Some summers the sun hardly shows, while in other years Holland is subjected to heatwaves.
Tourist brochures always show Amsterdam in the best possible light — literally, with its monuments, canals and street scenes bathed in sunlight. Rest assured, it’s not photoshopped (well, we assume it’s not). But don’t be disappointed if you don’t see much of the sun during your visit to Amsterdam.
Fact is that Holland’s climate is changing. It’s becoming milder and wetter.
The photo above shows a typical Amsterdam scene — the Central Station (just above the small vessel in the middle of the picture) as seen across the IJ estuary on a rain, shine, or both day.
This one, Retro and Chic, is located in the Staalstraat — about halfway between the Waterlooplein fleamarket and Holland’s most expensive (in terms of rent) part of the Kalverstraat shopping street.
Clicking the photo will take you to the Flickr page which explains where the statue can be found — and why it is there.
The proprietor got tired of the hordes of tourists entering his business for everything but to drink the beer he is trying to sell…
Uncover a grand church hidden in an attic in the Red Light District.
Visit a shoe-shaped home and the office of the future at the Living Tomorrow Pavilion.
Sip jenever (Dutch gin) at a traditional tasting house or distillery.
Practice your dangling skills sampling herring from a street stall.
In This Guide:
42 days of in-city research, five walking tours, three cycling tours, 18 detailed maps.
Color Architecture chapter shows the contrast between Amsterdam’s classic and modern styles.
Local insights from a film director, a boat-tour operator and an author.
We like the Lonely Planet Amsterdam City Guide — albeit primarily for the reason mentioned by one reviewer who wrote,
The value in “Lonely Planet Amsterdam” is in the thumbnail sketches of cafes and reasonably-priced restaurants. The descriptions of the establishments that I am familiar with were right on the money. They are grouped by neighborhood and have basic information, such as opening hours.
As Amsterdam locals, we concur.
Lonely Planet itself says,
Some come to Amsterdam for the anything-goes party scene, some come for the Golden Age art and thriving theatre, but no-one leaves without being bowled over by the merchant’s villas lining the canals, the gracious parks and the laid-back, come-one-come-all vibe that is Amsterdam at its best.
Central Station across the IJ
