i'm visiting brussels and amsterdam in may of next year and was wondering if anyone from around there or who has been there could recommend anything to do/see? thanks
Yea lucky you going the best mth of the year Queens day Rocks you will love it , myself im in Amsterdam for most Queens days you have to be thear to feel the buzz !! enjoy have a great time ,
Besides all the coffeeshops and museums, I always recomend Boom Chicago. It's a improv comedy and dinner show, show is quite funny (Specialy after hitting a few coffeeshops first) & the dinner is quite good. Well worth the admission price of E45. Oh yeah by the way they are in the Leidseplein Theater. Leidseplein 12. I'm also quite partial to a box or 2 of shrooms and a trip to the Artis Zoo. Nicest zoo i've ever seen. http://www.artis.nl/international/index.html
Bruxelles - Walk slowly lots, look up lots, stop lots, consume fine beer, food and chocolate, lots. I've only visited the once but enjoyed every minute and had a relaxing and indulgent weekend. I have limited school-boy French so was grateful how readily people are to speak at my level - or more often (out of sympathy I'm sure) English. The city seems to revolve around Grand Place - not as big as the photos may imply but a really nice space. There are dozen little bar/restaraunts there alone but you're better off just wandering around as we did... you'll find something cheaper and more charming if you're willing to look. Go for a stroll before you're hungry and keep your eye open for something you fancy - moules frites is the local classic; you have to have the mussels in brussels.... There's also a statue of a little boy pissing, a decent cathedral and cool graffiti. And stuff I missed. Amsterdam - Rent a bike (of course this is risky, but you're on holiday dummy* so make the effort). Go to Vondelpark and have a gentle cycle. Stop off at the bars that might pretend to be open and marvel at the crap service - get back on your bike having not even had a drink (safer). A good site for gigs is here - mygigs.org. There are some great venues in Amsterdam but unfortunately there isn't much in May lined up yet and I'll provide a caveat for gig-going in the Dam - the Dutch are fecking tall, get a high spot. Check mygigs.org closer to your trip (a friend of mine runs the site so he'd appreciate the hits if nothing else!) To eat, for a treat, I'll recommend Cafe De Koe for their ostrich steak with truffle sauce and Picpoul Pinet white wine - works out at €25 a head for 4. Menu is all in Dutch but staff are wonderfully patient with bloody foreigners like us. Walkable from Leidseplein. The museums are wonderful. From the outside at least, beautiful buildings for the greater part. I can't say I've darkend their doors but they have a great presence... Go on a canal ride. Yes, it's probably terribly touristy and possibly expensive but the canals are the heart of the city and being on the water captures some of that spirit. Go out in the evening when the light is low after you've followed the next bit of advice? Go to a coffeeshop and have a smoke. If you're a smoker already then that is unnecessary advice, if you're not however then remember that you're on holiday in Amsterdam dummy*. Inhale or imbibe in some fashion. Tobacco is longer permitted in any public establishment so you'll be smoking pure joints or from a pipe, a vaporiser or a bong - although some coffeshops have a dedicated smoking area where the law seems not to apply. Or you can munch on it of course. There are a mass of other threads about what weed you should smoke in the Dam but the best advice is this - go to a good shop and ask the guy behind the counter to help you; if applicable, tell him that you have no fucking idea what you're doing. These guys are particularly helpful; Tweede Kamer Grey Area A decent online Amsterdam guide; http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/ The entire hipforum/amsterdam community is a great source of info - fill your boots! J *you're not a dummy obviously.
well the party start in the Haag on april 29th and keep goin in amsterdam on april 30th and im guessing on mei first people are still in party mod and ppl that are still there a week later of still on the FXs of the party that was the week b4 and if your still there in JUNE then good chance your broke and started looking for a job cause you dont wanna go back where you came from :cheers2: if i was you i would make sure to be in amsterdam on april 19th so you can start the paty on 420 till mei ;P well that my plan
Wow, ShinyJ, that was a great description of that wonderful city, concise, well thought out and interesting--- If I might add a few thoughts: 1-Get a hotel close to (I reccomend) Dam Square or the Liedseplein, or even Rembrantplein, you will be close to all the best the city has to offer. There are many hotels to fit many budgets. 2-Do take in a museum or, several. The Van Gough, as well as the Rijks are especially exciting. 3- if you like this kind of thing, as I do, go see a concert (any classical or jazz concert) at The Concertgebow, it is arguably the greatest concert hall on earth and well worth the time and effort to hear music there. At least once! I go every time I'm in A-dam. 4- do go to the outdoor markets, particularly the AlbertCyup and the several that take place near (or in if memory serves correctly) the Jordaan. you can get the best, and freshest cheeses, meats and fish and other Dutch goodies. 5-DO EAT A HERRING SANDWICH ON THE STREET! there are several vendors that sell the most delicious herring/onion sandwich. It is a local treat and not to be missed. It's inexpensive and fun and delicious all at the same time! 6- DO GO to a Indonesian restaurant and have the "rijtafel". I reccomend Sama Sebo, although I can't remember where it is, I always end up finding it. A bit pricey, you can find cheaper ones in the city, but not always consistently good, although some are just fine. 7- Do taste (several!!) pints of Dutch beer, it is by any standard, some of the finest. Grolsh and Heinekin are all you will find (sometimes places have Amstel on tap as well), and you need no other beers (except for the Irish pubs which carry several of the rest of the European fine brews). Take a stroll through and buy some fine goods at the AlbertHein, a wonderful supermarket, always a good place to pick up some Dutch coffee and chocolate and other Dutch things to take home. (That's for when you get home and begin to miss Amsterdam, you pull out a box of Dowe Egbert or a Kinderegg--wow, I wish I had one right now). Do have fun, that's the main thing. The Dutch are fun, smart and sophisticated people who are very proud of their country and are very tolerant of other countries/ and society in general. Their tolerance is evident in their ability to defy convention and have available some vices generally shunned by the rest this planet. Although, there is a conservative faction there that is anxious to repeal most of the "liberal/tolerance" that makes place unique. You can have much more fun in A-dam than in anywhere on this planet, providing you act as a responsible adult. That's all they seem to ask in return for decriminalized marijuana and prostitution, just behave yourself and have a great time. It is a great city. Please report on your trip when you get (there?) back. (there are also internet cafes all over the city, so it's easy to get your email and check the web for cheap if you don't plan to bring a laptop)
Well i dont know about the Haag ,when i go for Q-Day its all party on the street's from April and goes on till may 2d , im not saying you are wrong but thats what i see ???
i was just saying that the whole party starts the nigh b4 in the Haag and keeps goin in amsterdam you should check it out on the 29th in the Haag atarts around 6pm wit music on streets and things bars stay open at night ....!
on the 29th in Haag they having free music on streets and band in bars & clubs!! Q-day is alway a good one lets hope its not a windy day wit rain!! peace have fun! i know i will!
