Yesterday's post focused on the off-beat world of squat restaurant; today's, on the squatted venue De Nieuwe Anita (The New Anita). The Amsterdam West venue's personal blend of concert hall, cultural center and event space holds a wide appeal, and its distinctively retro vibe is combined with a home-style comfort that most venues simply can't muster. Read more about De Nieuwe Anita on Amsterdam Travel.
Monday, July 30, 2012
A MonthbyMonth Guide to Amsterdam
Visitors to this site often ask when the best time to visit Amsterdam is, but there's no one answer that fits everyone. Some visitors prefer fewer crowds; some will hold out for the hope of better weather; and others still have a special seasonal event in mind, like a visit to Keukenhof's tulip fields or the experience of Amsterdam on Queen's Day or New Year's Eve. Whatever your preference is, find out what characterizes each time of year with this summary of Amsterdam month by month.
Volendam A Classic Day Trip from Amsterdam
The spirit of Old Holland is alive and well in Volendam, a tourist favorite that's considered the "pearl of the Zuiderzee". See locals in traditional Dutch costume, listen to Volendam's fabled musical talent and more in this picturesque waterside town, whose atmosphere has inspired the likes of Picasso and Renoir. Plan your day trip with this Volendam visitor's information.
A Day at the Zoo AmsterdamStyle
The family favorite Artis Royal Zoo is the second most popular attraction in Amsterdam, and justly so: as one of the oldest zoos in Europe, Artis combines monumental architecture with an immense diversity of species, from apes, bears and lions to the the tiniest insects in the Insectarium. The immediate vicinity is also home to a number of Amsterdam's other star attractions, so take a day to explore Artis Royal Zoo and its environs.
World Press Photo 2012 Soon to Premiere
Every April, the World Press Photo's annual exhibit premieres in Amsterdam Center before it embarks on its world tour to dozens of cities internationally. The exhibit, which runs this year from April 20 to June 17, assembles the best photojournalism of the year as selected by the World Press Photo foundation, which is also headquartered in Amsterdam. Learn more about the World Press Photo, its mission and the celebrated exhibit that draws two million people annually, and don't miss the 2012 edition at its customary venue, the medieval Old Church.
HollandBound by Boat or Ferry
Of all the ways to reach Amsterdam, ferry or boat travel is surely one of the most romantic - and it's entirely possible for visitors who start out from the UK. Routes include the British city of Hull to Rotterdam (9 hours), Newcastle to IJmuiden (near Amsterdam; 15.5 hours), and Harwich to Hoek van Holland (northwestern Holland). Find practical tips on ferry travel from the UK to the Netherlands here.
Tong Tong Fair Returns to The Hague
Today marks the first day of the Tong Tong Fair, a twelve-day celebration of Indonesian-Dutch culture and other Southeast Asian cultures. The fair, which comprises a bazaar with food and crafts and a full schedule of musical and dance performances, takes place in The Hague, about a hour's train ride from Amsterdam. Find out more about special events and other visitor information for The Hague.
A Cat Shelter on a Houseboat
Amsterdam visitors love the Poezenboot, or "Cat Boat", the one place where out-of-towners can both satisfy their curiosity about houseboats, as well as meet the crew of adorable cats on board. Stop by this peculiarly Dutch institution, just a few minutes' walk from Central Station, on a tour of the Western Canal Belt.
Rijksmuseum to Reopen in April 2013
The latest update on the Rijksmuseum renovation - which shuttered the Netherlands' deepest and most varied world-class art collection - has reached the Dutch media. Dutch newswire Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau (General Dutch Press Office) reports that the Rijksmuseum is now slated to reopen in April 2013, and restore a vast collection of 8,000 to 10,000 pieces to public display. However, before the much-anticipated date, the museum will have to close its doors one last time - even the Philips Wing, site of the ongoing "The Masterpieces" exhibit - for a period of two full weeks. Exact dates were not reported, but I'll be sure to post them here as more information becomes available.
In the meantime, there are plenty of art museums, in addition to history, sports, vice and other theme museums in the Dutch capital. Have a look at our Thematic Guide to Amsterdam Museums to find a museum that suits your fancy.
Amsterdam Weather from Wintry to Warm
Amsterdam has had a bout of stellar weather in recent days, with temperatures a fair bit above what one would normally expect in May. What would one normally expect, then? Find out which month holds the ideal weather conditions for your trip at Amsterdam Weather in Brief.
How to Be Polite in Dutch
While it's by no means necessary in Amsterdam, travelers often try to learn a few words of Dutch before their trip to express their courtesy to locals. Expressions of politeness are usually at the top of the list of phrases to learn. Learn how to pronounce and use these phrases correctly with this primer on how to say "please" and "thank you" in Dutch.
Day Trip to the Defense Line
The Defense Line of Amsterdam embodies a typically Dutch tactic for the defense of Amsterdam at wartime: harness the power of the water to protect the city. The UNESCO-listed defense line consisted of tracts of land that could be flooded to prevent access to Amsterdam; the forts of Weesp, Muiden and Pampus Island that stood on the defense line are now popular attractions for families, military history buffs and the simply curious. Find out more about the Defense Line of Amsterdam and visitor information for these monumental forts.
Tourists Can Still Toke in Amsterdam
Far and wide, the most popular question I've received from prospective visitors in the past year has been about the hot-button issue of whether the Netherlands has adopted a "weed pass" that bars anyone who isn't a Dutch resident from the country's cannabis coffeeshops. The answer, in short, is no (or rather, not yet): tourists are still welcome in coffeeshops nationwide - Amsterdam included - with the exception of the southwestern city of Maastricht. Even if the "weed pass" is approved, tourists can still visit Amsterdam's coffeeshops until at least 2013. Read more about the prospective weed pass and the controversy around it.
Media Art More at Mediamatic
Last Friday, I was fortunate to have reserved a place in Mediamatic's aquaponics workshop, in which participants learned how to build an ecosystem in which plants and fish help sustain each other. If that sounds random, it's all part and parcel of the Mediamatic vision: the arts center, whose events place an emphasis on interactive fun, conviviality and sustainability, has expanded from a media art outlet to an incubator for creative approaches to the future. Learn more about Mediamatic on Amsterdam Travel.
Fantastic Films Return to Amsterdam
Like sci fi, horror, anime, or any other "fantastic" films? The 28th edition of the Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival takes place this month, from the 17th to the 28th, at the Kriterion movie theater in eastern Amsterdam.
Get Set for Keukenhof 2012
There's less than one month until Keukenhof opens for its 63rd season. Find out all you need to know for this season: park admission prices, how to reach the tulip fields, and what to expect from this year's special country theme: Poland - Heart of Europe.
Dine Off the Beaten Path
Into untraditional culinary experiences? Amsterdam has exploded with restaurant alternatives in recent years, from amateur chefs who set up shop in their own homes, to squats that dole out cheap and cheerful meals in a communal atmosphere. Find out more about alternative eats in Amsterdam.
A Shipyard for the Arts
Visitors who come for Amsterdam's lively summer festival season may find themselves across the IJ River at the NDSM Wharf (NDSM-werf), a former shipyard that's now a center for arts, culture and events. Read more about the NSDM Wharf and its attractions on Amsterdam Travel.
Weird Amsterdam The Glasses Museum
Ever wondered how the modern day spectacle frames came to be? The Nationaal Brilmuseum (National Glasses Museum) in the fashionable 9 Streets district plumbs the history of corrective lenses with two exhibition rooms full of ocular artifacts. The first-floor museum store even lets visitors take home a piece of this history with its selection of retro frames.
Final Days of Keukenhof 2012
The 2012 season at Keukenhof is now in its final days, and flower lovers who haven't yet visited the spectacular South Holland bulb fields have until Sunday to do so. While the tulips are on the decline, other bulbs have sprouted in their place; find out which blooms are visible at late-season Keukenhof.
A Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam
Renowned for its tolerance, the Netherlands - and particularly Amsterdam - welcomed people of all creeds who had suffered persecution in their homeland. One such people were the Sephardic Jews, or Jews of Iberian descent, who left an indelible mark on the city; the Portuguese Synagogue, or Esnoga, is a testimony to their presence, and contains the world's oldest Jewish library. Don't miss this handsome temple on a trip to Amsterdam's Jodenbuurt (Jewish District). Read more about the Portuguese Synagogue and Ets Haim Library.
Netherlands in the Nude
As the weather warms up, visitors may want to work a day at the beach into their vacation plans. Europe is well-known for its nudist beaches - a rarity in the United States - and the Netherlands is no exception; find out how to reach the best nude beaches near Amsterdam.
Enter Eindhoven North Brabant
Eindhoven, a municipality of 217,000 residents in the southern province of Noord Brabant, is perhaps best known to European travelers thanks to its airport, a popular destination for low-cost airlines. But as the birthplace of Philips electronic company and an incubator of innovative contemporary arts, the city deserves a more prominent spot on travelers' itineraries than a mere stopover. Make a day trip to Eindhoven with these travel tips.
Focus On The Plantage
Just a 30-minute walk from Central Station - or a 15-minute ride on tram 9 - is a leafy district whose name translates to "Plantation", and which started off in the 17th century as a residential zone where no one wanted to live. But that didn't mean that no one wanted to spend time there; rather, it became a fashionable entertainment district that reached its peak before the Second World War. Nowadays, the district is associated with nature, history and culture, not to mention plenty of family-focused fun. Read more about the Plantage neighborhood in Amsterdam.
EYE on the IJ
The new EYE Film Institute is certainly an eye-catcher with its dramatic new headquarters on the IJ Promenade in Amsterdam North. Take a free, three-minute ferry across the river to explore its exhibits on film history and techniques, its interactive installation-packed basement, or just to take in the scenery of the IJ riverfront from its promenade or cafe-restaurant.
Discover the Far North
Fancy a trip to the far North? Sophisticated cultural attractions and a picturesque city center characterize the northeastern city of Groninigen, while the wider province is full of lesser-known jewels amid a splendidly beautiful countryside. Read more about Groningen travel here.
July in Amsterdam
Tomorrow starts Amsterdam's warmest month of the year, with all the summer festivals and other outdoor perks that attend it. Find travel advice such as weather information, seasonal events and more for July in Amsterdam.
April in Amsterdam
April is less than one week away, and with it comes another month of much-anticipated yearly events and activities. Find out what's on in Amsterdam in April.
TEFAF Takes Over Maastricht
Tourists scarcely need an excuse to visit Maastricht, a lovely city in the extreme southeast of the Netherlands, but from March 16 to 25, visitors have the extra incentive of TEFAF: The European Fine Art Fair. For those who aren't in the know, this is the fair for arts and antiques connoisseurs, where hundreds of dealers come to show off their (often museum-quality) wares to a well-heeled international audience. For more ideas on what to do and see while in town, check out my Maastricht day-trip tips.
Focus On The Jordaan
Many tourists who visit Amsterdam soon realize that there's much more to the city than the historic center and, moreover, that much of it takes only a few short minutes by foot or bike to reach. The Jordaan is one such neck of the woods: located just outside the Western Canal Belt, this artsy enclave appeals with its quaint, canal-side streets, abundant artists' studios, irresistible restaurants and more. Learn more about the Jordaan in Amsterdam.
For Art and Architecture
A trio of new exhibits has recently opened up at Arti et Amicitiae (Latin for "for art and friendship"), an art society whose public exhibits feature contemporary artists and themes. Stop by their headquarters, an architectural jewel on the corner of Rokin and the Spui, to admire its monumental interior and to mull over the art in the upstairs and adjoined exhibit rooms.
Restaurant Week in Review
The Netherlands' wildly popular national Restaurant Week has just wrapped up, and innumerable diners - locals and international visitors alike - took the opportunity in the past week to experience a new restaurant or an old favorite at a drastically reduced price. Did you take part in the national Restaurant Week, and find a restaurant you would recommend? Tell us in the comments!
For those of you who missed this edition of Restaurant Week, don't worry - there will be another edition of the semi-annual event around September!
Best Java in Amsterdam
The Dutch are some of the most avid coffee drinkers in the world - at about three cups a day per capita - so it makes sense that their capital would be full of fantastic coffee. Find some of Amsterdam's best coffee at these favorite Amsterdam cafes and espresso bars.
Day Trip Destinations
While Amsterdam may be the most popular destination in the Netherlands - by far - there are droves of other cities that are worth a visit, even for time-pressed tourists. The Netherlands' small size and excellent rail network makes it possible to visit even the extremities of the country as a day trip from Amsterdam. Check out this round-up of day trip destinations from Amsterdam for ideas on where to head from the capital.
Amsterdam Tulip Museum
Whether you can make it to Keukenhof - the Netherlands' world-famous bulb flower fields in Lisse, South Holland - or not, the Amsterdam Tulip Museum is open year-round for flower lovers. Learn about the history and cultivation of tulips in the Netherlands via the multimedia exhibits at this diminutive museum.
Amsterdam in June
Summer's here, and with it sunny weather and the Amsterdam outdoor festival season. Travelers who plan to visit Amsterdam in June can find time-sensitive travel advice and the month's top seasonal festivals and events on Amsterdam Travel.
Happy Queens Day
Today, April 30, is Queen's Day, a Dutch national holiday to honor the birthday of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. Each year, the Queen and members of the royal family take the day to visit two specially chosen cities in the same Dutch province; this year, it's the central province of Utrecht. Read about Utrecht city, the capital of Utrecht province, on Amsterdam Travel.
Rembrandtplein in Review
In search of live music, cozy bars, upscale clubs and perhaps a bite to eat in between? Visitors can find all of the above on Rembrandtplein, a popular square in the heart of Amsterdam. Discover the top spots on this lively square with this Visitors' Guide to Rembrandtplein.
Dutch Airport Primer
Plan to visit Amsterdam this summer? If you depart from the U.S., chances are you'll find yourself at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol; if Amsterdam is just one stop on a multi-city European tour, however, you may end up at one of the Netherlands' other four civilian airports, all within easy reach of the capital. Read the low-down on the Netherlands' airports to prepare for your trip.
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