Amsterdam For the First Time Visitor

If your image of Amsterdam is limited to the flourishing red light district and liberal coffee shops that sell hash brownies, then you can go to Amsterdam to find out what it’s all about. You will have your horizons open to what the city can offer socially as well as culturally. Amsterdam is a bustling city that attracts almost 4 million visitors every year.

Culture

Let’s start your tour in the footsteps of Vincent Van Gogh, the neo-Impressionist artist who lived in Amsterdam for a while. Although a Dutch, Van Gogh is better known to have lived and worked in France. But while he was in Amsterdam, he was inspired by the works of Rubens and Vermeer. There is a small museum consisting of his early works and is one of the most visited museum in Amsterdam.

Nearby is the Rikjsmuseum housing the works of the Dutch masters including Rubens, Rembrandt, Hals and Vermeer among others. Only one wing of the museum is open because of the renovations being done. They will reopen the whole museum in 2010. If you want a more modern twist, visit the Steldeijik Museum where you can view some of the world’s best contemporary art works from the likes of Mondriaan and Appel.

The Fun Side of Amsterdam

Fulfill your fantasies of women dressed in nothing but lingerie seducing you from a shop window. Amsterdam’s red light district, called De Wallen is a tourist attraction in Amsterdam. You can have your pick of men and women or just satisfy your voyeuristic tendencies by passing through.

Amsterdam even has a museum dedicated to eroticism, aptly called the Erotic Museum. Located at the Centrum, it consists of several exhibits on bondage and photos. Another museum on the Damrak called the Sexmuseum is more tasteful compared to the Erotic Museum.

Amsterdam pays homage to a lot of things that makes them one of the most liberal cities in the world. If hash brownies and marijuana coffee shops appeal to you, then the Hash and Marijuana Museum will certainly get your attention. Located at the Centrum, the museum offers information about the origins of hash and educational exhibits on the political and cultural impact of cannabis on the world. It can certainly make you understand this tiny shrub more.

If you are hankering for some live entertainment, Amsterdam can offer you wonderful cafes and bars. The Centrum area has bars and cafes that offer jazz and classical music as well as live performance from different artists. There are also cafes where you can get beer and drinks and just chill out with your friends.

Practical Tips

Amsterdam is not a cheap city. You need to have a game plan when you visit this city. You can directly arrive by plane through connecting flights. You also have the option of coming by train or car if you are already in Europe. It will be cheaper that way to. Amsterdam is relatively small place so you can walk around or better yet, rent a bike for the duration of your stay. There are hostels that are cheaper than the hotels and its best to get one which is centrally located to save on walking or biking time.