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Amsterdam Hotels
by Jill
http://www.amsterdam-hotels-deals.net
Amsterdam~the name inspires thoughts of impressionists and
culture. Rembrandt and Vermeer in Rijksmuseum and the
disturbing paintings of Van Gogh. The historic downtown,
the culture and the canals are one reason to visit this
great capital. Of course, for others it's the spirit
of "tolerance" for things like soft drugs(pot smoking) and
legal red light district which make it an interesting
destination. As an observer at least.
While Amsterdam is the capital of Netherlands, the
government is based out of the Hague. Fewer paper pushers
per square mile, as a rule of thumb is propotional to the
joie de vive of a city, and distinguishes Amsterdam from
many other European capitals. Amsterdam has been able to
maintain it's compactness and old world charm through a
conscious effort rather than a stroke of fortune.
There is another side to Amsterdam as well~ its history as
a mercantile power of the 17th century. The "Golden Age"
of Amsterdam shows in its buildings, and the multicultural
residents of Amsterdam are to some extent a result of the
Dutch colonial history.
Most people are introduced to Amsterdam through the
Schiphol airport. If you are unlucky enough to be stuck
there due to a flight delay, you will notice that the
gates don't have bathrooms and have only eight seats for
each planeload of passengers. While this Spartan
introduction is unfortunate as well as uncomfortable(and
not representative of the charm of Amsterdam), it gives an
insight into the thought process of the Amsterdammers.
The Schiphol has a shopping area with the casino, and the
airport authorities want you to spend most of your time
there. Their hope is that you spend the time shopping and
gambling, instead of taking up space in a comfortable
lounge. Airlines love the arrangement too, given the cut
rates offered by Schiphol as opposed to the more "full
service" airports in Europe.
This unabashed capitalism goes hand in hand with the
tolerant culture, making Amsterdam an enigma and a place
to visit. For it's beautiful tulips, as well as the
memories of its famed Tulipmania, where the Dutch were
trading tulip buds like .dotcom stocks!
The transportation system of Amsterdam is excellent, with
the frequent tram service probably the best choice for
traveling within the city. Renting a car therefore is
usually a "very" bad idea, especially when compared to the
ease of trams within this compact city. The less said the
better about the parking situation in the city. A canal
boat tour of the city, may also give you a look at the
city from a different angle.
Anne Frank house, one of the most famous landmarks of
Amsterdam, encompasses some of the painful history of this
country. While the house is not remarkable, it is a
monument to some terrible events. It's worth a visit,
especially if you have read the book.
Rijksmuseum, with its superb collection of paintings is
reminiscent of the Central Station from the outside. That
is, because they have the same architect! The main
attractions are Rembrandt, Frans Hals and Steen, but there
are more than 5000 paintings. The Van Gogh museum is right
next door.
The Red Light District of Amsterdam is billed as a tourist
attraction in most guide books. It's actually quite safe
to go there, if you keep your wits around you. The obvious
things to remember is, to ignore the drug pushers or
answer with a firm "NAY" and keep the camera in your hotel~
taking pictures here is inviting trouble. An occasional
pick pocket aside, you get to see fat women in windows and
giggly tourists trying to soak in the scene.
Amsterdam does not have much in the way of Pensions or
Bed/Breakfast. Therefore, we have a collection of hotels
in Amsterdam at http://www.amsterdam-hotels-deals.net/ to
give you the information that you need to make an informed
decision.
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