TIPS


TOURIST
The many travel guides available offer you all the important must-sees for tourists. IAML-Netherlands offers you some alternatives:

General
Market
The Albert Cuyp markt is a market open weekdays on the section of the Albert Cuyp street between Ferdinand Bol Street and Van Wou Street just to the south of the centre of Amsterdam. The market many items from traditional vegetables, fruit and fish to clothes and cameras. This market is the busiest market in the Netherlands and apparently in Europe.

Cinema
Tuschinski is the most beautiful cinema in Amsterdam. It is a unique experience to see a film in this Art-Deco ambience. All important Dutch films are premiered in this cinema.

Cycling
See Amsterdam like an Amsterdammer and get on your bike. Yellowbike organises cycle tours to the most beautiful places in Amsterdam.

Walking
You can discover some places sometimes best on foot. Go window shopping in the specialised shops in the Jordaan. Look around the Plantage and the Zoo (Artis) or discover the architecture of the Amsterdam School in the areas near the Therese Schwartzeplein and the P.L. Takstraat.

Music
Pianola's
The Pianola Museum Museum is one of the smallest museums in Amsterdam. The are pianolas, fully mechanised pianos and similar instruments. Their archive consist of almost 25.000 piano rolls. If you want to visit the museum individually it is only open Sunday afternoons from 2-5 p.m. Westerstraat 106.

Oude kerk [Old Church]
Thea Oude Kerk, built ca. 1300 is the oldest church in Amsterdam. Sweelinck used to play here.

Dutch chansons
You can hear Dutch chansons in the brown pubs by the Rembrandt Square (Rembrandtplein).


Safety and irritations

Personal safety
Amsterdam is relatively safe but be careful of pickpockets in trams and busy areas. There are no real no-go areas in the city centre although the atmosphere near the Red Light district and the central station can be unpleasant late at night.

Public transport
Travelling late at night on public transport is generally not a problem.

Cyclists
Cyclists dominate the flow of traffic in Amsterdam. They do not always pay attention to traffic lights and can dodge in and out of the traffic. Don’t forget there are a lot of cycle paths. They can be unsafe for pedestrians.

Taxis
Taxis are allowed on bus and tram lanes – be careful. Not all taxi drivers will take you on short journeys.