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The Vondelpark

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The Vondelpark is a very popular place on warm, sunny days with the Dutch and tourists alike. The park extends over several hundred acres with bike paths, walking paths, an open-air concert venue, three large outdoor cafes and the Film Museum. Scattered through the park are ponds with swans and ducks, flower gardens, a children’s park, a display of farm animals for the kids and acres and acres of fields to play soccer or frisbee. During the 60’s and 70’s the park became famous as a hippie hangout. Nowadays you’ll still see lots of hippies around and the occasional “camper” on warm nights.

Automobiles

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Believe it or not Holland is one of the cheapest places to buy a car. Of course you’d want to buy a European model, like a Mercedes to get a good deal. The population density of Holland and the lack of parking spaces in cities like Amsterdam have forced the Dutch to favor small cars. You’ll see some of the smallest vehicles ever made on the streets of Amsterdam. So if you’re looking for something unusual you might find it here. If you’re planning a long drive through Europe you can buy a car in Holland and either sell it or ship it home when you’re done. Each country in the E.U. has different regulations regarding the purchase of cars by tourists. In some cases you can avoid paying sales tax and registration fees. Check with the authorities before buying anything since the rules are subject to change.

The Amsterdam Coffeeshop Scene

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See Our Coffeeshop Guide for reviews & ratings.

The Dutch have an attitude of tolerance dating back to the 16th century when they forced out the Spanish and their inquisition. Since then, the Dutch make a point of not criminalizing or feigning moral outrage at victimless “crimes”. Prostitution, pornography, homosexuality, euthanasia, and soft drug use are all tolerated and integrated into Dutch society. This permissiveness has resulted in Holland becoming a mecca for those who wish to experience the freedom of cannabis culture, and the flowering of a highly successful coffeeshop scene where marijuana and hashish are legally available for purchase by the public.

The “coffeeshop” is a unique Dutch institution. For over 20 years, coffeeshops have operated with quasi-legal status in the Netherlands. Although there is no law that allows for the production and distribution of large quantities of marijuana and hashish, the Dutch tolerate the presence of coffeeshops because they separate the soft drug users from the hard drug dealers. This makes it less likely that someone desiring cannabis would end up purchasing a more dangerous drug, and keeps a whole market away from the illegal drug trade. The Dutch attitude towards drugs is very straight forward. If you have a drug problem they want to help you, not persecute you! Recreational use of soft drugs is seen as being less harmful to society than persecution and incarceration.

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The Dam Square

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The recently restored Dam square (above) is where the Amstel dam was located, which gave Amsterdam it’s name. The square is used for official events, festivals, concerts, and an occasional market. The Royal Palace, the Niewe Kerk, Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, De Bijenkorf – a department store, all face the square. In the center of the Dam is a monument to Holland’s WWII dead. It’s a good place to get your bearings or hang out for a bit and watch the city go by.

There’s much to explore in this area and the many streets leading away from the Dam can take you to every part of town. So pick and street and go for it. The shopping is good on the Rokin or the Kalverstraat, but more hip down the Damstraat with loads of headshops, coffeeshops and trippy, hippie stores.

The street to the left of the Hotel Krasnapolsky leads into the Red Light District. A wander around the Nieuwe Kerk along curving alleyways will lead to some nice restaurants, bars and more coffeeshops. The Damrak takes you past travel agencies, restaurants, money changers, department stores and much more on the way to Centraal Station where you can get transportation to anywhere in Europe.