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.
I lived in Groningen for two years and would love to go back, but there were times I felt like an outsider. Coffee shops were my favorite thing and their love of music.
Groningen is a very good place for relaxing and for not much money.
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.
The winter Carnival in Bergen op Zoom is superb, a true folk festival of the highest order, lasting several days, highly recommended. On a Fastavond you can squint your eyes and imagine you are back in the 1700s, as the bands march about, and the colorfully dressed villagers sing and celebrate. This area is very family-oriented, and their Carnival is very child friendly, almost Disneyesque.
Amsterdam! What's not to love? Me and my best friend traveled for a month around Europe and Amsterdamwas one of our favorite places! First, go to the INTERNET CAFE or the BULLDOG next to BOOM CHICAGO if you stay at VONDELPARK. You can drink and smoke and play some pool. The music is off the hook and if you decide to shroom...there are incredible pictures coming right out of the wall!!! You also HAVE to get the cone fries!! They are soooo good! Nothing like em'. For sure you have to go to MULIN ROUGE or a live sex show! You have to totally experience the life! You should also bring some cash to buy the best weed in the world! About 13 euro well get you high! Bikes are everywhere...so travel that way or do what the locals do...foot it. Oh, and mind the fashion there. You can get some cute fashion ideas, or don'ts! Oh, and there are not too many R&B type clubs. But, the music is a great mix. You hear the sh*t that you don't hear in the States. Oh, and go to the coffee…
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!
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.
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!
The best thing about Amsterdam (that isn't inhaled) are all the cheap falafel places. Look for one with a bar that lets you add your own toppings.
I love Nijverdal -- it's an awesome place to shop! I can't wait to go again!
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