Worth Knowing
Author: Anothertravelguide.com0 COMMENTS
- The weather in Amsterdam changes by the hour. Even if the morning sky is clear and blue, don't believe anyone who tells you that it is not going to rain today. Bike rental shops offer plastic raincoats but don't wear one of those: the locals will know immediately that you are a tourist. As the saying goes in Amsterdam: we just don't ride when it's raining, and when the rain stops we ride on.
- Specially marked bikeways are everywhere in the city as well as separate traffic lights for cyclists. There is also no shortage of bike rentals. Do make sure your rented bicycle has a proper lock: that's a matter to be treated with the utmost seriousness as bike thefts are a common thing in Amsterdam. If anything happens blame yourself for your carelessness ("I left it for five minutes only" or "I just climbed off to take some cash at the ATM") that may cost you good money.
- There are more than 45 cinemas in Amsterdam; the best known among them is the Tuschinski Theatre. It was built in 1921 and is rated among the most beautiful movie theatres in Europe. There is also a film museum - Filmmuseum (3 Vondelpark) - with a collection of more than 45 000 films. In the summer outdoor screenings take place as well.
- The main flea markets in Amsterdam are Noordermarkt and the Westerstraat vintage clothes market that is best visited on Monday mornings. An eco market opens at Noordermarkt each Saturday.
- The accepted lunch time in Amsterdam is 12 pm - 2 pm and dinner is normally eaten from 5 pm to 8 pm. Many restaurants stop serving food as early as at 10 pm.
- Things that shouldn't be mixed up:
An Amsterdam coffee-shop is not a place where you will be served a cup of coffee. It's a cafeteria where all sorts of marihuana products are available instead of coffee.
A smartshop or a softshop is a place to visit if you feel that for the moment you have exhausted the opportunities offered by the present set of dimensions. You will be offered the so-called space cakes or magic mushroom cookies.
The word eetcafe means that this is the place to relieve your hunger at any time of the day: early in the morning, during the day and late at night. The menu is very simple: sandwiches, salads etc.
Proeflokaal is a wine and beer bar with tasting options.
A bruin café is a small bar that has been around so long that its walls have become brown from cigarette smoke. It must have been a popular place among locals for generations.
A grand café is a place of cosmopolitan ambience, design and a wide range of international press you can browse during your coffee drinking and conversations.
- The accepted size of a tip at Amsterdam restaurants and cafés (depending on service) is 5 - 10 % of the total.
- The distance from the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to the city centre is 20 kilometres. It is a half-hour drive by a car or taxi, depending on the traffic. Railway is much more convenient and cheaper: the price of a train ticket is EUR 3.40, a taxi from the centre to the airport will take you back EUR 40 - 45.
- Useful links:
www.visitamsterdam.nl
www.amsterdamtourist.nl
www.ticketservice.nl (to order theatre, opera and concert tickets online)
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