Dear Steemers,
Today, I would like to take you on a mini-tour through the city, that I consider my hometown for the last 12 years. Although it is just the first blog post I write about this subject, I have decided to write many more. There is simply still so much that I would like to share about this city.
So feel free to comment or give me suggestions on how to make the blogs and tours better! I will write them at your service!
To start with, "Why write a city guide about the city you live in?" you might think.
Well, for various reasons.
First of all, a lot of people on this planet consider Amsterdam more famous than the country it is positioned in. I am sure loads of Steemers have not only been or want to go to this city, to marvel at the freedom of some professions or medications around here. I am sure there is more cultural curiosity to most of you! So, despite the face-time Tarantino has brought to this city (Pulp Fiction was written here) albeit for its drug-policy, which is getting increasingly strict – it is time to also appreciate what is really going on over here. Therefore, I will do my best to show you what else this city has to offer!
For now, I will take you on a small walking tour around Central Station. This is actually a small part of the city centre, but you will see, there is enough to do for one afternoon. I will focus on other area's in Amsterdam in future posts. But there is only so much you can do in a day!
We start off at Central station, at the South entrance, facing south. Why? Well, this is the spot where most people’s journey in Amsterdam starts. So, why not do it right from the beginning?
Central Station in the old days
Unless you love tourist traps, masses of people and average food places, my first tip to you is to not go straight to the Damrak (that big, busy street straight ahead of you). Instead, cross over to the beginning of Damrak, but go left before you enter it. Beware of bikers, this might be the most chaotic crossing in the whole of Amsterdam.
When you stand on the bridge, you can enjoy this lovely view. Take a picture here, but please be careful that you are not standing on the bike-lane. Just trust me on that one.
Walk over the bridge and follow the road on the pavement. When you arrive at a little square 30 meters later, you will see the Prins Hendrik Hotel on your right. There is nothing particularly mention-worthy about this hotel, other than that it was here that famous trumpet player Chat Baker jumped out of the window of the first floor, and didn't survive his landing.
It's a sad story.
A few steps further, you can enter 'de Zeedijk'; a street that is better known as Amsterdam's little Chinatown. It was in this area where it was not safe to walk around in the 70s and 80s. Drug addicts were everywhere, and criminality was high. If you are not just extremely unlucky, you will not see any of that. Amsterdam has gradually gentrificated like every other interesting city in Europe.
Now the Zeedijk is famous for its abundance of lovely Asian restaurants, so if you're hungry: Go for it! My favorite restaurants are Bird (Thai) and Nam Kee (Chinese). But you will also find me in the Asian supermarkets in this street. If you go up the staircases of a few of them, you may find some hidden restaurants that the local Asians truly dig!
Our walking tour does not go further into the Zeedijk, though. But I am being a very flexible guide here. So go ahead, I will wait over here when you're ready festing on dim sum, curry's and jiaozi! Back in 45 min?
So now, I would like to show you some things around Central Station first. So we walk further on the Prins Hendrikkade towards the second bridge on our left. You know you have found the right bridge when you just passed this little tower:
De 'schreierstoren' (incorrectly translated: Weepers tower) built in 1487, is the last standing tower of the medieval city wall of Amsterdam. Word goes that from here the women would say goodbye to their husbands or lovers who would go out to sea to fish or travel with the VOC (East Indian Company). As the sea was rough, a lot of the ships never returned. So reason enough to cry at farewell.
Here you can see how the tower was positioned with respect to the rest of the city and its harbor:
So walking further from the start of the Zeedijk on de Prins Hendrikkade towards the East, we want to cross the bridge (Odebrug) over the water, towards the North. And then go right on the Oosterdokskade. On this little "island", quite a lot is happening. Unless you need free wifi, or have a weird addiction to Starbucks coffee, do not go into the Starbucks here. Instead, go towards the OBA (Openbare Bibliotheek / Public Library) and take the elevator to the restaurant on the topfloor. I promise: breathtaking views all over Amsterdam. On a good day, you can also check the rooftop bar on top of the Double Tree Hotel. Next to the OBA you will see the Amsterdam Conservatory, which is one of the best music conservatory's in the world!
Fun side-story about the floating Chinese restaurant in front of the OBA. It was built after the model of a famous floating restaurant in Shanghai. When the restaurant opened a couple of years back, a lot of people were invited to enjoy the opening party. Alas, due to the weight of all the people, the restaurant started to sink. Apparently, the architects had made a small miscalculation. The restaurant was not floating on salt water, as in Shanghai, so it is easier to sink. Now, less people are allowed to enter the restaurant at the same time.
Moving on, after you have enjoyed the view from either the OBA, or the Double Tree hotel, we walk further over the Oosterdokskade and follow the road to the left. Do not take the first pedestrian bridge you will see, but the second (closer to the train-viaduct). This bridge will lead you towards a bar/restaurant with a big terrace on the water and a building next to it that is leaning to the edge. The bar on the water (Hanneke's Boom) will be packed if you are lucky enough to walk through Amsterdam on a sunny day. The building leaning to one side is a climbing gym. Fun for the Dutch, since we don't have any mountains ourselves!
Enter Hanneke's boom for a coffee or – if it is time for the 'Borrel' (usually after 4:30pm) - a beer stop. They have a great variety of local Dutch beers over here. 'Brouwerij 't IJ' is my personal favorite. And you should definitely order yourself a portion of 'bitterballen' or 'kaasstengels'. When you are with a group of people, order a 'Bittergarnituur' (yes you will need to say this with a loud dutch "G"). A 'Bittergarnituur' is a combo of usually four different fatty, fried snacks. We don't really know what goes in there, and it does not matter. We know that it is good, especially with a beer. Typically, this is also ordered when drinking with colleagues on Friday after work, during the 'Vrijmibo' (short for Vrijdag Middag Borrel, or translated: Friday Afternoon drinks). Some Dutch also lovingly call this 'Brown fruit'. I mean, it does make it sound like a good excuse to skip dinner and stay drinking with your friends, right?
If you are lucky enough to be here on a warm summer's day, you will probably also see Amsterdammers stopping here by boat to pick up some necessary drinks or snacks. In summer time this might be the number one activity of the typical Amsterdammer – after BBQ-ing in the Vondelpark.
(Oh yeah that weird looking green ship in the back is a museum called 'Nemo'. Here you can learn a lot about science!)
If you want to space out, without doing it like the rest of the tourists in this city, walk a little further down the road after leaving Hanneke's boom. You will find a weird looking building, partially green house. Go in if you have a heart for innovation, in terms of art and the environment. Here, all sorts of experiments are done to improve our circle-economy, and cultural problems. They also have a lovely menu! You can order pizza's from the pizza-oven from Sunday to Tuesday. the rest of the week, the menu is quite experimental to say the least. It might be just me, but I think it's more constructive and mind-bending to try a well-prepared insect once in a while, in comparison than a paddo. But I am sure not everyone would agree. Anyway, check out their website, the menu changes quite often: https://www.mediamatic.net/en/
I almost forget to tell you but you will have a lovely view over the water here. Especially at night!
Now, you might probably feel like going back to the hotel to catch your breath and "regroup" for the evening. But if not, go back to Zeedijk and walk all the way to de Nieuwmarkt where you can have a drink or two! You have arrived when you see this building:
This old city gate (St. Anthony's gate) from the 15th century in the middle of the Nieuwmarkt, now houses a restaurant called 'In de waag'. Go in and have a look! It has also functioned for a long time (until 1819) as a 'weighing house'. Amsterdam obviously always has been a trader's city, so for many weighing products was an important thing to do. Now, in the floors above the restaurant a great and progressive foundation is housed, called Waag Society, that stimulates, organizes and spreads new technologies, art and culture through various social initiatives throughout the city.
Here, I will leave you guys to enjoy a drink or two! And in my next blogpost, we will start off here – at de Nieuwmarkt – and walk further towards Amsterdam's former Jewish neighborhood.
Let me know what you guys think of this first digital guiding tour through Amsterdam. I hope it was fun and useful and that you enjoyed reading it!
For now, all the very best to you and of course: happy travels!!!