Amsterdam Travel Blog

As a general rule, if something is not allowed, people go over board the moment they get their hands on that forbidden fruit.  The proof for this exists in the fact that the Dutch, who are constantly exposed to legalized prostitution in the Red Light District and marijuana in coffeeshops, rarely frequent...

Christmas decorations are popping up all over Amsterdam, including on the Warmoestraat, which borders the Red Light District. Full of coffeeshops, sex shops and cinemas, you would wouldn’t think to find a reindeer here… Can you spot it?

Each Christams Amsterdam hosts a variety of winter activities around the city.  This years biggest is Winterland at Rembrandtplein, and contains Christmas decorations, a skating rink (with rentals), and food and drink stalls.  Make sure you try the Gluhwein, a hot drink made of wine and spices.  Poffertjes,...

It’s snowing in Amsterdam, and all the locals are excited because no one under 30 remembers this much snow.  Tram service has been interrupted, but it’s a small price to pay for the pretty scenery.  Besides, the city center is so compact it’s easy to walk to all points of interest. Amsterdam’s...

If you’re cycling around Amsterdam on a snowy day, here are a few tips to keep you from skidding into a canal: 1.  Brake gradually, which means you’ll probably have to cycle slowly.  Hitting the breaks hard will cause you to lose control.  Braking gradually is especially important if you...

Secret Santa is a popular Christmas activity where I’m from (Canada), and is probably popular in other countries too.  It’s simple: we draw names from a hat and then have to buy a present for that person, and sometimes taunt our giftee with secret clues as to our identity. The Dutch do their...

The various manifestations of the St. Nicholas character seem to make an appearance in many cultures around the Christmas season.  Where Santa Claus is the familiar character in America, Sinterklaas is the bearer of gifts and treats in the Netherlands. According to the Dutch, Sinterklaas (or Sint Nikolaas),...

In my early days in Amsterdam I worked as a tour guide, and I was frequently asked by visitors if certain things they saw were typical Amsterdam behavior, of if they got lucky and stumbled across a crazy show.  After a while I noticed that people were asking about the same things, which illustrates...

Most visitors enter Amsterdam through Centraal Station, and walk past dozens of souvenir shops on their way to Dam Square and the city center.  Each of these shops carries the same silly assortment of Amsterdam shirts, penis shaped drinking cups, and an endless assortment of items bearing the three...

Oliebollen, or “oil balls” are a traditional Dutch New Years treat; however, these days they start to appear late November and stick around until New Years. They’re deep fried donut balls, sold from little booths around the city of Amsterdam. The best oliebollen are the ones that just come...