Looking at Eurostar over to Amsterdam in October. Just for two or so days. 
Got teenage boys so any good things to take them to? Red lights aside…
Also places to eat? Trips to take? Best area to stay?
@maosm @aboynamedgoo
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This is a c&p job a friend sent to me a while back. Sorry for bits that aren’t kid-friendly!
Drink
Brouwerijen - A microbrewery that was in a windmill - Address: Funenkade 7 1018 AL Amsterdam,
open 2-8pm
De school – restaurant / café / bar that is also a night club - Doctor Jan van Breemenstraat 1, 1056
AB
Wynand Fockink Tastingroom, Distillery & Liqueur store - Go here for afternoon / day drinking just
tucked away off the main drag. Amazing staff, incredible flavoured liquors, great vibe, and probably
intentionally hilarious name. Total Amsterdam local secret.
Pllek…really cool cafe/bar made out of containers that has a great view over the harbour. You need
to take a ferry from the back of central station but it doesn't take more than 10 minutes and it's free.
Great spot to watch the city lights come out from.
Proeflokaal Arendsnest – great bar serving specialty beers, including crème burlee beer YUM!!
Amstel 54 - Fun little gay bar that has a (or at least used to have) a Latin night on Fridays. This place
is also next to a bar called Queers Café that has drags shows most weekend nights
Amsterdam Roest – Warehouse space, fun for drinks
Hiding in Plain Sight – cocktail bar
Eating
Foodhallen – Massive food hall - Bellamyplein 51, 1053 AT, open till 11:30 / 1am Fri + Sat
Bakers & Roasters - Best brunch though it usually has a wait – 8:30 -16:00 – if this is busy try Little
Collins
The Volkshotel is a super funky café – it’s a revitalised hotel that got adopted by artists and made
swanky. There's a really nice roof terrace/restaurant too.
Axum Restaurant - Great Ethiopian Food (relatively cheap and good for groups)
There's a really cool little cafe of the Prostitute Information Centre on Enge Kerksteeg and
Oudeferksplein. They are just a really worthwhile organisation supporting and educating the local
sexworking community and I would totally advise you to spend some money on their apple pie.
Kantjil & De Tijger - good Indonesian restaurant
Cafe Kadijk - Tasty Indonesian food, cosy restaurant
De Kas – posh place, check for cancelations
Pannenkoekenhuis Upstairs - tiny little pancake house…only open noon-6 and closed on Mondays.
Parks
In terms of parks, Vondelpark is the famous one – also in the
museum district - but I highly recommend Westerpark.
The Keukenhof is a tulip park about half an hour from central station by train, which I would
definitely recommend smoking or taking truffles there if you can!
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@Owensmaterob is probably good for tips here too
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It’s only open in the spring when the tulips are in bloom
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Don’t make me tap the sign!
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To the places already mentioned I’d add:
Tales & Spirits - great cocktail bar, on a side street near the red light district. Get there when it opens at 5:30
Brunch:
Dignita Hoftuin - best Benny in town and right next to the Holocaust memorial which opened last year and is well worth a visit. Jarring recommendation but not here you go
Box Sociaal - easier to get into than Dignita but not quite as good, much wider menu and some very interesting cocktails
Other
Pesca - amazing seafood restaurant with a fishmonger gimmick; makes it very easy to over-spend but I’ve never had anything I didn’t enjoy
Pathé Tuschinski - beautiful 1920s Art Deco cinema that’s been maintained largely in its original style. If there’s anything showing in the Grote Zaal when you’re here it’s well worth a couple of hours of your time. Avoid the cocktail bar though, it’s terrible
Ikaria Park - brand new coffee, cocktail and Greek tapas place in Bilderdijkpark. It’s owned by my neighbours but it’s genuinely really good. Maybe not in October through, as it’s all outdoors…
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I like staying in the south of the city as it’s much cooler and less touristy.
If you want to go to the Anne Frank house I think you have to buy tickets in advance.
I liked a bar called Foeders; there are bowls of peanuts on the table and you’re encouraged to drop the shells on the floor. The boys might like that?
The tram is great for getting around wherever you end up staying.
I definitely recommend a boat tour.
I also had the best falafel of my life at Sonny Falafel and Vlaamse Frites.
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I first went to Amsterdam with my folks when I was a teenage boy myself, I was a massive nerd so enjoyed Concerto and other record shops as well as the American Bookstore. Also insisted on eating fries with loads of nice Dutch mayonnaise for lunch every day, and remember getting a lot out of a boat trip
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Get on the train to Utrecht and go to the Train Museum
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and come say hello to me
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Oh ace, V would love it.
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De Poezenboot - cat sanctuary on a house boat that you can visit
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Continuing the cat theme, I liked the KattenKabinet, a small gallery dedicated to art featuring cats, and a load of cats live there too and were incredibly friendly and ready for scritches when we visited a few years ago
Guess it depends how much you like cats?
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I really don’t like cats
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Hire some bikes and potter around if you’re feeling adventurous. Very nice way to see the city
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Would try and get as much Indonesian food down me as possible
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That’s a good shout actually, didn’t realise how much good Indonesian cuisine there was till moving here
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Bike everywhere. Don’t think I’ve ever caught a tram or bus in Amsterdam, just so much nicer to explore a city that way, and cycling in this country is a joy.
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Any recommendations for a good, not too expensive bicycle tour?
Any reasonably priced hotels? ) Doesnt matter if is a bit of a walk, think ive accidentally booked for easter weekend though