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Published: September 16th 2020
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Have you been to one of the coolest and weirdest cities in the world – the Dutch capital?
Did you know that Amsterdam has more canals than Venice and more bridges than Paris?
You can spend
one day in Amsterdam or one month and still discover a ton of things to do and places to explore.
But for first-timers, let’s concentrate just on these 5 cool things that you can only experience in Amsterdam.
1. Visit the Unique Coffee Shops
Amsterdam features three kinds of establishments.
The typical Dutch
koffiehuis is where you can get your caffeine dose.
Then there are the
cafés, which in the Netherlands are more similar to restaurants or bistros.
And last but not least, the infamous
coffee shops. That’s where you can try different cannabis and hash strains.
It can get a bit confusing for first-timers - probably one of the craziest
facts about Amsterdam. But don’t worry, it’s fairly easy to distinguish the three kinds of shops by the smell 😉
2. Explore Countless Canals and Bridges
Nicknamed
Venice of the North, Amsterdam has
more canals than Venice and
more bridges than Paris.
Of course, a canal cruise is
not fully unique on its own. But the ones you can experience in Amsterdam are much cooler than anywhere else 😉
For example, did you know that there’s a spot at the intersection of
Herengracht and
Reguliersgracht where you can see
15 bridges all at once?
The best way to spot them is onboard a canal cruise. And if you’re travelling to Amsterdam with your better half, there’s nothing more romantic than to visit the place at dark when it’s beautifully illuminated.
3. Stuff Your Face with Cheese… and Other Snacks
Most people think of France when they hear cheese.
However, the Netherlands are the
world’s biggest cheese exporter.
Edam, Gouda, Leyden, Maasdam, and
Limburger are just a few of the scrumptious cheese sorts you can try in Amsterdam.
And while we’re talking about food…
One of the best
Amsterdam travel tips I can give you is to try typical Dutch dishes. The cuisine isn’t famous world-wide but it features some truly delicious foods.
My favourites are
Frikandel, Kibbeling, and
Bitterballen.
The best part?
All of them go great with a glass of beer!
And guess what?
You can find
one of the
world’s top 3 beer breweries in Amsterdam. I’ll leave you guessing which one I mean, although I’m sure you’ve tasted their palatable brew more times than you’ll want to admit.
4. Ride the Ferries across the River IJ
Ferries aren’t unique, you might say.
Well, these are – they’re
free!
Yes, that’s right, you can ride them any time of the day and cross the River IJ (pronounced “eye”) at no cost.
You’ll find the blue-and-white boats in the city center, right behind the Amsterdam Central Station.
5. Stay in a Unique Accommodation
In Amsterdam, you can spend the night in some
pretty unique accommodations.
You’ll have a tough time deciding between crooked 17
th-century houses and houseboats.
A fair warning: the rooms come with certain
challenges.
For example, there are no elevators in older houses. Instead, you’ll have to climb some very steep staircases.
On houseboats, on the other hand, you’ll have quite limited space and feel every movement of the water around you.
But, at the end, you’re in Amsterdam to have a unique experience, are you not?
There you have it –
five cool and unique things to do in Amsterdam!
Hope we can start travelling and exploring again pretty soon.
Cheers and stay safe!
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Amsterdam
Maybe one day we will get back to Europe. thanks for your tips.