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Charles Mitchell's bio is available.
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AMSTERDAM
Amsterdam is as exciting a place to be as anywhere in Europe. This city is attractive, likeable, and fun. There are many places to go and things to see all within reasonable walking distance. Amsterdam is a town where discovering new places can be more fun than finding famous sights.
A day spent exploring the side streets in the center of Amsterdam can be as good as anything one does in Europe. People who find nothing equals Amsterdam for the new and unusual often describe Amsterdam as their city. The favorite European great ideas that shaped Amsterdam are a constant influence everywhere one goes.
While Amsterdam is the most important city in the Netherlands, Amsterdam is not completely typical either. Amsterdam is a worldly and exciting city. Amsterdam is popular because the city has always been a good source of liberal ideas both for the Netherlands and the world. The qualities usually thought of as Dutch are also still found in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam is a city of canals. There are concentric canals every few streets from the center of Amsterdam outward. The canals add tremendously to Amsterdam's scenery and make walking in the town more pleasant. Canal boats are a popular way to see Amsterdam. Evening canal tours show Amsterdam by candlelight. Touring the city by canal boat whether in the day or evening can help familiarize oneself with Amsterdam.
Museums are plentiful in Amsterdam. Art museums are in abundance with Dutch paintings well represented. Rembrandt's house can even be visited. Other historical museums are found throughout Amsterdam.
There is good shopping throughout the central area of Amsterdam. The city's big department stores have an excellent selection of merchandise. The side streets for blocks and blocks are filled with curious little stores of all types. Browsing these places is easily a full day's activity.
Restaurants also recommend Amsterdam. Finding a good place for an evening meal is not complicated. Places for lunch and coffee are likewise everywhere.
Photographically, Amsterdam is simply fun. Amsterdam's distinctiveness contributes enjoyable photography. The building along the canals make exceptional subjects. The various squares throughout the community are, also, good to photograph.
Amsterdam usually stays popular visit after visit because there is much to see and to do here. One almost inevitably leaves Amsterdam thinking of new places to visit next time. Returning to familiar places is, also, much fun in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam, a City of Concentric Canals
Even with as much as there is to see and do in Amsterdam, everything is within moderate walking distance. The urban hike I have suggested for Amsterdam is all by foot and requires no public transportation. Since the hike for Amsterdam is not unusually long, plan to mix some sightseeing with this urban hike. Allow a full day for this hike, and all the attractions along the way can be visited. No urban hike could visit everywhere in Amsterdam, and many favorite places should be saved to experience another day.
Amsterdam's numerous canals make this a very attractive city. Amsterdam's streets form concentric half circles outward from the central train station. Amsterdam's uncommon plan encourages one to explore the town's many different and beautiful canals and streets. Block after block of good urban scenery are to be found in Amsterdam.
Virtually everything one would want from a city is to be found Amsterdam. Good shopping, restaurants, and entertainment are all here to discover. All this is to be found in the center of Amsterdam. Because there is much to discover here, Amsterdam is unusually good fun.
Amsterdam has excellent public transportation. Street cars reach almost all destinations within the city. Service is convenient and helps keep this city popular. After completing the suggested urban hike, chose a street car to return to where the urban hike began.
If Amsterdam confuses, do not be discouraged. Amsterdam's streets are laid out somewhat unusually. The urban hike suggested for Amsterdam helps acquaint the visitor with Amsterdam's plan. When one becomes acquainted with Amsterdam, the city often becomes a favorite.
Form a Better Acquaintance with Amsterdam with an Urban Hike
The Amsterdam urban hike begins at the city's Central Train Station. This starting point can be reached via several of Amsterdam's street car lines. Amsterdam's famous canals can be experienced by canal boats that leave from in front of the train station as well as other places in the city.
From the central train station follow the street directly across from the train station, Damrak, for several blocks. Dam Square is the first important landmark one reaches. The Dutch Royal Palace is located at Dam Square. This palace is the official residence of the Dutch Queen, although she resides in Den Haag except for state occasions.
Nieuwe Kerk, New Church in English, is, also, located at Dam Square. Begun in 1408, Nieuwe Kerk where several recent Dutch queens have been crowned. A monument to Dutch victims of the Second World War is another famous feature of Dam Square.
From Dam Square, follow Raadhuisstraat past the central post office and on for several blocks. Cross three canals, and find the Westerkerk or West Church. Westerkerk was consecrated in 1631 and is where Queen Beatrix was wed.
The house where Anne Frank and her family hid during the Second World War is a block to the north at Prinsengracht 263. Anne Frank's house can be visited to see the exact locations described in her diary.
The area across Prinsengracht Canal is the Joordan District. Everything between Egelantiers and Bloemgracht Canals is included in this unusual area of Amsterdam. Old Amsterdamers, students, and artists call Joordan home. Boutiques, art galleries, and inexpensive shops are found here. Wander among Joordan streets to appreciate this area of Amsterdam.
After visiting Joordan, follow Prinsengracht Street in the direction of Raadhuisstraat, and continue for about five blocks to Leidse Straat. Turn right on Leidse Straat, walk for two blocks and find Leidse Plein or Leidse Square. The Amsterdam Municipal Theater is located at Leidse Plein. Explore some of the side streets in this area. The Leidse Plein area of Amsterdam is famous for evening entertainment.
Continue on Leidse Straat across the canal. Turn left on Stadhouderskade. Continue to Hooft Straat and turn right. Reach Van Baerle Straat and turn left. The Amsterdam Municipal Museum is two blocks further on Van Baerle Straat.
About a block distance up Paulus Potter Straat is the National Vincent Van Gogh Museum. The works of Holland's prolific post impressionist painter are displayed here. There are over 200 of Van Gogh's paintings on display in this museum as well as a sizable collection of other memorabilia.
Leaving the Van Gogh museum, continue up Museum Straat next reaching the Rijksmuseum National Art Gallery. This museum houses works of Dutch painters from the 13th to 19th century. Vermeer, Frans Hals, and Jan Steen are all among those exhibited here. Rijksmuseum's Rembrandt collection is equal to none. Rembrandt's The Night Watch can be found here.
After leaving the Rijksmuseum, return to Stadhouderskade and turn right. The famous Heineken Brewery is three blocks away from here. The brewery to is open visitors, and after taking a short tour free beer and cheese are served.
After completing a visit to the Heineken Brewery, cross the canal and proceed up Vijzelstraat several blocks to the third canal's adjacent street, Herengracht. Turn right on Herengracht. After one block, turn left of Reguliersgracht. Rembrandts Plein is one block from here. A statue of Rembrandt is found in the center of this lively square. Various gambling establishments are located around Rembrandts Plein. The Rembrandts Plein area of Amsterdam should be explored.
After looking around Rembrandts Plein, exit from the opposite corner. About two blocks from Rembrandts Plein, the Mint Tower should be in sight. Money was coined here until comparatively recently. Most of the year, a floating open air flower market is found next to the Mint Tower.
From the Mint Tower, walk down Kloveniersburgwal, turn right, and cross the canal. Rembrandt's House is situated several blocks distant at Jodenbreestraat 4-6. A collection of Rembrandt's drawings and etchings is here. The side streets near Rembrandt's house are likeable to explore. While this is not one of Amsterdam's nicest neighborhoods, this area is appealing to some.
After exploring this neighborhood, walk west to Damrak. Amsterdam's stores big department are located on Damrak and Rokin. Conclude this urban hike by continuing along Damrak until again reaching the Amsterdam Central Station. This urban hike has now introduced central Amsterdam and helped acquaint the visitor with his individual reasons for liking this city.
With the help of this urban hike, the visitor has found more of this town than is usually discovered the first visit to Amsterdam. Places all around Amsterdam, that possibly edify have been discovered. After completing the suggested urban hike, the visitor should be able to find about anything he is looking for in Amsterdam.
Some Forethought Improves the Amsterdam Experience
New ideas compete for ones attention in Amsterdam. Amsterdam's ability to confront us with new reasons necessitates some thought. Amsterdam attracts many European visitors each year because this is one of Europe's most exciting cities. Watch Amsterdam to discover new trends.
To best appreciate Amsterdam, try doing some careful planning. Buy book about Rembrandt. Read about the artist, his works, and his life. Dutch involvement in international over the last several hundred years should be reviewed. Think of the important contributions the Netherlands have made to modern Europe. Remember the reasonably liberal traditions of the Dutch government and monarchy.
Shopping in Amsterdam is agreeable, and one quickly finds sought after merchandise. Amsterdam is famous for cheese, cigars, and glass among other things. Large department stores are effortless to find in Amsterdam. Amsterdam is a convenient city to resupply travel needs, should anything be forgotten.
The urban hike suggested for Amsterdam may not be for everyone. Some visitors chose instead to simply explore the peculiar streets in the center of Amsterdam. Obtaining a local guide to the city from a bookstore or newsstand could prove useful. A local guide to Amsterdam may help one discover a place or two of with special personal appeal.
Amsterdam is among Europe's most appealing cities to photograph. Plan to spend a day catching the local scene. The canals and the distinctive architecture along them makes for some very extraordinary pictures. Allow enough time for experimenting with photography while in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam's contrasts to other European cities virtually guarantees that a visit to this city will be a success. Amsterdam's trendy qualities alone make this city a sophisticated and exhilarating place to be. If one uses some forethought, Amsterdam is a thoroughly exceptional town to visit.
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