Museums

You are moving to a UNESCO city, with more museums than you can see in a year, so why not save yourself some money and head down to Leidseplein's UitBuro, Opening times: from Monday to Saturday: 10:00 / 18:00; Thursday: until 21:00; Sundays and Public Holidays: 12:00 / 18.00. Here you can buy the Museum year card ( €39.95 ) and gives you access to 

1. Allard Pierson Museum
2. Amsterdam Museum
3. Anne Frank House
4. Bijbels Museum - Bible Museum
5. De Nieuwe Kerk - New Church
6. Diamond Museum Amsterdam
7. Dutch Funeral Museum
8. Film Museum - EYE Film Instituut Nederland
9. FOAM Photography Amsterdam
10. Hermitage Amsterdam
11. Het Grachtenhuis - Canal House Museum
12. Huis Marseille, Stichting voor Fotografie
13. Jewish Historical Museum
14. JHM Kindermuseum
15. Max Euwe Centrum - Chess Museum
16. Museum Amstelkring - Our Lord in the Attic
17. Museum Geelvinck Hinlopen Huis
18. Museum Het Schip/Amsterdam School of Architecture
19. Museum Van Loon
20. Museum Willet-Holthuysen
21. Nederlands Instituut voor Mediakunst Montevideo/Time Based Arts
22. NEMO Science center
23. Oude Kerk - The Old Church
24. Olympic Experience
25. Royal Palace Amsterdam
26. Press Museum
27. Rijksmuseum
28. Scheepvaartmuseum - Maritime Museum
29. Stedelijk Museum
30. Tropenmuseum - Tropical Museum
31. Tropenmuseum Junior
32. Van Gogh Museum
33. Verzetsmuseum - Resistance Museum
34. Discount for Rembrandt's House

Phew... well. Off you go! That should keep you busy for a few months!

High tea! And not Coffeeshop kind...

Yes, the coffeeshop is well known around the world for the smoking...
But I will know direct you for High Tea instead...
There are a few great locations that I have tried and will recommend, but I don' know them all, so keep your eyes out for any more..

Firstly, and it has to go straight in at number one. The American Hotel at Leidseplein. A great place to stop and have a drink and chat in the art deco restaurant, but also they provide High Tea and there is no finer place than this (get a table by the window!) Enjoy a glass of prosecco, orange juice, and variety of teas along with various sandwiches, cookies, macaroons, panna cotta or crème brûlée, fresh fruit, chocolate fondue. The list goes on. I can honestly say it can last around 2 hours, if you space it out, and enjoy the ambiance and atmosphere of the afternoon. The High Tea is served from Monday to Saturday from 14:00 - 17:00 and costs € 29,50 p.p. A reservation is mandatory. In the summer, from June 13 to August 21, the High Tea is also available on Sunday.


Next for the coffee lover: just on the Zeedijk (near China Town) the Hofje van Wijs is the next best. This is a trading company since 1792 in coffee and teas, and still do to this day. So you have a variety to choose from, and buy if you fall in love with any. They have a coffee shop beside the shop, so you can sit down and get some grub, or sit and try a variety of teas and coffee's with some desserts! They sell some of the most expensive coffee's and teas in the world, like Jamaican Blue Mountain and Kopi Luwak. Try before you buy! Open form 12h - 18h everyday except Mondays!


In the Pijp: De Taart van m'n Tante is the next ideal location! Popular as its near the Heineken brewery, and Albert Cyup, this little slice of heaven is certainly one for the girls! Started by two guys who create Willy Wonka style cakes, they opened up in 1990, and have since been styling cakes for international markets, as well as letting you taste their scrumpious delights with a cup of tea/coffee. Open from 10-18h everyday, try to stop in at least once, to check out 
their quirky shop!

Spring/Summer

Planning for the Spring summer already, there are a few things you should attempt to get done!
Firstly, get to the Keukenhof flower grounds, try to get there shortly after it opens in April, as otherwise the flowers start to go out of season and you don't get to enjoy the landscape to its full potential. Its just 45mins from Amsterdam (get train to Schiphol, and take a bus form there directly to the location).
Secondly, the beaches. The dutch love the sun, so much that the first sign of good weather, you will hear them talk about going to the beach, (or if not a picnic in the parks!) So there are a few beaches you will want to check out, some with djs (Bloomendal) and some just relaxing. You can take a train/bus out but then walk through the dunnes to get to the beach. Otherwise, just get your food together, some wine, and head to the local park!
Next, you will want to get onto the grachts (canals!). You can try the visitors boat, Lovers etc from Centraal station to get to see the city, but you can also hire a boat, with a sailor, or you can also hire a smaller boat to go around on yourself with a few people. Its a great way to check out the city. You will notice during the summer a lot of boats out and about! If you can't bring yourself to hire the boats out (there is a location near the Okura hotel), you can also hire the paddle boats from the single/keizer/ grachts.. But i don't honestly know of one person who ever has. Its usually just the tourists!

Day trips, whilst the weather gets better, check out the variety of cities outside to pop to for the afternoon, not just Den Haag, Utrecht or Rotterdam, but also Haarlem, Leiden, Hoorn and Enkhuizen to name a few more all within 1hours train ride. If you really want to get a bit more done, take the train to Den Helder and the ferry across to the island of Texel. Its an island close to the shore, that is a camping spot for the Dutch! The islands are well known, and you must get to at least one of them whilst you are here. There are five of them:

• Texel 
• Vlieland 
• Terschelling 
• Ameland 
• Schiermonnikoog.

Terschelling is the most famous of them, but it is only accessible from taking a long trip around the IJ!

Just a few things to keep in mind, for whenever the spring will arrive!

The Flicks

We all visit the cinema at least once a year, and in Amsterdam, you can visit at least one each month without having to go to the same cinema twice.
With the branded Pathe, which has 3 locations: Leidseplein, Munt and also the Theatre Tuschinski around the corner, you have no reason to not catch up with your movie list. My preference of all three, as most would agree, is the Theatre Tuschinski. With a VIP ticket, which gives you access to the upstairs VIP lounge, and upstairs row seats, make sure you get a seating in the centre, as the sound is not the best when sitting on either side of the cinema. But certainly worth the Experience.

Rialto, in the Pijp area, has a more eclectic feel, with foreign language movies and artsy types, in a very 50's looking building. In Leidseplein area, you have many options with de Baile, Pathe City and Cinecentre, they are all very different with degrees of cinematic movies. From the large scale movie budgets, to the smaller, local, unknown director movies. The Pathe City is the largest, followed by the Cinecentre which is more old school, with curtains that open before, and takes a 10min break in the middle of the film, whilst the Baile is very underground with alternative films.

  In the same area, the Uitkijk, is the oldest cinema in the Netherlands, and has a certain atmosphere to it. Try to get the vip seats upstairs, which should sit 24 persons, with an individual small table, light and bell, as you can ring downstairs bar to come up to place an order of drink/snacks during the movie. Certainly one to experience as it has a certain 'old' feel to it.


 Next unique would be The Movies, on Haarlemmerdijk, by Westerpark. In its original design, this cinema shows some new movies, as well as independent films, and has the added benefit of being able to get dinner in the cinema restaurant, so dinner and a movie without having to leave the location (avail Mon - Thur €29). You can experience some classical and cult films in this location.

Or try the Kriterion, which is a deluxe cinematic location, where they show some modern, as well as the cult films. Near by there is the university of Amsterdam for the preservation and presentation of moving images. They know their stuff!

News

It is normal to check out the website of your national newspaper to keep up to date with things going on in the world, but what is going on in your local country?

My way of understanding the news, without having to get a dictionary out, or copy and paste the news, is by using www.dutchnews.nl It is updated every morning, with the news of the day and gives you a general consensus of what is going on in your new country. 

Taxi's

A taxi is part of life at some stage. I can honestly say, I would rather (or have been told to) walk home in the middle of the night.
Firstly, upon entering the taxi its already €7.50. That's right, before driving anywhere.They are all out for business and some are very under cutting. In Schiphol airport, be ready for a sightseeing tour. It will cost you minimum €40 for a trip into the city (whereas a train and tram will cost a max €6).
The main taxi group are TCA and are on 020 7777777. They are professional, and provide receipts. They have a few London style cabs, and have also introduced 20 electrical vehicles to their group, even a few electrical London style cabs! (see right)

Late at night, on Leidesplein there can be more than 50 taxis, queuing for your business and they will not tolerate drunken people. They won't even tolerate an 8 min taxi ride, demanding instead that you pay €20 minimum for it. (I always walk home if I don't have my bike - though I must point out I do recommend being comfortable cycling before you dare to do it drunk!)

There are also reports about drug selling taxi drivers, and there was also the case of a martial arts trained taxi driver who killed a drunken person. There are always stories, all I want to point out, is plan your travel ahead, so you can avoid the taxi!

Customer Service

I can, and I shall complain. Though it won't do any good. One thing I have had to endure living here is the lack of, or any interest in, customer service in this country - in any shape or form.

Firstly, eating at a restaurant (recommended by IAmsterdam), i took a bite of my pasta and crunched on something, and it turned out - the chef broke a plate in the sauce and they STILL served me with it. They charged for everything except the pasta, even though they never brought me water to wash my mouth with so i used the wine just to wash out my mouth, before running out of there. (Restaurant La Madonnia in Rembrantplein).

Secondly, in a local Albert Heijn, I asked to purchase credit for my mobile as I had a pay as you go. Upon saying the brand name and the amount I required, I was handed the receipt, and I walked out. After trying to put the credit on, only then I noticed they had given me the wrong brand. Walking back in, straight to the person I had purchased it from, they declared they didn't care, and they wouldn't help me out. I asked for the manager, and they told me they were the manager. Shocking, and very frustrating.

I can keep going on and on, but you get the point. Everyone I know here has a story every week of something they get annoyed from. You will just need to relax and get used to this (I am still trying, god bless my partner).

My general consensus is that these people have no care or blind interest in their jobs (customer service) and thus have no interest in the company they work for, or how it is perceived. So, don't take it personally for not talking their language, it's just how they are.

Travel - the OV chipcard

Upon arrival to Amsterdam Centraal Station, follow the signs for GVB/Metro and there is a kiosk where you can buy an OV chipcard. The first card to get is the OV Card - a pictureless card that costs around €7.50, and means you can hop on/off metro,trams and buses without having to buy a ticket each time. It will save you money AND time.  Remember: you MUST check in and out when you board the trams.



(One point of trams, you can ONLY board the tram a the front or the middle, not every door. The Dutch drivers do not take kindly to seeing you jump in, even if you pay).

Upon setting up your bank account, you can then go back and get a new NS/OV Chipcard which includes the train also. You need a passport photo, and your bank details. This means you can get a 40% discount on all trains for up to 4 persons travelling. It's great for the frequent trips to airport, or day trips also! And means you will not have to purchase train tickets each time, as it can be registered online so you can use it to scan onto/off the train also.

OV and Out.

Security:

A couple of scams just to be aware of:
Thieves often operate in gangs, particularly on trains between Schiphol airport and Centraal Station and on some trams.
One thief will be distracting you (asking directions, banging on your window, causing a problem) whilst another picks your pocket/steals your handbag, or places their hand in your handbag to get something out. Never be relaxed whilst out and about, even at bars or restaurants.

Another big scam is the fake police officer in plain clothes. "One man usually addresses people on the train to find out if they are tourists. If there are tourists about, two other men emerge with fake police identities and pretend to be investigating counterfeit money and false credit cards. If in doubt ring 112 just to check.  In the usual scam, you are asked to hand over money and credit cards for verification. After the 'inspection', the fake policemen return all the money and cards, or at least that is how it seems. Victims find later on tht part of the money and/or credit cards are gone."

How to deal with it? Fake policemen never wear a uniform, says the Foreign Office, and also like to show shiny police badges - as real Dutch police officers do NOT carry badges.

Your new legs: The Bike

Everyone has one, actually some have more than one. And its the cheapest way to get around the city.
The Bike.  The dearly beloved bike, a native of Amsterdam (you can see from the bike parking facilities around the city - Amsterdam Centraal, underground bike-parks).
There are a variety of ways to buy your bike: Bike Shops, online, or even off a friend. But be aware, bike theft is second nature over here, so Karma will come around if you purchase a bike on the streets, someone will steal it back off you! (Experience gained!)
Most bike shops will provide you with a receipt of purchase, and place the tag in the under tube of the seat, so if found they can trace it back to you!
When you are done with an old bike, never throw it away, recycle it!

The lock will be your best friend, so be prepared to buy a very good lock. Normally retails from €50 - €150, but worth the security!
Next up, lights. If you are caught cycling without lights at night, you can be fined up to €40 for each light you do not have on. To be careful, pop into Hema and purchase their €2.50 pair of lights!

Tourists are a nightmare when you are cycling fast on the bike paths, as most people don't realise the bike paths exist here and wander around. So having a bike bell is useful to give them a warning, without having to straining your voice!

Learning in the Lingo

Amsterdam has so many expats of different nationalities here, you can get away with speaking English. Markets, shops, restaurants etc. But do understand, if you do plan to stay for a year or so, at least learn the basics. Hello, Thank you, Please etc.
There are a few website you can always learn these from, but also you can download free apps like: Trainer EN-NL , Lingopal Lite, DutchWord, Translate etc. They will help you out with some basics to get buy (and very helpful when you first go shopping and need to figure out what some things are).

But for those hoping to learn the lingo, there are several ways to learn the language. Intense, Semi intensive, One Day, even the nuns (as they are called). With groups of people willing to converse, or singing groups, you can be inundated with the amount of ways to learn the language.
One thing I can point out, some classes are large, with English not as the common denominator so learning the language can be confusing. Read up, and ask around who used which courses.
My own personal experience is with Katakura, which has two locations in the Jordaan area and the Rai. With a maximum of 8 persons per class, and a variety of options to do it with (intensive, 5 days, semi intensive, 2 evenings, or once a week...) its the best for rates around.

Get to know the right deals!

Everyone is needing to save money, but still wants something to do..
Check out dagaanbieding where it highlights all the local deals of Holland, like Groupon etc.

Once your Dutch gets better check out www.vakantieveilingen.nl and start in the bidding wars to win dinners, hotels, experiences etc. But do read the fine print, as some hotels they offer, say its really cheap, but you have to pay for breakfast and dinner for each day. 

Shopping!

Upon moving to Amsterdam, you will be needing to start shopping!

To start, IKEA is usually peoples first place to start.. but in Amsterdam check out Hema. Its been the Dutch  one-stop shop. Bed linen, curtains, clothes, food, makeup to bikes! There are several found around the city of different sizes so just check out your local options. Blokker also provides a range of house hold goods, mainly accessorise.

Next few cheap and cheerfuls would be Action and Xenos. Two everything-in-one-location kind of stores, that you can pick up very cheap cutlery, towels, pans, cleaning products, food etc. to get you started. I love popping into these shops monthly to see what specials they have. Action is only found in De Pijp and Osdorp area, whilst Xenos is around the centre and some surrounding areas also.

For food shopping Albert Heijn is the local market.. But be aware, there are some cheaper options, like Dirk van den broek, Deka, C1000 , Jumbo  and other options. I tend to check them each out when ever i pass by them, as they always have weekly offers, Buy One Get One Free and such like.
Albert Heijn, you need to sign up to the Bonus card, so you get to avail of the Bonus options, and also they have AirMiles here too, so you can earn whilst doing your groceries.
Markt is also a popular shop, it is organic, and a little more expensive but you cannot pay with cash in some locations, only PIN and Visa.

The main thing to check out is your local markets. The Albert Cuyp in De Pijp area, is long, and full of variety. The flowers are cheap and outstanding.  Fruit is cheap and €10 can be a week of fruit and veg!

For clothes and everything in between is Kalvertstraat which starts at De Munt which leads up to Centraal Station. Hours of shopping are usually from 10 - 18h, but the shops usually close before 18h (they prefer to clean whilst being paid, then selling until closing time!)

Welcome to Amsterdam - your new home.

First off you are needing accommodation when arriving, and its hard. I mean, DIFFICULT. Unless you know someone before you arrive whom you can stay with,  be prepared to search long and hard to find some where to live...
Websites like elynx.nl, expatriates.nl and such will give expat offerings of places for rent. But be prepared.. It is expensive in the city. Unless you know where you want to live, check everything everywhere. Everyone would be looking for the centre, the West and East are also options but be aware.. Private renting is expensive. VERY expensive. So you will be needing to live with others.

It is a luck of the draw, as there is never a certain time to be looking for places, as there are nearly 200 different nationalities that live here. They are not all students, but also expats for jobs and people just wanting to taste a little bit of the culture.

I would strongly advise search months PRIOR to your arrival here.