Caroline
Amsterdam
Not worth visiting!
Three words. Tou. Rist. Trap. The equivalent of London’s Leicester Square, but much smaller.
Almost impossible to avoid as it’s very central. Go to Nieuwmarkt (near Central Station) for a better experience of Amsterdam life, or go to de Pijp, much cooler (closer to Amstel Station).
Marjolein Katsma
Amsterdam
I live in Amsterdam and regularly go to the Leidseplein just because it’s fun to be there!
Outdoor cafes, street musicians, jugglers and acrobats, various cinemas around the square plus a major theatre, tourists to watch… ;-)
Even when most of the tourists have gone there’s always something to see and enjoy.
Tourist trap? No – only if you want to be trapped, maybe. The Leidseplein is for Amsterdammers, too – very much so. But it’s really very easy to avoid if you don’t want to go there (a map might help).
Nieuwmarkt? Not a “better experience” at all as far as I’m concerned – I only go there if I have to go to one of the shops. Not too much “Amsterdam life” there. Going to de Pijp is a better idea, or any other residential neighborhood really: “Amsterdam life” is to be found where people live.
Caroline
Amsterdam
Not too much ‘Amsterdam life” on Nieuwmarkt? Depends on what you call Amsterdam life. My life for instance, takes place around that area. I feel at home in Chinatown, love the food and the Chinese supermarkets and go there every weekend for my shopping. Leidseplein used to be great. Twenty years ago it was our favourite spot. Not any more.
cranberrygoddess
Canberra
You got a cheer from me just for saying that Tou Rist is two words, a work of genius :)
Why not just like both places, or accept that different people have different taste?
Caroline
Amsterdam
Because we are giving personal advice here and I’m going to say what I think. That’s what the site is about.
