Amsterdam: Brothels, barges, bikes and more

< Prev | 1 | 2

Video

What to see in Amsterdam
April 29: Matt Lauer is visiting Amsterdam on his "Where in the World" tour, and you can too. Travel and Leisure magazine's Nilou Motamed recommends what to see and where to stay there.

Where in the World

The canals
You can literally stray off the beaten path by cruising around Holland’s extensive canal system on a barge. Sail through the city’s canals, or venture even further into coastal villages, the “cheese towns” of Edam or Gouda, or to the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens. These small boats (they usually sleep between four and 12 people) meander at about four miles an hour; you can walk or bike along the canal, or head deeper into the countryside.

Self-drive barges aren’t nearly as difficult as they may sound — no license is required, and you can get basic instructions on how to navigate the barge and maneuver through the locks (which regulate water levels). The barges are equipped with bedding and utensils, plus maps and guidebooks on interesting sites, restaurants and shops.

Crown Blue Line charters self-drive barges in Holland from mid-March through the end of October. During the low season (April-May and September-October), you can rent out the barge for as little as two days; during the high season (July and August), barges are available for a week or more. Prices range from $930 a week for a small barge that sleeps four, to $4,640 during the high season for a barge that sleeps up to 10. 888-355-9491; crownblueline.com

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

Or, you can take all the work out of it and hop on a luxury “hotel barge,” which is fully crewed. Though not as family-friendly as a self-drive barge (the luxury aspect tends to exclude young kids), this is an easy way to indulge in top-notch food and wine while sailing through the country. The Barge Connection has weeklong barge cruises ranging from $2,390 to $4,800 per person. 888-550-8580, bargeconnection.com

Food
Every time I go to Amsterdam I stop at a restaurant called Dynasty for great Indonesian food. But Amsterdam is also about drinking. Try the Café ‘t Arendsnest, which serves only Dutch beer. And it’s not all about Amstel and Heineken … there about 150 different types of local beers here. If you’re lucky enough to see the owner Peter there, make sure you stop him for a chat — he’s a certified beerologist. Herengracht 90, 1015BS Amsterdam; 20 421 20 57

Noordermarkt (Northern Market) is Amsterdam’s longtime local tradition (it dates back to the 1600s!). On Monday morning it’s a flea market; on Saturdays it’s an organic farmer’s market, with organic fruits and vegetables, candles, oils and more. Westerstraat 30, Centrum

The Pancake Bakery is located in the middle of three 17th-century warehouses. Try out traditional treats like pancakes filled with jam or Nutella, or more exotic flavors like bacon and banana. Prinsengrach 191, pancake.nl

Words of wisdom
Remember what I said about taxi costs in Amsterdam? I’m serious. Instead, invest in the I Amsterdam Card — it includes public transportation, a canal cruise and free admission to 24 museums, including the Van Gogh Museum. But it costs more than $50 per person for a 24-hour pass and $64 for a 48-hour one, meaning that you’ll have to pack in plenty of activity for it to pay off. (Although it pays off the minute you avoid that taxi ride in from the airport!)

If you’re a first-time visitor, then log on to Like-a-local.com. Founded in Amsterdam, this organization hooks up visitors with locals for experiences such as a home-cooked dinner, visiting galleries, spending a day sailing the canals, or strolling through markets and then cooking a meal together. Experiences cost about $30-$50 per person.

One important caution about the red light district as well as drugs: The city is has more than its fair share of prostitutes, marijuana and hashish. Amsterdam distinguishes itself — so to speak — in that all three are tolerated by the government. But that doesn’t mean that you should immediately embrace the “when in Rome” approach. These are all personal judgment calls based on your own code of ethics/morality.

Should you decide to indulge, don’t assume there aren’t rules — there are — and let’s not forget a healthy dose of common sense. So consider yourself warned for all three: If you’re so inclined, buy only in controlled zones, and be sure to leave your camera back at the hotel.

And here’s another little secret: On the way out, if you happen to be flying home, there’s mini-museum at Schiphol.

Where in the World is Matt Lauer?