VVV office - and great coffee!
by Rachael71
Right opposite Centraal Station is the Tourist Information Office - the VVV - and Smits Coffee House. There are also landing stages for all the canal boat companies here.
The VVV is good if you have arrived without pre-booking your accommodation, as they will help you find some. You can also pre-book museum tickets here. You won't get a discount, but it does mean that you can jump the queues and go straight in.
After visiting the VVV, go downstairs to Smits Koffie Huis. Smits has been around since 1919 and I gather it is one of the oldest wooden buildings in the area. You can sit on the terrace with a coffee and watch the river traffic. I also recommend the ice-cream that contains the orange liquer, it has quite a kick!
Remember Holland is as flat as...
by Steve-H
Remember Holland is as flat as a witches tit and if you go at the wrong time of year, we last went in October, it can be very cold and tourists a bit thin on the ground which is why i'm the only person outside this cafe (looks like a picture from Where's Waldo)In summer its great, very warm and colourful and still very laid back.
Sweet Mushrooms, August 2002
by bakpakchik
My fascination with mushrooms goes back to seventh grade when I read 'The Purple Pileus' by H.G. Wells. In Brussels, one of the Irish boys at my hostel advised me to try mushrooms in Amsterdam and my seventh-grade craze was reawakened. In Amsterdam, Jill introduced me to mushrooms formally. 'shrooms, shall we say. Mexican, Thai - take your pic. I had Thai the first night - which the guy at the Smart Shop said are supposed to make you contemplative and observant. My contemplation and observation that night comprised mostly of thinking up ways to harass the Japanese tourists that seemed to be walking round in circles.
We pretended to have deep philosophical conversations and make meaningful observations. Lol. The only remotely observational aspect of the evening was noticing that there are two types of people at Dam Sqaure: weird people and normal people acting weird. I don't know how meaningful this observation was, but we sought comfort in putting ourselves in the latter category.
Pick up a (free!) copy of the...
by PartyRambo
Pick up a (free!) copy of the Yellow Pages Visitors Guide - it contains maps, tourist sites & information, embassies, etcetera...
I think I got mine at the hotel, but I'm sure they'll be easy to find.
Dogs in Amsterdam
by jo104
We're talking real dogs not hot dogs (although they are pretty fabulous here)
You will notice that the Dutch exercise their dogs whilst still riding their bikes using a long extendable lead. Mind you don't get caught between the lead & the bicycle for a nasty fall.
According to my friend Han there are some irresponsible dog owners here who do not think it necessary to keep the dog on a leash so take care.
I found this sign "hond in de goot" fairly interesting does it mean dogs must be kept off the sidewalk and in the gutter or does it refer to they should poop in the gutter not in the sidewalk?? Not really sure what the policy is on clearing up after your pet anybody know?
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Albert Cuyp street market - Amsterdam
cat houseboat
the room
Bikes and bikes and bikes.....Centraal station
