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Get High Time in Amsterdam
Few cities are quite so tactical at blending history and urbanisation such as Amsterdam. On the one side you have tree-lined canals with seventeenth-century buildings, and on the other you're bound to notice the wafts of greenery protruding from the local cafes.Amsterdam is liberal and at times ludicrous, but there's no city in the world quite like it.
Before you go inspiration
Song: Amsterdam by David Bowie
Book: The Fault in Our Stars (2012)
Film: Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
Practical information
Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, also known as Holland.
Population: 1 million+
Time Zone: CET
Telephone area code: +20
Language: Dutch (official), 90% speaking English as a second language
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Climate: Tourists visit year-round, however in winter the days are short (8 hours daylight) and the weather is cold. Get around: Amsterdam is best enjoyed on foot and of course the occasional canal cruise and bike ride through the streets.
Food
Specialties
Local cheese: Gouda, Edam, Leerdammer
Bitterballen and kroketten: fried meatballs
Bamiblok: Asian-influenced noodle dish
Drop: liquorice sweets
Stroopwafels: syrup waffles
Herring: raw fish with onions
Beer is Amsterdam's most popular beverage - the world - famous Heineken calls the city its home. There are dozens of different brews to try here, either at pubs or at special beer tastings which take place at breweries.
TOP 5 THINGS TO DO:
Van Gogh Museum: As the name suggests, this museum is dedicated to the works of Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries. Located in the Museum Square, this is the world's largest collection of Van Gogh paintings and drawings and attracts upwards of 1.5 million visitors per year.
Rijksmuseum: After a 10-year restoration process that was completed in April 2013, the Rijksmuseum is considered to be one of the great hotels of the world. The museum is home to more than 8000 works of art and is consistently rated as one of Amsterdam's must visit attractions.
Anne Frank House: The Anne Frank House is located on the Prinsengracht canal and as the name suggests, is the museum dedicated to the Jewish journalist, Anne Frank, who hid from Nazi persecution with her family inside the building where the museum now exists. The hiding place has been well-preserved and is certainly one of the most popular attractions in Amsterdam, so aim to arrive early in the day or be prepared to spend up to hours in the cue to enter.
Vondelpark: This public urban park in Amsterdam is kind of like Amsterdam's answer to Hyde Park in London or Central Park in New York. Filled with locals in the summer, it's a great chance to mingle and integrate to experience what life must be like as a local in Amsterdam.
Cruise the Canals Taking a canal cruise in Amsterdam is almost like a right of passage. It's a great introduction to the city for first timers and will provide you with ample photo ops to turn your friends green with envy. Don't worry about booking in advance, there's plenty of options to choose from on the day as this is one of Amsterdam's biggest tourist attractions.
Marijuana is legal in Amsterdam
It's legal to buy marijuana at coffee shops in Amsterdam, and there are literally hundreds of them throughout the city. Trust me, you'll have no problem finding weed in Amsterdam! Just make sure that you go to a "coffee shop" Not a "coffee shop" "cafe" or "coffee house" Cafes are usually the equivalent of a bar, and coffee shops not selling marijuana are called koffiehuis (which translates to coffee house in English). Technically, the coffee shops themselves operate in a bit of a legal gray area, as the suppliers they get the cannabis from aren't supposed to be growing or selling marijuana. It's a technicality that goes unnoticed, though, as there's weed aplenty!
Few cities are quite so tactical at blending history and urbanisation such as Amsterdam. On the one side you have tree-lined canals with seventeenth-century buildings, and on the other you're bound to notice the wafts of greenery protruding from the local cafes.Amsterdam is liberal and at times ludicrous, but there's no city in the world quite like it.
Before you go inspiration
Song: Amsterdam by David Bowie
Book: The Fault in Our Stars (2012)
Film: Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
Practical information
Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, also known as Holland.
Population: 1 million+
Time Zone: CET
Telephone area code: +20
Language: Dutch (official), 90% speaking English as a second language
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Climate: Tourists visit year-round, however in winter the days are short (8 hours daylight) and the weather is cold. Get around: Amsterdam is best enjoyed on foot and of course the occasional canal cruise and bike ride through the streets.
Food
Specialties
Local cheese: Gouda, Edam, Leerdammer
Bitterballen and kroketten: fried meatballs
Bamiblok: Asian-influenced noodle dish
Drop: liquorice sweets
Stroopwafels: syrup waffles
Herring: raw fish with onions
Beer is Amsterdam's most popular beverage - the world - famous Heineken calls the city its home. There are dozens of different brews to try here, either at pubs or at special beer tastings which take place at breweries.
TOP 5 THINGS TO DO:
Van Gogh Museum: As the name suggests, this museum is dedicated to the works of Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries. Located in the Museum Square, this is the world's largest collection of Van Gogh paintings and drawings and attracts upwards of 1.5 million visitors per year.
Rijksmuseum: After a 10-year restoration process that was completed in April 2013, the Rijksmuseum is considered to be one of the great hotels of the world. The museum is home to more than 8000 works of art and is consistently rated as one of Amsterdam's must visit attractions.
Anne Frank House: The Anne Frank House is located on the Prinsengracht canal and as the name suggests, is the museum dedicated to the Jewish journalist, Anne Frank, who hid from Nazi persecution with her family inside the building where the museum now exists. The hiding place has been well-preserved and is certainly one of the most popular attractions in Amsterdam, so aim to arrive early in the day or be prepared to spend up to hours in the cue to enter.
Vondelpark: This public urban park in Amsterdam is kind of like Amsterdam's answer to Hyde Park in London or Central Park in New York. Filled with locals in the summer, it's a great chance to mingle and integrate to experience what life must be like as a local in Amsterdam.
Cruise the Canals Taking a canal cruise in Amsterdam is almost like a right of passage. It's a great introduction to the city for first timers and will provide you with ample photo ops to turn your friends green with envy. Don't worry about booking in advance, there's plenty of options to choose from on the day as this is one of Amsterdam's biggest tourist attractions.
Marijuana is legal in Amsterdam
It's legal to buy marijuana at coffee shops in Amsterdam, and there are literally hundreds of them throughout the city. Trust me, you'll have no problem finding weed in Amsterdam! Just make sure that you go to a "coffee shop" Not a "coffee shop" "cafe" or "coffee house" Cafes are usually the equivalent of a bar, and coffee shops not selling marijuana are called koffiehuis (which translates to coffee house in English). Technically, the coffee shops themselves operate in a bit of a legal gray area, as the suppliers they get the cannabis from aren't supposed to be growing or selling marijuana. It's a technicality that goes unnoticed, though, as there's weed aplenty!
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