Rijks Museum and other Amsterdam, Netherlands Things to Do Tips

I loved the Rijksmuseum easily as much as any other museum in Europe.

Why?

The things the Dutch Master artists (Rembrandt, Vermeer, et all) did with "light" and the inspiring still lifes are beyond amazing (see Willem Claesz Heda (right) --->)

Rijks is conveniently close to the Van Gogh museum and the beautiful Vondelpark, making it a wonderful 1, 2, or even 3-day excursion. Don't yawn, I could easily spend a few days in just this particular part of town and the pijp.

Rijksmuseum has an outstanding web site in both Engels and Nederlands here:
Rijkmuseum

Enjoy, and be inspired.

Work continues on the reconfiguration, but it still is a marvelous experience. When it is done, it will be even better.

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Address: Stadhouderskade 42 1071 ZD Amstedam
Website: www.rijksmuseum.nl/

My favorite canal bordering and through the Jordaan.

Again, the weather was perfect the whole time I was there this last September, so every time I crossed a bridge, there was a foto op.

This is the exact spot I locked my bike every late afternoon after a day of riding around the city and parks.

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Address: Prinsengracht facing north at the Reestraat bridge
Directions: In / next to the Jordaan, the Prinsengracht from the Reesluis facing north toward Westerkerk Toren.

There is nothing in Amsterdam I enjoy more than to ride my bicycle through the Vondelpark on a pleasant & sunny day.

I have a Vondelpark travelogue on the pages if you are also a Vondelpark lover. Click below to go for a ride with me:

Vondelpark Bike Ride
Doei!

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Address: A little south, a little west of Museumplein
Directions: Just keep pedaling sw from Rijks, it is very big and you can't help but find it eventually.

If you are a "Vincent" fan, don't miss it.
Enough said. Check out the website listed here for details

Rijks, Stedelijk (Stedelijk is modern art) museums, and the inspirational and peaceful Vondelpark are right next to it. I can spend days in this section of the Dam, especially if fall weather is good.

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Phone: 020-570 52 00
Directions: The Van Gogh Museum is within the Museumplein, between the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk Museum.The museum entrance is at the Paulus Potterstraat 7.
Website: http://www.vangoghmuseum.nl

This is one of my favorite places to just sit and pass the time.

Along the Prinsengracht, below the bridge over Oude Leliegracht, are some tables right on the canal. The cafe above it has servers that will come down and bring you anything you want in the way of koffie, drinks, broodjes, etc.

It's very peaceful looking east down the small Leliegracht canal.

Ducks and small boats paddle by quietly and almost everyone seems to understand this is a place to chill quietly and relax.

I think they leave the ugly-coloured plastic chairs there because they are so awful no one will steal them. But the canal is beautiful and peaceful and the food & drinks are very good.

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Address: Prinsengracht over Oude Leliegracht next 2 Jordaan
Directions: Example: if you exit Anne Frank Huis, take an immediate right and walk north 1/2 a block to the very next bridge, you see what is in the picture I took.

Amsterdam is so peaceful when you walk or bike the canals, day or night. I always would have to stop on the bridges and look both ways to take in the beauty of it all.

An overused and sometimes-nauseating term these days is the yuppyish "feng shui," but if any city has it, it is Amsterdam.

Took this low-res digital shot looking north up Prinsengracht when light was approaching dusk.

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Address: Prinsengracht bridge a little north of Westerkerk
Directions: Eastern edge of Jordaan on Prinsengracht

Roughly the same shot as above, but after dark.

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Address: Prinsengracht

. . . .

The Red Light District is a must see, no matter what your morals & politics are.

Not just window candy, there are also good restaurants, clubs, coffeehouses, museums....
Get loose and go for a stroll.
Day or night it is fun.

Amsterdam XXX the Walletjes (ignatzmice) web site listed below is a very good, somewhat adult site that offers probably the best web-based tour of the rld you will find.

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Directions: Red Light district is just SouthEast of Centraal Station
Website: http://www.ignatzmice.com/

Here's a "magic-hour" shot just south of the Westerkerk (West Church) from the terrace of my apartment near the Jordaan.

Bells ring every 15 minutes, with the big show taking place at midnight. After a while the bells become something you look forward to. Anne Frank Huis is only 2 streets north on the Prinsengracht, so she and her family in the annex must have marked the passing of time by Westerkerk Toren bells as well.

Anytime I wasn't riding my bike around town, I was usually passing the time in this spot on the terrace.

For almost a week in mid Sept. '03 they had loud live music shows outside the church with literally thousands of people happily singing along until midnight.

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Phone: +31-20-6247766
Address: Prinsengracht 28
Directions: In the Jordaan, between Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht at Raadhuisstraat and Westermark.
Website: http://www.westerkerk.nl

Walking around Dam Square, Damrak, everywhere, I enjoy all the street artists, musicians, mimes, etc.

We dubbed this guy "freezeman." He was standing outside a Vlames Frites on the Damrak, motionless. If you put money in the cup, occasionally he might wiggle an eyebrow.

Even though he was wearing sunglasses I did not want to rudely "flash" him in the face.

I don't like my cheap digital camera, as it did not have enough contrast without flash to show the best part of him..... his tie frozen in an imaginary "stiff wind."

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