Dimensions. Propaganda movie clips tried to make Dutch Nazis look like winners. Amsterdam has about a million people — and as many bikes. Some 70,000 victims spent time here, awaiting transfer to concentration camps. Coffeeshop worker: It's about, like, a bud of this size. They are great when you have 3 people and their Breakfast is first class. Coffeeshop worker: This is five grams of marijuana. See the Travel Details above for recommendations highlighted in bold, excerpted from Rick's guidebooks. Sloep Delen has a fleet of 12-seater boats with silent electric motors. Coffeeshop worker: This particular strain, yeah. Yet at the same time, it's got a fun, contemporary edge. Coffeeshop worker: Yeah, but here we believe that it's better to tolerate than to put more people in prison. The historic core of Amsterdam remains much the same today as when it was first laid out back in the 1600s. Home. It's a progressive place invigorated by a time-honored spirit of live and let live. They tumble out of their hall, weapons drawn, ready to defend the city. His mission: to empower Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable, and culturally broadening. ▲ EYE Film Institute Netherlands Film museum and cinema complex housed in a futuristic building. Make the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves Amsterdam & the Netherlands. ▲ Begijnhof Quiet courtyard lined with picturesque houses. Thanks for joining us. And, with a determination to embrace life, a visit here can contribute mightily to that ultimate souvenir: a broader perspective. That original design still works today. The Rijksmuseum has four rare and precious paintings by Johannes Vermeer. That was Holland's Golden Age, when Dutch merchant ships made this the world's richest city. Several boat-tour companies shuttle tourists on a variety of routes covering different combinations of the city's top sights. In a merchant's house the shop was on the ground floor, the family lived in the middle, and the attic served as a kind of warehouse. I'm looking for a hotel or B&B for two double rooms moderately priced; hoping to pay $150.00 per night a room max. The Van Gogh Museum — laid out as a stroll through the story of Vincent's life — shows how intimately his life and art were intertwined. ▲ Rembrandt's House The master's reconstructed house, displaying his etchings. Only her father survived. You can email Rick at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook.) ▲▲▲ Rijksmuseum Best collection anywhere of the Dutch Masters — Rembrandt, Hals, Vermeer, and Steen — in a spectacular setting. Rick: This has got to be the most beautiful canal in town. Amsterdam is particularly well-suited for audio tours. see our FAQ. The park's 'T Blauwe Theehuis ("The Blue Tea House") is a delightful spot to nurse a drink and take in the scene. At this museum near Central Station, you'll find a fascinating, hidden Catholic church filling the attic of three 17th-century merchants' houses. 621 pages. But they couldn't protect their haven from the Nazis. A pilgrimage for many, this house offers a fascinating look at the hideaway of young Anne during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Rick: Tell me about the difficulty of building here. The easygoing hedonism here seems to say "inhale, exhale, and relax.". Coffeeshop worker: Yeah — we got all our sativa ones, make you happy, giggly; we got the indicas — that's more of a sleepy; got the organic ones; outdoor; and I've got a whole bunch of pre-rolled ones. It survived World War II, and still functions as a place of worship — with the Ten Commandments, in Hebrew, still shining down on the congregation. Bike cobblestone streets, cruise on charming canals, and stop and smell the tulips: with Rick Steves on your side, the Netherlands can be yours! In paintings like his Potato Eaters — a painting as dark and grainy as the soil itself — he gives these farm laborers the same dignity Rembrandt gave to merchants and aristocrats. They went behind this secret swinging bookcase, into the attic above a shop, and hid almost silently for two years. While just a few blocks from the busy center, the Jordaan feels like another world. At the Anne Frank House, visitors learn the story of eight Jews who, in 1942, went into hiding. In Rembrandt's Nightwatch we see another group portrait. The connection! With Rick Steves. The worthwhile audioguide includes insightful commentaries and quotes from Vincent himself. Coffeeshop worker: Uh, marijuana here is soft drugs, like alcohol and cigarettes. Anne died just weeks before the end of the war. While in the hospital, he found peace painting calm scenes of nature. You'll see propaganda movie clips, study forged ID cards under a magnifying glass, and read about ingenious and courageous efforts — big and small — to hide local Jews from the Germans and undermine the Nazi regime. Oscar: Yes. Captaining your little ship is fun, and you're just minutes away from the idyllic canals of the Jordaan neighborhood. The newest and most striking feature of the Amsterdam skyline is EYE, a film museum and cinema housed in an übersleek modern building immediately across the water from Central Station. The Dutch worked hard, they were brilliant traders, and the wealthy had plenty of money to match their egos. This is an impressive look at how the Dutch resisted (or collaborated with) their Nazi occupiers from 1940 to 1945. the second time we used houseboathotel.nl. first time we used citymundo.com and found the 4 of is an apartment on one of the canals, prinsengracht. (Rick Steves series) by Rick Steves. ▲▲ Red Light District Walk Women of the world's oldest profession on the job. Rick: And how much can you buy in one visit? Rick: And today, centuries later, we're celebrating the spices of Indonesia! ▲▲ Amstelkring Museum Catholic church hidden in the attic of a 17th-century merchant's house. Marijuana use is tolerated. I used Rick Steves Amsterdam, Bruges and Brussels and liked it a lot, but there are lots of others. It's the local militia, which was also a fraternity of business bigwigs — a kind of Rotary Club of the 17th century. They think if you smoke marijuana, you'll be smoking harder drugs. You feel that best in Vondelpark on a sunny summer afternoon. Now, painters earned their living working not for the Church or the king, but by painting portraits for local big shots. Rick Steves' Europe. As a young man, Vincent was very religious. He slumps in defeat, confused and despondent. Practitioners of the world's oldest profession flirt and tease in windows as they have here for centuries. For decades now, the Dutch, like many Europeans, view marijuana as a soft drug — like tobacco and alcohol. Here the master of tranquility and stillness shows an intimate street from his hometown of Delft. Walk through rooms where, for two years, eight Amsterdam Jews hid from Nazi persecution. Rolinka: Exactly. It's actually oak wood, and it comes from the Black Forest in Germany. And in Steen's Merry Family, the parents party while their kids copy their irresponsible behavior: The girls learn to drink and the little boy picks up smoking. And hard drugs are still strictly forbidden. This time we return to the Netherlands and captivating Amsterdam-- perhaps Europe's best-preserved 17th-century city while at the same time wild and modern. See more ideas about Netherlands, Rick steves, Amsterdam. This unique church — embedded within a townhouse in the middle of the Red Light District — comes with a little bonus: a rare glimpse inside a historic Amsterdam home straight out of a Vermeer painting. And if you wanted to buy a smaller quantity, what is one gram of marijuana looking like? With this corset, stuffed with ration cards, a woman who looked pregnant helped feed both hidden Jews and resistance fighters. One of the joys of visiting Amsterdam is simply being in this swirl of healthy, busy, biking Dutch. Like our other Pocket guides, Pocket Amsterdam is smaller than the complete guidebook (and in full color), but still offers our best sightseeing advice, a handful of self-guided city walks and museum tours, and a foldout map. While the Germans confiscated all radios, the Dutch secretly got their news from England via miniature radios. Rick: Now, you have a menu with a lot of variety. As if in homage to Dutch art and history, the Rijksmuseum lets you linger over a vast array of objects and paintings, appreciating the beauty of everyday things. Rolinka: Oh, today it's one of the most popular places to live. For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, The third floor shows works that influenced Vincent, from Monet and Pissarro to Gauguin, Cézanne, and Toulouse-Lautrec. An entire museum is dedicated to the work of the great Dutch artist, Vincent van Gogh. They consider legislating morality to be counter-productive and remind me that we Americans lock up nearly 10 times as many people per capita as Europeans do. This one's hidden in a matchbox. Can you imagine that tiny Netherlands today once, 350 years ago, had colonies all over the world? On the wall, 6,700 family names pay tribute to the 107,000 Jews deported and killed by the Nazis. He studied to be a pastor and did church work in poor communities. Rick: Oscar, how many plates altogether? In this painting, the prophet Jeremiah laments the destruction of Jerusalem. Many starved. Rick Steves Netherlands Audio Tours provide humorous and insightful commentary on the art and history of many of the Netherland's most notable museums and historic sites. When it comes to prostitution, the Dutch figure, if it's going to happen anyway, rather than criminalize it, it's smarter to corral and monitor it. ▲▲▲ Anne Frank House Young Anne's hideaway during the Nazi occupation. And eating well in the Netherlands today includes enjoying cuisine from some of its former colonies. Our waiter, Oscar, patiently tells us what each dish is…, Oscar: Fried chicken, shrimp, sweet-sour for the shrimp, fried egg, tomato with sauce, fried banana, tofu — soybean cake, beef with soya, beef with padang sauce…, …I'm still thinking about the fried bananas…, Oscar: …vegetables, sweet-sour vegetables, that is some…. Wealthy, democratic burghers built a city upon millions of pilings, creating a wonderland of canals lined with trees and townhouses topped with fancy gables. Europe's best-preserved 17th-century city, Amsterdam is quaint … We'll drop into a coffee shop…that doesn't sell coffee, and we'll ponder the Red Light District. The characteristic Jordaan district offers a quiet slice of Dutch urban life. In this quiet painting of an ordinary milkmaid, Vermeer — who brings out the beauty of everyday things — creates a scene where we can almost hear the trickle of the pouring milk. Indonesian food is a popular choice, and the ultimate meal here is a grand rijsttafel. Van Gogh grew up in poor, rural Holland. The frugal Dutch made their simple buildings look fancy by adding ornate facades. The city's founders built a dam on the Amstel back in the 13th century. The winter of '44–45 was called the "Hunger Winter," where people in the cities were starving, and they started to eat tulip bulbs, just to have something in their bellies. Free Shipping & Price Match Guarantee He painted shimmering reflections like Monet…café snapshots like Degas…still-lifes like Cézanne…and self-portraits like nobody else. Rolinka: Yeah — put the rice in the middle, and the different dishes come on the side, so that it doesn't mix…
This 17th-century merchant house look normal from across the canal…but inside is a hidden Catholic church. Coffeeshop worker: Yep. Here we can gain insight into the industrious people who made tiny Holland so prosperous and powerful back in the 17th century. Each tour includes a PDF companion map. Peek into the hidden Catholic church, dating from the time when post-Reformation Dutch Catholics couldn't worship in public. Anne's room is still decorated with photos and magazine clippings — showing the idols, dreams, and passions of a 13-year-old girl. Rick: So wait a minute — Indonesia was originally the "Spice Islands"? A striking film museum and art cinema is bringing new life to this now-revitalized neighborhood. All eight were deported, sent east to concentration camps. As the street lamps come on, you'll enjoy yet another memorable dimension of this romantic city. … I'm having my zipper down on the urinal shot. In Amsterdam! Locals book online and use their smartphones to unlock their boat; for tourists it's smart to call and pay an attendant who will meet you at the dock, give you a little map and suggestions, and set you free. This student, wanted by the Nazis, disguised himself as a woman. Home Paris Ghent Bruges Delft Amsterdam On the way... Epilogue Amsterdam. Rick: This has gotta be the most characteristic part of Amsterdam. It's a venerable local favorite for rijsttafel, with a waitstaff that seems to have been on board since colonial times. And these kinds of dishes and spices came from Indonesia? Excerpted from the Rick Steves Amsterdam … Amsterdam. Oscar: Twenty-eight. Her handwritten diary inspires visitors, and her book has been translated into 70 languages. From here, boats could sail into the interior of Europe, and out to the rest of the world. Rick: So you grandparents actually lived through this. From this spine, the city opens like a fan, with hundreds of bridges and a series of concentric canals. By Rick Steves, Gene Openshaw, ISBN: 9781641710749, Paperback. In 1888, he headed for the south of France, arriving just as winter was turning to spring. Throughout the Netherlands, places selling marijuana are called "coffeeshops." Visitors enter an assembly hall Nazis used for local Jews destined for concentration camps. Bikers everywhere, doing chores, flirting, delivering, texting…you name it: Around here, it happens on two wheels. Rick: What's the age limit for people buying marijuana? Oscar: Yeah. But, rather than the standard stiff pose, this one bursts with energy. ... Another Rick Steves tourmate and I decided to take pictures NEAR the Red Light District, but not IN the Red Light District. Rolinka: It's called, uh, "Jordaan," this area. Perhaps for the first time, art catered to the tastes and budgets of middle-class people too. Coffeeshop worker: Five grams. It's like a grand church…in miniature. Amsterdam has a long tradition of welcoming the persecuted. Prepare for some differences: curbside urinals, prostitutes who are unionized, taxed, and regulated…and "coffeeshops" that sell marijuana. Rick Steves Amsterdam & the Netherlands (3rd ed.) Through our Rick Steves Audio Europe app, you can download Rick and Gene’s tours of three different neighborhoods: the Jordaan, the city center, and the Red Light District…all entirely free. Rick: OK, so this is one gram…and how much would this cost, probably? No preachy religious or political themes. This is where the river hit the sea. Amsterdam. Nearby stands the bold, 17th-century Portuguese Synagogue. This time, I'm trying to find my hotel somewhere in the back canals of Amsterdam. But he also wrestled with his inner world, capturing spiritual scenes with surreal colors, twisted forms, and dark outlines. It's a commanding structure, built in the 1670s, when Catholics were still worshipping in secret. He decided to paint, to capture the world he felt so intensely on canvas. Its humble chapel has served Amsterdam's English-speaking community since the 1600s. No comments: Post a Comment. Whether Protestants, Catholics, or Jews, through the ages, the Dutch have given refuge to the persecuted. But hard drugs are strictly forbidden. From the start, he had an affinity for working people. Filled with history and still happy-go-lucky, it's a delight to explore. Bulk books at wholesale prices. We will be flying from Rome to Amsterdam. Amsterdam — Europe's best-preserved 17th-century city — is simultaneously quaint and jarring, traditional and modern. The larger complex includes the Ladies Gallery, the candle-storage room, and the ritual bath, where women purify after menstruation. ISBN-10. The Dutch call their approach to social problems like this "pragmatic harm reduction." Collar good, wardrobe good, hair good? They were called the "Spice Islands." Print length. Another example of Amsterdam's creative approach to social challenges is its Red Light District. Dutch merchant ships would sail right up the main canal, loaded down with material delights — silks, spices, and porcelain — from faraway lands. You'll see how Anne's father, Otto, tracked the progress of the allies after D-Day…and pencil lines tracking how Anne and her sister were growing up in hiding. Please be considerate of the people who live around the courtyard, and don't photograph the residents or their homes. Much of Amsterdam remains unchanged and is probably why he hasn't taken the time to issue a new version in a few years. Since 1973, Rick Steves has spent about four months a year exploring Europe. So the Dutch built skinny — and straight up. Smaller canvases by no-name artists that a regular merchant could afford and hang in his living room. The work of Jan Steen offers a delightful slice of 17th-century Dutch life. Rick: Beautiful. In Rick Steves Amsterdam & the Netherlands you'll find in-depth Rick-tested information on:. Once a lively theater in the Jewish neighborhood, and today a moving memorial, this building was used as an assembly hall for local Jews destined for Nazi concentration camps. Subscribe to get them all! Get inspired with Rick Steves’ recommended places to go and things to do, with tips, photos, videos, and travel information on Amsterdam. It offers a fun look at the city taking a break. The park is popular with romantic couples, free spirits sharing blankets and beers, and young families. Amsterdam still looks much like it did in the 1600s — the Dutch Golden Age — when it was the world's richest city, an international sea-trading port, and the cradle of capitalism. This self-portrait of Rembrandt at age 55 shows a man who's seen it all and woven those experiences into his art. Today we eat well, and our young people are the tallest in Europe. Rick Steves Pocket Amsterdam works best for people taking a short trip, or perhaps a return trip, to Amsterdam. I prefer the energy in the casual "bodega" to the more formal restaurant (and only in the bodega will they serve the smaller lunch plate for dinner). Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest. While creative and ground-breaking in its composition, some of those who paid the artist — like this guy — were probably none too pleased. Dating from the Black Forest in Germany actually oak wood, and Indonesian rijsttafel and Steen — in spectacular... — all paid equally and expected to be both vibrant and mellow at the same today as when was... Is famously a work in progress — as is the nearby Netherlands — and straight.! Hometown of Delft among them was 13-year-old Anne, whose journal has millions! Single finger everything 's in its place, and nearby diamond demos hard, were! 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