Amsterdam Tour Tips
Last updated: October 3, 2011
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Amsterdam Tour Tips
Amsterdam Tour Tips
Amsterdam Uncovered
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No other city in the world conjures up so many impressions as Amsterdam, though it's probably safe to say that no other city in the world has so many layers, so much going on, and so much to see. In terms of quality of life, Amsterdam is a very liveable city, with numerous social measures to make a city existence conducive to all who reside within the city limits.
However, there are a lot of assumptions that first-time visitors make that don't hold much substance when you look past the city's raunchier reputations. But in terms of being open-minded, relaxed, and cycle-friendly, Amsterdam is a hands-down winner.
Rest assured, with the increasing gentrification of Amsterdam, you're more likely to find alternative flea markets, gourmet organic cafes, and cycles galore in this so-called Venice of the North. In fact, while there are only 700,000 resident Amsterdammers, there are over one million resident bikes. In a city of young families, you're quite likely to see homemade modifications to bicycles converting them into toddler carriers. It's possible to see a bike with a D.I.Y child seat on the handlebars, the main frame, or even for a cartload of kids on the back - all part of the Amsterdam creative side.
It's this creativity and cutting-edge approach to design that attracts many to Amsterdam, and many more to stay for longer than anticipated. It extends well into the fields of fashion, design, and historical heritage, which is evidenced throughout the city. Comfy and cosy, that's the feel of the city, and that's why it's better to consider apartment rental, rather than hotels in Amsterdam. If you're touring around the Benelux or France, it's a wise choice to opt for hotels in Paris or Brussels as they really match the vibe of these cities, however not so much in Amsterdam. It's a city where the more is certainly the merrier, and an apartment truly ensures that wherever you rest your head feels like home.
In the port of Amsterdam
There's a sailor who sings
Of the dreams that he brings
From the wide open sea
In the port of Amsterdam
There's a sailor who sleeps
While the riverbank weeps
With the old willow tree...
(Jacques Brel, Amsterdam)
The city has, no doubt, in the past, deserved its reputation as being a fast-living school of hard knocks. Take famed Francophone Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel, for instance, himself no stranger to the seamier side of life. In his well-known song 'Amsterdam' (covered in English by David Bowie) he sings of the broken dreams and harsh reality of life in the Amsterdam ports.
He portrays an underground vision of Amsterdam; one that has won much resonance through its heartfelt portrayal of rough romanticism and the desperate down-and-outers. Yet is this the Amsterdam that you'll find today on a short-term or long-term vacation in this vibrant cultural capital?
