"Relax, Unwind, Enjoy" a Amsterdam Travel Page by mightywease

Amsterdam, for me, is one of those places where, within a short time, you can feel really at home. By that I mean a kick-off-your-shoes, don't care if your hair is a mess, no work till Monday morning kind of easiness. A relaxed, friendly atmosphere contained in city full of beautiful buildings, great museums and a rich history. And some fantastic bars, cafes and restaurants too.

In winter, when we generally visit, Amsterdam can be bitterly cold especially when the wind whips along the canal sides, pinching your cheeks and stealing your breath. However, it can also be extremely beautiful as the canals freeze and snow changes the landscape, muffling the streets and buildings in a mantle of white.

Outside the Van Gogh Museum people stamp their feet and breathe steam heat onto their hands as they wait for opening. The cloakroom of the Rijksmuseum drips with overcoats and hats, outer skins discarded for the duration of the visit.

Cafes are bars are beacons of warmth inviting you in. Curl cat like round a strong, sweet coffee or feel the iciness of jenever on your lips transform to flame as it reaches your throat.

July 2006 was the first time we had visited in summer and allowed us to witness a city we have travelled to a number of times in a very different light.

We arrived early and, dropping the bags at the hotel, joined the affable society of joggers and dog walkers in Vondelpark. Shoes kicked off, stretched out on the grass, feeling it tickle our palms and soles and the stress of an early morning flight soon dissolved into the blades and earth.

Inside the blissfully cool Van Gogh museum the vibrant colours of the paintings akin to the wonderful hues of the flowers on sale in Bloemenmarkt.

As the sweltering heat of the day changed to the comfortable warmth of evening we sat drinking cold beer by the canal side, the traffic on the canals hardly subsiding as all manner of crafts used them as thoroughfare and nightlife.

Falling into fresh linen sheets it felt like we had been in the city for days rather than morning arrivals and slept contentedly until the sun awoke us to another beautiful day in Amsterdam.

I have never been disappointed in Amsterdam. It has so much to offer and such a great atmosphere. Go and feel at home.

For me one of the pleasures of Amsterdam is simply to walk around. Whether it's from Centraal Station down to Leidesplein or along Prinsengracht or Herengracht there is always so much to see. A beautiful view from one corner, fine gabled houses from another or simply the hustle and bustle of trams, shops and people.

However for many it is the history and art that will bring them to the city, think of Rembrandt and Van Gogh and you think of The Netherlands and Amsterdam.

Though not born in Amsterdam Rembrandt lived in the city, one his homes is now the Rembrandt House Museum, and in the magnificent Rijksmuseum you can see some of his finest paintings such as "The Night Watch" alongside works by Vermeer, Frans Hals and Jan Steen.

A short walk from the Rijksmuseum the life and work of another iconic Dutch painter is celebrated at the Van Gogh Museum. The collection includes around 200 of his paintings, over 500 drawings plus more than 700 letters and gives a fascinating view into not only Van Gogh's art but his life, relationships, psyche and tragically early death

The Anne Frank House and the Verzetsmuseum (Resistance Museum) give an insight into a more recent tragic time, the occupation of the city during World War 2. In her diaries Anne Frank documented her life, her fears, her hopes and the reality of living in a situation that many would find incomprehensible and visiting the house where she wrote those thoughts is a poignant experience. In the Resistance Museum the at times hard and stark choices faced by the Dutch population during the occupation are explored as are the methods employed by those who resisted the occupying forces.

For new and regular visitors to the city the Amsterdam Historical Museum offers a fantastic overview of this trading port and its importance, over the years, in European and World affairs.

As for relaxation the canal sides, have some wonderful bars where you can sit out on terraces in summer or sit in and keep warm during winter. For beer lovers don’t miss In de Wildeman and its range of 300 bottled beers from around the world or the 30 types available at Café Belgique. And for the foodies amongst us ttake your pick, Indonesian, Italian, International, Pancakes and, of course, Dutch cuisine are just a few amongst the many different styles you can sample.