I live in Glasgow so I know a great city when I see one, and Amsterdam is great. Great hash and weed for great prices. Great museums and buildings, if you like that sort of thing. Red Light District is a must see. I thought all whores were ugly, but not in the Dam. Not as scary a place as everyone makes out. All in all a great city.
I was an exchange student in Groningen for six months. I can tell you that city rocked my world -- I gotta come back someday.
I lived in Soest as a child. It was so wonderful, quaint, and friendly. I can't wait to take my children to see how non-Americans live.
Word of warning in and around Amsterdam, be aware of the many vagrants, drug dealers etc. that hang around mainly the Red Light district and the main drag in from the railway station (Damrak) if they approach you or bump into you just walk away as they may accuse you of banging into them and making them drop their drugs, which you will be asked to pay for in a polite way, well, polite for a drug dealer anyway.
I am born Dutch and have lived in Amsterdam for more than twenty-five years. To all those worried about drug dealers on the streets -- do not worry, ignore the poor suckers who are basically selling only cheap sh*t to ignorant people who don´t know how to say "no thank you." Please understand as well that the people selling drugs on the streets are really just poor addicts who should not be taken seriously. They will never be aggressive, by the way. Why should we put them in prison? They just look for the sucker who wants to make their day by buying their washpowder or henna powder for five hundred times its value. Real suckers will get high from this anyhow! Enjoy Amsterdam, and do not think that everybody smokes all this stuff. Most Amsterdammers do not use drugs. You can have a great time without it as well!
It is really easy to get lost in Amsterdam, so bring a good map. Do not get the Amsterdam pass unless you either plan on going to a lot of museums. Most of the museum and attractions are a short walk from the center canal or Red Light District. Try renting a bike. It is the best way to get around town.
Wow, Amsterdam -- the rumours are true! What an amazing place to stay, so laid back and relaxed. The Red Light District is not nearly as scary as people to say. At the very least, just go there for a look, you'll be amazed by how differently people live here, and the Red Light District pretty much sums that up. Give the Sex Museum a tour as well. It might sound creepy but parts of it were hilarious! But be careful, while it might seem like anything goes in Amsterdam, some things will definitely get you into trouble -- taking pictures in the Red Light District, for example.
The greatest thing about Amsterdam, well one of the greatest things, is that everything is so laid back. People aren't up in arms about anything. You can sit at 10 AM and have an Amstel Light at the cafe in Vondelpark and no one thinks poorly of you. The city is beautiful, outside the red light district, by day with fabulous street markets. So many markets and so much cheap shopping - the fruit stands are amazing! Then at night, the city comes alive in different ways. Amsterdam is quite diverse; go shopping, go to the beach, go to the coffee shops, do it all. It is an experience one will NEVER forget!
Groningen is a very good place for relaxing and for not much money.
When in Amsterdam, be respectful, have fun... u can sleep when yer dead!
Amsterdam is the best place in the world, if only others could follow the world would be a better place. Amsterdam has it sorted.
Hostelz.com is the only hostel guide with complete information and reviews on all youth hostels and backpackers worldwide.
