Jun 9, 2009 0
Beer + Bike = Fun?
The concept: put a bunch of partying folks on a pedal-powered bar, which serves them beer while they bike their way through town.
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Jun 7, 2009 0
De Waag, Nieuwmarkt
The Nieuwmarkt in Amsterdam is dominated by De Waag, the former Sint Antoniespoort (St. Anthony’s Gate), which used to be part of the Medieval defense wall built in 1481.
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Jun 5, 2009 0
Amsterdam Bookmarket treasures
Every friday there is a second-hand book market at Spui in Amsterdam.
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Jun 5, 2009 0
Tourboats at Rokin, Amsterdam
Rederij P. Kooij is one of several popular tour boat companies in Amsterdam, providing trips through the city’s canals.
Kooij is situated in the Rokin, or what’s left of it. This water used to run from the river Amstel to Dam Square. Remember, Amsterdam = Dam in the river Amstel. At the time, the water came up to the buildings at the back of the Kalverstraat (to the left, but not seen in this picture).
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Apr 3, 2009 0
Vondelpark Amsterdam Do’s and Don’ts
Amsterdam city brough ‘Old South’ has been told it overstepped its authority when it banned nude sunbathing in Amsterdam’s popular Vondelpark as part of a series of rules governing use of the park.
Since 1985 nude recreation is not automatically a criminal offense in the Netherlands.
But whether or not nude or topless sunbathing will actually be allowed at Vondelpark will eventually be up to a judge.
Mar 28, 2009 0
Bikes as Billboards
These sturdy bikes are not just used to transport people, but also to advertise a company.
Bikes can be parked just about anywhere — including in spots where it would be impossible (or, due to the cost, too expensive) to place a billboard or other form of advertisement.
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Mar 24, 2009 0
Bijenkorf warehouse in Amsterdam
The Bijenkorf (beehive) is the most exclusive department store in Amsterdam.
It started out as a small sewing notions shop at nearby Nieuwendijk, in the year 1870.
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Mar 14, 2009 0
Amsterdam’s Brown Cafes
Among the many pleasures you can experience in Amsterdam are the ‘brown cafes’ — so-called because, well, they’re brown.
The original brown cafes are brown for two reasons: their interior design includes lots of wood, and just about everything in the place is stained by decades, sometimes centuries worth of nicotine.
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Mar 10, 2009 0
Central Station across the IJ
While Amsterdam has a mild climate, the weather can be fickle. Some people have joked that the weather cycles through four seasons a day. That’s not quite true, of course, but when you consider that the weather is a prime factor cited by Dutch people who plan (or wish) to emigrate you realize it’s not all wrong either.
Some summers the sun hardly shows, while in other years Holland is subjected to heatwaves.
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Mar 7, 2009 0
Amsterdam introduces new traffic rules for its canals
Amsterdam is a wonderful city any time of the year, but even more so during the sunny months. When the weather is fine, many Amsterdammers take to the water.
The city has 165 canals with a total length of 100 kilometers. This accounts for the fact that Amsterdam is a city of 90 islands — and some 1500 bridges. No wonder Amsterdam is called “The Venice of the North.”
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Amsterdam Travel and Visitors Guide
