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The Headshop

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The Headshop, located at the intersection of the Kloveniersbughwal and the Oude Hoogstraat in the Red Light District is just one of many places in the area to buy smoking accessories. This colorful landmark was one of the first headshops in Amsterdam, in business since 1968.

Like most shops they sell the typical range of smoking paraphernalia like pipes, bongs, rolling papers, filters, graters, stash boxes, incense, etc. What sets the headshop apart is a very nice assortment of jewelry from around the world.

The shop was recently remodeled and painted. They own another shop across the street that sells clothing, with an emphasis on fashions made from hemp. You can also buy magic mushrooms here.

Info:
Address:
kloveniersburgwal 39
Amsterdam 1011 JW
Phone: 020 624-9061

Jewish Historical Museum

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The Jewish Historical Museum was established 70 years ago, and from 1932 till 1987 it was housed in the medieval Weigh House, in the Nieuwmarkt. In 1987, the museum moved to the restored complex of synagogues at Jonas Daniël Meijerplein, just off the Waterlooplein.

Originally opemed as a single room, part of the Amsterdam Historical Museum, it has grown over the years despite the efforts of the Nazis.

When Germany invaded the Netherlands in May 1940, the Jewish Historical Museum closed its doors and tried to save the collection. Objects on loan were returned to their owners and the museum collection was transferred to the Stedelijk Museum. In 1943 the Germans claimed the museum’s objects as Jewish property, and was taken by the Nazis to Germany, and most was lost or destroyed.
 
Reopened in 1955, only a fifth of the original collection remained. New objects were added from public and private collections.
 
The museum hosts art displays and other cultural events geared towards Amsterdam’s Jewish population and visitors.

Stadsarchief Amsterdam

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Stadsarchief Amsterdam is on the Amsteldijk upriver from the Carre theater, on the other side of the Amstel River.

This is where the official archives of the City of Amsterdam reside, and there are exhibits open to the public, with interpretations in Dutch, of course.

Info:
Stadsarchief Amsterdam is on the Amsteldijk at number 67, 1074 HZ Amsterdam.

Overseas Computers

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The last time I moved back to Amsterdam, I went to a computer store to order a new computer (I only bring my hard drives with me). I was told it would be a two week wait for a new one to be built to my specs. After patiently waiting three weeks I was told it would be at least another week! You can imagine my frustration not having a computer for such a long time…

So I did what any former computer techie would do. I marched down to Overseas Computers, told them what I needed. They handed me the parts, I took them home in a taxi, and within ONE HOUR, I had my new computer up and running! Why did I wait? Not only did I get ONLY what I wanted, when I needed it, but they saved me some money, too.

Over the years I’ve been to Overseas Computers a number of times, and they usually have what I need, at a reasonable price. No B.S. Just pickup their current price sheet, or visit their website to see the savings.

While they might not have such a wide selection of ready to go computers and accessories as Media Markt, they certainly have better deals on loose parts. Also their staff is far more knowledgable than most salesmen in electronics stores. And from what I’ve seen, they’re pretty good about taking things back, unlike Media Markt (where you must PROVE to them the item doesn’t work!).

Saow Thai

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Amsterdam’s Red Light District has many Thai restaurants, but none quite like Saow Thai. Like other Thai restaurants Saow Thai’s food is consistently good, well prepared, perfectly spiced and always accompanied by a beautiful presentation.

So what makes this Thai place different? Well the bar scene dominates more than half the place, with the few cramped dining tables stuffed in almost as an afterthought. And it’s quite a bar scene. The beautiful Thai women serving drinks (and dinner) are often not women at all but Thai men in drag. And they carry it off so well, this place will remind those who’ve been through the sexy bar scene in Bangkok of that steamy, sultry city.

The patrons of Saow Thai seem evenly divided by those seeking good Thai food, and those wanting to hang out at the bar. It’s really too bad this place isn’t a little bigger, as it takes a while to feel comfortable in their dining area.

Their beautiful and tasty culinary delights don’t come cheap either. As low key and unprententious as the place is, you don’t expect to pay these prices. Plan on 30 Euros per person plus drinks.

This reminds me of the time I was staying is some obscure Thai town way out in the countryside. It was around 9pm and I was just looking for dinner, and I passed by the most brightly lit shop in town. Surprisingly it was a very modern barber shop, and seeing how badly I needed a haircut, I went in. It occured to me how odd it was to have a barbershop open so late at night, but I reasoned this was some unique cultural obsession I’d yet to figure out.

I tried to explain how I wanted my haircut, but for some weird reason, the barber didn’t invite me to sit in the chair, and made no move to prepare me for a haircut. Instead he and another man kept pointing up a staircase, nodding their heads in that direction, apparently urging me to ascend. Since no one spoke English, it took me awhile to grasp what they were saying. For a moment I thought, oh, they must have another floor of barbers waiting to cut hair. But then I thought, wait a second, this is a small town in the middle of nowhere, why do they need a modern highrise barber shop?

The men called up the stairs, and soon a parade of beautiful scantily dressed Thai women came down. The reason they were so reluctant to cut my hair and encouraging me to go upstairs was the fact that the barbershop was just a front for a brothel. Once I figured that out, we all had a good laugh, and I continued my search for a restaurant…

That’s the kind of feeling I get at Saow Thai. Like there’s more going on here than meets the eye. Intriguing indeed!

I highly recommend you arrive early for dinner. The few tables (four I think) fill up fast. Or just hangout by the bar and wait patiently while the Asian transvestites ply you with mai tais. I can think of few things more exotic than that…

Info:
Address:
Oudezijds Achterburgwal 160
Amsterdam 1012 DW
Phone: 020 422-3023

Pizzeria Rimini

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The Leidseplein area is famous for a wide range of entertainment and dining options. Most of the restaurants seem to be clones of each other, with little to differentiate the various ethnic places, especially the Italian ones.

Pizzeria Rimini is unique in that it offers pretty much the same fare as most other Italian eateries in the area, but boasts pizza and pasta dishes at about half the price of other restaurants. This was such an unusual claim, especially for Amsterdam, I had to give it a try.

I ordered a pizza funghi (with cheese & mushrooms) and I wasn’t disappointed. While it wasn’t the best pizza in the area, it equalled most others. It was huge covering the entire platter. The only faults I could find was perhaps just a little less of each ingredient. A little less cheese, fewer mushrooms (although there certainly was enough), and a slightly thinner crust.

All pizzas are priced at just 5 euros.

You’ll have to walk a bit farther to get the deal as the Rimini is at the edge of the restaurant district. No doubt that’s why they have the half price gimmick to get people to walk past a dozen other Italian restaurants along the way. It’s also very popular with young Dutch people looking to save a few Euros, so it might be crowed on weekends. If you’re looking for cheap eats around the Leidseplein, check out Rimini!

Restaurant Pisa

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I often complain that the Italian restaurants near the Leidseplein all seem the same. Same menu, prices, tacky plastic plants and wall murals. Well at least the Pisa Restaurant ditched the plastic, giving this place a more modern, less dusty feel.

I’ve always enjoyed the lasagnas in Amsterdam, because they are a bit different from what you get in other cities. My guess is that instead of the typical combination of mozzarella and ricotta cheese, you get a richer selection of Dutch cheeses substituting for the traditional Italian cheese. This makes for a delightful change.

So I ordered a vegetarian lasagne and a beer. I was long thru my beer, and had to wait almost a half hour (or so it seemed) for my lasagne, which I guess was made from scratch to order. It was excellent with a variety of vegetables and lots of cheese and a combination of bechamel and tomato sauces. It was so good it was worth the wait, and I ate every bite. My only complaint was they served me a basket of bread just before the lasagne came out. It would’ve been much more welcome 20 minutes earlier when I was ready to eat the table setting! Traditions die hard in these Italian restaurants.

Open from noon until 11 pm daily.

Royal Thai

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I passed by this inviting place on a cold rainy evening and decided to give it a try. One of the Thai women working there was standing outside the door, as is the custom in this very competitive restaurant district. Business was slow, as this was a Monday and it was pouring rain.

She graciously welcomed me and took my umbrella, saying it was too wet to bring inside! Perhaps she needed it herself, I figured. I sat down and ordered dinner from the menu. Soup was a must to warm my insides, so I decided on Tom Yam Kai, the delightfully spicy lemongrass soup with chicken and mushrooms. It was done perfectly.

As Royal Thai specializes in seafood, I followed that up with Pla Chuchee, pieces of fish, deep fried and covered in a spicy red curry/coconut sauce, which I would classify as Penang (my favorite Thai sauce). There was a LOT of fish, about 6-7 medium pieces, and it was so much I couldn’t finish it. It came with a huge silver colored bowl of rice that I barely made a dent in. The fish was good, clean tasting, and went well with the sauce.

To drink I ordered a jasmine tea, which was served in glass mug instead of teapot, but they did add more hot water, so I got a couple of glasses for 1.90 Euros. A small heineken set me back 3 Euros (big ouch!). The soup was 4.10 and the fish 15.50. Considering how much fish there was, and how good it was, it was well worth it. I’d normally recommend two people split it with another dish.

The decor was a pleasant notch up from most Thai restaurants in Amsterdam. The theme is Thai musical instruments and there are beautiful examples on display as well as other exotic object d’art.

The service here was excellent, but then again, it was a slow Monday evening. As I left the restaurant, the friendly Thai woman handed me back my umbrella and we talked for awhile. The chill of the evening had evaporated…

Check out their very informative website to see the whole menu! Nice photos of some of the dishes. Watch out you don’t drool over your keyboard!

Antiquariaat Kok

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Amazing bookstore, filled with ancient treasures on the Oude Hoogstraat in Amsterdam. Here you will find books and prints dealing with almost every subject relevant to Amsterdam and it’s history.

Info:
Located between the Kloveniersburgwal and the Oudezijdes Achterburgwal on the Oude Hoogstraat. The Damstraat begins at the Dam, opposite the Royal Palace and continues through some of Amsterdam’s most colorful neighborhood to the east.

King’s Street Gallery

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Amsterdam’s new King’s Street Gallery promotes various forms of creative work, painting, sculpture, photography, literature, music – in all sorts of unique combinations or separately.

The artist, Frank Creton, shows off one of his beautiful Caribbean works at the King’s Street Gallery.

This February and into mid-March the King Street Gallery will be displaying works by the Surinamese visual artist Frank Creton in celebration of Black History Month. His work focuses on the achievements and lives of black men and women, and shows off some of their contributions to society.

The King’s Street Gallery is located in the Nieuwemarkt area of Amsterdam, across the street from the Koningstraat entrance to the Nieuwemarkt Metro station. The promoters plan to offer an interesting, new, artisitc endeavour monthly.

Info:
Open Thurdays thru Saturdays from noon until 4 pm. On Koningstraat across from the Metro entrance, just past Me Naam Nan Thai Restaurant.

Address:
37 Koningstraat
Amsterdam 1011 ET
Phone: 020 442 0699