Oh Amsterdam...

16:04 My Nomad Cuisine 0 Comments

I've been to Amsterdam twice last year, and I've just fallen in love with this amazing and very unique european city.
This is not an ultimate guide, or a "to do list", but just a little glimpse of my favourite places in the Netherlands' Capital.


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How to get around? 
On foot or by bike! It's very easy to get around Amsterdam on foot, it's flat, and orientation is quite easy with a simple map. Wander around the beautiful narrow streets of the centre, surrounded by the countless canals.

Amsterdam counts more than 800 000 bikes. That's slightly more than the number of inner city residents. And that's 4 times the number of cars. It's believed that 63% of Amsterdammers use their bikes on daily basis. They go shopping, take the kids to school, go to work... all by bike!



I definitely advise you to try Amsterdam by bike too! Feel like a real dutch, jump on a bike and wander around the city, explore new areas,... It's definitely the fastest way to get around town. You can literally go everywhere by bike, and parking it is easy all around the city, and there's even some special covered "free bike parking areas" like you would find for cars in other cities. There are many places around the city where you can rent a bike for a day or more. Some are quite "flashy", with bright colours and ads panels on it, so if you want to be more incognito, go for Het Zwarte Fietsenplan (Black Bikes rental, very good service, and plain black bikes that don't say "Look at me, I'm a tourist!").

Of course, you can also get a pass for buses and trams, which are a very easy to get around, especially if you want to go to places further than the city centre.

Ferries will take you to different parts of the North part of Amsterdam, for free. You can, of course, bring your bike on the boat. The ferries depart just behind Centraal Station.



Places.
Amsterdam is a very unique city, with a very typical architecture. The houses/buildings are high and slim, some are wonky, often made of brown bricks, with colourful shutters. Streets can be very narrow. Others are surrounded by canals. There is more than a hundred kilometers of canals, 90 islands and 1500 bridges. Yup, just that.



Amsterdam, like many european capitals is full of historical buildings. The Rijksmuseum, built in the XIXth century is an amazing piece of architecture. You can even cycle through it to reach the Museumplein gardens at the back and the world famous Van Gogh Museum. I remember cycling through this "arcade" of the Rijksmuseum, and a gentleman was playing violoncello. The acoustic was amazing, and I really enjoyed this short but great concert, while riding a bike.

Centraal station is also a very beautiful building, as well as many churches or other historical buildings around the city. There is always something different to look at in Amsterdam.



Amsterdam has also a good number of modern buildings, that somehow do fit into the landscape, like the amazing NEMO Science Museum. A strange ship shape for this educative museum, that transforms science into fun for kids and adults alike. You can also "climb" to the top of the building, for free, to catch an amazing view of Amsterdam. Enjoy a nice hot drink at the cafe, bring a picnic or just relax on the rooftop if its sunny.



Catch a ferry to Noord, and wander around this industrial part of Amsterdam, and discover a whole new area, so different from the medieval and traditional town centre. 



Here, old sheds and abandoned factories and industrial buildings, are being transformed into a new alternative village, where artists, and activists fight to save these places, share their history, give them a new life. Shipping containers, recycled materials and walls full of graffitis offer a peculiar landscape, inbetween industrial past and futuristic alternative rebirth. Artists workshops, galleries, skate park, offices, cafes and restaurants all share this weird and colourful piece of land.
A huge fleamarket is held once a month in the IJ Hallen, as well as other events all year round, like festivals and concerts.


Pllek, is a surprising place. Made out of recycled shipping containers and materials, it's an eco-friendly restaurant with an amazing terrace, fireplaces, and great views of Amsterdam, "on the other side".


I recommend you to go to Cafe Noorderlicht, another recycled building, that looks more like a greenhouse, featuring affordable and sustainable food and drinks, in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.



Markets.
Like in many european cities, markets are very important. Locals and tourists alike head to markets to buy souvenirs and goods, gather fresh produce, try traditional food.
There are many markets in Amsterdam from the very busy (and not that impressive, in my opinion) "flowermarket/Bloemenmart", to the Albert Cuyp Market, Noordermarkt or Lindengracht Market, that focus more on produce than tourist stuff.
For the foodies, I advise you to head to De Foodhallen, an old industrial building transformed into a very "hype" meeting place, with a cinema, public library, shops, and an area with many food stalls, offering affordable yummy street food and drinks from around the world.




Other places to see...
Amsterdam is just as amazing at night. Go for a walk around the city, admire the ligths over the canals. Go to the Bridge of 15 Bridges, at the corner of Reguliersgracht and Herengracht. From there, you will be able to see 15 bridges over Amsterdam's canals. It's especially nice to see at night.
Walk around the very modern Java Eiland. You'll get an amazing view over the city as the sun sets when you cross Jan Shaeferbrug bridge.



Amsterdam is very green. Many trees surround the canals, and there are many parks and green areas all around the city, where Amsterdammers and tourists like to walk or bike around, have a picnic or a barbecue. Westerpark, Oosterpark, Rembrandtpark, Flevopark or the more central Vondelpark are great if you're in need for some fresh air and green spaces.
Wander around Amsterdam's residential areas, a bit away from the hustle and bustle of the town centre : head to de Pipj quarter and Jordaan quarter.
Walk along the canals and be amazed by the very unique houseboats. With a proper porch and letterboxes, roof terraces or little gardens, many Amsterdammers are living on their boats all year round.


Also, while walking around town, keep your ears open and listen to the bells. It's just magical.

Graffiti in Amsterdam.

'Dam is just THE place for graffiti fans. They are everywhere, and of all sorts. An ephemeral art, that brings colour to the city. Here are a few pieces of graf' I've spotted around the city.

What about the food?
Amsterdam is full of many places to eat. There is something for everyone. But if you do want to try some very dutch specialities, here's my little list of "must eat in Amsterdam" :
- Stroopwafels : thin waffles, filled with warm spiced syrup. Sticky and delicious!
- Herring : delicious raw fish, served with pickles in street stalls all around town.
- Bruin Cafe : could be described as the equivalent of the traditional english pub, in a dutch version. Dark, old wooden furniture, a very traditional and warm atmosphere, are a good way to describe the feel of these "Brown cafes" that serve the nation's favourite alcoholic drink, beer, but also the jenever (dutch liquor, quite close to Gin), but also hot and cold non alcoholic drinks and bistro-style food.
- Croquettes : some shops are specialised in these little bites of mashed goodness. You can also enjoy them in Bruin cafes.
- The best chips ever : head to Vleminckx (Voetboogstraat 31 - open from 12 to 6pm only). This is probably the smallest chip shop ever. Those 3 guys in the tiny kitchen are frying the freshest and best chips of Amsterdam. Definitely worth the queue! They also offer many different sauces to have your chips with, but I advise you to go for the traditional mayo + onions, a definite winner.
- Gouda and other dutch cheeses : I have to admit, dutch cheeses are not as pungent and strong as some french cheeses. But there are some very good ones, matured to perfection, and flavoured in many different ways (cumin, peppercorns, herbs just to name a few)
- Dutch pea soup : a perfect bowl of warming goodness, that I thoroughly enjoyed on a cold day in November. Made with different vegetables, split peas, ham hock and sausages, it's a thick and delicious nourishing soup.
- Waffles and dutch pancakes : breakfast or snack, they're just good any time of the day, when you crave something sweet. You'll find different cafes and stalls selling them all around town. Tried and recommended : Metropolitan ( Warmoesstraat 135). A great cafe, that serves amazing waffles (try it with their homemade Nocciola topping), poffertjes (mini dutch pancakes), real hot chocolate, ice cream, and many sweet and chocolaty treats.
- Be aware, coffee lovers, that dutch people don't drink coffee like americans or british do. They like their coffee black, a bit longer than the espresso we favour in France and Italy. If you want a coffee with a lot of milk (like a latte), order a kaffee verkehrt, litterally translated by "wrong coffee". Though with Starbucks and other coffee chains, it's quite common to find a coffee menu that features your usual latte and cappucino.



Coffeeshops.
Amsterdam is also known for its "green herb" tourism. Don't be mistaken, a coffeeshop is not your usual coffeeplace, where you'll enjoy a hot cuppa and a carrot cake (though you still can!). They are shops specialised in offering weed, alongside hot and cold drinks. Drug policies and laws are particular in the Netherlands compared to other countries, especially regarding weed. Though they are not entirely legal, coffeeshops are somehow tolerated and do provide weed fans a great selection of the green stuff. Buy the weed of your choice from the menu, smoke (or eat a "magic brownie"), sit down, listen to some good music and relax. Atmospheres vary in each coffeeshop, from the very busy ones, to the smallest quirky ones.
Remember, always smoke responsibly and with moderation. Don't buy weed from the streets.