"MY BIRTHPLACE" Top 5 Page for this destination Amsterdam by pieter_jan_v

Amsterdam Travel Guide: 10,466 reviews and 22,000 photos

Amsterdam from space

Amsterdam: Compassion, Resolution & Heroism

Startpoint Amsterdam: Central Station

Central Station map

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be aware I will check it and in some cases do some grouping corrections or send you an email when I find errors or outdated info.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.

Aerial view of Center City

Amsterdam City Center

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

Destinations In & Around Amsterdam in the VT-database:
-Duivendrecht
-Amstelpark
-Vondelpark
-Oud-Diemen
-IJ-eiland
-Diemen
-Nieuwendam
-De Diemen
-Schellingwoude
-Oranjesluizen
-Buiksloot
-Ouderkerk aan de Amstel
-Sloterdijk
-Over-Diemen
-Het Nieuwe Meer
-Zunderdorp
-Amstelveen
-Durgerdam
-Vuurtoreneiland
-Sloterplas
-Nieuwe Meer
-Bovenkerk

Pros and Cons

Pros:Just come and enjoy
Cons:Too crowded at times
In a nutshell:Big City!!!

Last visit to Amsterdam: Aug 2015
Intro Updated Aug 15, 2015
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Reviews (547)

Any Old Time Records - Amsterdam - Amsterdam

Second hand gramophone records Shopping (93)

Any Old time Records is a real collector's shop. It started at the Woestduinstraat and although I knew it was there, I... more travel advice

Snackbar in the West Restaurants (116)

Snackbar Meetingpoint is located central at the Delflandplein square. This is not a first tourist destination being a... more travel advice

Coffee and more Restaurants (116)

Mr. Bean is a place to go to for very good coffee. But there's more, they serve also breakfast and lunches. Next to... more travel advice

SLA Ceintuurbaan - Amsterdam - Amsterdam

Eat, share, live. Restaurants (116)

SLA is a concept health food eatery with five Amsterdam branches. The Ceintuurbaan shop is a small, but cozy one. SLA... more travel advice

Travelogues (36)

Written Jan 14, 2004

8 photos

VT-meeting February 22 2003 Part1
Written Jan 14, 2004

8 photos

VT-meeting February 22 2003 Part2
Written Sep 22, 2006

7 photos

VT-meeting February 22 2003 Part3
Written Aug 21, 2007

19 photos

VT-meeting December 27, 2003

1 - 4 of 36

Comments (171)

- Report abuse
iaint Jan 28, 2015 at 12:38 PM

Had 4 lovely days in Amsterdam at New Year. Good to go back. Found 3 of your restaurant tips all by ourselves!
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  pieter_jan_v Jan 28, 2015 at 1:11 PM
  
  Great, As the Amsterdam Travel Editor I also add restaurants in the "pick list", that are new and/or trendy. PJ
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Pomocub Nov 18, 2013 at 5:17 AM

Very thorough guide to Amsterdam!
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Nemorino Aug 21, 2013 at 5:05 AM

Lots of nice new tips and updates on this big page!
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Martman Mar 12, 2013 at 6:29 PM

In May, the population will be 800.001 when I visit!
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HORSCHECK Dec 13, 2012 at 1:25 PM

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".
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  pieter_jan_v Dec 14, 2012 at 1:45 AM
  
  Holger, You are lucky. Many of Sonja's and your Amsterdam pictures are in several Amsterdam tip picture galleries on the moment. PJ
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  6aruna Aug 11, 2013 at 2:23 AM
  
  Wish you were around and I knew VT when I visited Amsterdam ten years back.Nostalgic makes me want to go back.
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Regina1965 Oct 11, 2012 at 5:55 PM

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.
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KristaB Oct 6, 2012 at 3:50 AM

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)
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  pieter_jan_v Oct 6, 2012 at 4:02 AM
  
  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
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Gulu85 Oct 3, 2012 at 3:43 PM

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!!!
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  pieter_jan_v Oct 4, 2012 at 12:32 PM
  
  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
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  Gulu85 Oct 8, 2012 at 4:38 PM
  
  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
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wise23girl Jun 23, 2012 at 4:12 AM

Thank you...we could do some shopping and eating!
Marg
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nyperose Apr 21, 2012 at 11:30 AM

Thank you for excellent Amsterdam tips. No need to buy an Amsterdam guide after having read your pages:-)

Greetings from Lausanne, Ellen