In small cities like Venice or Amsterdam it can be easier to find a unique historical monument than to find a perfect hangout place. One of my favourites is indeed very hard to find because it’s located in the middle of a deserted shipyard.

To get there, take the boat behind the central station (direction NDSM Werf) or from the less crowdy stop at Distelweg. On the other side of the Ij-Canal, walk 50 meters straight ahead then turn to the right and walk for another 300 meters. Here, you will find yourself in the middle of the former shipyard where all kinds of artists have installed their ateliers. At the end of the docks, standing on a tiny little hill, you’ll find Café Noorderlicht. The semi-circular building recalls a greenhouse, and is especially beautiful when illuminated at night and is stunning by sunset.

Photo by Manou van der Noort

Friends tell me that it’s a bit alternative, but believe me Amsterdam was screaming for such a place. It’s still less cool and grungy than for instance Bar 25 in Berlin. On beautiful days when the terrace is overflowing, you can sit wherever you like. My place is directly at the waterfront where I can look over the water daydreaming, talk with friends or read a book undisturbed by yelling toddlers.

My hardcore city kids, when they are here, enjoy playing with dogs between the boats and exploring water plants. For me, this place has the sheer wildness and magic which I relate to an end-of-the-world mood. Not in an apocalyptic sense, but in the spirit of being liberated from everyday life; you can relax without getting bored. All kinds of people seem to be attracted by this café, so don’t worry that you’ll have to spend time with some utterly barbaric tribe.

Those who have a soft spot for flea markets will be happy that there’s a good one in this area (forget about Waterloopein). It’s not held regularly, so check this website for information.

Café Noorderlicht; t.t. Neveritaweg 33; Amsterdam

Go further: Frederique mentions Bar 25 in Berlin. Find out more about this ranch-looking bar and 'beachlife' in the German capital here. 

If the queue in front of the Van Gogh Museum seems endless, then drop it and visit another of Amsterdam’s cultural highlights: The House of Bols!

Maybe you haven’t enjoyed Bols liqueurs or genever for quite some time, but at the House of Bols you have a unique opportunity to relive the experience at the museum's “Hall of Taste”.

The House of Bols revolves around the rich history of the world’s oldest distillery: Lucas Bols, which dates back to 1575. Lucas Bols and Rembrandt were neighbours and Rembrandt once paid one of his exorbitant bills with a painting produced by one of his students. Today, the painting is on display at the museum.

Apart from tasting and smelling, you can find out more about the art of flair bartending at the Flair Booth where you can practice your juggling skills.

The House of Bols is located at Paulus Potterstraat 14 opposite the Van Gogh Museum. The entrance fee is € 10. This includes a free cocktail of your choice in the Mirror bar. Cheers!

Author David Rich Momondo

Prostitutes who exhibit themselves from behind windows in the narrow alleys in the old city center, has become synonymous with Amsterdam. But maybe not for much longer. The city's Mayor, Job Cohen, has announced plans to clean up Amsterdam's infamous red light district and replace prostitutes' windows with upmarket boutiques.
According to the Mayor the initiative has been taken to tackle abuses in the city's sex industry which has gotten out of control.

"The romantic picture of the area is outdated if you see the abuses in the sex industry and that is why the council has to act," Cohen said at a press conference in Amsterdam Monday 17. December 2007. "We don't want to get rid of prostitution, but we want to cut crime significantly."

The city has decided to raise the minimum age for prostitutes from 18 to 21 and demanded that brothel owners and escort agencies apply for permits.
 

Sail on the Canals

Sure it’s touristy, but it’s also a pretty cool and comfortable way to form a general impression of the city. You should go on at least one trip on the canals.

The sightseeing boats leave regularly from the Central Station, Damrak and Rijksmuseum. The guided tours last about 45 minutes.

A great alternative is the canal bus with its 14 stops close to museums and shopping areas. To go on the bus you need to buy a hop-on-and-off ticket.

You can also try one of the museum boats that sail between the city’s museums. Buy a day pass, which also grants you a discount to a series of restaurants, shops, museums and other monuments. 

The Bag Museum

Spend some of your time in Amsterdam visiting the handbag heaven!

You will get a different kind of museum experience if you pay a visit to the new and beautiful handbag museum in the middle of town. A museum that probably primarily appeals to women.

Are you crazy about bags? And do you have the energy to have a close look at 3.500 of them? Then the Tassenmuseum Hendrikje is an incredible place. A must-see for designers and all of us who are in love with that kind of stuff. Aside from bags, the museum also exhibits purses and suitcases from the Middle Ages and up until today. Needless to say, Gucci, Fendi and Chanel are firmly represented. The only big problem is that you can’t bring the bags home with you.

But in the museum’s shop you can buy bags made by young Dutch designers. The museum also has a good café with a wonderful blooming courtyard.

Tassenmuseum Hendrikje
Herengracht 573
www.tassenmuseum.nl

Van Gogh

The city’s great museums are located side by side on the Museumplein. Here you will find the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum and the Van Gogh Museum among others.

The location itself is worth visiting. A huge green area with lots of benches, biking lanes and even a skating slope. On a sunny day the lawns get crowded.

If you are in Amsterdam, you must visit the Van Gogh Museum. The building is an experience in itself – particularly the huge gray metal addition from 1999, designed by the Japanese architect, Kisho Kurokawa.

The museum has changing exhibitions. Until the end of January 2008 there is a great exhibit focusing on the time Van Gogh spent in Barcelona. You have to see the permanent collection as well. It contains 200 paintings, 500 sketches and 700 letters by Van Gogh, as well as paintings by his post-impressionist French colleagues, like Gauguin, Toulouse-Lautrec and Monet.

The Van Gogh Museum has a great museum shop with a huge selection. Posters are wrapped carefully, so you can bring them back on you flight without worries.

Van Gogh Museum, Paulus Potterstraat 7-11
www.vangoghmuseum.nl

Albert Cuyp – Markt de Pijp

Amsterdam has lots of wonderful markets. If you only visit one of them, we recommend the popular Albert Cuyp Market.

It consists of one long street with stalls as far as you can see. You can find anything your heart desires of fresh provisions, spices, fruit, meat and fish that are delicately presented on dripping ice. You will also find stacks of socks, cheap make-up, bed linen, furniture, flowers, underwear, pets as well as one stall with more than a hundred different kinds of pickles!

The atmosphere is particularly great on Saturdays, but the Albert Cuyp Market is so crowded on that day of the week that you shouldn’t count on making a great vintage bargain.

The Alber Cuyp is located in the latin quarter ”De Pijp”, and is open from 9.30 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday. Trams number 4, 16, 24 and 25 that leave from the Central Station stop there.

The Albert Cuyp Market is just one among several interesting markets in Amsterdam. (See ”Go Shop”)

Vondelpark

Vondelpark is Amsterdam’s equivalent to New York’s Central Park. It is lovely to stroll around the park on a sunny day and enjoy a drink in “Het Blauwe Theehuis”, which is situated in the middle of the park.

By Mette Lomholdt