Amsterdam Things to Do Tips by Jarin

Zuiderkerk (South Church) Waterlooplein Area - Stopera Review

The first Calvinist church in Amsterdam designed by Hendrick de Keyser in 1603 (built between 1603-1611) - the tower was completed in 1614 only. It's a pseudo-basilica with many details in renaissance style.
Since 1929 the church is not anymore used as a church. From 1988 used by the city planning department and for exhibitions.

Address: Zuiderkerkhof 72

Directions: Near to the Pintohuis and the Rembrandthuis.

Waag (Weigh House) Nieuwmarkt - Waag Review

The weigh house was originally built in 1488 as one of Amsterdam’s city gates, St Anthony’s Port (a part of the city’s fortifications) and was one of Amsterdam’s three main gates.
Since 1617 is the gate used as a public weigh house. The upper floors were used by city’s militia and other rooms were assigned to various guilds (each guild had its own entrance).
After the guilds moved early 19th century various tenants used the building. After a restoration Restaurant-Café In de Waag eventually opened its doors here in 1996.
Open daily.

Address: Nieuwmarkt 4

Other Contact: E-mail: info@indewaag.nl

Phone: +31 20 4227772

Hortus Botanicus - Botanical Garden Hortus Botanicus - Botanic Gardens Review

The garden is established in 1638 as a small herb garden for pharmacists of Amsterdam. Today it has one of the largest botanical collections in the world. The Hortus Botanicus is located at its present location since 1682.
The ships of the VOC (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie = East India Company) brought many useful tropical plants. At the beginning of 1700 Hortus was the first garden outside Arabia where you could find coffee plants.
In the Hortus you can find abt. 8,000 different species of tropical, subtropical and desert plants.

Address: Plantage Middenlaan 2 (A)

Directions: Near to Waterlooplein and Artis-Zoo

Phone: +31-20-625 9021

Portugees-Israelitische Synagoge (Portuguese syn.) Waterlooplein Area - Stopera Review

The Portuguese-Israeli Synagogue was built in the period 1670-75 by Elias Bouman and is inspired on the architecture of the Temple of Salomo in Jerusalem. The synagogue is located on the Mr. Visserplein. This area used to be the heart of the Jewish Quarter.
The building rests on wooden piles and the foundation vaults can be viewed by boat from the water underneath the synagogue.

Address: Mr. Visserplein 3

Directions: Near the Waterlooplein, the famous Waterlooplein flea market and the Jewish Historical Museum.

Other Contact: E- mail: m.dori@esnoga.com

Phone: +31 20 624 53 51

Sint Nicolaaskerk - Church of St. Nicholas Central Station Area - St Nicolaas Kerk Review

Sint Nicolaas is the patron saint of Amsterdam and of the sailors. The church is designed by A.C. Bleys and dates from 1887.
The Sint Nicolaaskerk has a very beautiful, well-kept interior and still has catholic services. In 1999 a costly restoration of the interior and exterior was completed.

Address: Prins Hendrikkade 73

Directions: Just 2 minutes walk from Central Station.

Gemeentearchief Amsterdam - Municipal archives

Late 19th century building in neo renaissance was originally city hall of Newer Amstel, a city that was taken over by city of Amsterdam in 1869.
Since 1914 house this building Municipal archives.

Address: Amsteldijk 67, 1074 HZ Amsterdam

Directions: Trams 3 & 4; metro Wibautstraat

Phone: +31 (0)20 572 0202

Hermitage Amsterdam Hermitage Review

The Hermitage Amsterdam opened its doors on February 28th, 2004. It is situated in the Amstelhof building, which was built in 1681-1683 as a home for elderly in need of care (initially only for women, but also for men from 1719) and has remained in use as a nursing home to this day. However due to various renovations in the 19th and 20th centuries, little is left of the original interior layout of Amstelhof.
By the end of 2007 the entire Amstelhof building will be in use by the Hermitage Amsterdam, with a total floor space of over 4,000 m², as now there is only abt. 500 square metres of exhibition space.
Small temporary exhibitions drawn from the rich collection of The State Hermitage Museum of St Petersburg will be presented here.
For the inaugural exhibition was chosen for the Greek Gold. The 2nd exhibition was Nicholas & Alexandra followed by VENEZIA! Art of the 18th century. The 4th exhibition was: PILGRIM Treasures (Byzantium-Jerusalem) and the last one was: Silver wonders from the East.
The present exhibition Collector's in St. Petersburg is till March 11th, 2007.
Next exhibition: Persia (30/03/07 till 16/09/07).

Address: Nieuwe Herengracht 14, Amsterdam

Directions: Near to Theatre Carre and Waterlooplein.

Phone: +31-20-5308751

Website: http://www.hermitage.nl/en/index.htm

Stedelijk Museum Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art Review

It is built in 1895 (neorenaissance style designed by A.W. Weissman) to house the works which were given to the city from Sophia de Bruyn. However since 1938 it is a national museum for modern art, where you can find works from Picasso, Matisse, Mondriaan, Cézanne en Monet. There are also regularly temporary exhibitions.
Due to the renovation and expansion of the building is the Stedelijk Museum closed.
Museum is now located in former TPG Building (the post group) - near Central Station.
The temporary address is: Oosterdokskade 3-5, Amsterdam

Address: Paulus Potterstraat 13

Phone: +31-20-5732737

Website: http://www.stedelijk.nl

Montelbaanstoren (Montelbaan Tower) Montelbaanstoren Review

The lower part dates back to 1512, where this tower was a part of Amsterdam's Medieval walls. It was a sentinel from which guards could look over the plains for attacking armies.
When in 1606 the tower lost its defence function, upper part was built upon it (design of Hendrick de Keyser).
In 1611, the 48 m tower began to list, prompting locals to attach ropes to the top to pull it right again.
Today, in fact already since 1878, houses this tower an office, Stadswaterkantoor, which regulates the flow of water in the Amsterdam canals, .
The tower has a nickname 'Malle Jaap' (Silly Jaap), because in the past the clock used to show wrong time.

Address: Oude Waal/Oudeschans 2

Directions: Near to Waag or Rembrandtshuis/house.

Holland Experience - Different view on Netherlands Holland Experience (CLOSED) Review

Holland Experience 3D movie theatre offers you the opportunity to see the Netherlands in 30 minutes. Seated on a moving platform, in the comfort of an aircraft seat, with special 3D glasses on, this trip through the Netherlands will be an exciting and surprising event. With aid of scent, sound and moving effects all your senses will be stimulated during your trip.

Address: Waterlooplein 17 / Jodenbreestraat 8-10

Directions: Next to the Rembrandthuis and in very near distance to Waag.

Phone: +31-20-4222233

Website: http://www.holland-experience.nl