Impressions of Amsterdam

For me, the biggest surprise in Amsterdam was the number of bicycles. Having spent a good deal of time in Vietnam and China where the bicycle is a prime transportation mode, I was shocked that Amsterdam had 80,000 bicycles. Bikes are locked to anything that doesn't move easily: lamp post, guard rail, stop sign, canal bridge, and even another bike; and no matter how carefully you may be on the street watching for trains, trams, cars, motorcycles, and scooters, a bike will find you from many different directions. One more note on the bicycles of Holland: spending a few days evading them also answers an age old question, "One wonders how young girls in short skirts and high heels ride a bicycle without show a bit too much of themselves." The answer, "they don't!"

Museums

Perhaps in third order after bicycles and prostitutes, the next most common attractions in Amsterdam are the museums. I was surprised and pleased that there was so much to see in the museums of Amsterdam. By far the best is the Van Gogh Museum, which houses an amazing collection of Van Gogh's work, and next would be the Rembrandt Museum. Also for those like me, there is a fine modem museum at the corner of Van Baerlestraat and Paulus Pottersraat, the Stedelijk Museum of Modem Art.

While grand and traditional museums abound, so also do hidden churches, now museums, and things like the Museum van Loon, an atmospheric canal house; the Sex Museum; the Hemp Museum; and of course to round out everything else, the Rijkamuseum, which places everything "Dutch" in context over the years and which houses the world's greatest collection of Dutch art.

Food

I would have to say that following San Palo, Brazil, Amsterdam was my second most surprising place to eat. I don't know what Dutch fair actually is, however, today you find anything and everything to eat, and in the wonderful ancient walking streets of Amsterdam you find many ethnic foods from all over the world on just about every block. We ate great Mexican, Italian, Swiss, and Thai food, and found the wonderful choices fairly priced with ample portions and great wines to accompany them.

Cheese, Cheese, and more Cheese

Like Las Vegas, with a slot machine in every comer, Holland wants you to see cheese being made, eat it at every meal and take a lot of it home with you when you go. Today, Holland cheese production has finally outstripped their cattle and the country is importing milk from nearby Germany to maintain its cheese exports.

Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll

Among the many surprises in Amsterdam are the lay back and unruffled view of sex and drugs within the city center. In fact, it is so much a matter of fact event, that it is possible to see prostitutes in their little glass display booths/bedrooms, not ten feet from churches. Perhaps more interesting, is the fact that it really doesn't seem sleazy; and every day, many times a day, tour guides will be walking 25 or 30 people along the "Red Light" district explaining what they are seeing, the rules of engagement, and the fact that you can't take pictures, which is of course what everyone wants to do.

As for the drugs, the people of Holland, for now, have decided that they will be very tough on all drugs, but have removed marijuana from their lexicon of drugs they care about. Like the State of California determining that gasoline may be harmful to pregnant women, the nation of Holland has determined that marijuana is not habit forming, and that other than making you silly and causing you to have a stupid smile on your face, its greatest harm is that it will give you the munchies.

Grass is available almost everywhere in the city, but seldom in places that serve alcohol. Within the city core there are hundreds of "Coffee Shops" in which one may buy a joint, an one ounce bag of grass or many food products laced with Marijuana. It is safe to say that much less coffee is served in Amsterdam's coffee shops than other choices they offer, and the "Contact High" in and around the coffee shops contribute to the immense amount of fast food and sweets being consumed in their vicinity each day.

If you aren't yet confused by this mix of what is legal, safe, and unrestricted, then you must also consider that like much of the U.S., Holland has gone "non-smoking." This means that you can buy and you will see cigarettes everywhere, but you can't smoke them inside. Conversely, you can buy "grass" only in "Coffee Shops," and they would prefer that you partake of them indoors. So that's grass inside and cigarettes outside; sex on the street, but behind a curtain; museums for sex and art; and everyone must eat cheese!

While drugs and sex are both cheap and open in the streets, so is the music, which you hear spilling from every corner of the city. Many, many, vinyl records stores, CD shops, Internet download centers, live bands and street musicians keep the energy as high as many who are strolling for donuts.

Short List of Likes and Dislikes

Likes:
1. The age of the city (most houses built between 1580 and 1650)
2. Dutch architecture
3. The canal system (wonderful way to get around)
4. Everyone speaks English
5. Food is fabulous
6. Diversity of food—all within walking distance
7. Costs are low to fair (exception is cost of accommodations)

Dislikes:
1. The humidity (in the Spring it is likely to rain anytime and the humidity is 90%)
2. Graffiti (like many places in the world the taggers are making things look unkept)
3. Bikes (too many, and even the locals ask you to take some with you when you go)

Take a Breather during Your Netherlands Tour and Visit the Charming City of Haarlem in North Holland

A lovely city situated on the Spaarne River, Haarlem (pronounced Harlem) is the provincial capital of North Holland. As of 2009, the population of Haarlem was 148,885. Haarlem is located near the coastal dunes not far west of Amsterdam. It earned the nickname "Bloemenstad" which means "flower city" for its amazing tulip bulbs that have grown in the district for centuries. Haarlem has been a major tulip trading center since the 1630s. In the spring, gorgeous blooming tulip bulb fields can be admired by railroad travelers from Rotterdam to Amsterdam!

Haarlem was expanded as a municipality during the 1920s and '30s. In May 1927, the cities of Schoten, Heemstede, Bloemendaal and Spaarndam became a part of Haarlem. The city later expanded toward the east to Waaderpolder and the south to Schalkwijk. In 1932, a Dutch department store called Vroom & Dreesmann opened at Verwulft. Haarlem residents and businesses were hit hard by the Great Depression in the 1930s, but the city now flourishes with tourism, government offices and local businesses.

Beer Brewing in Haarlem

Beer brewing was an important part of Haarlem's industry in its early years. Before the 16th century, water was taken from the city's canals and used to produce beer. The water then became too polluted, so water was taken from a place about 1.5 kilometers from the city. Unfortunately, that water wasn't suitable either, so the water had to be transported from the dunes to the city in barrels. Haarlem became a major beer-making center in the Netherlands and had as many as 50 breweries during the Spanish siege. In 1620, this number had grown to about 100 breweries. After the Black Death plague in 1657, the city took a turn for the worse. Beer breweries decreased in number and by 1752, there were only seven left in the city. By 1820, there were no breweries registered in the city. During the 1990s, a new brand of beer called Jopen came on the market as "Haarlem bier" using some of the old Haarlem beer recipes, produced by the Stichting Haarlems Biergenootschap.

Haarlem Today

Today, Haarlem consists of many beautiful almshouses called hofjes, built around courtyards. These houses were constructed for single, elderly women and were mostly privately funded. There are 19 of these houses, and many are open to tourists during week days. Some are still in operation, and still serve their primary purpose – providing housing for elderly women.

Those who recognize the name "Harlem" as in "Harlem, Manhattan" may not realize that the name "Harlem" was indeed derived from the original Dutch name. It was shortened to keep English language tradition. Harlem, Manhattan was founded by Peter Stuyvesant in 1658. He was the Director General of Nieuw Nederland (New Netherland), then a Dutch colony. In 1664, the English had taken control of the colony and renamed it New York, but kept the name Haarlem or Harlem for the northern part of Manhattan Island. In modern times, Harlem has grown to become the center of New York's African American culture.

Must-See Locations in Haarlem

When touring Haarlem, one could spend days viewing the lovely architecture in the city. There's the central market square called the Grote Markt, which features the Vleeshal meat market, City Hall, the Sint-Bavo Cathedral (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sint-Bavokerk), the historic Haarlem Public Library, the Frans Hals Museum of Art (www.franshalsmuseum.com/), and the oldest museum in the Netherlands - the Teylersmuseum. Other attractions in this area include the Windmill De Adriaan, the castle ruins of Huis ter Kleef, the Ten Boom Museum (www.corrietenboom.com/index_en.html) honoring Corrie Ten Boom, and the Haarlemmerhout Park. One can also tour the lovely neighborhoods of Vaart and Bosch, and see the Villa Welgelegen.

Those who want to relax while in Haarlem should visit the Sauna van Egmond luxury spa. It's about 15 miles from the city of Amsterdam and features sauna cabins, a restaurant, steam room, swimming pool and bar. The Sint-Bavokerk Church is well worth a gander. It's more than 900 years old and has an amazing cobblestone floor with huge stones that are actually headstones for royalty. Visitors who like to see how things work are sure to enjoy the Cruquius Pump Museum. This museum illustrates how the Dutch used steam-driven pumps called Cruquius and windmills to progress in water/steam technology.

Haarlem Restaurants and Hotels

Some top-rated restaurants to try while touring Haarlem are the Metzo lunch en diner (French), Wilma & Albert's Steakhouse (European dining), La Forca (Italian), Chez Bastian (Mediterranean), Erawan (Thai cuisine), and De Kale Pater (International cuisine).

Haarlem also offers a variety of hotel accommodations for all budgets. The Amrath Grand Hotel Frans Hals is among the top rated hotels, located right at the heart of the "old centre" of the city with elegant, spacious rooms and remarkable service. The Golden Tulip Lion D'Or hotel boasts a fantastic location, with a close walk to many attractions without being right in the noisy center. The Carlton Square Hotel also comes highly rated for its central positioning in Haarlem as well as spacious, comfortable rooms, an excellent bar and great amenities including Internet access for traveling business persons. Other hotels to consider are the Ambassador City Centre Hotel, Haarlem Hotelsuites, Hotel Amadeus and Hotel Carillon.

One trip to Haarlem in North Holland will cause visitors to fall in love with this exceptional town. Those traveling to various cities will find Haarlem to be a relaxing place to settle a couple of days and soak in the charming, authentic atmosphere of this beautiful city!

Choose Amsterdam in North Holland (Netherlands) for Your Next Family Getaway

When traveling to the Netherlands, one city you don't want to miss is the capital city of Amsterdam in North Holland. As the largest city in the Netherlands, Amsterdam boasts an estimated population of 1.36 million in the city and about 6.7 million people living in the metropolitan area as of 2008.

Amsterdam is the financial and cultural center of the Netherlands so many people travel there for business and leisurely activities. The city is home to seven of the top 500 companies in the world and has the oldest stock exchange in the world. It's also one of the top tourist destinations in Europe with many great attractions such as museums, historic sites and more.

Amsterdam in History

Amsterdam was founded during the 12th century as a small fishing village. Its name came from the word "Amstellerdam,” which explains the similar name of the river dam - Amstel. The name "Amsterdam" is believed to have been first recorded in October 1275 when local villagers built the bridge and dam. Amsterdam officially became a city sometime between 1300 and 1306. The city quickly became a popular port during a time referred to as the Dutch Golden Age. It was a leader for diamonds as well as finance during this time. The 17th century brought much prosperity to the area thanks to trade ships sailing from Amsterdam to the Baltic Sea, Africa, North America and other populated areas. The city became a center of trade for Europe and was the first to become a stock exchange by trading its own shares.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, Amsterdam expanded with new suburbs and neighborhoods. Museums and trains were built, and the city also realized many benefits from the Industrial Revolution. A new canal called the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal was dug to make it easier to transport to Rhine. Another canal called the North Sea Canal provided easier access to the North Sea. Both canals helped to improve the city's commerce. Amsterdam today has a blend of modern and older buildings, with many of the historic sites being restored to their original beauty.

The climate in Amsterdam is influenced by the North Sea, which is to the west of the city. Temperatures are generally cool with an oceanic breeze, but northwestern winds and gales are common. Winter is mild, with temperatures seldom dropping below 30 degrees F. Summers are nice with temperatures ranging from 60 to 70 degrees F most days.

Touring Amsterdam

Those who travel to Amsterdam will find plenty to keep them busy. For shoppers, the city offers a variety of retail shops and large department stores, including De Bijenkorf, Bonneterie, Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat, and Cornelis Schuytstraat in the vicinity of Vondelpark. A medieval style street called Kalverstraat is one of the busiest streets in the city. Amsterdam offers huge book and art markets at the Spui in Kalverstraat. There's also a shopping area called Negen Straatjes, meaning nine narrow streets near the canal system. This area features many privately owned stores. There are also many open air markets in Amsterdam, including Westermarkt, Dappermarkt, Ten Katemarkt, and Albert Cuypmarkt.

Music lovers can enjoy a pop concert at the Heineken Music Hall, or rock or hip hop concerts at the Paradiso or the Melkweg. Bimhuis is a popular jazz venue. Classical music fans can visit the Concertgebouw to hear Amsterdam's world class orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. The symphony building contains three halls, and there are 800 concerts performed per year! Other cultural attractions to consider are the Amsterdam opera house called Stopera, Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam (theatre), and comedy/cabaret venues.

Dam Square features the Royal Palace and the New Church, called Nieuwe Kerk. There's also the National Monument, which commemorates WWII victims. Family travelers are often mesmerized when they see the vast "bicycle flat" parking structure that thousands of people use each day. The tallest church in Amsterdam is the Westerkerk, or West Church. This is near the Homomonument and the Anne Frank House. Families often enjoy touring Madame Tussauds (www.madametussauds.com/amsterdam/), where there are many unique wax figures of heroes and celebrities. Kids enjoy spending a day at the Amsterdam Dungeon, the Artis Zoo of Amsterdam (www.artis.nl), or NEMO (a hands-on science venue).

Those who love gardens should definitely visit Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam (www.hortus-botanicus.nl/), one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world. It features more than 6,000 plants in the greenhouses and gardens. There's also the Korenmolen De Bloem/De Blom, an old smock windmill (octagonal tower mill) that is no longer in service, but still has a turning windmill. Another windmill is the Riekermolen, which was constructed in 1636. It is located on the west side of Amstel, near a cafe called Het Kalfje.

Amsterdam welcomes North Holland travelers with plenty to see and do. Families and groups can enjoy one of the many tours of the city or pre-plan a fun-filled trip online to the busiest city in the Netherlands!