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Amsterdam
Amsterdam
is a wonderful and diverse city. Small and densely packed
with fine buildings, many dating from the 17th century
or earlier, it is easily explored on foot or by bike.
The city has a bit of a split personality: It's a gracious,
formal cultural center, and it's the most offbeat metropolis
in the world. There is an incomparable romance about its
canals at night and a depth of cultural heritage in its
great art museums; but there are also prostitutes displaying
their wares opposite the city's oldest church. Amsterdam's
museums are filled with some of the best art in the western
world. There are the home-grown Old Masters and Van Gogh,
as well as a wealth of contemporary art. Long an inspiration
for generations of artists, the attractive canals and
gabled houses are a popular subject for today's Sunday
painters.
In addition to being the focal point
of Netherlands culture, Amsterdam is
also the nexus of a 60-kilometer (37½-mile)
circle of cities, known as the
Randstad (agglomeration of cities),
that includes The Hague (the Dutch
seat of government and the world
center of international justice),
Rotterdam (the industrial center of
the Netherlands and the world's
largest port), and the historic
cites of Haarlem, Leiden, Delft, and
Utrecht.
City
Guides
Maps
Top
Attractions
Some
Things To Do For Free
-
Take
the free ferry behind central
station to the other side of the
IJ and go for a walk along the
North Holland Canal.
-
Walk
up the roof of the New
Metropolis and admire the view
(follow the rail lines east from
Central Station, and cross the
footbridge to the big green
building that looks like a
ship).
-
Go
to the Begijnhof (entrance from
the Spui)
-
Visit
the Historical Museum gallery
(take the other exit from the
Begijnhof and turn left).
-
Wander
along the Flower Market (on the
Singel).
-
Browse
the Waterlooplein market (at the
Waterlooplein).
-
Visit
the Albert Cuyp market (tram 10
to Frederiksplein, or 4, 16, 24,
25 to Albert Cuyp).
-
Go
to a free lunch concert in the
Concertgebouw (Museumplein).
-
Browse
the internet in medieval
surroundings at the Waag (Old
Centre).
-
Go
up the tower to the cafe in the
Kalvertoren shopping mall, and
admire the view (Kalverstraat
near the Munt).
-
Go
to the cafe in Metz and admire
the view (corner of Leidsestraat
and Keizersgracht).
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