How to find delicious stroopwafels, not get killed by bikers, and locate the weird number of cat-related tourist attractions (ie: the things you really want to know).

Ding ding! The sound of death in Amsterdam: a bike bell heralding an imminent collision with a cyclist because you weren’t paying attention and wandered into a bike lane. Read on for more tips, the must-eat foods, the difference between coffee shops and cafes, and how to spend your time in this lovely city!

Trivia – Random Netherlands Facts for the Watercooler

• Holland or the Netherlands? You’ve always wanted to know: Holland is a province, and the Netherlands is the name of the country. Amsterdam is technically in Holland though, so both are correct if you’re in the city.
• The river Amstel is a pretty major river running through Amsterdam, but it was dammed long ago to create the city centre, Dam Square, where you’ll find the Royal Palace. Amstel – dam. Amsterdam. Get it?
• The whole country is basically a water management project, as it sits below sea level. By controlling water to make land, engineers crafted the town. In fact, many of the old houses sit on wooden silts in underground pools of water. The lack of oxygen keeps the wood from rotting in this environment.
• The infamous Red Light District of Amsterdam may soon be moved to another, less-central part of town. While the city is hesitant to be seen as reducing their liberal image, apparently the type of tourists the Distract attracts are becoming a nuisance.

Food – Must Eats

• Stroopwafels – These mini-waffles are sweet, thin, and crunchy, and filled with a layer of caramel, like a decadent sugary sandwich. Get one still warm and gooey for maximum enjoyment.
• Raw herring – I didn’t partake in this one myself, but if you’re braver than I, stop by one of the many street stands and try a single whole, raw herring to get your Dutch on.
• Pannenkoeken (Dutch pancakes) – It took me a couple tries to find traditional Dutch pancakes (not that the regular pancakes weren’t amazing, of course), but I was determined to try some of the Dutch ones. Thin, large, crepe-like, and covered in a range of either sweet or savory toppings, they also come in ‘baby’ form.
• Fresh ginger and mint tea – Perhaps this is just not available in Canada, but it was very novel to me to find that most cafes served fresh ginger or mint tea (not just a tea bag). Why don’t we have this in the Great White North!?
• Cafes – I’m not a coffee drinker, but I was in Europe. There were so many fantastic little local coffee shops that I couldn’t resist trying some creamy lattes. Plus, tea and coffee is always served with a small cookie. Win.
• Genever (Dutch gin) – Try this juniper-flavoured liquor from the Netherlands at some hip tasting bars.
• Friet and mayo (fries and mayo) – While I don’t think of fries as being particularly Dutch, apparently a whole cone of them dunked in mayo (or numerous other sauces) is! Indulge. It’s cultural. Trust me.

What to See and Do

• Start with a free walking tour! I did this on my first morning, and it was a great way to learn some history, orient myself, and get some local tips on food and places to check out. Try Free Walking Tours Amsterdam for friendly, knowledgeable, and super funny guides. Bring some good walking shoes, maybe a raincoat, and some euros for a tip, and you’re set!
• Museums – This is a museum town! The Rijksmuseum (pronounced Rikes-museum – I asked the ticket guy) has an extensive and fairly prestigious collection of art in a beautiful building. If fine art is your thing, the Van Gogh and Rembrandt museums are worth a trip. There’s also the Amsterdam History museum, the Diamond museum, the Marijuana museum… there’s dozens for any special interest.
• Vondelpark – Amsterdam’s large, central urban park, this lovely green space hosts tons of ponds and paths for biking, walking, running, or just hanging out.
• Heineken Experience – I am not a fan of Heineken beer, but I was very curious to learn more about one of world’s most popular beers. The ‘experience’ turned out to be less of a brewery tour, and more of an… experience. At one point, specially designed rooms attempt to make you experience being a bottle of beer as you’re packaged and shipped. It’s good for a laugh, and the price includes a couple free beers, so it’s worth a look!
• Cafes vs Coffee Shops – It is well known in Amsterdam that coffee shops are not actually for coffee. It’s code for marijuana. Amsterdam’s relaxed stance on drugs has made it a centre for pot, so if that’s your scene, there are dozens of coffee shops for you to check out. If you actually want coffee, go to a ‘cafe’ (which I highly recommend, because their coffee is pretty excellent).
• Red Light District – I’ve included this because you should probably stop by and just see it, but I personally felt that this notorious area – filled with sex shops, prostitutes on display in alley windows, strip clubs, coffee shops, and pubs – was pretty overrated. There’s a certain kind of obnoxious tourist that frequents a place like this, and it really was less shocking than I expected. But you kinda have to say you saw it, since it’s so famous.
• Explore cat culture – Turns out Amsterdam is fascinated with cats. From cat cafes to the cat boat (yes, floating cats) to the cat museum, you can dedicate a whole day to cats.
• Day trips – With cheap, fast, and central transit, try a day trip to one of the surrounding towns. Head down to Amsterdam Central Station, buy a ticket at a machine, and enjoy some free wifi on the train. Popular destinations are Leiden, Haarlem, Utrecht, and Rotterdam.
• Live the stereotype – Visit the tulip shops, try on the wooden shoes, venture outside the city for some windmills, eat all the cheese, visit the old churches. It’s okay to be a tourist sometimes.

Getting Around

Getting around Amsterdam is incredibly easy. You definitely do not need a rental car. Transit is fantastic and the city is very walkable. From the airport, it’s pretty easy to get to Amsterdam. Simply buy a ticket at one of the machines in the airport, and follow the signs. It’s a quick ride to Amsterdam Central Station (15-20 min). From here, you’ll transfer to a tram (for fellow Canadians, trams are bus-like trains that run on tracks through the center of the streets). Again, tickets can be bought at the machines in Central Station.

For getting around in general, I’d recommend walking and/or buying a transit day-pass. They’re pretty cheap (less than 10 euros) and work on all trams, buses, and the metro. You can actually buy the tickets right on the trams themselves – simply hop on in the centre of the train and approach the lady at the booth (credit card only though). Remember to tap your pass both when you get on and off anything!

Two lessons for me: unlike archaic Canadian transit, the doors on European vehicles don’t automatically open and stay open. To get on or off, you often have to press a button to open the doors, so pay attention! Also, I was told by a stern Dutch man when I tried to take a coffee on the tram that it “was forbidden”. So no food or drinks!

Finally, while biking in the Netherlands is pretty appealing, I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re used to commuting on a bike, or unless you’re planning to bike a less-traveled, more leisurely path. There are tons of locals trying to get around, and you might feel pretty shaky and in-the-way if you’re not used to biking.

Amsterdam Pro-tips

• Watch for bikers! You might be tempted to walk in the bike lanes (or not even realize they are bike lanes), but the last thing you want to do is surprise someone on a moving metal vehicle. The ding of a bell and cursing means you did it wrong. Get in the habit of a bike shoulder-check before you do anything. Especially since jay-walking is standard practice for everyone.
• Get some cash (euros), just in case. The odd place came up that didn’t take credit (most of the street vendors and even farmer’s markets have credit machines however), but things definitely came up. 100 euros lasted me a week easily.
• You’ll need a credit card that taps. There were many machines that I encountered that were just squares for tapping, and didn’t seem to be able to accommodate chip or mag stripe.
• While it’s on every single ‘classic Amsterdam activities’ list, I did not visit the Ann Frank House. I asked a few locals, and the response I got was that it was a two hour wait for a fifteen minute visit.
• English really is everywhere. Everyone speaks it, there are tons of people from the UK, and it’s repeated after Dutch on the buses and on signs. Easy.

Some of my Favourites

• Coffee and Coconuts – Breakfast, coffee, and mad tropical vibes.
• The town of Haarlem – An old black windmill, the towering Bavo cathedral, a fresh stroopwafel at the farmer’s market, and the craft brewery that used to be a church. Plus a windstorm that blew a bike at us, and while I imagine that’s hardly typical, it made a great memory.
• Bij Paul for breakfast – Best meal of the entire trip, and located in an adorable B&B with a regal, chubby cat.
• Alto Jazz Cafe – Insane musicians, and no cover charge (get there early, as sound is bad in the back by the bar).
• Cocomama hostel – Highly rated hostel that lived up to its reputation. Small, homey, and friendly, it had a great vibe and was super easy to meet fellow solo travelers.
• The cinnamon bun at the Scandinavian Embassy Cafe – Unreal when fresh from the oven! Late at night, it haunts me with it’s flaky, buttery beauty…

I wasn’t expecting to love Amsterdam as much as I did, but I even ended up cutting some other cities from my trip to extend my stay there. I can see why it’s such a popular travel destination, and I highly recommend adding this one to your list.

Have you ever been to the Venice of the North? Any “must-do’s” that you would add to my list? Brave enough to succeed where I failed and eat the raw herring? Let me know in the comments below!