"MY BIRTHPLACE" Top 5 Page for this destination Amsterdam by pieter_jan_v
Amsterdam Travel Guide: 10,041 reviews and 20,816 photos
Amsterdam is the city were I was born in 1953. I still come there on my searchtrips for records, to go to VT-meetings or to visit my family.
On the picture above you can see the whole city including the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (thanks to aerophoto-schiphol.nl).
Visit my SCHIPHOL page to get detailed info on AMSTERDAM AIRPORT.
On the picture on the left you see the Central Station surroundings map. Most Amsterdam visitors start here.
I am the Amsterdam Tip Grouper at VT. So, if you build an Amsterdam-page be aware I will check it and in some cases do some grouping corrections or send you an email when I find errors or outdated info. Just to improve quality. Please add info on not-published locations.
I like to take you on a alternative shopping tour in the centre of town. We start from the Central Train Station. Please go to OFF THE BEATEN PATH.
You have to walk all the canals which are constructed as half rings around the city center. They are clearly visible on the picture.
If you want to take a Virtual tour from the Amsterdam Central Station into the city start HERE.
There's more Amsterdam at my Vondelpark page.
Why is Amsterdam also called "Mokum"? Mokum is derived from the Hebrew word Makom, meaning city. The Jewish diamant traders used a hebrew "code" in their business talks to name the cities they were travelling to. In this way their travel destination stayed secure and the risk of a planned robbery was decreased. Amsterdam was coded Makom Allif, what was shortened to the popular Mokum through the Ages.
Average Amsterdam figures:
800.000 inhabitants (as from December 1, 2012)
173 nationalities
1 Mayor
600,000 bicycles
220,000 trees
600,000 flower bulbs in parks and public gardens
28 parks
232 city trams
9 ferryboats
21 markets
1 Flower Market
165 antique shops
24 diamond-polishing factories
165 canals
1,281 bridges
8 wooden drawbridges
1 Skinny Bridge
110 glass-topped canal boats
2,500 houseboats
6,800 6th, 17th and 18th century buildings
654 stone gables
1 Royal Palace
302 statues and sculptures
6 windmills
75 museums
141 art galleries
22 Rembrandt paintings
1 Nightwatch
206 Van Gogh paintings
1 Civic Guard Gallery
140 wax statues at Madame Tussaud
6,100 animals at the Artis Zoo
4 barrel organs
9 carillons
42 historical church organs
16,000 concerts and theatrical performances
40 concerts and theatrical performances per day
55 theaters and concert halls
1 Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
1 Muziektheater (musical theater)
61 cinemas
1,402 cafe's and bars
36 discotheques
755 restaurants
12 5-Stars Hotels
48.365 hotelbeds (2011)
5 camping sites
About 15.000.000 anual bed nights by tourists
15.854.000 day visitors
- Pros:Just come and enjoy
- Cons:Too crowded at times
- In a nutshell:Big City!!!
Reviews (418)
For the visual handicapped travellers
Favorites
(33)
Amstaredam is a crowded city with cobblestone pavement at certain places. Luckely more and more improvements are made... more travel advice
De Oude Kerk
Things to Do
(95)
De Oude Kerk or Old Church is the oldest Amsterdam monument. It dates back to 1275. The church was devoted to Saint... more travel advice
De Nieuwe Kerk
Things to Do
(95)
De Nieuwe Kerk or New Church was constructed in the early 1400's. In the next century parts were added in Renaissance... more travel advice
The Jewish museums at Amsterdam
Things to Do
(95)
Amsterdam has a number of Jewish museums, they are: -The Jewish Historical Museum at the Nieuwe Amstelstraat 1 -The... more travel advice
-
Hotels (32)
See All New in 2013 -
Transportation (39)
See All Hopper - The electric Scooter Taxi -
Warnings and Dangers (16)
See All Do not drink canal water -
Restaurants (82)
See All Brasserie at the Singel canal -
Shopping (66)
See All The best cigars
-
Local Customs (14)
See All Cuddly Tree -
Nightlife (20)
See All RLD Landmark -
Sports & Outdoors (5)
See All Ice skating -
Tourist Traps (6)
See All Floating trap -
Off The Beaten Path (10)
See All From the Central Station into town
Amsterdam Travel Guide
Member Travel Pages
- "MY BIRTHPLACE"
- "Amsterdam - I love it!"
- "God made the Dutch, but the Dutch made Holland"
- "Amsterdam, is it real?"
- "Amsterdam, where the Dutch money is spend"
- "Amsterdam! The most liberal city in the World"
- "dila's new Amsterdam Page"
- See All...
Explore the World
- Subic Hotels
- Boracay Island Hotels
- Key West Hotels
- Laoag City Hotels
- Bacolod City Hotels
- Cagayan de Oro City Hotels
- Parish of Portland Hotels
- Islamabad Hotels
- Niagara Falls Hotels
- Bacolod City
- Puerto Princesa Hotels
- Atlantic City Hotels
- Baclaran Hotels
- Paris
- Cheras Hotels
- Adyar Hotels
- Laoag City
- La Spezia
- Prague Hotels
- Puerto Rico
pieter_jan_v Visits Here Frequently!
- Member Rank:
- 0 0 1 0 5
- Forum Rank:
- 0 0 0 4 7
- 4,234 Reviews
- 13,737 Photos
- Add Friend
- Follow
- Send Message
Badges & Stats in Amsterdam
- 418 Reviews
- 1,258 Photos
- 3,586 Forum posts
- 179 Comments
- 103,117PageViews
- See All Stats
- See All Badges (95)
Have you been to Amsterdam?
Share Your TravelsLatest Activity in Amsterdam
- Posted in Technical Help Forum "Re: Windows RT"
- Commented on one of breughel's Amsterdam tips
- Wrote a Review For the visual handicapped travellers about TOURIST INFORMATION in Amsterdam Favorites
- Uploaded a Photo to "For the visual handicapped travellers"
- updated a Amsterdam Travel Page "MY BIRTHPLACE"
- Commented on the Amsterdam travel guide
Photos in Amsterdam
See All Photos (1258)Top 10 Pages
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Amsterdam
Intro, 418 reviews, 1255 photos, 26 travelogues
-
London
Intro, 147 reviews, 740 photos, 10 travelogues
-
Paris
Intro, 140 reviews, 604 photos, 22 travelogues
-
Cascais
Intro, 72 reviews, 642 photos, 10 travelogues
-
Bergamo
Intro, 92 reviews, 511 photos, 31 travelogues
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Halifax
Intro, 183 reviews, 416 photos, 7 travelogues
-
Lisbon
Intro, 70 reviews, 472 photos, 7 travelogues
-
Krakow
Intro, 78 reviews, 445 photos, 10 travelogues
-
Hengelo
Intro, 138 reviews, 337 photos, 9 travelogues
-
Antwerp
Intro, 83 reviews, 335 photos, 18 travelogues
Latest Amsterdam hotel reviews
- Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel
- 934 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 17, 2013 - Terminus Hotel Amsterdam
- 323 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 15, 2013 - Luckytravelers Fantasia Hotel
- 93 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 11, 2013 - Intercontinental Amstel Hotel
- 234 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 13, 2013 - Marriott Amsterdam
- 843 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2013 - Rho Hotel Amsterdam
- 520 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 15, 2013 - Hotel Groenhof
- 89 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 9, 2013 - Crowne Plaza Amsterdam City Centre
- 969 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 17, 2013 - NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky
- 1086 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 17, 2013 - Inntel Hotels Amsterdam Centre
- 921 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 17, 2013 - Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam
- 590 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 17, 2013 - Mercure Amsterdam Arthur Frommer
- 336 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 7, 2013 - The Greenhouse Effect
- 128 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 12, 2013 - NH Amsterdam Centre
- 462 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 8, 2013 - Eden Hotel Amsterdam
- 697 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 15, 2013

Budget Travel
Business Travel
Work Abroad
Comments (169)
Hoi PJ! Bij de Blonde/Blauwe Hollander was de eerste keer dat ik er kwam het blauw, enkele jaren geleden blond en nu blijkbaar weer blauw. Gelukkig dat het adres gelijk is gebleven. Groet, Paul
In May, the population will be 800.001 when I visit!
Pieter, fantastic and very comprehensive page about Amsterdam here. Just recently we enjoyed a long and sunny October weekend in the city. We especially liked the free ferries across the "Het IJ".
Holger, You are lucky. Many of Sonja's and your Amsterdam pictures are in several Amsterdam tip picture galleries on the moment. PJ
Wow. This is by far the largest page I have ever come across here on VT, it is double the size of my Reykjavík page. Kudos to you.
Very useful tips for my upcoming 3rd visit - thank you!
I'll have to come again next year because the Rijksmuseum is only partially open. But no problem - I love my yearly trips to Amsterdam, always hoping to catch one of the Dulfers playing at Cafe Alto. Cheers! :o)
Thanks for your in dept visit. I always re-check those visited tips and correct bad links, typos etc. Found 1. Thanks. BTW Next year I want to go with member breughel to the Rijksmuseum. Maybe we will organise an Amsterdam museum VT meeting. PJ
Great info really helpful I'm planning a trip to Amsterdam in nov for 4 days I will be staying in Sint Willibrordusstraat, Amsterdam is this a good location to see the city? Would really appreciate your help!!!
I do not suggest you taking a hotel. From the money you save you easily can buy a day card for the Amsterdam public transportation. Or does your cousin includes a bicycle? Closest Restaurant I know: BAZAR - Wereld Eethuis: "World food at the Albert Cuyp" - Bazar - Wereld Eethuis Tip by pieter_jan_v
A bicycle is not included unfortunately!!! Thank you so much for your advice I was going to stay in the marriot but if you say that Sint Willibrordusstraat isn't to far from the center then I will just save my pennies!!!! And thank you for the Resturant recommendation I will definately be eating there!!! Kind regards x
Thank you...we could do some shopping and eating!
Marg
Thank you for excellent Amsterdam tips. No need to buy an Amsterdam guide after having read your pages:-)
Greetings from Lausanne, Ellen
Hi, PJ, may I know how do you 'stretch' your travelogue from 8 pictures to 33 pictures length?!:D Nice warm friendly VT Meet with J :)))
Hello, Pieter! What a special destination! Thanks a lot for your details!