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The Best of Amsterdam
Valeria Burdea
Updated Mar 06, 2016Save
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Have you ever heard of city-ism? Well, you probably haven’t, because I just made that word up… but I strongly believe this should be included in a dictionary (maybe the urban one).
So, the reason this word came to mind is that Amsterdam is one of the cities about which people have the strongest prejudices (mainly related to the coffeeshops and the Red Light District).
If it’s not cool to judge a person based on very few superficial characteristics, it’s definitely a mistake to judge cities like that – that’s what I mean by city-ism.
Luckily, there are ways out of this. Here are a few suggestions of how to get past the prejudices and start enjoying the best of Amsterdam:
1. Get a bike!!!!!!
You know the saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans do!” Well, to enjoy the best of Amsterdam, this rule is essential.
This is not because there’s no public transport or cars, but it’s just so much fun to cycle your way all around the city. And since the whole international experience is about integrating into the new environment, you will definitely want to start using your bike all the time, because trust me, everyone cycles here (seriously, I think there are higher chances of getting run over by a bike than by a car).
2. Explore the parks
They might not be so big, as Amsterdam is rather a small city itself, but they are absolutely great. And combining cycling with the parks is simply liberating!
You can start with Vondelpark, which is “vonderful”, and end with Amsterdamse Bos. The latter is more than a park for sure. One could say it’s like a ‘city forest’, and a great thing about it is that you can go canoeing (pretty cool right?), apart from all the other sports you can play on its wide fields.
3. Enjoy the street art
From dogs jumping through hoops, to fire shows, to all kinds of people playing all kinds of exotic instruments, to unknown bands playing the most breath-taking songs you’ve ever heard… You’ll find all these just by wondering around the streets of Amsterdam or in the main squares like Leidseplein, Museumplein or Rembrandtplein.
4. Get off the beaten track
You may instinctively avoid leaving the main streets, but the little alleyways often lead to the best of Amsterdam has to offer. One such hidden marvel is Begijnhof, a quiet garden surrounded by old canal houses, situated where you would least expect to find such a place – near the center of the shopping district.
The entrance to this little paradise is tucked behind an ordinary door on the Spui square, but the tranquil feeling of the place is definitely out of the ordinary. You should also know that Amsterdam is one of the safest cities in Europe, so feel free to enjoy it fully!
5. Go to live music shows
There are many ways to have a quality night out in this city on a student budget. One of them is to go to a jazz bar like Alto or Bourbonstreet where various artists thrill the ears of the audience with their jamming.
For those of you who always dreamed of a career in the spot light, this could actually be an opportunity to make your dreams come true, since most of the bands are open to playing with any passionate person.
Another special place is Bimhuis, where on Tuesdays, young artists from the Conservatory gather to create a truly unforgettable experience. Moreover, if you are looking for something a bit more sophisticated but still free of charge, the Concertgebouw has free afternoon concerts that you can enjoy every Wednesday. These are called “lunch concerts” – music is indeed the best food for the soul!
Now, with the best of Amsterdam in mind, I can only advise you not to let yourself fall into the superficiality trap and let this great city get under your skin!
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