Old center Amsterdam – All our local tips

This quite bright and clean looking restaurant masters a wide variety of cuisines. The food you order can be Thai, Chinese, Indonesian, Indian or something in between.

The restaurant is located close to Nieuwmarkt, on the lively Zeedijk. This area on the border of Chinatown and the red light district is worth visiting, especially around the evening when the pubs and the restaurants are filling up.

There are plenty affordable restaurants on this street that serve kinds of food from all around the globe. You can try any one of them, but A-fusion is certainly an excellent choice. The restaurant has a very favorable review from Amsterdam’s biggest restaurant expert, Johannes van Dam, to prove it.

The service is efficient, but the waitresses are nevertheless friendly and more straightforward than I’m used to in other Asian restaurants. The huge meals are served attractively in two connected black bowls.

I am renowned for my ability to gulf up incredible amounts of foods, but a dinner at this place takes all the strength out of me, and when I finished my plate I am truly exhausted and satisfied.

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A-Fusion | Restaurants (Asian) | Main course from € 10.00
Zeedijk 130 | Old center | +31203304068
12:00 – 23:00 daily

The city’s art collection is since 1926 located in the Amsterdam Historical Museum. The museum has a rich collection of art, objects and archaeological findings which stands for the wealthy Amsterdammers. Furthermore photos and film material show the happy times as well as the drama of the modern lives, the poverty in the Jordaan area in the 19th century but also the idealism of the sixties.
Personally I think this is a museum with a lot of history in it and goes back a long time. The many buildings and rooms makes it a beautiful museum.

The master pieces are the map of Cornelis Antonisz from 1538, giving a bird’s-eye view of Amsterdam as well as the impressive Civic Guard paintings from the Golden Age which are hanged in the passage. Even when you are not a visitor of the museum you can walk through this passage, you really should see it.

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Amsterdam Historical Museum | Art & culture | Entrance fee € 10.00
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 357 | Old center | +31205231822
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 17:00, Sat – Sun 11:00 – 17:00

The menu here isn’t big. And it doesn’t need to be. The only thing you need to order is cheese fondue, entrecote, salad, and finally chocolatemousse as a dessert. I’m a great lover of cheese so this place is really one of my favorites.

The cheese fondue is great and you get plenty of bread to go with it. Any of the different salads will do great for a bit of a fresh taste cause the fondue is quite heavy and obviously cheesy!

The entrecôte comes on a plate which is on a flame where you can further fry the meat in a very tasty sauce. Maybe this is not the place for a romantic first date though. All of the cheese and garlic doesn’t leave your mouth smelling very fresh…

It is busy here every night and this is probably why they have squeezed a lot of tables into the space. You will probably sit close to the other guests but I usually only concentrate on the cheese so it doesn’t bother me!

It is important to know that a reservation is required if you don’t want to eat too late. As soon as your there you will find it easy to spend the rest of the evening there with your cheese fondue and a nice bottle of wine. I can’t wait till the next time! and the next! and the next!

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Bern | Bars, Restaurants | Main meal € 15.00
Nieuwmarkt 9 | Old center | +31206220034
15:00 – 01:00 daily

The Beurs van Berlage was built between 1898 and 1903 by the architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage (1856-1934) for the City of Amsterdam. Construction started in 1898 and was completed in 1903. It was Berlage’s first really large commission – and it would make him world famous.

The building was constructed alongside the Amstel river, where trading ships used to moor. The building was designed to accommodate all forms of stock trading. At the time, the Beurs van Berlage was referred to as the Koopmansbeurs (Merchant Stock Exchange); in it, commodities, stock, corn, currencies and ship’s cargoes were traded, as were, later, insurance and options. Since 1987, the building has been the venue for exhibitions, concerts, congresses and other events.
Underneath the centre of the original main entrance on Beursplein are the Vaults. Here, individuals could rent a safe deposit box in which to store their securities and other valuables.

Neoclassicism was usual for the 19th century, but Berlage broke with this style. Therefor The Beurs van Berlage is a milestone in the history of modern architecture. It was built in the same period as Amsterdam’s Central Station and the Rijksmuseum (see the Rijksmuseum article), but what is really special about the Beurs, is that 80% of it is authentic.

Berlage made his exchange building into a Gesamtkunstwerk (a work combining various arts, wherein each is subservient to the whole). Berlage and his contemporaries felt that a building should have one clearly delineated shape, governing all details (and thus also the interior). It is ‘Unity in plurality’, as Berlage puts it. The interior is still complete and everything was restored to their former glory and opened to the public.

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Beurs van Berlage | Art & culture, Music
Damrak 277 | Old center | +31205304141
Depends on exhibition & concert times

The area of the University of Amsterdam (UvA) called Binnengasthuis is usually remarkably quiet. Although you will always be aware of the presence of the students through their bikes that are parked in front of the buildings and alongside the canal-fence, it is also a residential area that is somewhat closed off from the traffic on the busy Rokin street nearby.

Binnengasthuis translates, a bit awkwardly perhaps, to Inner Guesthouse, which refers to the inner-city hospital for the elderly that used to be located in the university buildings.

The old entrances are located at the south ends of the Oudezijds Voorburgwal and Oudezijds Achterburgwal, and they will lead you to a gateway that gives shelters to a small book market. Sometimes the sound of jazz music from a salesman’s radio will float from one end to the other. At the whole hour it will be briefly disrupted by the students rushing in and out, but the quietness quickly returns after the next classes have started.

Another gate in the middle opens onto the courtyard of the faculty of Law. This beautiful little garden-like square is completely closed off from the city, quiet during classes and otherwise filled with students, smoking cigarettes or drinking coffee.

The quietness of the Binnengasthuis can be found

right in the middle of the city’s hustle and bustle. It is strategically located, a perfect start or end of a day of city-strolling, or, if it suits you, a relaxing break in the middle of it.

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Binnengasthuis | Art & culture | Free
Binnengasthuis | Old center
Mon – Sat 09:00 – 20:00 (mostly)

Brasserie Harkema is situated in the Nes – a very narrow street, more of a alleyway, with lots of restaurants, café’s and theatres. The kitchen is open till 23:00 so it is a great place to get something to eat even after you’ve been to the theatre, or the cinema.

If you walk past the outside of the restaurant you wouldn’t imagine the space on the inside to be so big! Harkema is situated in a building that used to be a factory but now is done up very nicely into a brasserie style restaurant.  The place is enormous and very impressive. On one side the wall is made out of wine bottles stuck into the wall. This is also where you can see people working in the open kitchen.  The other side of the restaurant has a wall full of coloured stripes and a broad narrow window.

I really like it here because of the atmosphere. Because the area is big you feel anonymous but at the same time the service is good and almost always quick. The restaurant is formal and informal at the same time. It is informal because it attracts a crowd of different people who all seem to feel at home and you don’t need to dress up. The people who work here are mostly young people and students, and you could just walk in without a reservation that is usually no problem. But it is also formal because the quality of the food and the wine is good and you get served quickly. Also the interior is very nice.

I know I should try different things, but when I come here I almost always order the same thing: Caesar salad to start and the grilled tuna as a main course. You can also order oysters which I have never done but still intend to do because it looks so interesting! They also serve delicious bread with great olive oil and the homemade fries and mustard mayonnaise is absolutely delicious!

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Brasserie Harkema | Restaurants (European) | Main meal € 18.00
Nes 67 | Old center | +314282222
17:30 – 23:00 daily

Café Crea is located on the grounds of some of the most beautiful buildings of the University of Amsterdam, and it is a haven for students looking for a break. As the place is divided into three smaller parts, the conversations of the guests do not bounce around against the walls, but fill the rooms with a pleasant humming.

Crea is one of my favorite places to go to when I need to study or write, want to drink coffee and read a newspaper, or drink a beer with fellow students. Located in a quieter part, but right the middle of the centre, it is a perfect base of operations to plan your explorations in.

In the meantime you can enjoy a delicious coffee, French toast, a sandwich or a bowl of soup, or even a decent and decently priced dinner between five and eight-thirty. With a different atmosphere in each of the rooms and a small patio on the canal side, you can be sure to find a spot that fits your mood.

The view from the patio is picturesque in a way that is typical for Amsterdam. Since I have been studying at the UvA, I have found the surroundings of Crea very inspiring. You feel very close to the history of the city and the university. When you are there, take the time to enjoy the atmosphere and stroll around between the university-buildings.

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Café Crea | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Theaters, Restaurants (intern.) | Beer € 2.00
Turfdraagsterpad 17 | Old center | +31205251423
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 01:00, Sun 11:00 – 19:00

This is a well-known place in Amsterdam right next to Hotel de L’Europe. A nice looking place from the inside, especially because of the extremely high ceilings.
In the summer this is one of the best outdoor cafes to sit with loads of boats passing by.The beer company Grolsch still owns this building. In the summer you can enjoy your beer on one of the most beautiful terraces of Amsterdam.

In the winter, loads of magazines are there to get you through a rainy or snowy day. You can sit here for hours with one drink without waiters looking at you like “go away or order something else”. Maybe this is because they do not notice you either if you want to order something.

The sandwiches are fine, but personally I would stick to the beverages only, although the chocolate pie is very good.

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Café de Jaren | Bars, Coffee & tea | Coffee € 2.00
Nieuwe Doelenstraat 20/22 | Old center | +31206255771
10:00 – 00:00 daily

Café Katoen is a really popular place amongst students. (Katoen means ‘cotton’ but to be honest I don’t no why the cafe has this name.) It is located in the city centre very close to the University of Amsterdam. This is why lots of students find their way to it.

The cafe isn’t very big but it doesn’t seem cramped thanks to all the windows. The room isn’t packed full with tables and chairs. This is a good thing because this makes it feel spacious and relaxed.

On the other hand a lot of times there aren’t any places to sit. This can be a disappointment. There are also a couple of seats at the bar but for the rest it isn’t the kind of place where you can stand with your drink. So whenever I go there and spot an empty table I’m very happy.

As I said the place is mostly visited by students. It opens quite early so in the morning it is a good place for breakfast. As it gets later it gets busier and during the day it is often filled with girls chatting and drinking coffee or having lunch.

In the evening they don’t serve dinner but they do serve small snacks to accompany your drinks. The evening is the busiest time, and the later it gets you have to find yourself lucky to find a seat. At evening time the cafe is filled with guys as well as girls. And lots of groups of students having a drink after a whole day of studying!

I like this cafe very much. The interior is a bit outdated but I guess this has its charm. Also if you aren’t a student it is a nice place for a drink. Right in the city centre but filled with locals.

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Cafe Katoen | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Wine € 2.50
Oude Turfmarkt 153 | Old center | +310206262635
Mon – Sat 09:00 – 01:00, Sun 10:00 – 01:00

I don’t have lots of spectacular things to say about this spot so I’ll just keep it simple. It is simply a really good spot.

The good things are to begin with the location, right on the Nieuwmarkt with views of De Waag. Secondly the reading chairs by the window, very nice! Check out the lunch menu during the day which is tasty and affordable. And last but not least the different kinds of Belgian beers and the nice housewine are worth a try.

Don’t forget to order some bitterballen to go with your drinks and just enjoy!

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Cafe Stevens | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants | lunch € 5.00
Geldersekade 123 | Old center
10:00 – 01:00 daily

For the past four years I come here to see the Russian Ballet of Tsjaikovski. So far, I have seen the Nutcracker & Mouceking, the Swanlake and Cinderella. This year I am going to see Coppela. This one is actually from the Dutch Ballet, but really nice.

Each year I loved the performances and the atmosphere of the entire evening. It is lovely to go out once a year, all dressed up, to see these dancers doing the best they can.

Yes, it is classical ballet, and I know that not everyone is into this, but what I really envy, is the story they are telling by dancing and the changing scenery. For me, this makes the whole fairytale complete!

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City Hall Stopera | Art & culture, Theaters | 4th category € 20.00
Amstel 3 | Old center | +31205518117
See the website for the program

I never knew you were able to get good scones in Holland until I went to the Bakkerswinkel. Me and my friends met for lunch and started of having different kinds of savoury sandwiches which were all delicious. There is plenty of choice here and the ingredients used are tasty and fresh. The bread is nice and heavy so you are sure to be satisfied for the rest of the day after you get lunch here.

I have to admit that we were definitely satisfied, but we still couldn’t resist the temptation of ordering a scone as dessert. This was absolutely delicious. They have different kinds of scones, for instant with raisins, chocolate or cherries. They also have a wide range of different sorts of freshly made jam to go with it. Its really very good. And of course the clotted cream just makes it perfect!

De Bakkerwinkel also does high teas for which I think you have to make a reservation in advance. If you’re not that hungry you can of course also drop in for just a cup of coffee although I doubt if you can resist the temptation of all the cakes pies and scones around you!

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De Bakkerswinkel | Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks | Scone (jam&cream) € 3.50
Warmoesstraat 69 | Old center | +310204898000
Tue – Fri 08:00 – 18:00, Sat 08:00 – 17:00, Sun 10:00 – 17:00

Looking for something original, classy and exciting? Door 74 is where you should be! This bar is hidden in the centre of Amsterdam and only known by those who know what’s hot and new in town.

The owners describe Door 74 as a place for those that have a taste for fine cocktails and classy surroundings. Go to Door 74 for a long night with your closest friends and enjoy the fine drinks. I once read an article that it was said to be Amsterdam’s ultra-cool 1920s- style bar!

The minute you step into the fancy world of Door 74, you will treated like a VIP all night long. Your coat will be taken to the wardrobe, you’ll be personally brought to your table by one of the gentleman waiters, water and nuts/olives will be on your table and every now and then the waiter will come up to your table to check if you need anything else: no waiting at the bar to place an order! Could you wish for anything else?!

Door 74 is an all-seated bar and it never gets too crowded as no more than 40 guests are allowed to get in. No entrance fee is asked, it’s free to use the toilet and wardrobe and there is no door policy; just bring the classy, relaxed, good-mooded you!

Probably the most special thing about Door 74 is that you actually have to make a reservation to get  in (to make sure you can seated at the table/ boot of your preference). Make a call or send a text to the mobile number and your reservation will be confirmed within a day!

You can check the cockail menu at the website. I can recomment the Summer Sling and Playmate Cocktail (the very first cocktail ever to be descibed in Playboy magazine in 1954). Here no regular Bacardi mixes, Cosmopolitans or Breezers but instead, the most classic cocktails ever! I had never heard of any of the cocktails on the menu….and I’m a huge cocktail fan! The menu is updated a few times a year and even has different themes.

It’s hard to find so be sure to have the right address when you ring the bell at the unmarked door… Door 74 is by far one the best hidden gems of Amsterdam!

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Door 74 | Bars | Cocktail € 10.00
Reguliersdwarsstraat 74 | Old center | +31634045122
Tue – Sat 20:00 – 03:00

This brown colored pub on the Kloveniersburgwal was here when my father was studying in Amsterdam. It is supposed to be a literary café, a place where you can read a book or newspaper in peace, but I usually find it quite lively.

It has a layout that is typical for Amsterdam: quite narrow and deep. There is only sunlight in the front, but bars like these are not supposed to be bathing in light. The crowd is usually positioned in the narrow space in front of the bar, in the smoke free area back you can sit down in relative peace; take a look at the photos that are exhibited, or play a board game.

This place has an atmosphere that you will not find in newer bars, but what is more, they serve beers that you will not find anywhere else in Amsterdam. It is not a beer café per se, but the beers they have on tap are exquisite. I would not know where to find a tastier beer in this city.

During the day you can have a tasty lunch, served on proper, thick slices of bread. After five in the afternoon you can pick your dinner from the small menu written on a chalkboard in front of the bar. The food is tasty and far from expensive; the meal of the day will set you back about Euro 8.50. It is no haute cuisine, but it is good and healthy and you can flush it away with a delicious drink.

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Engelbewaarder | Bars, Restaurants (Lunch and dinner) | Beer € 2.20
Kloveniersburgwal 59 | Old center | +31206253772
Mon – Thu 12:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 02:00, Sun 14:00 – 01:00

The lunch is fantastic over here. This restaurant has a trattoria on the Overtoom as well, so you can imagine that the food is of high quality.

It is a Italian restaurant with home made soups, sandwiches like goat cheese, vitello tonato and spicy chicken. They always have fresh fruit juices.

On Sundays there is life jazz music with singers. The place is a little bit small for a band, so it sounds loud, but still it is very nice. The view is great, you overlook the canals and the Waterlooplein.

When it is cold outside and you are done shopping and visiting museums, this is an excellent place to have a tea, coffee or an alcoholic beverage. It is a cosy place to go to.

I already made a few people fan of this lunchroom and I want some more!

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Frenzi | Coffee & tea, Restaurants | Sandwich € 7.00
Zwanenburgwal 232 | Old center | +31204235112
10:00 – 00:00 daily

Gartine is one of my favorites for an unique breakfast, excellent lunch and English high tea. I visited the place several times and mostly for breakfast. All raw products come from the owner’s vegetable garden. I experienced the dishes always as super fresh and of good quality!

The atmosphere is easy and pleasant. Recently I tried to get a grab there, but the place is always packed with people, well that means the business goes very well. Maybe they have to think of a bigger place?

The dishes are served on antique chinaware, which is collected by the owners with tender loving care during the past years. If you like antique chinaware only this is a reason to visit the place!

On top of that Gartine adopted 58 chickens at the foundation ‘Adopt a Chicken’ and these chickens provide the farm fresh eggs. Next to that the staff works with products of the ‘Ark van Smaak’ from Slow Food Netherlands. So when you eat there, you eat ‘eco and green’!

Gartine is in a small alley called ‘Takstee

g’ in the old centre of Amsterdam, between Rokin and Spui.

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Gartine | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Big breakfast € 10.95
Taksteeg 7 | Old center | +31203204132
Tue – Sun 08:00 – 18:00

Besides the Amstel Hotel, this is one of the most beautiful and prestigious hotels in Amsterdam!The Grand is filled with heritage listed examples of the city’s history dating back to 1578. In its origin this building was a monastery. Napoleon directed the City Hall on Dam Square in 1808 to Hotel The Grand, because he needed the building to become The Royal Palace.

Created in 1926 by Chris Lebeau, the First Class Marriage Chamber of Amsterdam’s City Hall is a work of art, with its figures and scenes depicting married life. The hotel is centered around the former council chamber, in which Her Majesty Queen Beatrix was married.

The council chamber is the largest convention room in the hotel itself. Robust wooden furniture, carpets, chandeleers all handmade. Bear in mind that the entire building is a historical monument and can not be changed without a legislation.

A small detail is the painting in the restaurant of Karel Appel, a famous painter in the Netherlands. The story about this painting is that after a previous renovation a wall was broken down and this painted wall was behind. After taxation it happened to be of great value.

Right now a part of the hotel is being renovated, but still open.

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Hotel The Grand | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (French)
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 197 | Old center | +31205553111
24 hours daily

A Kantjil is a small deer, and the Tiger, yeah that’s the tiger, but the fairytale tells about this small but extremely smart deer, which remains alive after all.

This Indonesian restaurant is located on a busy spot in heart of the city. They serve traditional good Indonesian food. Recommendable is the “Rijsttafel” Kantjil, with several small dishes. Rijsttafel is actually a Dutch phenomenon: we introduced this way of having & sharing dinner during the time Indonesia was a Dutch colony.

They serve great Lumpia Semarang. The Kredok, which is salad but than Indonesian style & the Peteh Oedang are among my favourite dishes in this busy and popular restaurant. Just around the corner, they opened an easy take away for one plate mixed rice or mie dishes. Good food & value for money.

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Kantjil & de Tijger | Restaurants (Indonesian) | Rijsttafel + drinks p.p. € 35.00
Spuistraat 291-293 | Old center | +31206200994
Mon – Fri 16:30 – 23:00, Sat – Sun 12:00 – 23:00

NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, a five star hotel located right at Dam Square, is a famous building which dates back to 1865. The original owner was Adolph Wilhelm Krasnapolsky, who bought a Polnish coffee location and rebuilded it into a popular restaurant. In 1879 he bought the buildings next door and turned them into hotel rooms. He is the one who invented the Winter Garden (Wintertuin) in the back yard, a hot-house with a glasdome and palms. The architect is G.B. Salm. Glas, iron and electricity were not very common at that time, so the Wintertuin is extraordinary.

The NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky has a Summer Garden and a monumental Winter Garden where you can enjoy an extensive buffet breakfast in the morning. In the a-la-carte restaurant Reflet, a varied selection of French style cuisine belle époque is served and in Shibli Bedouin an oriental cuisine. Lunch and high tea are served in the lounge overlooking the Dam, people really love it!

Book a room this website!

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Krasnapolsky Hotel | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (French & Oriental)
Dam 9-15 | Old center | +31205549111
24 hours daily

The unusual, unpretentious coffeehouse Latei is one of Amsterdam’s special gems. What makes Latei so special is that everything in it is for sale (the chairs, tables, cups, walldecoration etc.)!!

The second-hand 60/70s style furniture and other kitsch stuff give Latei its uniqueness. Old-fashioned but of good quality, messy but cosy.
On the background there’s always good music, mostly oldies / classics.

Visit Latei for a tasty nutritious (inexpensive) sandwich (the one with hummus and grilled eggplant is suberb!), a great cup of coffee (with organic milk), a healthy fresh juice or one of the delicious homemade cakes (the apple pie is to die for)!

In addition, you can also have a bowl of soup and on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays Latei serves Indian food. Three tasty versions (also a vegetarian option) for a very affordable price! They use fresh ingredients with great spices.

Haven’t seen enough vintage? Latei has a small shop just around the corner packed with old dolls, clothing, furniture etc. (Geldersekade 60-62).

Another plus is the free wireless Internet access.

Want to know about a fairly well kept secret of Amsterdam? This is it.

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Latei | Coffee & tea, Shopping, Restaurants (Intern.) | Indian dish € 8.00
Zeedijk 143 | Old center | +31206257485
Mon – Wed 08:00 – 18:00, Thu – Fri 08:00 – 22:00, Sat 09:00 – 22:00, Sun 11:00 – 18:00

If you decide to go shopping in Amsterdam there are some places I would advise you to go to, and some you should definitely avoid. The Kalverstraat, running from the Dam to the Munt, is one that fits into the latter category. It is always overcrowded and it is unlikely that you will find any shops there that you cannot find in another place in another country.

If you are on the Dam, don’t go there; take the Damstraat in eastern direction instead. After about half a kilometer it changes into the Nieuwe Hooghstraat, which is lined mostly with smaller clothing shops.

You won’t find any retailers from the big chains there, or in the Jodenbreestraat that crosses it at the end, but independent shops offering their wares to different niches in the market. You can find shops that just sell hats, designer shoes, equipment for jugglers, and so on. I buy most of my clothes in the second hand shops in this area.

If you know your way around you can go to a specific shop to find a specific item. It is perhaps more fun not to look for anything in particular. You just might come across that perfect piece of clothing, and if you do it is likely to be something that you wouldn’t easily find anywhere else.

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Nieuwe Hooghstraat, Jodenbreestraat | Shopping | Free
Nieuwe Hooghstraat, Jodenbreestraat | Old center
Depends

You might not have had Malaysian food before, I had never had it cause I’ve never been to Malaysia and there aren’t many Malaysian restaurants in Amsterdam. But now that I’ve tried it I know it’s really good! And its something different than the same old Chinese take-away.

You will find this restaurant close to the Nieuwmarkt and the Zeedijk – both full of Chinese and other Asian restaurants and eateries. The restaurant is small and quiet and the people who work there are very friendly and helpful. The menu is quite extensive so you will definitely find something you like. The soup is really good (and spicy!).

They don’t serve alcohol which shouldn’t be a problem as there are plenty of nice bars in the neighbourhood where you can go afterwards and while you’re eating you should just be paying full attention to your delicious plate of great smelling and even better tasting food!

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Nyonya Malaysia Express | Restaurants (Malaysian) | main meal € 10.00
Kloveniersburgwal 38 | Old center | +310204222447
13:00 – 21:30 daily

It is really remarkable to see what is behind the characteristics façade of this house at the canals. You could never imagine that in fact it is a hidden church built in the 17th century.

This hidden church in the attic was built because Catholics were not allowed to hold public services. They had to find a way to get together. It is a great historic building with many hidden secrets. Not only the church and the chapel are hidden, but also the altar and the paintings behind.

At this time, the chapel is still in use. You can even get married here. And it is also nice to go to with children, there is a kind of scouting expedition within the museum where children can find hidden images or play tools.

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Ons’ lieve heer op Solder | Art & culture | Adult € 7.00
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 40 | Old center | +31206246604
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 17:00, Sun 13:00 – 17:00

This building used to be the administration head office of the VOC, Dutch East India Company, built in 1606. Hendrick de Keyser built this renaissance style building. Besides all meetings of the regents, the meetings of the Heren XVII, the board of the VOC, were held here.

The VOC was the most successful and biggest Dutch Trade Company of Europe in the 17th and 18th century. It had a monopoly position of trading between Europe and Asia. Being the first multinational company in the world they went on the stock-market to finance the transport over water.

In 1798 the VOC was abrogated and in 1808 the building was in use of the Colonial management of the Batavian Republic.

This building has had many renovations and expansions over the years. Part of the East-Indonesian building is the Bus Home and the Urban Artillery Warehouse.

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Oost-Indisch Huis | Art & culture | Free
Kloveniersburgwal 48 | Old center | +31205252258
Mon – Thu 08:00 – 19:30, Fri 08:00 – 18:00

Saturday and Sunday you are standing in line, and get a number. You will be called when a table is ready. But stay put: No time to go to the Bijenkorf in the meantime.

Oriental City is one of my favorites in Chinese place. Usually I go there on Sunday mornings for dim sum, and we just order every dim sum they have and extra the broccoli, which is delicious.

Pots of Jasmine tea accompany the spectacle of good food in great surroundings, on the first and second floor in the old heart of Amsterdam, corner Damstraat and Oude Hoogstraat.

It’s having lunch or dinner with a view. But also on Saturday for lunch you have to stand in line, actually the line is having fun, with all the Chinese fans.

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Oriental City | Restaurants (Dim Sum) | Dim Sum from € 4,00
Oudezijds Voorburgwal 177 – 179 | Old center | +31206268352
12:00 – 00:00 daily

The Oude Kerk (”old church”) is Amsterdam’s oldest parish church, consecrated in 1306 by the bishop of Utrecht. It stands in Amsterdam’s main red-light district.

Before the revolution in Amsterdam on 26 May 1578 in which the Roman Catholics lost sole control of the city government, the Oude Kerk was principally Catholic. Following William of Orange’s defeat of the Spanish and the influence of Calvinists, the church was adopted by the Protestants.

In the same year, the Oude Kerk became home to the registry of marriages. It was also used as the city archives, the most important documents locked in a chest covered with iron plates and painted with the city’s coat of arms. The chest was kept safe in the iron chapel.

The church covers 3,300 square meters and the foundations were set on an artificial mound.

The roof of the Oude Kerk is the largest medieval wooden vault in Europe. The Estonian planks date back to 1390 and boast some of the best acoustics in Europe. Therefor, the church is used a lot for concerts and exhibitions.
The floor consists entirely of gravestones. The reason for this is that the church was built on a cemetery. Local citizens continued to be buried on the site within the confines of the church until 1865. There are approximately 2500 graves in the Oude Kerk, under which are buried 10,000 Amsterdam citizens.

I personally think it is not the nicest church in Amsterdam, but still very impressive.

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Oude Kerk | Art & culture, Festivals & events | Entrance fee € 5.00
Oudekerksplein (entrance South) 23 | Old center | +31206258284
Mon – Sat 11:00 – 17:00, Sun 13:00 – 17:00

The palace was originally built in 1648 as a city hall for the burgomaster and magistrates of Amsterdam, architect was Jacob van Campen. He also had a hand in building Huis ten Bosch and Noordeinde Palace in The Hague.

The entire building is made of white stone, though centuries of weathering have left none of the original colour visible. On 29 July 1655, the city of Amsterdam opened the first section of the building.

Renowned sculptors were brought to Amsterdam and famous painters, such as Rembrandt and Ferdinand Bol, contributed to the interior. The central aim of the decoration was to symbolise the power of Amsterdam and the Dutch Republic. The building served as the city hall for some 150 years. The architect J.T. Thibault supervised its redecoration in the Empire style. A Royal Museum, was also established in the palace.

It was first used as a palace for a few days in 1768, when Prince William V, stadholder of the Netherlands, and his wife, Wilhelmina of Prussia, were given a ceremonial welcome in Amsterdam.

In 1806 Louis Bonaparte, Emperor Napoleon’s brother, became King of Holland. He first lived in The Hague, but in 1807 he moved to Amsterdam, which was of greater economic importance.

In 1808, he took the city hall on Dam Square as his Royal Palace. After Louis abdicated and the Netherlands was annexed by France, on 2 July 1810, the French governor, Charles François Lebrun, received permission from the Emperor to live in the palace.

After the fall of Napoleon in 1813, Prince Willem of Orange, later King Willem I, returned the palace to the city of Amsterdam. After his investiture, however, the new King realised the importance of having a home in the capital and asked the city authorities to make the palace available for royal use once again. It was not until 1936 that the building became state property.

The Royal Palace in Amsterdam is now used mainly for entertaining and official functions, such as state visits, the Queen’s New Year receptions and other official receptions.

14th of June 2009 to the end of 2011 the Royal Palace will launch an exhibition called “Work in progress”, reviewing the restoration and renovation project carried out over the past few years. The presentation will also focus on the ongoing restoration of the exterior.

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Paleis op de Dam | Art & culture | Entrance fee € 7.50
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 147 | Old center | +31206204060
Jun – Aug 11:00 – 17:00 daily | Sep – May Tue – Sun 12:00 – 17:00

Snack Bar Bird is on the busy Zeedijk, this is the China Town of Amsterdam. By far the best place to eat here is Snack bar Bird.

This tiny place serves the best Thai food one can imagine. Unfortunately the place is also very small and cramped, so often you have to wait outside before there is a table available. But luckily they are really quick so the wait is never too long. Sit at the window if you get the chance. You’ll see some interesting people…Once you’ve managed to squeeze yourself into a seat you wonder how you will ever get out. Don’t worry, you’ll manage.

I always have the beef in oyster sauce and I’ve never tasted it better than here! To get you started the spring rolls are delicious too. This is really the place for a quick bite that isn’t junk food. The portions are big and will keep you going for the rest of the evening.

If you’re looking for a more relaxed dinner there is also the option of Bird restaurant just across the street. It has the same owner as the snack bar but it is a real restaurant with more tables and more space. For any group bigger then 4 people the restaurant is a better option than the snack bar. Unfortunately it does lack the snack bars atmosphere. So if it’s in any way possible, go for the snack bar!

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Snack Bar Bird | Snacks, Restaurants (Thai) | Main meal € 12.50
Zeedijk 77 | Old center
14:00 – 22:00 daily

In my quest for an authentic pub experience I’ve been stopping by a small pub called “The Minds” quite often lately.

It is small, brown, and what’s more, smoky! Yes, despite the ban on smoking in public places, the clientele is still steadily puffing away over here. It doesn’t matter whether they’d be sucking on a joint or on a cigarette, them smokers do provide this dark and shady atmosphere that even I as a non-smoker have been missing since the ban.

For the health freaks this is obviously not a strong selling point. The alternative, relaxed crowd might be however, just as the stone solid rock music that is constantly being played. From The Doors to Queens of the Stone Age and everything in between. The bartender, who’s been the owner of The Minds as long as anybody can remember, obviously plays just what he likes.

I happen to think that this is the perfect way to attract the people to your establishment that fit in. If you like rock in all its different shapes, tasty, cheap beer and smoking, you should go to The Minds. Don’t mind the interior, it’s all rough edges, but the atmosphere is better than in most other pubs.

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The Minds | Bars | Beer € 1.60
Spuistraat 245 | Old center
Sun – Thu 21:00 – 03:00, Fri – Sat 21:00 – 04:00

If you’re looking for a relaxed evening out you’re in the wrong place here. Eating sushi at the Tokyo café can be quite hectic, but that’s part of the fun if you ask me!

The concept here is ‘all you can eat’ for a set price. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday they serve all you can eat sushi for only €20,80 (the drinks are a bit expensive by the way). Thursday till Sunday the concept is the same only then the price is €23,80. Lunch is also possible daily, this costs €16,80.

Back to the ‘all you can eat’. This is how it works: Every round each person can pick five choices from the menu and when it’s all eaten it’s time for the next round!

When you start, you feel like you can go on forever but don’t fool yourself. I’m sure that after four or five rounds you will be near exploding. So prepare yourself.

Another tip is to take it easy with the ordering. Usually you do have plenty of time and the restaurant doesn’t like to waste any food. If you do manage to leave food you will have to pay for it!

It is important to know that its wise to make a reservation and the restaurant works with an early (17:30 – 20:00) and a late (20:15 – 22:30) shift. I would recommend the late shift cause there wont be people waiting around for their food while you are still finishing your meal.

Good idea for when the weather gets warmer: They also do take away!

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Tokyo Cafe | Restaurants | All you can eat € 20,80
Spui 15 | Old center
12:00 – 22:30 daily

Making a reservation is not an option. Just enter the restaurant, see how busy it is, find a place to sit or stand between all other waiting people at the bar or on the stairs and order a drink because it can take a while. This is an impression of a regular evening in this restaurant.

The staff is friendly (adroit) and working like crazy. When your time has come and you finally get a table, the waiter will come and sit next to you. They don’t have a menu; every day they serve slightly different meals. So, you better listen carefully, because they will only tell you the menu once…

The food is terrific, especially when you see the one square meter kitchen of the Chef, applause for him!

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Van Kerkwijk | Restaurants (French) | Main course € 15.00
Nes 41 | Old center | +310206203316
12:00 – 22:00 daily

Although you might as well go to Belgium to try the Flemish fries, it’s a lovely country after all, you can get a taste of them in Amsterdam as well.

At Vleminckx in the Voetboogstraat, near Spui, you can help yourself to a beautiful bag of light-golden fries; thick, crispy on the outside, perfectly textured, slightly crummy on the inside.

They sell no other snacks than these little golden wonders, but you can cover them with a wide variety of Dutch and Belgium sauces.

You do have to wade through a horde of shopping tourists and families to get there, but the reward will be worthwhile.

If you are shopping on the busiest shopping streets of the city, Leidsestraat or Kalverstraat, you can get a quick power boost at this always busy little snack bar.

Don’t be fooled by the line of people standing in front of it; you will be served quickly and efficiently. If you are not in the neighborhood, but happen to be fond of fries, take the trip to have them at Vleminckx.

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Vleminckx | Snacks | Flemish fries (medium) € 2.70
Voetboogstraat 31 | Old center
Mon – Sat 11:00 – 18:00, Sun 12:00 – 17:30

The winter season in The Netherlands is rainy, but when the weather is nice, cold and sunny, this is the perfect spot to relax. The sun is breaking through more often, so now would be the best time to go.

You can walk along the Amstel, starting at the Waterlooplein. If you walk on the left side of the Amstel, you pass:

- the Hermitage, a cultural and historical museum that opened June 20, 2009.
- Carre (see Carre article), the most beautiful theater in the Netherlands,
- the Amstel Hotel (see the Amstel Hotel article), the most prestigious hotel of the World,
- after that a long boulevard with bridges, trees, people jogging, restaurants and bycicles,
- and after a long walk, you just walk out of Amsterdam right into the small village of Oudekerk aan de Amstel. This is really a picture perfect village and a must go to.

If you really want to have a nice dinner, make a reservation at “Restaurant Groot Paardenburg” of chef Herman den Blijker or restaurant “Ron Blaauw” in Oudekerk aan de Amstel. Both of these chefs are top chefs in Holland. Do not forget to bring your wallet!

Personally, I love to walk along the Amstel when there is nobody in the early morning on Sunday. I will bring my book, sit, relax, read and watch people passing by. After that, just go in and drink a coffee. This is my perfect Sunday morning!!!

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Walking down the Amstel | Relaxing | Free
Amstel | Old center
24 hours daily