The first time I went to this place — 2 years ago
I just came back from Amsterdam where I spent six days. I wasn’t expecting much before I went. I had heard of the Red Light District and the coffee shops, and sure, there are there. But the Red Light District is concentrated to a few streets and people visiting coffee shops don’t bother anybody.
The architecture is beautiful, the unevenly sinking XVII century houses very charming, the house boats and the canals wonderful. As soon as you leave the main tourist streets, you’ll find your self in an idyll. The tempo of life is pleasantly slow, the pubs are filled with locals (I recommend Papienland and Schumich, at the part of the town called Jordaan). There are many bikes and it is impressing to see the Dutch navigate their way through the traffic without stress.
One warning: avoid the restaurant called Italian Rest. at Nieuwendijk. Nothing is included in the price, not bread, not sous, nothing. This is not something you will see on the menu or be informed about by the owner. A meal that was supposed to cost 30 euro ended at 47. The meat was chewy and dry, the fries deep deep fried, not to say burned. We are experienced travelers but we have nowhere in the world experienced such a thing.
