Amsterdam

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Weekend in Amsterdam

An April 2007 trip to Amsterdam by NiceGinna

Restaurant du BelhamelMore Photos

Amsterdam is a Venice of the North, with canals and great architecture and wonderful museums.

  • 6 reviews
  • 1 story/tip
  • 13 photos

Weekend in AmsterdamBest of IgoUgo

Overview

Along the canals

Quick Tips:

We were en route from our winter home in Nice to our summer home in Chicagoland and this year made our trip through Amsterdam, a place we'd always wanted to see. The city is idyllic, with canals everywhere and you can take scenic cruises on hop on/hop off boats so that you can easily get from one site to another. We loved the architecture of this city and found wonderful restaurants and interesting things to do. The museums are very interesting, the churches old, and the Anne Frank House a must.

Best Way To Get Around:

As mentioned, the hop on/hop off boats are a great way to get around town and see the sights. Walking is also easy.

Die Port Van CleveBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Not the 4-Star Hotel That Was Advertised"

The ad for the hotel stated that it is a 4-star and we were offered three nights for the price of two. Our room was extremely small - we're fairly small people and we kept bumping into each other. The decoration was poor. The location, on the other had, was great.
  • Member Rating 1 out of 5 by NiceGinna on July 26, 2008

Die Port Van Cleve
N Z VOORBURGWAL 178 180 Amsterdam, Netherlands
020-6244860

Restaurant De BelhamelBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Our Favorite Restaurant in Amsterdam"

Restaurant du Belhamel
Belhamel is located at the junction of two canals, with tables outside along the water as well as in the Art Deco interior. As there were no tables available outdoors, we were seated indoors in a comfortable room that is open to the kitchen which is half a level downstairs. All the smells coming from the kitchen were enticing. We saw a lovely bottle of rose wine going by and immediately felt the need to order one for ourselves, a 2006 Domaine de l’Abbaye, cuvee Pugette from Le Thoronet. It was delicious on this warm, sunny day. David enjoyed his "spargel" (white asparagus) with salmon with a bernaise sauce while I loved a salad of arugula, beets, pancetta, accompanied by warm gouda on toast.For dessert David had the apple pie while I had meringue with 2 sorbets, melon and lemongrass. A perfect meal.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by NiceGinna on July 26, 2008

Restaurant De Belhamel
Brouwersgracht 60 Amsterdam, Netherlands 1013 GX
+31 20 622 10 95

Anne Frank HuisBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The First Must-See in Amsterdam: the Anne Frank House"

Our first stop was the Anne Frank House, not too far from our hotel, where the family lived from July 1942 until they were betrayed in August 1944. Anne died of typhus in March 1945 in Bergen-Belsen. We went through the house which was very interesting and moving, but might be more effective with furniture. Otto Frank, Anne’s father, requested that the furniture be removed. I remember so well reading Anne’s Diary when I was a child and then seeing the Broadway show which opened in 1955; I would have been about 12 when I saw it with my mom.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by NiceGinna on July 26, 2008

Anne Frank Huis
Prinsengracht 263 Amsterdam, Netherlands 1016 GV
+31 20 556 71 00

RijksmuseumBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Rijksmuseum Is Well Worth a Visit"

David in front of the Rijksmuseum
We took the "red" cruise to the area of the Rijksmuseum, a lovely ride past interesting houses and houseboats, the American Hotel, and a lovely park area with huge plane trees. We toured the Rijksmuseum, viewing the Frans Hals, Vermeers, and Rembrandts including "The Night Watch". The most important museum in the city, although we prefered the Van Gogh.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by NiceGinna on July 26, 2008

Rijksmuseum
Stadhouderskade 42 Amsterdam, Netherlands 1071 ZD
+31 20 674 70 00

Van Gogh MuseumBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Van Gogh Museum Was our Favorite Museum"

The Van Gogh Museum is close to the Rijksmuseum, so easy to "do" both in a morning. There is a wonderful collection of his works and works by his contemporaries including several paintings of Van Gogh, himself, by other painters.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by NiceGinna on July 26, 2008

Van Gogh Museum
Paulus Potterstraat 7 Amsterdam, Netherlands 1071 CX
+31 (20) 570 52 00

Crazy Bikers - you Need to Watch out for Them!Best of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

The local vehicle of choice
People in Amsterdam are most likely to get around on their bicycles. They commute in droves each morning and evening. They seem to have the right of way and you must be careful not to be in their lane. But what a great way to get around!

About the Writer

NiceGinna
NiceGinna
Evanston, Illinois

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