| Page Views: 69,218 Last Visit to Amsterdam: April, 2007 I Visit Here Frequently | Amsterdam! The most liberal city in the World by BlueBerry_7 - last update: Jun 13, 2007 |
BlueBerry's Amsterdam Memories I love this country, the awesome buildings, the people, the cutlure, it is so beautiful and amazingly different. Holland is intriguing to the point of addictive, for me it is 'being' there and how much I can 'feel' it, and it is incredibly strong. It gives me a feeling of belonging there, of what home is like, I believe I am true Amsterdammer at heart... Therefore the desire to return is irresistible, so I am always planning a trip there!PLUS EVEN MORE NEW TRAVELOUGES ON MY NETHERLANDS PAGE!!Also I have TONS more pics on BlueBerry's MYSPACE!!
Please be sure to check out my **Travelogues** at the bottom of the page, I have LOTS of photos:) I really hope you enjoy my Amsterdam page and I look forward to your comments and ratings.
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The Central Station Amsterdam provides an excellent beginning for exploring The Netherlands, a country just as eclectic as its famous capital. Amsterdam emerged from the sea created literally by its inhabitants. The Dutch say that though God created the world, they created The Netherlands, a country which is a masterful design of engineering. Since most of it is below sea level, vigorous pumping methods along with many dikes were used to create the dry land thus making civilization possible. The beautiful lush green terrain remains and is surrounded on all sides by canals lined with elegant gabled houses that lean over the streets as if trying to glimpse their reflections in the canal waters. Today Amsterdam's myriad of dikes and canals remains a true testament to the devine architectural genius of the Dutch people.
The public transportation system is wonderful within Amsterdam which includes the trams, buses, and the metro or subway. In addition, the rail network is very extentsive from Central Station which is the public transportation hub of the Netherlands. There are seven stations just in Amsterdam alone, Station Zuid World Trade Center, Station RAI, and Amstel Station in the south of the city, Station Lelylaan, Station De Vlugtlaan, and Station Sloterdijk in the west and Muiderpoort Station in the east. Because the transportation system is so highly integrated, all of the railway stations are served by at least two other modes of transportation as well, ie., trams, buses,ect. The Netherlands rail system is the most punctual in all of Europe and it is by far the best way to get to and from Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Haarlem, Zandvoort, and all other destinations in and around the Netherlands.
Things to Do
Canal Tour
Windmill Sightseeing
Diamond Factory
Boom Chicago Comedy House
Casa Roso Show
Cheese Factory Tour
Albert Cuyp Market
Waterlooplein Flee Market
Popular Amsterdam Attractions
Anne Frank House
Museum features the hide-out of a young Jewish girl persecuted by the Germans in World War II
Stedelijk Museum
Amsterdam's modern art museum
Rijksmuseum
The main museum for Dutch masters - Rembrandt, Vermeer, ect.
Van Gogh Museum
The most important collection of Vincent van Gogh's paintings
Jewish Historical Museum
Museum about the history of Jews in Amsterdam
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Historic Amsterdam Amsterdam goes back more than 700 years and a good portion of the central city is 200 to 500 years old. These beautiful old buildings have been wonderfully restored and preserved all these years which is truly remarkable when realizing that most of them are built on stilts that are stuck into the mud. So many of the structures lean at odd angles that and it is very rare to see a whole block in alignment. Some drawbacks to the old Dutch buildings are the steep and narrow winding staircases with very low ceilings which make it so easy to bump your head. These staircases make it impossible to bring any large objects into the house therefore all of these buildings have a hook extending from the top, called a gable, allowing residents to hoist larger furnishings up through the windows.
The absolute worse feature created of Dutch design is the bathroom or the WC as it's called in Europe which stands for 'water-closet'. The toilet itself is usually separate from the bath and shower areas often in a very small room and typically very claustrophobic with poor ventilation. The bizarre toilet design is that it comes built with a platform or examining shelf to hold the waste for inspection before flushing it away which also does not help with the smell!Climate The proximity of the sea and the warm North Atlantic Gulf Stream ensure a temperate maritime climate which provides adequate if not substantial rainfall amounts annually. This causes a changeable but moderate climate allowing for mild winters and nice cool summers for the long summetime nights. While clouds and wind are quite common features in the forecast, the weather in the Netherlands is usually unpredictable.
More Amsterdam Highlights
Artis
Amsterdam's zoo
Oude Kerk, The Old Church
The oldest church in Amsterdam -15th century
Windmill 'de Otter'
Built in 1638, this is one of Amsterdam's hidden treasurers
Zaanse Schans
Open air museum in Zaandam - 10 miles north of Amsterdam
Holland Casino Amsterdam
The main casino located on the Leidseplein
Good Amsterdam Links~Very informative site all about Amsterdam! www.simplyamsterdam.nl
~This link is a very helpful and informative site with an awesome forum full of very nice people that just love Amsterdam.http://www.channels.nl
~A site with lots of information about everything to do and see in Amsterdam, espeically focused on the Red Light District. http://www.ignatzmice.com
~This is a terrific link for nice private accommodations within the Amsterdam Centrum. www.citymundo.com
~Resourceful site with loads of information on Amsterdam.www.atyourpace.com
Amsterdam is a magnificent and vibrant city of northern Europe, located in the Netherlands. The open attitude towards sex, self expression, and soft drugs make it a mecca and meeting point for people from all over the world. If you have never heard of coffeeshops then maybe you would be interested to know that you can buy weed and hash in bars called coffeeshops. Although technically illegal, the Dutch authorities officially tolerate possession of up to 5 grams of cannabis for personal consumption. Anytime you are walking the streets of Amsterdam just look for signs that say COFFEESHOP in the window and even though most do not sell alcohol, if there is a green triangle also on the front of the shop that means they have both weed and alcohol. It is important to exercise a wide degree of discretion when actually smoking it in all parts of the country except Amsterdam which is one of the world's most liberal minded cities when it comes to drugs. |
| Assortment of Weed & Hash, Amnesia Coffeeshop |
Liberal City The Netherlands is unique for its liberal attitude in regards to soft drugs and prostitution. Even if cannabis is not a choice for you please be open minded enough to learn about the aspect of Dutch society which shows how practical and straightforward they are as a people and as a culture. In 1970's the Dutch designed a new and unique policy to deal with the growing problem of drug use. Recognizing that there is a difference between the effects of soft and hard drug use, they decided to allow the sale of weed and hash in coffeeshops. By creating a practical seperation between soft drugs (cannabis and hash) and hard drugs (coke, herion, etc.), the Dutch policy eliminates the criminal element involved in the sale of weed & hash and allows the distribution to happen in a legally controlled situation. The Dutch tradition of tolerance is still upheld today and the sale soft drugs are highly regulated in an attempt to create the safest possible environment. Amsterdam has now become a mecca for soft drug use and experimentation, drawing people from all walks of life to this liberal land to relish in the tolerance. The Netherlands remains one of the most open, level headed, and dynamic modern societies in the world.
Amsterdam is the BEST place on Earth! Where cannabis freedom exists, with no paranoia. It is not the weed that causes paranoia, it is the stupid laws against this wonderful medicinal plant. Therefore every so often I have to get away from all the idiotic laws to relieve all the paranoia:)%c* |
| Picasso, Haarlemmerstraat |
Coffeeshopping in Amsterdam Those who have been persecuted in their own country due to their attitude and activities regarding cannabis have found Amsterdam to be like heaven. Not only is soft drug use tolerated in the Netherlands, it has become quite a very profitable and growing industry with hundreds of coffeeshops selling weed and hash openly to the public three hundred and sixty five days a year. These shops all have menus which will list the various strains of weed and hashish available for sale. The best feeling is being able to sit at an outdoor table and roll a joint or smoke a bong or pipe while people,including the police, just walk by which exhibits the true test of a tolerant society. If someone is engaged in an activity in public that harms no one then there is no crime, no criminal, and therefore no problem! Everyone could learn from the Dutch how to get along and prosper as an open society.
With over 300 coffeeshops just in Amsterdam alone, it's hard to decide which ones to visit. I have put together a list all my favorite coffeeshops and strains I have sampled on my numerous visits to Mecca.
Best Coffeeshops to visit:
~Amnesia~
~De Kuil ~
~Grey Area ~
~NES ~
~Stix ~
~Rookies ~
~Pink Floyd ~
~Abraxas ~
~Spirit ~
~Hunters ~
~Dolphins ~
~De Rokerij ~
~Siberie ~
~Bushdoctor ~
~Katsu ~
~Dampkring ~
~Bluebird ~
~Homegrown Fantasy~ With so many coffeeshops having so many different strains available, it's hard to decide what to purchase. There are different percentages of THC in every strain, some can have as high as 25%-28% whereas others may only have 15%-18% THC levels, so it can vary dramatically from one strain to the next. Therefore some kinds are better than others so it is good to have knowledge of what to specifically look for when visiting Amsterdam.
Weed ~ #1 Kinds to Sample
BlueBerry
Shiva
AK- 47
Power Plant
Jack Herer
Skunk Haze
Nevelle's Haze
White Widow
Purple Haze
Juicy Fruit
Super Silver Haze
Grey Mist
Kali Mist
Bubblegum
Northern Lights
Super Skunk
Hash ~ #1 Kinds to Sample
Moonshine
Nepalese Temple Balls
Royal Dolphin
Iceolator
Water
Honey Moroc
Bubble
Coffeeshop Links~Awesome coffeeshop guide with reviews and information on almost every coffeeshop in Amsterdam! UlitmateCoffeeshopGuide~This site provides a great city map to print at home with all the best coffeeshops on it. It is definitely an asset to have.CoffeeshopFreeUK
~This is the link for the Grey Area Coffeeshop in Amsterdam.Grey Area
~Link to the De Dampkring Coffeeshop in Amsterdam.Dampkring
~Link to the Original Coffeeshop Crawl website. Coffeeshop Crawl |
Barney's Menu Here is the menu from Barney's coffeeshop as of October, 2002. If you click to enlarge you can see all the kinds of weed and hash available and the prices in Euros.
www.barneys-amsterdam.com
Comments and Emails on My Pagenavyblue Wed Mar 5 18:45 2003 EST We love your Amsterdam page very much..big compliment! We are right because we live their already for ages! You are doing GREAT. We want to ask you permission to publish it, including some photos in our newspaper. Staff of "De Amsterdammer" www.geocities.com/rein_mulder/kr ant.html
Hello there BlueBerry!
I would like to thank you for allowing the general public to learn and gain more from your experiences in Amsterdam. Have been spending the last 3 hours reading up on your travelogues not to mention, the wonderful pictures....definately worth a thousand words. Have been to Amsterdam only once exactly 10 years ago....when I was 14 and very anti-narcotics at that point in time. For me, the real experience of Amsterdam is stirred up by your words and pics. Anyways, my main reason for writing to you is to invite you to write up trip/adventure reports on my website. At the same time, I would link your website up to mine. My main purpose of setting up my website was initially spawned by my keen interest in supplying useful info regarding marijuana, be it for pleasure, growing or medicinal. However, I've discovered that Amsterdam has been playing a major role in tourism and cannabis culture since 1976 and that most people, especially from the US, has seen a surge in travel numbers to Amsterdam. I hope that you would consider this invitation and get back to me when you are able to. Currently, I am the sole person who's contributing to the website and am looking for a crew of 3-4 to make this site work. Seems like a lot of positivity for a pothead but I am bent on making this work. My current idea is to create an "Amsterdam Showcase" - an exclusive report by BlueBerry on the pleasures of travelling, marijuana and Holland. A column will be devoted exclusively to you. You may do whatever you want with it...recent news, experiences, or even poetic literature....anything's possible :) With regards to innovating, designing and content of my website, I am open to any constructive criticisms that you might have.... In the meantime, please visit my website at: www.magikjourney.com My main page is where I'll post your travelogues and hopefully some travel links that you've suggested. Hopefully, the designation of "Magik Journey" can be put to practical use and may our partnership[should you say yes] and our friendship flourish together with the Sativas, Indicas and Ruderealis :)
Regards, Lex [aka JKX on CC forums]
Hello there, I loved your page!! I'm going to Amsterdam for the first time in June with one of my best friends. We will definitely will benefit from yourreviews of the local coffee shops...VERY much appreciated!! YOU ROCK!!! Keep up the great work with your travels andtry to wait until 420. HAHAHAHA
Have a wonderful day!
Kevin ~ Loco1975
Hi BB,
You don't know me, but I've enjoyed the trip reports you filed on A'dam immensely. I just finished a documentary on coffeeshops and, to be candid, I wouldn't have done it without your latest trip report. I was reading it late one night about a month ago and thought, man I wish I could watch this on TV...So I decided to head over and shoot some of the best I could find. This list was heavily influenced by trip reports I read in addition to interviews and recommendations from industry pros...of which I consider you a member. And since I'm giving them a free copy, I feel you deserve one, too. I'd like to send one your way...let me know if you'd like a free copy.
Green Traveler
Hummmmm, Wow. You are the best, and we ghanja smokers salute you. You are just what the doctor ordered. The Magical Kingdom awaits your arrival on June 26, 2003. The whole world loves you BlueBerry, myself included. "Ik ook van Jou"
LastHamlet
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| Pros: | "Coffeeshops" | | Cons: | "Rain Rain Rain" | | In A Nutshell: | "True Freedom does exist!" |
BlueBerry_7's Amsterdam Travel Tips
 BlueBerry_7's Amsterdam Travelogues | | | |
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 Comments for BlueBerry_7 about Amsterdam | | | | |
Hermanater Tue Sep 25, 2007 14:48 UTC
Happy Birthday....wow...quite the place to party..... | Pod Thu Sep 20, 2007 02:21 UTC
hey, you put my Amsterdam pages to shame. yours are better than a guide book. | Pijlmans Sat Jun 2, 2007 08:30 UTC
Hi Blueberry...Thatīs some funny stuff you write. What a good suprise to see that you have been in The Old Style in Amsterdam, it used to be my favorite shop. It has been closed now :-( | joeisthesecondcoming Mon Nov 20, 2006 23:14 UTC
wat a tri!!! loved hearing about all the weed! was there last xmas i really wana go back... u really smoked the place out, wot a legend u r! |
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