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Amsterdam Holidays, Hotels & Travel Guide
Travel guide to hotels & holidays in Amsterdam
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Amsterdam Holidays Overview
A guide to holidays in Amsterdam - Lively, lascivious Amsterdam has a unique
atmosphere that belies the caricature of the dour Dutch.
Radiating out from the Dam Square, the historic centre of
the city is ringed by quaint canals and cobbled streets, thronged
with bicycles, tourists, house-boats, students, and street
performers. The city wears two faces: on one it smiles and beckons
hedonistic youth with its notorious Red Light District and liberal
view of marijuana use, while on the other it offers some of
Europe's finest museums and art galleries. For
the tourist the joy of Amsterdam is its compactness. The old part
of town is a pleasure to explore on foot, strolling across ancient
bridges and down narrow lanes past gabled houses, dropping in to
browse in inviting souvenir boutiques crammed with blue and white
Delft china and wooden clogs. Pavement cafes and cosy bars offer
rest and refreshment. An alternative is to take a circular
canal-boat cruise and see the city from the water, peering in on
the lives of the locals who live on house-boats lining the
waterways. At night even the most conservative
visitor is drawn by the lively atmosphere of the infamous Red Light
District, known as De Wallen, which is bounded by the Oudezijds
Voorburgwal and Oudeziujds Achterburgwal canals near the Dam
Square. Here prostitutes display their charms in brightly lit shop
windows and touts encourage passers-by to view raunchy floor-shows.
The best nightclubs, bars, and the theatres and cinemas are mainly
to be found in the bustling Leidesplein and
Rembrandtplein.
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Amsterdam
holidays - Top Places To Go
1. Anne Frank House
Prinsengracht 267 (Westerkerk)
www.annefrank.nl |
What is it? This museum is dedicated to the memory of
Anne Frank whose famous diary, recorded over a two-year period,
describes the experiences of a Jewish teenager during World War II.
Part of the house was used as a hiding place by the Franks and
others to escape Nazi persecution. The families were later
discovered and sent to their deaths in the concentration camps.
Otto Frank was the only survivor. The original diary is on display
as part of the permanent exhibition. The museum also hosts
temporary exhibits that focus on related
issues.
Hours of Operation: Daily 9am to 7pm; and 9am to 9pm (15 March to 14
September). Note that the queues can be long
Phone:(020) 556 7105 |
2. Van Gogh Museum
Paulus Potterstraat 7
www.vangoghmuseum.nl |
What is it? The museum houses a permanent display of
several hundred of the artist's paintings and drawings. The
collection is organised according to three criteria. The first of
these is the work of Vincent van Gogh, which is divided into five
notable periods. Then there is the display of work of other artists
including those of his friends and contemporaries. The third
section is the showcase of the museum's history recording its
progress with a feature on the development of the new wing designed
by Japanese architect, Kisho Kurokawa, built to house the temporary
exhibitions.
Hours of Operation: Daily 10am to 6pm, Fridays 10am to
10pm
Phone:(020) 570 5200 |
3. The Rijksmuseum
Jan Luijkenstraat 1
www.rijksmuseum.nl |
What is it? The Rijksmuseum was opened in 1885 and is
best known for its collection of 17th century Dutch Masters such as
Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals and Jan Steen. The most notable of
these is Rembrandt's masterpiece, the Night Watch. The museum
contains thousands of other paintings and artefacts in its Asiatic
collection, Print Room, Dutch History and Applied Arts sections. A
visit to the museum should include a trip into its delightful
garden adorned with bright flowers, fountains, sculptures and
summerhouses. Nestled within the garden is a collection depicting
five centuries of Dutch architecture. It is advisable to consult a
map or purchase a CD audio tour for an orientation to the extensive
collection.
Hours of Operation: Daily 9am to 6pm (closing at 10pm on Fridays). Closed
1 January
Phone:(020) 674 7000 |
Amsterdam
holidays - Top Events
1. Keukenhof
From 2007-03-22
To 2007-05-20
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What is it? The world's largest garden (32-hectares)
bursts with colour during this eight week spring season. This
showcase of flowers (particularly the elegant tulips and daffodils)
attracts some 800,000 visitors to its flowery ramparts and is
divided into theme gardens, sculpture routes and a children's
exhibition known as Clever Clogs.
Where is it? The Keukenhof is located in the bulb-growing area between
Amsterdam and The Hague |
2. Queen's Day
From 2007-04-30
To 2007-04-30
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What is it? The Queen Mother's birthday is a very festive
occasion in the Netherlands, and Amsterdam goes all out to
celebrate staging a street party which starts the night before and
keeps going well into the early hours of the next day.
Traditionally people attending wear orange (the Royal family is the
House of Orange), and ensure they have a beer in hand. The party
also resembles a giant jumble sale, with street trade unregulated
for the day allowing people to display all their unused and
unwanted goods on the street in the hope of selling it to
passers-by. It is a great day for bargain hunters and party animals
alike, particularly if the sun shines. For more information contact
the tourist office on (0)20 201 8800.
Where is it? The centre of the action is at Vondelpark in the city
centre |
3. Amsterdam Pride
From 2007-08-03
To 2007-08-05
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What is it? One of Europe's most popular and
well-attended 'gay pride' festivals, Amsterdam's Pride takes place
annually in early August. The highlight is the Canal Parade on the
Saturday in which about 75 decorated craft carry revellers along
the Prinsengracht, Amstel and Stopera canals to the delight of
about 25,000 spectators. The festival includes a full programme of
street parties at different venues during the week, sporting
events, an open-air film festival on the Nieumarkt and numerous
theatrical and cultural events.
Where is it? Various places throughout the city |
4. Amsterdam Roots Festival
From 2007-06-16
To 2007-06-24
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What is it? Now a major event on the global music
calendar, Amsterdam's Roots Festival started in 1983 as a
celebration of African music. Today the annual programme draws top
artists from everywhere around the world, and hordes of
concertgoers who come to enjoy their talents. The festival opens
each year with a massive free open-air concert in the Oosterpark,
performances spanning six stages. During the rest of the festival
week about 60 concerts are held at different venues around the
city. The Roots Festival is part of the Holland
Festival.
Where is it? Various locations |
5. Holland Festival
From 2007-05-29
To 2007-06-23
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What is it? The Holland Festival is a yearly
trend-setting and innovative presentation of the dramatic arts, the
highlight of the cultural season in the Netherlands. During the
month of June each year about 30 productions take to the boards
across the full spectrum of the arts, music, opera, theatre and
dance. The programme includes everything from pop music to topical
high drama. A street café on Leidseplein serves as the festival
centre where bookings can be made.
Where is it? Information and booking at The Festival Centre,
Stadsschouwburg, Leidseplein |
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