Tourist Attractions in Amsterdam

When we arrived in Amsterdam, tired and hungry and ready for a sit-down, Leidesplein was the first place we came to that seemed to have what we wanted. We sat outside in the sunshine, then realised we were in an Irish bar, being served by an Australian waitress, and being entertained by American buskers - hardly what we'd expected of our first visit to the Netherlands! If you're looking for a taste of authentic Amsterdam, you won't find it in Leidesplein.

Unique Suggestions: Look out for the keepy-uppy man who does his thing in front of the Bulldog cafe. His football skills were brilliant. Try and avoid the singing buskers though, they were pretty tuneless!

Fun Alternatives: Some of the streets off the main square have some decent-looking restaurants and cafes. Otherwise, walk around the canals areas - Prinsengracht is nearby - there are much nicer bars and cafes there, and you will actually feel as though you are in Amsterdam!

This isn't really a tourist trap, although you will find a lot of tourists using the flat screen, high speed connections here. Easy Internet Cafes are the best thing for the budget traveler who wants to stay in touch with friends and family back home. They can be found all over Europe and even in New York and are a great value. In my hostel, the internet was something like one euro for 5 minutes. At Easy Internet, a euro or two will be all you need for your whole visit.

There are three locations around Amsterdam.

Easy Internet Cafe

Edam is known for their cheese, but there is a church in the town that they have been trying to restore. In order to do this they have built a replica of the church out of cheese. It cost 4 Euro, really didn't think it was worth it. But I can say I saw something that was in the Guiness Book of World Records

Unique Suggestions: If you do go to see the cheese Church, feel good that you are helping to renovate an old church and save part of history. Besides if you go inside the church you can bowl using cheese. That was a pretty cool experience.

Fun Alternatives: I would suggest just go see the cheese market.

The famous floating Flower Market at the Singel is disappointing for me. You expect romantic boats filled with tulips - don't you? All you get tent-like selling places with bulbs, wooden tulips and souvenirs. During my visit in May (!) I say fresh, real tulips at one of the stalls and not more. And I have no idea why it is so popular and often described as one of the must see places...

Unique Suggestions: Write a VT Tourist Trap tip about it...

Fun Alternatives: in spring it's probably the best idea to go to Keukenhof, famous for its tulips and other flowers... apart from that other, smaller markets...

At the Floriade there was a bridge lined on both sides with these statues.
Ilse had been telling me she wanted to touch one of them for a pic and I kept laughing and saying no. Finally at the last statue I gave in to her request and quickly snapped the photo but not before other tourists saw her doing it.

Unique Suggestions: I would have touched his bum instead;-)

This is a town that has tried to keep its heritage. Its got a host of windmills that you can pay to enter and a wooden shoe factory. Really not alot to do there, and a bit out of the way, when I went there were only a few of the 20 windmills open.

Unique Suggestions: At least go into one of the windmills, its absolutely amazing to see climb through and see how they work. They have a variety, for exmaple one that makes oil, one that makes paint, and one that cuts wood.

www.zaansemolen.nl

Big signs near the Anne Frank Experience point towards the "Smallest Art Gallery in Amsterdam". Which is really a small, plain brick shop/large cupboard with barely passable examples of painting, and souvenirs.

The usual dreadful tat for tourists with no taste!!

Unique Suggestions: Go around the corner to what appears to be the largest ice cream shop in the world(well ok I think the majority of the impressive building is really the Westerkerk, with an ice cream shop stuck on the side, haha)

Fun Alternatives: The Winston Hotel (near the Oudekerk) boasts the 'smallest art gallery in the world', which is actually in the door of their toilet!!

There is also a serious Sunday Art Market in the Spui Square.

Given 4 stars by the Benelux Travel Bureau, which is graded on a curve...
This hotel is more of a 2 star exepericence, with the obnoxious staff as the ONLY thing reminiscent of a 4 star hotel..
They don't even let you hold on to you key! Tell me ONE 4 star hotel that carries this policy...!?

Some of the rooms which I passed as they were being cleaned were of a 2 star status...
but
I paid for a room which turned out to be on the top floor/ attic that was originally built as a maids quaters..
The window was so small that it was eclisped by the 13inch television hanging from the wall!
It was more of a closet than a room, I honestly, honestly could'nt figure out how they even got the mattress inside of it..
When I complained, 3 minutes after check in, they were enfuriatingly rude and bluntly told me "too late" with a smirk..
Further-more, they charged my credit card for drinks which I did not take WITHOUT my signature or consent what so ever...
I did'nt even stay in the room~!
I took my bags and my pride and told them to go 'uck themselves...
I did'nt even know that my card was charged for the drinks until my next statement!

and by the way,
I researched this place via Hotels.com
which is a sham in itself..

As long as everyone gets out safely,
I hope this place burns to the ground...

Unique Suggestions: There are plenty of other options in the area~

and ones which are FAR better priced much less far better accomodating..

Fun Alternatives: Hotel d'Amsterdam
Tweede Helmerstraat