A Dam good way to spend a weekend

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What could possibly be said about Amsterdam that has not been said before? Well, one thing which can be mentioned, on a purely personal note though, is that it currently stands as the only continental European city destination which I have been able to visit on a city break for a full weekend with no necessity for taking time off work either side of the weekend to enable me to do this. At just 9.20am on a Saturday morning, I was walking down the Damrak, and heading for the hotel which was situated somewhere in the labyrinth of the city's infamous Red Light District, but the vibes were good, the hospitality seemed welcoming, and best of all, I still had the entire weekend ahead of me. Walking around the backstreets, canals, and residential areas seemed to occupy a fair portion of my time spent there, but this time around, seeing the Leidseplein area for the very first time there, and sampling the best Indonesian food I have ever eaten at a local restaurant there (including food I ate in Indonesia later on in life!) were fresh experiences for sure. Another bonus was being able to see the improvisational evening comedy show at the Boom Chicago theatre, which had a few spectators rolling in the aisles, and felt like a good way to while away an evening in Amsterdam. I also came across Amsterdam's Chinatown area, again, almost by chance, and enjoyed an Asian-style lunch there, which yet again gave me the impression that as a gourmet capital, Amsterdam feels somewhat overlooked, but then again, it's really our job to rave about these places until the rest of the world sits up and listens to our recommendations. Whether the Dutch are admired for their liberal and tolerant policies, or perhaps held responsible for promoting sexual freedom and consumption of soft drugs probably depends on your personal angle, but I have always found that, in their refreshingly laid-back society, anything goes, for better or worse, and the elements of uniqueness to Amsterdam are mighty fine in my book.

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Photos

Leidseplein
Typical Dutch-style building in the Leidseplein district, Amsterdam

Canal Boats
Canals and waterways are the very essence of Amsterdam.

Damrak
Midway between the Damrak and the Red Light District

Statues
Just who do these chaps think they are, with their military inner-city presence?

Cyclo
Well, that's one way of cutting through the crowds in the Red Light District