Celebrating QUEENSDAY on 30... and other Amsterdam, Netherlands General Tips

Favorite Thing: Celebrating QUEENSDAY on 30 April in Amsterdam is a unique experience. On this day, we celebrate the Queen motherīs birthday (since our Queen's birthday is in cold and rainy January). The Queen herself is in a different part of Holland each year, but there is always a big party in AMS!

Fondest Memory: Be prepared for 1000s of people (at least 700,000 in 2001), most of them (partly) dressed in orange (this is key, without orange no Q-day). They sell things in front of their houses, cruise on the canals in little boats and sing songs because they are either drunk or performers. The Dutch lose their heads, minds, sanity and more!

Very popular areas are the Jordaan (cafes Thijssen and Blaffende Vis) on the night before and the day itself and the Spui and Museumplein on Queensday (live bands). In 2002, QUEEN actually performed on Museumplein, all arranged by Heineken.

And remember, when in Rome.....

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Favorite Thing: Spend at least a few hours to walk along the canals, having a coffee in a typical dutch bar (a 'bruin cafe'), sitting down on a terrace on Prinsengracht if the weather allows it and just enjoying the vibes of this wonderful city! A very Dutch bar I can recommend is Kat in de Wijngaert, on Lindengracht (Jordaan).

Fondest Memory: The canals, especially the Jordaan area with its markets and nice people is what I miss most when I am abroad!

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Favorite Thing: As well as the Vondelpark, Museumplein is a great chill out place. Lay in the grass and relax, grab some lunch at the supermarket underneath the square, visit the Van Gogh (also check their website: www.vangoghmuseum.nl), Rijks or Stedelijk (www.stedelijk.nl) museum or go shopping in the poshest street of AMS: the PC Hooftstraat.


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Favorite Thing: If you're in Amsterdam in August, go see the Gay Pride Parade. This is a parade on the canals, with many boats, loud music and guys dressed like the Village People, as travestites or just hardly wearing anything. There are also boats with lesbian choirs, the AIDS foundation and the likes. In 2000, about 200,000 people were watching it. Though not quite the Mardi Gras, it's great fun!


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Favorite Thing: The favourite district of many people is the Jordaan. It was built in 1612 for workers and immigrants. In the second world war, people in the Jordaan played an important role in the resistance community. Since the seventies, there is a nice mixture of 'Jordanezen', artists, students and yuppies.

The map shows the northern part of the Jordaan. A complete map and more info can be found on www.jordaaninfo.nl (in Dutch, click Stratengids for a map).

Fondest Memory: Walking in the Jordaan with all its little houses, canals, markets, bars and shops is great. One of my favourite things to do on a Sunday afternoon.

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Favorite Thing: One of my favourite parts of town is the ZEEDIJK / NIEUWMARKT area. It is referred to as Chinatown, which I think is not so true. Even the internet site says that the AMS Chinatown is the only Chinatown in the world were there is a mixture of nationalities. This is probably because it is no real Chinatown.

Anyhow, Zeedijk is one of the oldest parts of town, in the red light district. You will find many toko's and restaurants (Nam Kee is my favourite Chinese restaurant) from all over the world. At the end of Zeedijk, Nieuwmarkt is a great place with bars (Cuba, īt Loosje) and restaurants (try Bern, great cheese fondue!).

One of the treasures of the Zeedijk is the temple that was opened in 2000.

Zeedijk has several festivals each year in August, November and other months. Ask at the tourist office, 'cause this can be great fun!

If you like special beers, try cafe Maximiliaan on Nieuwmarkt, they brew their own beer!


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Favorite Thing: A nice photo, found on the net. Amstelhotel in the middle.


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Favorite Thing: Something special is happening on 2 February! Our crown prince will marry Maxima Zorreguieta, an woman from Argentina. Major spectacle in Holland, it is the main subject in many conversations!


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Favorite Thing: If you're a first time tourist, an Amsterdam Pass is a good idea. They're sold at the Tourist info and costs EUR 26 for 1 day (36 for two, 46 for three). It gives free entrance to the major museums and many others, a free roundtrip on the canals, a citymap, a kroket-sandwich, a liquor and a coffee. It also includes all travel on bus, tram and metro and gives a discount on some restaurants and attractions like Madam Tussaud, Artis and bike rental at Mc Bike.


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