After a short break in May and June 2011, the Royal Palace on Dam square ‘Paleis op de Dam’ in Amsterdam is now open again for visitors. The palace had been hidden behind scaffolding for quite some time while the façade was given a good cleaning and restoration.From July till September 18, 2011 the Amsterdam [...]
Riots in Amsterdam this week, as the police evicted several squatted buildings in the centre of the city. Squatting in Holland used to be legal for years until 2011, when a new law banned the Amsterdam squats. History of squatting in Amsterdam Squatting in the Netherlands became big in the 80s, when a serious [...]
Going to a beach when you are visiting Amsterdam, makes for a great day out. Zandvoort beach is a beach resort near Amsterdam that can easily reached by train. One of the best beaches near Amsterdam is Wijk aan Zee, a paradise for surfers and kitesurfers. If you are looking for the best beach party [...]
When temperatures rise in Amsterdam, the Vondelpark is the place to be. Located in the centre of the city, the entrance directly behind Leidseplein, the greens of the Vondelpark have turned into an paradise for travellers and local students. Dragging along fridges loaded with alcoholic beverages, stereo speakers and barbecues, the crowd have a genuine [...]
A small babyboom has been taking place at Artis, the Amsterdam Zoo. This spring the old zoo has seen the birth of Mumba, a baby elephant, two Californian sealions, Bembosi the gorilla, a giraffe and gazelle and even a cute little lion. All baby animals are doing well. You can look at videos of all [...]
In Amsterdam, fish stands sell raw herring (‘haring’), a soused raw fish with a strong taste. Dutch raw herring is hugely popular in Amsterdam. In Holland, people have been eating raw herring for over 600 years. For foreigners it might be a bit strange to eat a raw fish that has nothing to do with [...]
Hidden behind typical Amsterdam canals and façades exist the most beautiful inner court yards and gardens. Only once a year, these gardens open their doors for visitors. This year, the Amsterdam Open Garden Days are on 17, 18 and 19 of June 2011. During this weekend, 30 canal houses are open and their gardens can [...]
Tourists may find the inner city of Amsterdam in a state of total chaos, due to the massive public works that have been taking place there for some years. All the work is necessary however to complete one huge project: the construction of a new metro line (underground, subway): the Noord Zuid Lijn. Tunnelling underneath [...]
Apps for Amsterdam, a competition for apps about the city of Amsterdam, resulted in no more than 48 new applications for smart phones, web and facebook. The so called ‘open data’ these apps use, come from the Amsterdam city council, who started the initiative. Many of these apps are especially useful for visitors. Here’s a [...]
The booming days of smart shops in Amsterdam have long gone. Ever since the Dutch government banned the selling of dried magic mushrooms (in 2008) and fresh magic mushrooms (in 2009) by law, many Amsterdam smart shops had to close and focus on online sales. This means magic mushrooms are not for sale any longer, [...]
10 Songs about Amsterdam Amsterdam has inspired some of the greatest musicians, writers and artists, so good songs are plentiful about this charming town of canals and coffee shops. Here are 10 songs about the Dutch capital city of Amsterdam. 1. Amsterdam by Peter Bjorn and John Swedish indie band Peter Bjorn [...]
On hot days it’s best to cool off with a real Dutch ice cream. Several Amsterdam ice cream shops have started making delicious ice creams. As a big producer of dairy products, it’s not strange that the Dutch make interesting ice creams. Most Amsterdam ice cream shops are only open during the summer months. [...]
Planning your holidays for this summer? Take this list of out door music festivals in and around Amsterdam for the summer of 2011 into account. Don’t forget to buy those tickets in advance as some festivals sell out fast. This page is regularly updated. Check out the Amsterdam music Festivals 2012 May 2011 May 8 [...]
On 4 and 5 May, the Netherlands commemorates the end of the Second World War. In May 1945 Canadian forces ended a 5 year occupation of the Netherlands by Hitler Germany. The liberation of Holland is celebrated on two occasions. May 4 May 4 is Dutch National Remembrance Day (Nationale Dodenherdenking). On this day, the [...]
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