Amsterdam: there’s more to this City than tulips Part I
Amsterdam: Sex and Drugs and terrible Rock and Roll. That’s the standard impression of the capital of the Netherlands according to most British people that you meet. A reputation for tolerance of narcotics and the sex industry has given many people the belief that you wouldn’t be able to walk down the street without being accosted by drug pushers and prostitutes.
Reality, of course, is wildly different. Tolerance doesn’t just extend to areas of life that are considered base in many other places; it is the Dutch philosophy of life. Often referred to as the most tolerant nation on Earth, the people are warm, friendly and accepting of everyone.
Amsterdam is served by Amsterdam Schiphol airport and it is just a 45 minute flight away from the UK, perfect for a short break or even a day trip.
The city of Amsterdam itself is dominated by the network of canals. Like Venice, it is built on struts that keep the city above the waterline and the canals fill up all the intervening spaces. A trip along the canals is a must for any visitor, at least once. They start at many places around the city, including right outside the magnificent Centraal Station, where you get off the trains from the airport or anywhere else. The canals are split up into rings and the trips are an excellent way of seeing the architecture.
Amsterdam buildings are amazing. Each building is individual but built adjoining another equally individual building. They tend to be four to five storeys high with ornamental designs. As you walk around the streets in the canal rings you will see so many different designs that instead of having landmarks you can become completely lost. The worst buildings are the modern ones, which stand out for all the wrong reasons, but generally Amsterdam is an architecture lover’s dream city.
Although Amsterdam gives the feeling of a green city with trees lining the canals and streets there are few open spaces inside the canal rings. However, as you reach the outskirts of the canal rings at the end of the Museum Quarter you will find the magnificent Vondelpark, 45 hectares of fabulous landscaped parkland, housing many plant species as well as local animal life. It is one of the most popular places for people to visit in the city and is great place for a picnic.
Whilst in the Museum Quarter, it is also time to visit the museums and galleries. The Netherlands was blessed with some of the greatest artists in history, in particular Vincent Van Gogh and Rembrandt, known as the Dutch Masters. Consequently, the museums are stocked with many works by these and many other great artists. The Van Gogh museum is dedicated to Vincent and houses many of his great works, but other artists’ work can also be found on the ground floor. The other museums to visit are the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk Museum. The Rijksmuseum is the largest museum and needs more than one visit as it contains a vast variety of work including the largest collection of Dutch artists’ work. The Stedelijk Museum is the modern art museum and includes a wide array of work, many extremely appealing and some, which are quite simply designed.
Part II of this review considers other areas in Amsterdam to visit.