What Is Amsterdam REALLY like??
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Original post by Pandabär
Amsterdam is lovely! Beautiful canals and architecture. Great shopping and galleries and museums. I really enjoyed it.
Never went to any cannabis cafe places, but I think a walk through the red-light district would be an eye-opener.
Never went to any cannabis cafe places, but I think a walk through the red-light district would be an eye-opener.
Snapper1 wouldn't look out of place in one of the windows down the cheaper end on a slow tuesday morning
Original post by MittenRef
A few of us are thinking of going to Amsterdam for a weekend at some point in the Summer, as a sort of mini-getaway. There is VERY cheap coach travel on offer, and seeing as most of us are students - sounds like a good weekend...
However, a couple of people are hinting that we won't enjoy it because all there is to do there is smoke weed and visit brothels... I'm pretty damn sure there are more things in Amsterdam than that!
Has anyone been to Amsterdam? How expensive are things there, (primarily accommodation and alcohol!), and what is there to do outside the smoking/sex/drinking scenes?
Thoughts appreciated!
However, a couple of people are hinting that we won't enjoy it because all there is to do there is smoke weed and visit brothels... I'm pretty damn sure there are more things in Amsterdam than that!
Has anyone been to Amsterdam? How expensive are things there, (primarily accommodation and alcohol!), and what is there to do outside the smoking/sex/drinking scenes?
Thoughts appreciated!
My parents went to Amsterdam together a couple of years ago. The first stop on their hotel's guided tour was a red light district
Original post by Marshyy
I was there a few weeks ago. Met a homeless man with a plant pot on his head, claimed to have been balancing it for 6 years. That is all.
Probably the same guy we saw playing a single note on his flute, over and over again. Like morse code of the woodwind instrument world.
Intredasting place
Red light district is ofc hilarious fun. A lot of the sloots are 9s or 10s. But we don't go there do we. The drugs scene is rife. Coke/weed/shrooms everywhere.
Cycling is entertaining. Good fun to blitz around and get lost in the city for a while. You stumble upon cool places all the time.
Amazing food wherever you go. Even the kebab shops are out of this world. Find a little coffee house (not shop), get some drinks and some food. You'll probably be amazed by the quality.
If you have time, try taking a train to Breda. Lovely university town.
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by nlsmith3
Amsterdam is as seedy as it is dirty. The streets stink, the people are rude and the bicycle lanes resemble a crowded NYC street. There is nothing there of particular interest if you dont enjoy cannabis or have an obsession with porn shows, sex shops, sex museums and brothels. The red light district streets remind me of a scene from Hostel and the girls leave little to the imagination, which isnt usually a good thing. I've been three times but only because i live close to the dfds seaways ferry dock and the boat is the best part. I would go every year if it missed amsterdam out. OP you and ur friends are best off saving a little more money and heading abroad for a long weekend. Check lollypop.com for cheap hols. Hope this post helps
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It's strange that you've actually been 3 times, yet your description is the most inaccurate of the lot. If I didn't know you'd been 3 times, I'd swear you were guessing at that description, because everyone else that goes seems to get an almost opposite impression, i.e. the people are nice and polite, the drugs and hookers aren't in your face, it's clean etc. etc.
Your description is almost the stereotype people have of it before they go, and usually discover that the opposite is true when they actually get there. That was my experience with Amsterdam anyway.
I guess it must just be luck of the draw, perhaps you've been particularly unlucky or something or gone at some strange times or stayed in a strange part of the city?
I really like Amsterdam but you'll find it is.....
Expensive (4 euros for a red bull in some places, about 8 quid for 3 piece variety meal at kfc and about £2.50 for a McDonalds double cheeseburger
Quite cramped in many places you'll go to
Very multicultural
Laid back for the most part, no real hostility compared to the UK
Dominated by bikes (the bikes will not stop even if they hit you! keep your eyes peeled.)
Not the most amazing place to go clubbing
Expensive (4 euros for a red bull in some places, about 8 quid for 3 piece variety meal at kfc and about £2.50 for a McDonalds double cheeseburger
Quite cramped in many places you'll go to
Very multicultural
Laid back for the most part, no real hostility compared to the UK
Dominated by bikes (the bikes will not stop even if they hit you! keep your eyes peeled.)
Not the most amazing place to go clubbing
Original post by MittenRef
A few of us are thinking of going to Amsterdam for a weekend at some point in the Summer, as a sort of mini-getaway. There is VERY cheap coach travel on offer, and seeing as most of us are students - sounds like a good weekend...
However, a couple of people are hinting that we won't enjoy it because all there is to do there is smoke weed and visit brothels... I'm pretty damn sure there are more things in Amsterdam than that!
Has anyone been to Amsterdam? How expensive are things there, (primarily accommodation and alcohol!), and what is there to do outside the smoking/sex/drinking scenes?
Thoughts appreciated!
However, a couple of people are hinting that we won't enjoy it because all there is to do there is smoke weed and visit brothels... I'm pretty damn sure there are more things in Amsterdam than that!
Has anyone been to Amsterdam? How expensive are things there, (primarily accommodation and alcohol!), and what is there to do outside the smoking/sex/drinking scenes?
Thoughts appreciated!
I've been a couple of times - It's alright but there is some truth in the stereotype tbh... compared to other cities on the continent it's pretty ugly and there's not an awful lot to do - ended up being a coffee shop + red light gawking holiday. In peak season the accommodation is a rip off for hostels - it might be better for hotels (value). Wasn't cheap in general, but that depends if you're comparing it to london or budapest
I went and it was awesome. I wouldn't advise drinking in Amsterdam though, we got charged 24 euros for 3 vodka redbulls in one club :O So if you don't smoke weed I wouldn't really recommend it. The sex museum is worth a look though. 
Original post by laura_ann
I went to Amsterdam last year! As long as you got good people to be around, you'll enjoy it. I went with a friend who "goes on holiday to chill in the hotel" in his own words, so I hated it. Ended up leaving him and checking into a hostel to find randoms to party with.
It's a great city, if you've all got different interests that's no problem, you'll all find something to do I'm sure!
Can I come? Pleeeease? :-)
It's a great city, if you've all got different interests that's no problem, you'll all find something to do I'm sure!
Can I come? Pleeeease? :-)
I know not completely on topic but seriously WHY do people go on holiday to sit in their hotel room?! I went on a beach holiday with a friend and he wanted to sleep in until sort of midday every single day, I was like nooooooo let's go to the beach!!
Sorry, just wanted a mini-rant after reading your post! Also, if there's invites for this trip to Amsterdam, can I come too?
Hah!Original post by Aisha~~
......
Your sig is hypnotic, I could seriously watch it forever
Thank you
Original post by Elipsis
Cool, i'll have amsterdam and you can have clubs that play Rihanna that are full of fat simpletons like yourself. Deal? Anyway, the fact I have a roll of toilet paper in my bathroom that's worth more than your entire degree tells me everything I need to know about you.
No need to get so personal.
Anyway OP i thought Amsterdam was ok, I went with school so we didn't get involved in the naughty side of the city. There wasn't anything hugely remarkable about it in my opinion if you're not going there for weed/sex. Wouldn't go back and definitely not as a getaway with friends. Don't you fancy going on a beach holiday? Cheap booze/food and nice weather?
Original post by tinman1
No need to get so personal.
Anyway OP i thought Amsterdam was ok, I went with school so we didn't get involved in the naughty side of the city. There wasn't anything hugely remarkable about it in my opinion if you're not going there for weed/sex. Wouldn't go back and definitely not as a getaway with friends. Don't you fancy going on a beach holiday? Cheap booze/food and nice weather?
Anyway OP i thought Amsterdam was ok, I went with school so we didn't get involved in the naughty side of the city. There wasn't anything hugely remarkable about it in my opinion if you're not going there for weed/sex. Wouldn't go back and definitely not as a getaway with friends. Don't you fancy going on a beach holiday? Cheap booze/food and nice weather?
There's some truth in this. Although some might argue that a beach holiday sounds even more boring. What do you actually do?
It just goes to show that it all depends what you're wanting out of your holiday.
If I wanted to rest and recharge, I'd shoot for the beach holiday. If I wanted to party a bit more, I'd shoot for Amsterdam, pending any more exotic solutions (Thailand and all that).
Original post by blueray
Apart from legal weed? Are you for real? What more could be less boring.
Not for much longer. Foreigners will be banned from the 'coffee shops' from the end of this year (provided that the ruling isn't blocked by the European Court of Human Rights).
Original post by frankieboy
There's some truth in this. Although some might argue that a beach holiday sounds even more boring. What do you actually do?
It just goes to show that it all depends what you're wanting out of your holiday.
If I wanted to rest and recharge, I'd shoot for the beach holiday. If I wanted to party a bit more, I'd shoot for Amsterdam, pending any more exotic solutions (Thailand and all that).
It just goes to show that it all depends what you're wanting out of your holiday.
If I wanted to rest and recharge, I'd shoot for the beach holiday. If I wanted to party a bit more, I'd shoot for Amsterdam, pending any more exotic solutions (Thailand and all that).
Beach holidays can be what you want them to be too, if you want to party there's plenty of party resorts but the difference is the weathers pretty much guarnteed to be good and you don't have to spend much money during the day (can just sunbath and hang by the pool/beach) whereas in a city you constantly need to find things to do which can be expensive. Likewise party resorts are competitive bar/restaurant wise so food and drink tends to be nice and cheap. And if you want a bit of culture you can always hop on a bus and check out the capital or whatever.
I just don't think Amsterdam really stands out in my opinion.
Original post by MittenRef
x
Amsterdam is amazing. Do yourself a favour though: if you're going over there to drink, you'd be better off staying at your local. Alcohol is very expensive over there. Cannabis, on the other hand, isn't
Due to how strong it is I'd recommend taking what you use for a joint and halving it, just for a start off.
I watched a lass white out because she thought she could handle it. She'd never smoked it before, and she had a whole joint to herself. She was ****ed and looked like death. I'd take a hangover over a whitey any day.
So yeah, don't be like her.
Other than that you've got:
Museums
Anne Franks House
Red Light District
Various coffeeshops all with their own aesthetic pleasantries and atmospheres (Rookies, Abraxas, and Tops were probably my favourite three).
If you're only going over there for the weekend then that should be more than enough to keep you occupied
Original post by FrogInABog
Not for much longer. Foreigners will be banned from the 'coffee shops' from the end of this year (provided that the ruling isn't blocked by the European Court of Human Rights).
As far as I'm aware it's a minority party (pretty much Diet BNP) that wants it to be banned. It's a stupid move because it would be a huge blow to their economy, and the Mayor of Amsterdam strongly opposes it.
Original post by MittenRef
A few of us are thinking of going to Amsterdam for a weekend at some point in the Summer, as a sort of mini-getaway. There is VERY cheap coach travel on offer, and seeing as most of us are students - sounds like a good weekend...
However, a couple of people are hinting that we won't enjoy it because all there is to do there is smoke weed and visit brothels... I'm pretty damn sure there are more things in Amsterdam than that!
Has anyone been to Amsterdam? How expensive are things there, (primarily accommodation and alcohol!), and what is there to do outside the smoking/sex/drinking scenes?
Thoughts appreciated!
However, a couple of people are hinting that we won't enjoy it because all there is to do there is smoke weed and visit brothels... I'm pretty damn sure there are more things in Amsterdam than that!
Has anyone been to Amsterdam? How expensive are things there, (primarily accommodation and alcohol!), and what is there to do outside the smoking/sex/drinking scenes?
Thoughts appreciated!
I was born in Holland and gosh it is a beautiful place!! trust me you can't miss this opportunity!! during the summer there is this competition running where you gotta make some vehicle and there are so many things you can do!! people there are very friendly and the weather is like heaven so mate I'd go if I was you!! and have fun
Original post by Drunk Punx
As far as I'm aware it's a minority party (pretty much Diet BNP) that wants it to be banned. It's a stupid move because it would be a huge blow to their economy, and the Mayor of Amsterdam strongly opposes it.
The law has already been passed and cleared by the courts:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17865151
amsterdam is absolutely wonderful....even without any of the activities you mentioned it is a beautiful cozy city, the atmosphere is really relaxing, you can just walk or ride a bike for hours, there are super interesting museums and fleemarkets to visit and people are really friendly... I have been there 3 times, always with different people and doing different kind of things, but it has always been fantastic....best time was during a EURO I have to say....amazing atmosphere in the streets...in short: I would return a fourth time without any hesitation
enjoy!!!
it is a beautiful cozy city, the atmosphere is really relaxing, you can just walk or ride a bike for hours, there are super interesting museums and fleemarkets to visit and people are really friendly... I have been there 3 times, always with different people and doing different kind of things, but it has always been fantastic....best time was during a EURO I have to say....amazing atmosphere in the streets...in short: I would return a fourth time without any hesitation enjoy!!!
Original post by FrogInABog
The law has already been passed and cleared by the courts:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17865151
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17865151
...balls.
Original post by FrogInABog
Not for much longer. Foreigners will be banned from the 'coffee shops' from the end of this year (provided that the ruling isn't blocked by the European Court of Human Rights).
Why are they doing that?
Original post by blueray
Why are they doing that?
I think they're tired of tourists going over there solely for the smoking opportunities, and feel like they have other things to offer.
According to a coffee shop owner I was talking to when I went over there, they are also fed up with tourists (especially Brits) going over there, having loads to drink, then having a smoke and throwing up on the floor etc. etc.
Looks like the British "bulldogs" have ruined it, as usual.
Not sure whether they are the actual reasons, but that's a couple of the ones that I've gathered...
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