Amsterdam
Getting around
The main parties are held in De Balie in the centre of town, right next to Leidseplein.
Nearby trams are 1,2,5 and 10. They don’t run after 00:30 though.
Public Transportation
The cheapest way to use our public transport is to buy an (anonymous) OV-chipkaart.
For more info see: https://www.ov-chipkaart.nl/purchase-an-ov-chipkaart.htm
Bicycle
There are bike rentals all over town. You can rent them for about €10 per day. A lot of hotels also provide them.
Some of the main rentals are:
https://www.yellowbike.nl/en/bike-rental/
https://www.macbike.nl/bike-rental/bicycle-prices/
Or check Yelp https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=bikerentals&find_loc=Amsterdam%2C+Noord-Holland
The cheapest one is the OV-fiets, this only works if you have a personalized OV-chipkaart. If you plan to come to The Netherlands more often, we recommend this.
https://www.ns.nl/en/door-to-door/ov-fiets
What to do and where to go
Instead of giving you the standard tourist tips we decided to share our personal favorite places with you instead.
Park
Westerpark - Shayne / Marloes
I enjoy Westerpark a lot, it has Pacific Parc for food and drinks, there’s an area with trees but also a big grassy field and if you continue further to the west you find a lot of wild area, great for a walk. - Shayne (I like this too - Marloes)
Haarlemmerweg 4
Good old Vondelpark - Julia
It is like any other big city park, but a very nice place to be. You could get a coffee at the Blauwe Theehuis and find a spot on the field. Or grab some beers from Albert Heijn on the Amstelveenseweg.
Sightseeing
Marineterrein / Brouwerij Homeland - Shayne
Built in the 17th century, the Marineterrein used to be the home of the Dutch Royal Navy. In 2015 it opened up to the public and currently houses several creative start ups, the Homeland Brewery http://www.homeland-brewery.nl/ and provides you with an excellent view of the Amsterdam harbor.
Hortus Botanicus - Marloes
A lovely oasis in the middle of Amsterdam.
https://www.dehortus.nl/?lang=en
Museums
Castrum Peregrini - Shayne
Skip the ridiculous long queue at Anne Frank’s house and book a tour at a lesser known WO II hiding house with a happy ending instead. Cultural centre Castrum Peregrini belonged to artist Gisèle van Waterschoot van der Gracht (1912-2013). In WOII it was a hiding place (onderduikadres) for the German poet Wolfgang Frommel and two of his Jewish pupils. All three of them survived the war. Guided tours are very worth your time and need to be booked by mail.
Filmmuseum EYE and the flipbook-booth -Julia
The filmmuseum is quite nice and sometimes they have good exhibitions, but the thing that I looove is the flipbook-booth. Bring your dancepartner and make a nice little flipbook of your signature move.costs: 4,95.
If you go to one of the bigger museums, buy your ticket online to skip the line.
Tassenmuseum Hendrikje - Marloes (Maybe more for the girls out there 🙂 )
This museum is in a beautiful canal house and houses a collection of more than 5000 bags. If you love fashion and history, this is a great place to go to. - Marloes
Sexmuseum - Julia
Better you avoid the red light district, women should not be a tourist attraction. Instead maybe check out the Sex Museum to get the amsterdam- tourist- sex- vibe. I bet they haven’t changed anything in 20 years. Entrance costs 4 euro’s and you can make a photo next to a huuuge penis. Nothing to lose by stepping in. Except for 30 minutes of your time. Oh, and your innocence. You might want to avoid the animal-corner, there are pictures you do not want to see.
Bar
Checkpoint Charlie - Shayne
Yes, it’s named after the famous crossing point in Berlin and they do serve a curry-worst. For the rest you will find excellent beers, a pool table, books to read, live rock music and a stand-up comedian or spoken words on some days. Super low key alternative hang-out with a lot of locals and fun staff.
Nassaukade 48
http://www.cafecheckpointcharlie.nl/
‘t Nieuwe Diep - Marloes
One of my favourite places for a sunday afternoon. ‘t Nieuwe Diep is a distillery and tasting room and is housed in a polder pump house dating from 1880. It opens at 3pm and closes at 8pm (which is a good thing, trust me 🙂 ). Try one of their special beers or taste one of their lovely homemade jenevers. My favourite is citroen jenever.
Festina Lente - Marloes
'Festina Lente' is Latin for make haste slowly. It was emperor Augustus’ favourite slogan. He was the master of paradox.
Very homely poetry cafe on a lovely small canal near the Leidseplein.
Speakeasies
Bar Oldenhof http://www.bar-oldenhof.com/
Hiding in Plain Sight (HPS) - Marloes
My favourite cocktailbar.
I also like Door 74 - Julia
And Flying Dutchmen is not my favourite, but the nice thing is the Dutch flavour to the cocktails.
Cafe De Dokter
Go to the smallest cafe of Amsterdam (18 m2). A great range of whisky’s and other beverages with jazz in the background.
Blues and jazz bars - Julia
Alto
Bourbon Street
Maloe melo
Karaoke: Casablanca
Coffeelovers
Scandinavian Embassy - Julia
And try the salmon with poached eggs for breakfast- best thing ever. (And the cinnamon buns - Marloes)
Espressofabriek (Westergasfabriekterrein)
Lot Sixty One (Kinkerstraat)
Bocca & Back to Black (close to our venue))
Latei
This coffeeshop is right on the Zeedijk, one of the oldest streets of Amsterdam. Everything inside is for sale, including the mug you are sipping your coffee out of.
Vinnies - Marloes
Nice spot on the Haarlemmerstraat for coffee, breakfast and lunch. And the furniture is also for sale.
Restaurant
Dutch Weed Burger Bar - Shayne
It’s super tiny, so if it’s nice weather have it to go and dine in the park. Vegan, seaweed burgers, great food, especially if you are a vegetarian but crave a nice meat substitute every now and then.
Nicolaas Beetstraat 47
Thai Snackbar Bird - Julia
This is a tiny tiny Thai restaurant at the Zeedijk in the city centre of Amsterdam. This place is always packed - the quality of the food is really good. Don’t let the queue in front of the door discourage you. Usually the waiting line is for take out. And if not: they are fast. It is quite the experience, because your neighbours will practically sit on your lap. Worth it!
Poke Perfect - Marloes
I just can’t help it. I love this food. Poké (pronounced poh-kay) is a Hawaiian dish, originally consisting of sushi rice, raw fish and several different toppings served in a bowl. Very close to our venue 🙂
Noorderlicht - Julia
View over Amsterdam skyline and a beautiful sunset. Amsterdam North has an industrial feel and became one of the coolest neighbourhoods over the last years. This is a very casual hangout by the waterside.
Vegan options
Meatless District
Mr. & Mrs. Watson
Waterkant - Julia
Waterkant means waterside in Dutch. Chill terrace and simple Surinam food. Try the home made gingerbeer or go for a local beer van Brouwerij ‘t IJ..
Cafe Droog - Marloes
Droog is a Dutch Design shop/studio/hotel/cafe. Take a look in their shop for inspiration (most items are very expensive) and go to the first floor for lunch.
http://www.droog.com/cafe-droog
Shopping
Catta Donkersloot - Shayne
It’s hard to spot from the street but Dutch designer Catta Donkersloot has a gorgeous little shop near Central Station. She makes all the clothes herself so there’s only three of every size.
9 straatjes - Julia
So many nice stores in this area.
Haarlemmerdijk and Haarlemmerstraat - Julia
There are quite some vintage stores on this long street and plenty of bars and restaurants. Nacho’s at Harlem for example.
Noordermarkt -
One of the most beautiful settings for a market, in the Jordaan, surrounded by nice bars and terraces. Mondays for fabrics and weekend for (organic) food. n ieder geval op de maandag mooie stoffen en in het weekend allemaal biologische producten, ook goedkope groenten en lekkere falafel en er staat een visboer Shayne}
Vintage shops - Marloes
Laura Dols https://lauradols.nl/
Retro & Chic https://www.facebook.com/Retro-Chic-Amsterdam-113098088722852/
Favourite street
Bellamystraat - Marloes
I love the houses in this street. It is quiet, but in the middle of a busy neighbourhood.
Verversstraat - Marloes
This tiny street doesn’t seem Dutch at all. It has an Italian feel to it. It is a little gem of a street. And while you are there check out the beautiful Rechtboomsloot and Kromboomssloot. I think this is the most beautiful part of Amsterdam.
Jan Pieter Heijestraat - Shayne
This street is so cool it even has its own Facebook page. There are several good bars and small restaurants, an Ekoplaza (biological products) and several clothing and gift stores. It also crosses the lovely Jacob van Lennepkade and ends near the Vondelpark. - Shayne
Off the beaten track
Sloterplas - Shayne
If we are lucky enough to enjoy an Indian summer head to the western outskirts of town and go for a swim in the Sloterplas. If you don’t feel like swimming rent a canoe here https://www.watersportcentrumsloterplas.nl/verhuur-2/?lang=en
or have a beer at Hotel Buiten https://www.hotelbuiten.nl/hotel-buiten-voor-beginners.html
Spa 1926 - Julia
Tiny spa, with really great food. Entrance between 12 and 1pm only 10 euro’s. Perfect for an after dance chill moment.