So, after the Facebook poll asking where you would like to hear about - the Netherlands won!
Amsterdam is like no other city. It has lots of attractions and there is so much to do and that’s what makes it one of my favourite cities to visit. If you are traveling by car, it is only 4 hours from Calais and Bruges is in-between so definitely worth a visit on the way back to stock up on chocolate, alcohol and Christmas shopping (from the all year-round w storey Christmas shop!)
Next is where to stay; there are lots of hostels, hotels and air B+Bs but why not try something different and its cheaper – camping! I go on about it a lot as its worth a go even just for a long weekend, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but here is my favourite spot - https://www.amsterdam.nl/vliegenbos/english/it has all the facilities that you need and for the less enthusiastic camper, glamping by way of a tipi is available. The campsite itself is around a 20 mins walk to the free ferry into Amsterdam city centre and drops you off at the centre train station. Although you may be thinking, erg 20 mins walk! It gives you chance to see the outskirts of the beautiful city (and find the cheaper supermarkets!) There is art literally everywhere, not just with the amazing street art but with sculptures, you can spend the day just walking around and taking everything in.
There are lots of mainstream attractions in Amsterdam, including the Anne Frank museum, Madame Tussauds and the red-light district if you are curious! There is loads to do and the below list has come from many days exploring the city, this includes in all types of weather. Another tip is to look out for the street markets, these include some of the best foods and flavours. There are also lots of independent shops that are worth a look, so that’s about 3 days’ worth of exploring. I am not going to go into lots of detail as I do not want to ruin the experience and give away the best bits!
· Amnesia – ‘coffee shop’ – Even if you are not keen on the smoking part of the city this café is worth a visit as it does the best cheese toasties and lime smoothie. It doesn’t have a website and encourages word of mouth as its main source of advertising. You can play chess and lots of different games while you enjoy coffee and a cake. If smoking is something that you haven’t tried but its on a bucket list, this place is brilliant for first time smokers. Their professional and friendly approach is very welcome and can sometimes be lacking in other, more industrial coffee shops. Google Map: https://www.google.com/maps/@52.37554,4.8869217,17z
· ARTIS – city conservation zoo https://www.artis.nl/en/ – The reason this one is on the list is its amazing conservation work that it does in the natural world. The park itself is massive, something that was not expected in a city zoo, this means that the animal exhibits are also massive. Although this is one of the more expensive things to do on the city, it is worth the money. Another fascinating section is the Museum of microbes which includes research by Amsterdam University into germs, microbes and other interesting organisms that again you don’t find in every city. Google Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/ARTIS/@52.3660003,4.9143434,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x47c609a1dbac0061:0xe6853789b8a4a3d!8m2!3d52.3660003!4d4.9165321
· Torture museum http://www.torturemuseum.com/– There are lots of museums in Amsterdam, I recommend doing some of your own research as to what you are interested in. There are also the Amsterdam dungeons, which is good and has some interesting historical stories but is very similar to the London dungeons. If you want something different then this is it. I recommend going in the evening as the atmosphere is much creepier! The historical worth compared to the entry fee is very good, this being one of the cheapest options mentioned.
So, there you have it, at least another 3 days’ worth of activities that won’t break the bank. Please comment below on any of your own experiences or interesting places to visit!
Look out next week for my next blog post! Making the most of visiting the Netherlands.
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