‘Venice of the North’, posh, trendy and beautiful Amsterdam is the place to be in, when you pack your bags next time for some repose and sightseeing.

Its old world charms, its active yet orderly street-traffic, its agreeable weather all make for a pampering sojourn.

Tourists’ dreamland, Amsterdam, promises all you look for in your holidaying mood – good food, real entertainment, organized transportation and accommodation.

In Amsterdam, there is no guarantee of good weather any time of the year.

Typical weather in Amsterdam ranges from a little around freezing in winter, though with little snow, to beautiful sunny days with temperature around 25 degrees degrees’ on the Celsius scale in the summer.

In mid-Summer, the sky is light up by the sunrays as late as 11 in the evening. In winter, darkness descends very fast, by 16:30 hours. With Amsterdam topping the safe-city lists, you can hang around till late.

Language problems you will face none in Amsterdam, for almost all people speak English. (Of course, your attempts at picking up Dutch will be appreciated).

Reaching Amsterdam And City Transports
Situated close to the world-famous Schiphol airport (a mere 20-minute journey by train), the city has superb public transport facilities and supports all modes of transport – bikes, boats, buses, trams, taxis and trains.

The best way to travel is in an ambling tram but bicycles give you the freedom to travel at your own pace. It will be prudent not to drive in Amsterdam instead you can avail taxi-services (Tel. No. 6777 777).

Walking about the city will give you the best chance to appreciate the beauty of place. Ring up the National Public Transport Information Service (Tel. No. 0900 9292) for all your transit-related queries.

‘Must-sees’ In Amsterdam
With its history steeped in culture, Amsterdam has many ‘must-see’ attractions. The prime attraction is the 17th-century golden era architecture of the city – a horseshoe shaped area encircled by concentric semi-circular canals with 400 bridges running over them. As said, walking is the best proposition but canal boat trips have a celestial aura.

You can hire a bike or boat or simply loiter about visiting the innumerable sites – Anne Frank House, Rembrant House, Rijks Museum, Stedelijk Museum, the Royal Mansion, Van Gogh Museum and the many Amsterdam Hofjes (or courtyards).

‘Must-dos’ in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a gastronome’s paradise. With the city center restaurants whipping up everything right from the common everyday fares like ham and sausages to palatable dishes from the Thai cuisine, visiting some of these food-stations should feature in your itinerary.

The restaurants will not dishearten you even if you are a veggie, for they serve different diary product based spreads.

You will find yourself in the right quarter, if you have a sweet tooth. Cafes and bars continue to serve their customers for the greater part of the night and offer alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, food and coffee.

Amsterdam is famous for its witbier (white beer) and you can try out varieties like Dentergems or Hoegaarden.

Amsterdam is the home to one of the greatest symphony orchestras in the world – the Concertgebouworkest. The very name sounds music to the ears of a music-buff, but you can visit its base in the Concertgebouw even if you are not a connoisseur /do not follow music very much.

Another must-do in Amsterdam is some brisk shopping. The main shopping areas in Amsterdam are the Kalverstraat, Leidsestraat and Nieuwendijk, where you get everything right from foodstuff to flowers and clothes.

These shopping arcades apart, there are other chic shops around the city.

Where to stay
Many renowned hotel chains offering one to five-star accommodations and other reasonably rated guesthouses wait to receive you in the capital city of Netherlands. The basic guideline that defines their services is essentially the comfort of the guest.

Amsterdam is known world-wide for its diamond-polishing trade, but it is equally famous for friendly ambiance.

Enjoy your stay in Amsterdam.

Jan Heering
Your Amsterdam Guide