Amsterdam City Guide

Amsterdam is a city famous for its stance on drugs and sex but there’s much more to the city than that! The artistic and historical architecture and extensive canal system make this a beautiful European city all round. So what should you do while you’re in Amsterdam? Come with me to find out…

Getting Around

Walking is the easiest way to explore the city centre and main tourist areas but if you want a truly authentic experience and you want to visit a cog or cheese farm, trams and buses are just as easy to use. Canals are everywhere and they’re as much a part of Amsterdam as bikes are. River cruises along the canals are a great way to experience the city from water. Why not hire a bike and take to the street on wheels? I opted for the river cruise.

Attractions

Probably the most popular attraction in the whole entire city is Anne Frank’s House. Regardless of the time of year, you’ll have to line up to get in, there are always tourists visiting the house. But if you’re content with just seeing the outside, you won’t have to worry about that.

The city also has a number of different museums which are all extremely cheap to visit, they include the Van Gogh Museum, Sex Museum, Nemo Science Centre and the Hash Museum. If you’re after a more interactive museum experience, head to the Heineken museum where you get a couple of beers included in your entry.

If you can, get out of the city and visit a farm specialising in cheese and cogs, the two things the country is known for. We went to Edam where the owners showed us around and let us sample their cheeses.

The red light and blue light districts are not for the faint hearted. But it’s the place to go if you want to see what all the fuss is about or attend a sex show. I’ll leave the rest up to your imagination.

Shopping

Take to Dam Square for all of your usual European shopping favourites like H&M. The square is located in the heart of the city and is very easily accessible by public transport – you can’t miss it. It’s also surrounded by restaurants, cafes and food carts where you can sink your teeth into authentic Dutch foods.

What’s your favourite attraction in The Netherlands? Let me know in the comments below! And don’t forget to check out my other travel adventures!

Ash
xx

AMSTERDAM: BLUE SQUARE HOTEL

Convenient, comfortable and affordable

Blue Square Hotel is located close to the centre of Amsterdam with a tram stop directly outside the front of the hotel. The rooms here are very open and spacious. The shower could be better but overall the bathroom isn’t too bad and there is so much space in the room it kind of makes up for it. My boyfriend and I stayed in the standard double room.

The hotel isn’t located in the city centre which is a relief because it can get pretty loud there. Public transport is so easy to use in Amsterdam that it’s not a hassle staying a little outside of the city. It’s a great way to save money on accommodation too.

We stayed at the hotel in winter and the rooms were heated perfectly, there was no over-heating thankfully. The buffet breakfast isn’t very big, there are only a few foods to choose from and they range from toast to cereal. There’s nothing very Dutch about the breakfast menu. The dinner menu is more authentic though if you do choose to stick around and have dinner at the hotel.

Overall the hotel is a comfortable and affordable option and well away from the noise of the city. However, getting home from a night in the city is a little annoying when it’s snowing and freezing.

I give Blue Square Hotel three stars.

Planning on staying in Amsterdam? Check out my Amsterdam city guide! 
Ash
xx

Blue Square Hotel
Slotermeerlaan 80, 1064 HD
Amsterdam, Netherlands

 

Must Eats in The Netherlands

The Netherlands are more widely known for their particular stance on drugs and the sex industry. But it’s also a country home to some delicious foods. Sink your teeth into the authentic flavours of The Netherlands.

Hot chips and Mayo (Patat)
Yes it sounds pretty weird, especially if, like me, you grew up in Australia where the only sauce you put on hot chips was tomato. But grab a lot of chips from a food cart in Amsterdam while you’re there and I guarantee you won’t regret it! The thick cut chips are served in a paper cone and topped with mayonnaise. It’s not as weird as you think. But I probably wouldn’t be in a rush to eat them again.

Waffles with Nutella and Stroopwaffels
There’s only one word to describe the waffles in The Netherland and that’s: delicious! Waffles are made fresh to order so they’re warm enough to melt the Nutella. But stroopwaffels are crunchy and more like a cookie.

Cheese
Cheese is a huge staple in the Dutch diet so get your hands on some locally made cheese at a restaurant or supermarket. We were lucky enough to visit a cheese farm just outside of Amsterdam where we were treated to free samples of locally made cheese. YUM!

Poffertjes
These tiny pancakes are so good that even the locals line up for them! If you’re visiting in winter you’ll see carts selling them along the main roads so stand and wait in line until you get some because you’ll regret it if you don’t. They’re also really cheap too.

Raw Herring
I’m not a fan of seafood and I very rarely eat fish so I wasn’t game enough to try raw herring but if you do eat seafood it’s considered a must! You’ll find the famous Dutch fish at restaurants, on sandwiches in cafes and sold from carts around the city.

What are your favourite Dutch delicacies? Let me know in the comments below!

Don’t forget to check out my Blue Square hotel review.

Ash
xx