Shop 'till you drop! and other Amsterdam, Netherlands Things to Do Tips

Shopping in Amsterdam is quite a pleasant experience.

Some recommendations:
Bijenkorf, the Dutch Harrods, though nowhere near as fancy.
The Haarlemmerstraat/dijk, loads of funky shops, nice lunch and dinner places, some cheap hotels and many coffeeshops and internetcafes.
The nine streets, for clothes, food, interior design and more.
The PC Hooftstraat, our posh shopping street where you'll find all the designer labels.

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Waterlooplein is a cool square in the old center with a flee market. Loads of cool (second hand) clothing and other gadgets.

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Directions: It's a nice walk from Nieuwmarkt through Jodenbreestraat to Waterlooplein, were you'll also find the city hall / opera house.
Other Contact: On your way there, check out Gar

This museum was the hiding place of a Jewish girl in World War II, before she was killed in Bergen-Belsen. She kept a diary during the years she was there, which is now a much translated book and shows you the war through the eyes of a teenager.

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Directions: Prinsengracht, near the corner with Rozengracht, almost next to the Westerkerk.
Other Contact: www.annefrank.nl/eng

Interesting from the outside as well as the inside: the Palace on Dam Square. Our Queen doesn't live here, but she uses it to welcome and house other kings and presidents and the likes. It is also used for exhibitions now and then.
It was built as the city hall in the 17th century after having signed the peace treaty with the Spanish.

When Napoleon came in 1808, he turned it into a Palace.

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Address: Dam Square, you can't miss it!

For everyone, but especially kids, the NEMO museum is very interesting. It's a scientific museum, shaped like a boat. In summer it serves as a beach as well (from Friday to Sunday).
As my five year old nephew happily told me after his visit: 'I did all sorts of stuff!'. It is a very 'hands-on' museum.

The architect, Renzo Piano, is the same man who did Berlin's Potzdammerplatz and Tokyo Airport.

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Address: Oosterdok 2, east of central station.
Other Contact: http://www.e-nemo.nl/

info@e-NE

The Zaansche Schans is only a short trainride from Amsterdam and, though touristy, good fun.
It gives a taste of the old Holland, with for example an old Albert Heijn shop (our biggest supermarket chain, see photo), a watermill, a bakery museum and a windmill.

You can also watch demonstrations of Dutch crafts.

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One of the things that gives Amsterdam something special are the many houseboats (about 2,500!). There is a houseboatmuseum, opposite Prinsengracht 296.

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Amsterdam has many bridges, some of them pretty regular, others really beautiful. Is't well worth paying attention to them when strolling around town.

The one on the photo is near the Carre theatre (Amstel).

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Albert Cuyp market is a huge market in the Pijp where you can buy groceries, clothes, flowers, household stuff, CD's and much more.

It is surrounded by African, Eastern and other little restaurants where you eat very well without paying much.

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Some must-sees are the Anne Frank House (on Prinsengracht), the Vondelpark (especially in spring and summer), the Stedelijk Museum and the Museumplein. Also, a boat trip is great, since you can explore the city from the canals and get some additional information. For the low budget travellers: for about 2 EUR, you buy a round trip ticket on tram 20, that makes a circle through town and passes most of the interesting parts of Amsterdam. You can hop off whenever you see something that asks for further exploration and hop back on whenever you want (within a certain time frame).

Also, a stroll along the canals (preferably early in the morning) is something that I would really recommend. Try to look upwards as much as possible, the houses have beautiful details.
Amsterdam as a whole is pretty unique: the old canal houses, the open mindedness of the people, the great variety of arts and culture, the parks, everything! And for some of you, the red light district and the smoking, but be sure to see more of this city!

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