a canal boat tour
by MATIM
After we met the VT members at the Smits Koffiehuis, we went to a canal boat to make a tour at the many canals Amsterdam has.
The church you see here at the picture dates from the 14th century, it is the oldest building of the town.
The best thing to do in...
by richiecdisc
The best thing to do in Amsterdam is just wander around. It's virtually impossible to get lost as the canals form a horseshoe around the train station. You might not be taking the shortest route, but in general you come back to where you started. They also have signs everywhere to keep you on track. It's like they know you're going to be totally out of it and they're trying to keep you from getting lost. The canals really make Amsterdam stand out. Really soak in the scenery as you walk around.
Amsterdam Tip
by Tocco
My fondest memory of being in Amsterdam is meeting my VT friend Simone (sim1). On my way back from Moscow I stopped in Holland for a few days so we could meet each other. We had a full day of laughing and bar hopping. It was the highlight of my vacation.
Rugby
by barryg23
Is there anywhere to write about worst memories? Well, anyway, mine was watching the Ireland v England rugby decider in an Irish pub on Rembrandtplein. Ireland and England had beaten all the other teams in the six-nations and this was the Grand-Slam winner take all match.
Ireland hadn't won the GS since 1948 so this was a huge game for us. I was sure we were going to win as the game was in Dublin, we had been playing well all year, and the build up to the game had been phenonomal. In the pub beforehand there had been a good mix of Irish and English to watch the game and one of the funniest moments was during the anthems. The guy who owned the pub turned down the volume for 'God Save the Queen' and played ' A Nation Once Again', an old Irish Republican song. Normally I'd find this a bit childish but not today!
It looked good for the first 40 minutes as it was fairly even but after this England took control and in the end won at a stroll. I don't think I've ever been as disappointed after a game - not since last summer anyway when Spain beat us in the football world cup...
Amsterdam Passenger Terminal - 2000
by yooperprof
Every year more than 100 cruise ships embark from the Amsterdam Passenger Terminal, located in a "chain" of stunning new glass and steel structures along Oostelijke Handelskade. Designed by the international branch of the American architectural firm of Hellmuth Obata + Kassebaum, or HOK. Apparently, some people say that the Passenger Terminal intentionally resembles a wave, which others say that it's a whale. I report, you decide!
Incidentally, Messrs. Helmuth, Obata, and Kassabaum were all graduates of Washington University in St. Louis, which was also my alma mater. HOK now employs architects all over the world and is one of the largest international architectural firms.