Saskia, gave Rembrandt the opportunity to enter the upper strata of society. The wife, exhausted by childbirth, died at the age of 30 and bequeathed her estate to her husband. However, with a caveat: if he does not marry again. He fulfilled the requirement, but, of course, did not refuse the female affection. And 20 years later, when he squandered all the hereditary and earned money, he even sold the tombstone from the grave of his once beloved wife. The Rembrandt house was sold for debts, and today it houses a wonderful artist's museum. This is one of the most famous landmarks in Amsterdam.
- Also in the "Golden Age" in Amsterdam lived the alchemist Spinoza. The parents hoped that their son would become a brilliant rabbi. It turned out the other way around. The young man became interested in physics, mathematics and philosophy, rejected Judaism and even changed the name Baruch to the Latin Benedict. As a result, he was cursed: they even made an attempt on him, but the wound turned out to be harmless.
Canals of amsterdam - In the 17th century, the architect Hendrik de Keyser drew up a plan for the construction of Amsterdam's famous canals that girdled the city. Their depth is three meters. The Dutch joke: we have a meter of water, a meter of mud and a meter of bicycles there.
- They say that in the 17th century, a tulip bulb cost a huge fortune, and for rare varieties, the inhabitants of Amsterdam were ready to sell their house and all things. The country has experienced tulip ups and downs, but today there are many plantations with these flowers, and every year there is a tulip parade.
I AMsterdam - According to legend, Peter I became the first Russian Mason, just after he went to Holland. He allegedly became a member of one of the lodges in Amsterdam in 1697. Russian “free masons” preferred to trace their ancestry back to the tsar-artisan, which was in full accordance with their “construction” legend.
Important landmarks of Amsterdam
- On Dam Square, the main one in the city, is located one of the most important architectural monuments of Amsterdam - the Royal Palace. The building was also built in the "Golden Age". Before him, large houses were not built in the capital, since the soil could not withstand them. But in 1648, architect Jacob van Kampen challenged nature by starting the construction of the largest town hall in Europe. The building has no main entrance, which constantly confuses tourists. The fact is that in 1535 the previous town hall was stormed by the Anabaptists, then demonstrations and clashes often took place in Amsterdam, and the lack of a front entrance prevented the rapid penetration into the building. Today, the Royal Palace is the temporary residence of King Willem-Alexander and a famous landmark in Amsterdam.
Selfie in Dam Square in front of the Royal Palace - When Napoleon occupied the Netherlands, prostitution was officially legalized here. Workers in the red light district in Amsterdam were ordered to check with a doctor twice a week. The healthy received red cards, which gave them the right to work further. Ladies with poor analyzes were given a white card, a ban on further work and a referral to free treatment.
- Before the outbreak of World War II, Amsterdam was the center of the world's diamond industry. The business was concentrated mainly in the hands of Jewish families. During the war, the city was captured by German troops, and more than 100,000 Dutch Jews died in concentration camps. One of the most poignant stories on the subject is Anne Frank's diary, a record kept by a Jewish teenage girl as her family hid in a shelter on Amsterdam's Prinsengracht Canal. Anna died at the age of 15 in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp from typhus. Her father was the only survivor of the family and published a diary. Today, many films have been shot on it, UNESCO recognized it as a "Memory of the World", and the former refuge of the Frank family has become a world-famous museum in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam - the city of bicycles - The residents of Amsterdam switched to bicycles after the war, when the crisis broke out, and no one had money for gasoline. The city, however, was not at all adapted to this type of transport. When 400 children died in bicycle accidents in one year, mass demonstrations took place, and bicycle paths were created all over Amsterdam. The Dutch are now one of the healthiest nations in the world, thanks to their two-wheeled passion. The average Amsterdamman has a great thief three times in his life, so no one here buys new ones. Sometimes a special service cuts abandoned, long-rusting bicycles chained to the fence of Amsterdam canals. Most likely, these are the vehicles of the dead people.
Ladder for a cat in Amsterdam - Orange is the color of the Dutch royal dynasty. Even domestic cats have a red color with rare exceptions. In Amsterdam, these animals have a special attitude - they are considered intermediaries between people and the other world. "Cat's Study" is a chic museum in Amsterdam, completely dedicated to cats, cats are also the caretakers there. And homeless animals live on a specially equipped cat barge. I, of course, did not even meddle with my allergies to this sight of Amsterdam.
- In the Netherlands, there are many pleasures that are forbidden to other countries. Not only coffee shops and smart shops are legalized here, but also gay marriage. At the same time, Amstredam is distinguished by the honesty and culture of its residents, and the crime rate in it is extremely low. All migrants are required to pass a tolerance test.
Red Light District in Amsterdam - In 2000, prostitution was also legalized in Amsterdam. She was recognized as an ordinary profession. Today, girls in revealing outfits stand in the windows of the same De Wallen quarter. We kept the red lanterns because they attract attention perfectly and hide imperfections in the skin. Prostitutes pay rent for their windows from 600 euros per month, as well as taxes to the state. An average session in Amsterdam's Red Light District lasts only 10-15 minutes and costs between 50 and 200 euros.
The most famous museum in Amsterdam
The round building on the right is the famous Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam - Vincent van Gogh became an artist only at the age of thirty and in seven years he painted over 800 paintings. But only one of them found a buyer during his lifetime. He died at 37, and in 1973 one of the most famous museums in Amsterdam opened. It possesses the world's largest collection of Van Gogh's works. I stood there in a huge queue, and every visitor does this - this place is so popular today.
I really like the approach to the work of the excursion project "Amsterdam at 15:15". They try to tell in the same way as I write my travel guides: a maximum of fascinating stories and legends from the past and present of the city, a minimum of dry dates. The guide's story always contains useful information about public transport, national cuisine, museums and stuff.
These tours take place in different european cities... They always start at 15:15. The most important thing is to register. Then the guide will come to the appointed place on any day convenient for you, even if you are the only visitor. Two-hour walk with interesting story in Russian it costs only 15 euros - this is even cheaper than "free" excursions around the world, which may later require a tip of about 20 euros.
If you write “friend of Olya Cherednichenko” during registration in the comments, the walk will cost you one more euro less - the cost of a tour of Amsterdam will be 14 euros.
- I went to Amsterdam spontaneously. While walking through Brussels, I accidentally met my St. Petersburg colleague, gastronomic journalist Marina Mironova with her husband. They showed me one of the best Belgian oyster restaurants, told me about Marina's recent book Food Without Borders: Rules for Delicious Travel, and inspired me to drive to Amsterdam, where they had just arrived. A day later, I was already traveling by train to the city, which I had dreamed of visiting for so long. I found a home with the help of couchsurfing. My host Hendrik told me that there is no better university in the Netherlands - all universities provide the same quality education. Also, the salaries of representatives of the same professions are the same in different cities of the country. There is no such thing that in Amsterdam they are overpriced. The pay is pretty decent, so Hendrik only works three days a week and, naturally, doesn't sit in the office until nightfall. In the Netherlands, you can choose how many hours you want to work. And the Dutch are really very tall. The toilet in his house was reinforced in such a way that when I sat down on it, my legs dangled, not reaching the floor))
Amazing Amsterdam If you liked this post, and you also want to learn how to write fascinatingly about travel, watch mine from anywhere in the world or come to my live in Moscow at the Media School from March 28 to April 27, 2017.
Let's go on a fabulous journey through unforgettable Amsterdam, where marijuana and homosexual marriages are legalized, where the hippie quarter is flourishing, real absinthe is born and tulip plantations grow happily. Only here you can visit the Red Light District, where the most "ancient profession" is considered a profitable business. In addition to the listed exotic attractions, Amsterdam has a lot of cultural, educational and very interesting places that tourists like to visit. Today we will tell you what you should definitely see in Amsterdam.
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So, our plane lands on the runway of the busiest airport in the world, Schiphol Airport, and it's time to think about how to get to the city center. There are options and they are:
- a direct train comes to the main railway station in Amsterdam. Departure of trains on such a route is round-the-clock, three to four trains per hour at rush hour and from 1.00 am to 5.00 am - one train per hour. The fare costs 3.8 euros one way. The journey takes only 20 minutes. All train platforms (our 13th) are located underground, right under the main airport lobby. The ticket can only be purchased inside the building from the yellow-blue machine.
- for 30 minutes and 4.8 euros to the city center can be easily reached by bus number 197. Its departure is carried out every 15 minutes from 5.00 am to 00.00 am. At night, buses 72 and 97 run once an hour.
- if extra money is lost in your pocket, then you can get to the city by taxi. The fare will be approximately 40-50 euros. And this pleasure will take 25 minutes.
- if you need to get to the hotel, it is possible to use the shuttle bus service for 14.5 euros. It departs from the A7 platform every 30 minutes from 6.00 am to 9.00 pm.
Having reached the center, any tourist will begin to get acquainted with the city and with all its delights. What, in principle, we will also do.
Canals, tulips, wooden shoes and windmills are considered symbols of Holland. A good opportunity to start a tour with them.
Interesting articles:
So, we got to the center and our first stop is the Tulip Museum, which is located in the city center, a 15-minute walk from the central station, on the opposite side of the Prinsengracht water channel, next to the famous Anne Frank house-museum. You can also get to the Tulip Museum by tram number 13 or 17 to the stop Westermarkt (Western Church) and by bus number 21, 170, 171, or 172.
On an area of \u200b\u200b2,200 square meters, there are seven galleries, a theater flower bed and a shop. The Tulip Museum is open to the public every day from 10.00 to 18.00. But we do not recommend planning a visit for April 26 or December 25, as the doors of the museum are closed on these days. If you do not have the I amsterdam City Card, the cost of the visit for you will be: 15 Euro for a family, 5 Euro for one adult and 3 Euro for students.
Not far from the museum is the famous house-museum of A. Frank (address: 263 Prinsengracht). In the secret place of this house, behind a movable bookcase, during the war of the Third Reich, Anna's father, whose name is Otto Frank, hid eight people in complete isolation for two years. But unfortunately, in August 1944, the cache was discovered by the Nazis. Only one father survived, the rest all died in concentration camps, including Anna.
Thanks to the diary of a famous girl, in which she described not only unforgettable events taking place, her own vivid experiences and exciting moments for her, now there is this museum, in which the atmosphere of that period of time still lives.
Photographs, excerpts from a diary, films, historical documents, as well as things and objects that belonged to those eight people from the cache, colorfully and vividly illustrate to the visitors of the house the events that once took place here. Anna's diary in the museum is a special artifact. Before visiting, we recommend watching the movie "Anne Frank's Vault" (1988).
Since at any time of the year the queues from those wishing to see this unique "museum" are very long, we recommend arriving after 15:00. Life hack from the site: in order not to stand in line for tickets, purchase them in advance at annefrank.org/nl. So you will have the opportunity to enter the museum through a special entrance, which is located to the left of the central one, and save a couple of hours of precious time. It is forbidden to use photo and video equipment, but tourists still manage to take some good pictures.
A ticket for adults, at the time of publication of this article, costs 9 euros, for young people from 10 to 17 years old the price is 4.50 euros, and up to 10 years old it is completely free. Opening hours: daily except October 4, 2014 (Yom Kippur). From November 1 to March 31 9: 00-17: 00 (Saturdays until 21:00 hours), from April 1 to October 31 9: 00-21: 00 (Saturdays until 22:00 hours), from July 1 to August 31 9: 00-22: 00. Entrance to the museum no later than 30 minutes before closing.
In the city center is the Royal Palace, which is also an important landmark of the capital. It is used for state visits and hosts official events, such as the Royal Reward Painting Prize and the Prince Claus Prize.
Visiting hours from 11.00 pm to 17.00 pm, ticket price for adults 10 euros, for children from 5 to 16 years old, seniors from 65 years old and students - 9 euros, free for children under 5 years old. You can buy tickets online and view the Royal Palace's opening hours at paleisamsterdam.nl. Be careful: filming is prohibited, including on mobile phone... Photography is permitted provided that you do not use a tripod and flash.
Canal walk
In 2010, the Amsterdam canal network was added to the list of World Heritage Sites. There are about 165 canals in the city, not to mention the bridges, of which there are already more than 600. As the story goes, the first canals in Amsterdam were created to protect and control water resources... In the Middle Ages, the city expanded significantly, and such defensive lines lost their relevance, but took on a more important role - these are "great" cargo transportation. And in the seventeenth century, the city government of Amsterdam had already proposed a project for the construction of a network of canals.
Construction was completed by 1660 and contributed to the growth of the capital fourfold. A fleet of a thousand barges actively transported goods to every corner of the city. Nine floating markets that served the entire population of Amsterdam and thousands of warehouses were located and thrived on the city's revered canals.
But by the 20th century, cars and other land transport, which forced the population to fill many canals with earth and make streets and neighborhoods in their place. As a result, now, at present, only 25% of the surface of Amsterdam consists of shipping lanes.
Canal travel is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the capital. A huge fleet of varied boats offers water cruises with different routes. The cost of entering a local boat, which has both indoor and outdoor comfortable seats, is 20 euros for adults, and 10 euros for children aged 5 to 12. The cost of a pedalo is approximately 7.5 euros plus an outpost of 50 euros per person per hour.
In the Netherlands, the national holiday of the Mills is celebrated on May 11, and on this day the heroes of the occasion are decorated with flowers, garlands, figures and the Dutch flag. You don't have to travel far to see them, they are just a few minutes away, for example, by bike. Of the eight mills, only two are open, especially for curious tourists.
If you are a beer lover, then you can combine the useful and the pleasant by visiting a windmill called Gooyer or Fuenmolen. It is located in eastern Amsterdam on Fuenenkade, the same place where the brewery still produces and sells Dutch traditional beer.
Red Light District and Erotic Museum
One of the main attractions of the capital, which attracts dozens, hundreds and even thousands of tourists here, is the well-known red-light district on which prostitution, legalized at the state level, flourishes. A street filled with red light pouring from windows, where they stand amicably offering their services, confused at a price of 50 euros, or the drawn curtains are meaningfully silent. In the center of the Red Light District, you can see an old warehouse illuminated by a neon sign above the entrance with a defiant and attractive inscription "Erotic Museum".
The museum houses a three-story shop of erotic trivia and souvenirs and a red room with a girl, from the quarter adjacent to the museum. There are also old collections of erotic photographs and masterpieces of erotic art. This establishment was specially created in order to reflect the life of the famous De Wallen street. In it, you can freely take pictures of everything, which, it should be noted, is dangerous to do outside the room before the will. The museum is open from Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 11.00 to 1.00. The ticket price is 5 euros.
Museum of marijuana, hemp and hashish
You can also find it on one of the blocks of the famous Red Light District. The attraction can be divided into two parts, one of which talks about all kinds of drug use and some of its properties, and the second is devoted to the history and traditions of the use of this culture. For 9 euros, Amsterdam offers the opportunity to visit one of the few original establishments that thrives on a par with art museums.
Red Light District "is adjacent to chinatown, where there are many decent restaurants of different cuisines, shops and a real amazing Buddhist temple.
The next museum that you should definitely visit is the Museum of Sex. On Damrak Street, in the center of the lively city bustle, practically opposite the railway station, there is a spectacular and unusual museum of the most delicate sphere - the sphere of human sexuality. The institution consists of named rooms, in each of which a kind of muffled music sounds.
For more than two decades of its history, the museum has managed to collect and organize all this in a very interesting way more than one hundred works of art, unique objects and rare old photographs without straightforward pornography. Every day, from 9.30 am to 11.30 pm, the museum welcomes its guests at least 16 years old. The ticket price is 4 euros.
If you are a lover of horror and fantasy, adrenaline and extreme sports, then the Museum of Torture, which costs 5 euros for an adult, was created just for you. It is one of the most unusual, intimidating and interesting museums in Amsterdam. In this room, you can easily merge into the atmosphere of the dirty and difficult criminal justice system that reigned over the people five hundred years ago.
Small, dimly lit rooms contain some eerie relics of torture that still evoke feelings of terror and dread. The museum is located on the left bank of the Singel Canal, near the Muntplein.
Most of us would love to meet Ronaldinho, Barack Obama, Lady Gaga in the Netherlands or Madonna. Since 1971 it has provided this opportunity for only 22 euros. In Dam Square, equipped with professional animators and multimedia effects, modernized and appropriate royal palace the museum attracts the attention of visitors of all ages.
Cat museum
In honor of our smaller friends, a cat museum was built, which is located on Herengracht in an old patrician building. Why is it bad to get acquainted with art, which represents the entire genus of felines for only 6 euros?
The Amsterdam Botanical Garden is rightfully considered one of the oldest and largest in Europe. It was founded in 1638 and today has about 6,000 species of plants and trees.
Ortus Botanikus is famous for its greenhouses, each of which accurately recreates certain climatic conditions. So, in the local "tropics" it is very humid, where you can look at exotic vines and luxurious orchids. And in the "subtropical" greenhouse there is a bridge from which you can admire ferns and flowering fruit trees. The territory of the garden is huge - if you get tired of studying rare plants, take a break at the cafe on the territory.
The address:
Plantage Middenlaan, 2a
Website:
dehortus.nl
Wiki:Amsterdam botanical garden
Working hours: daily from 10:00 to 17:00 (special opening hours on holidays, in addition, the park is closed on January 1 and December 25).
2. Museum of hashish, marijuana and hemp
Recently, trade in soft drugs has been limited in Holland: no more than 5 grams per hand, you cannot advertise and sell to minors. And from January 1, 2013 - a complete ban on the sale of hashish and marijuana to foreign citizens.
But no one forbids tourists to go to museums, even specific ones. Moreover, the Amsterdam exhibition of hashish, marijuana and hemp has a noble educational mission. The museum tells about the types and varieties of these plants, the methods of their cultivation, their medical properties, as well as the history of their use in various cultures and industries (our grandmothers, for example, wore hemp clothes).
The cost of the visit is 9 euros. Tasting of exhibits is not provided.
The address: Oudezijds Achterburgwal, 148
Website: hashmuseum.com
Working hours: daily from 10:00 to 23:00
3. The Pancake Bakery
Taste of Holland is the famous Amsterdam herring, kibbeling, croquettes and bitterbolens. But you won't understand anything about Dutch cuisine unless you try the pannenkoken. These are pancakes with all kinds of fillings - meat, cheese, fruits, chocolate, etc. But, unlike Russian pancakes, the filling is not wrapped in pannenkokeni, but is superimposed on top, as for pizza.
The best pannenkokens in Amsterdam are served at The Pancake Bakery, near the Anne Frank Museum. The menu of this establishment includes 75 types (!) Of national Dutch pancakes. At the same time, the prices “do not bite” - 5.95 euros for a large portion.
The address: Prinsengracht 191, 1015 DS
Website: pancake.nl
Working hours: daily from 12:00 to 21:30
In the very heart of Amsterdam, in the cobblestones of one of its streets, there is another unusual attraction - a monument to a woman's breast. The bronze composition, representing a lush female breast, lying in a man's palm, symbolizes Yin and Yang. The chest is a symbol of submission and femininity, and the palm is a symbol of firmness and masculine power. At the same time, the hand is chained to the girl's body, which means the codependency of female attractiveness and male strength. True, most tourists do not dig so deeply, for them the message of the sculpture is obvious, because it is located in the Red Light District.
Many urban legends are associated with this monument. According to one of them (the most beautiful), a young man and a girl once lived in Amsterdam, madly in love with each other. But the happiness of the young couple did not last long - the war separated them. The guy went to the front and lost his sight, and the girl became a prostitute due to poverty. Returning home, the guy was walking through the streets of his hometown, when suddenly someone called out to him. This was one of the priestesses of love. Touching her chest, the young man recognized his beloved.
In addition to legends, the monument is covered with signs. For example, men who stand on a bronze chest are guaranteed male longevity, and those who stroke it - many sexual victories.
The address: Prostitutiegebied, in de buurt van de Oude Kerk
Monument to the female breast in Amsterdam 5. Science Center NEMO
Where does lightning come from? Why do earthquakes happen? How do planes fly? Children always have a million questions, and adults do not know the answers to all of them. To satisfy the curiosity of "why" (and your own), go to the NEMO Science Center.
This is a unique museum dedicated to science and technology. Its peculiarity is that the rule "Do not touch with your hands" does not apply there. On the contrary, it is recommended to take the exhibits in their hands, twist, shake, press buttons - children should comprehend the world through personal experience.
The building of the center, reminiscent of a ship's stern, was built according to the project of Renzo Piano. The architect deliberately "exposed" the ventilation pipes and other functional elements, as this correlates well with the concept of the museum. On the roof of NEMO there is observation deck, which offers a wonderful view of Amsterdam.
The address: Oosterdok, 2
Website: e-nemo.nl
Wiki: NEMO Museum
Working hours: Tuesday-Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00
6. Tattoo Museum
The Tattoo Museum is a relatively new institution in Amsterdam. It was founded by Henk Schiffmacher in 2011. As a tattoo artist, Henk collected all sorts of exhibits related to tattoos for many years. As a result, so much accumulated that the artist decided to open a museum.
And this is really a must see! Tattoo machines, needles, photographs, paintings and even a piece of real tattooed skin of a Boston sailor - more than 40 thousand items in total.
The address:
Plantage Middenlaan 62 1018 DH
Website:
tattoomuseum.wordpress.com
Working hours: daily from 10:00 to 19:00
7. Coster Diamonds Diamond Factory
Everyone knows that Amsterdam is a city of flowers, but only a few people know that it is also a city of diamonds. However, the capital of the Netherlands has several factories that cut the hardest minerals on earth, and one of the oldest is called Coster Diamonds.
It was there that in 1852 the famous Koh-i-noor diamond, which is part of the treasures of the British crown and is kept in the Tower of London, was re-cut. After this cutting, the diamond became pure white and "lost weight" from 191 to 108.9 carats.
Konhinur is not the only jewelry masterpiece created within the walls of Coster Diamonds. What other diamonds turned into diamonds there will tell you on free excursion, which, in addition to the theoretical part, also includes various master classes - you can try yourself as a grinder or cutter.
The address:
Paulus Potterstraat, 2-6
Website:
costerdiamonds.com
Virtual tour
Working hours: daily from 9:00 to 17:00
8. Bridge Python
Officially, this bridge, connecting the Sporenburg peninsula with the island of Borneois called Pythonbrug. But it is big, red and curved like a crawling snake, so tourists nicknamed it "Python".
The serpentine pedestrian crossing was built in the Venice of the North in 2001. The project was developed and implemented by West 8, using steel as the main material - it is light and flexible, which allows you to create fancy designs. The length of this one is almost 100 meters. The bridge is also decorated with 2,000 light bulbs, which makes it especially beautiful at night.
The address: Pythonbrug, 1019 Zeeburg
9. Sex Museum
Amsterdam is a city of tolerance. Here they treat with understanding any manifestations of sexuality and believe that carnal Love is worthy of a separate museum.
The Museum of Sex, or rather the Temple of Venus (as the owners prefer to call it) was opened in 1985. For almost 30 years, a solid collection of exhibits has been collected: from the statue of the Goddess of Love, meeting visitors at the entrance, to Merlin Monroe with her skirt raised in the wind.
The Sex Museum is located not far from the famous "Red Light District" in an old building of the 17th century. At the same time, the exhibits are exhibited in its back and front parts, as well as on the stairs connecting these rooms, - a kind of frank labyrinth is obtained.
If you are over 16, then be sure to visit this exhibition (ticket price - 4 euros) and take pictures with extravagant exhibits (give ava against the background of a huge erect phallus!;)).
The address:Damrak, 18
Website: sexmuseumamsterdam.nl
Working hours: daily from 9:30 am to 11:30 pm
10. Bob's Youth Hostel
Bob's Youth Hostel is one of the best hostels in Amsterdam, a must for young people traveling around Europe. The walls of the rooms are painted by local and visiting artists, which creates a special atmosphere.
For 18-23 euros, you will receive a bed, clean linen, breakfast and a luggage room. From 8 am to 3 am, a bar is open, selling pretty cheap beer. In addition, there is no “curfew” at the hostel, but only persons over 18 years of age can check in.
The address: Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, 92
Website: bobsyouthhostel.nl
11. Art Plain Spey Market
Every Sunday, 25 professional artists gather on the small Amsterdam square called Speuil. On street stalls to the sounds of a live violin or harp, they present their paintings (less often - sculptures and crafts). Next weekend, other creators will come in their place to show the world their art (about 60 artists trade in the market, entering into one creative association and replacing each other).
Art Plaine Spey is both a gallery (you can just wander between the aisles and admire the painting) and a marketplace. There you can buy works of contemporary Dutch artists, and much cheaper than in a gallery, which usually requires a commission - 50% of the cost of the painting.
The address:
Spui Plein, 1012 WZ Amsterdam
Website:
artplein-spui.nl
Working hours: on Sundays from 10:00 to 17:00 (closed in winter)
12. Restaurant De Kas
De Kas is a unique bio-restaurant that offers its visitors only the freshest products, literally just picked from the garden. After all, De Kas is a restaurant located in a greenhouse.
In 1926, a greenhouse was built in Frankendael Park to grow fruits and vegetables for local social institutions. However, the need for this soon disappeared, and the greenhouse fell into disrepair. So far, in 2000, the enterprising Gert Jan Hagemann bought the building (for 1 euro!) And opened an unusual gastronomic establishment.
Biorestoran is surrounded by beds, there all year round fresh vegetables, fruits and flowers ripen, which later appear on the plates of visitors. But do not think that meat lovers have nothing to do in De Kas - the menu includes not only vegetarian dishes (meat is supplied by a nearby farm). So in this place you can taste the best Dutch cuisine (De Kas awarded with a Michelin star). At the same time, a bio dinner for one will cost about 50 euros, and a lunch for two - 75.
The address: Leidseplein
Monument "Did not drink the branch on which you sit"
In 1956, another B-80 project 611 Zulu submarine was built in Riga. Its combat equipment included 22 torpedoes and 36 mines. And in 1991, the B-80 submarine was bought by Dutch businessmen and arrived at the port of den Helder, where it turned into a floating cafe.
Then, in 2002, the submarine was bought by the Amsterdam architect Mikel Naidam and transported to the capital's port. Naidam planned to make a conference room out of the B-80, but the idea did not work out. As a result, the Soviet submarine was resold several times, but new and new owners could not find a worthy use for it. Currently, the boat is mostly idle, only occasionally private parties are held in its compartments.
The address: NDSM Amsterdam
Submarine B-80 in the port of Amsterdam These are just some of the unusual attractions in Amsterdam. Complete this list in the comments. How do you remember the Venice of the North?
Today under the heading Do Like Locals - a photogenic and colorful Amsterdam, which is beautiful at any time of the year. And today Polina Burashnikova will tell us about this city. Polya came to study in the Netherlands five years ago and eventually decided to stay. And recently, the girl left her job to develop her blog and do what she really loves. Pauline's hobbies are very pleasant - traveling with her boyfriend, photography and trips to museums. Everything as we love!
What time of year is it best to visit your city?
The weather in Amsterdam is very unpredictable, so it is very difficult to predict what it will be like in any given month. In a given year, November can be surprisingly warm, and May - rainy and cold, or vice versa. In my opinion, it is best to come to Amsterdam in spring, during the tulip blossom season (late March - mid-May). During this time, you can visit the tulip fields or the Keukenhof flower park. Another magical time is autumn (mid-October - early November), when the city turns golden. If you come to Amsterdam in the summer, then the weather can be sunny (if you are very lucky), or it can rain, which is also not scary, since real Amsterdam is gray and rainy.
What is the best way to get to the city from the airport?
The easiest way to get from the airport to the city is by taxi (15-20 minutes to the center), but in this case you will have to pay about 40-60 euros for the trip. An alternative to a taxi is a train to Amsterdam Centraal Central Station (4.10 euros one way), which takes the same 15-20 minutes. You can buy a train ticket directly in the luggage waiting room from the yellow machine or at the ticket office after receiving your luggage. From the central station, you can reach the hotel by tram or taxi.
What's the best way to get around the city?
Amsterdam is a small city, so, in my opinion, it is best to get around it on foot. If you feel like cycling, it is best to do it in less touristy areas (in Vondel Park, Oud Zuid area), as traffic in Amsterdam is very heavy. Another option is a tram that will take you anywhere in the city, or the metro. The price of one trip is 2.90 euros (valid for 1 hour), which, in my opinion, is very expensive, so I advise you to take a ticket immediately for 24 hours. If you intend to spend several days in the city, it is best to purchase the OV-chipkaart for 7.50 euros, which will allow you to use transport at “non-touristy prices” (for example, 50 cents per trip). These are the cards that locals use; you can buy it at the central station.
What to see and visit if you only have two days to visit the city?
If your time in Amsterdam is limited, then I advise you to walk (or ride) on the canals, explore the Jordaan area, visit one of the museums on Museum Square (Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum or Stedelijk), whichever is closer to your spirit. If you have time, rent a bike and ride around Vondel Park.
What non-tourist places should you see to feel the atmosphere of the city?
My favorite bars in the city are the Double Tree by Hilton, which offers a beautiful view of the city, Door 74, which is hidden from prying eyes and you can get where only by ringing the doorbell, and Tales & Spirits, where the most smiling bartenders work and do delicious cocktails.
What are the distinctive features of your city's indigenous population?
Not many people know, but the inhabitants of Amsterdam (unlike their neighbors from Paris) speak excellently english languagemaking life easier for tourists. Most Dutch people are friendly enough to help you if you get lost in the city, so don't be afraid to ask them for help. A distinctive feature of the Dutch is the fact that they do not close the curtains and everyone can look into the windows of houses in Amsterdam.
What mistakes do many tourists make when coming to your city?
The main mistake many tourists who come to Amsterdam are to walk around Dam Square and Rokin and Damrak streets, and stop near the Central Station. I myself made this mistake and before moving to Amsterdam, I had no idea about the existence of many classrooms.
When asked about where to stay in Amsterdam, I always recommend the areas around the Museumplein and the main canals (Prinsengracht, Keizergracht, etc.).
A couple of non-touristy restaurants and coffee shops for breakfast / lunch / dinner:
- My favorite coffee shops are Scandinavian Embassy,
Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful cities Northern Europe, which once gave the world the best representatives of the Flemish art school and avant-garde painting of the 19th-20th centuries.
Amsterdam is a city below the North Sea level and, thanks to a network of canals, does not suffer from this. Residents use them to ride boats around the city, visit floating flower markets, etc. And what to see in Amsterdam?
Rijksmuseum
It is the largest in the city art Museum, which contains collections of paintings by artists who lived and worked in the Netherlands. The canvases of the Dutch big and small are a must see in Amsterdam.
The rest of the Rijksmuseum exposition is entirely devoted to the history of Dutch art. Exhibits began to be collected in the 19th century, and today the museum already occupies an entire city block.
Keukenhof
This is a flower park in the outskirts of Amsterdam that opens when tulips, the favorite flowers of the Dutch, begin to bloom. Lilies, daffodils, hyacinths bloom with them in Keukenhof. Two months later, at the end of flowering, the park closes.
A visit to the park during flowering is a real delight for flower lovers. The alleys of the park are painted in all kinds of colors. Tourists adore Keukenhof, believing that they are in a real paradise.
This city is famous for its canals, which are an independent transport system for the transport of passengers and goods. There are more than 160 canals in the city with a total length of over 75 km.
Small pleasure boats and rowboats go along these canals, it looks great. Beautiful bridges connecting Amsterdam are thrown across the canals throughout the city. The largest canal in the city of Singel was dug back in the 15th century.
Muiderslot castle
This Romanesque fortress was erected in the XIII century, but it never participated in any wars, therefore it has come down to us, well preserved. For several centuries, Meyderslot Castle was a customs office.
Like any decent medieval castle, there is a ghost in Mudderslot. This is the otherworldly shadow of Count Floris V, the former owner of the castle, who was killed by the vassals, which is why he will never find rest on earth.
You should definitely see this wonderful palace in Amsterdam, where the most important state events are still held today: the ascent to the throne, the marriage of royals, the reception of foreign ambassadors, etc.
The Royal Palace was built in the 18th century for the city hall, but later it was transferred to the ownership of the royal family. It is interesting that this palace has a pile foundation, consisting of almost 14 thousand piles.
Dam Square
This main square the city is located on a dam, built in the XIII century. It is known that Amsterdam is below sea level. If you need to build something in the city, then first they build a dam on piles.
Dam Square has long been shopping center city, here was the stock exchange of the Netherlands. Today it is a popular historical and cultural attraction in Amsterdam.
If you are puzzling over which places in Amsterdam are the most interesting, then, of course, this is the world famous Madame Tussaud's wax museum. One of its branches is located here.
In Amsterdam, you can see masterfully made copies of real or fictional characters, take selfies with them, and have fun. For Madame Tussaud, these figures were the meaning of her life.
Vincent Van Gogh Museum
Here you can learn a lot about the life and work of the most famous Dutch post-impressionist of the 19th century. Also, the Van Gogh Museum exhibits works by Monet, Gauguin, Picasso.
The path of the artist, whose paintings to this day are a model for the avant-garde of the 20th century, was difficult and too short. He started writing after 30 years, and after 7 years he committed suicide. The museum itself was opened in the early 70s of the last century.
Rembrandt Museum
The museum was opened at the very beginning of the 20th century in the house where the great artist himself lived and painted his canvases five centuries ago. Here you can see several hundred of his prints, as well as some of the works of his students.
The exhibits displayed in the museum were donated by patrons or bought at auctions. This is one of the most sought-after and revered museums in the Netherlands and is a must-see in Amsterdam.
This is a modern museum that appeared in Amsterdam at the end of the last century and is stuffed with the most modern technologies. Its goal is to demonstrate how close man, nature, science, technology, art are.
Visitors are given the opportunity to independently conduct experiments and experiments, study complex phenomena and systems, draw conclusions and discoveries. Children and teenagers of school age especially like the NEMO museum.
Anne Frank House
During WWII, this house was the home of the Frank Jewish family who fled Nazi Germany. The history of this family is known from the famous American film by George Stephen.
