# first overseas travel (amsterdam) what do I need to know **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 18, 2006, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538 "2006-01-18T18:59:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tiltypig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dbc845/32.png) [@tiltypig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiltypig)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538/21 "2006-01-19T00:26:15Z")
> [@even sven](#): > > BUY STROOPWAFFLES! These are wonderful things. Amazing things. Things you will long for for the rest of your life. They are little thin waffles full of syrup. You can buy big ones hot from street vendors (don’t burn yourself) or rolls of them from any bakery. They really are that worth it. I bought one package to try, then bought three more packages to eat, and then five to take home to give away- and I ate them all and ended having to buy my take-home ones from the airport. They are that good. :eek: I am going to start planning my next trip to Amsterdam tomorrow. I’ve been buying Stroopwaffels from Trader Joe’s and I had no idea you could get them hot and fresh from street vendors there… wow. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538/22 "2006-01-19T17:42:32Z")
Native Cloggie checking in. Ecellent advice here, _everything_ (no exception) I’ve read upthread is right on the dime. I’ve got just a few things to add: _Don’t_ visit restaurants within 1 km of the Central Station. They’re tourist traps. And that includes the huge Chinese restaurant boat. _Do_ visit Tuschinsky. It’s a fabulously beautiful Art-Dec movie theatre in the middle of Amsterdam. Go see a movie there (just ignore the Dutch subtitles). If you don’t have time, just go in and admire the interior. And the Argentinian steak restaurant across Tuschinsky has the best steak I’ve ever tasted. Anywhere. I third the warning to stay away from " tradional Dutch Cuisine" and go for Chinese-Indonesian cuisine instead. But do try, as has been recommended, croquettes, frites with mayonaise, stroopwaffles, and if you dare, a “maatje”, (raw herring with onions.) There’s one kind of pastry that’s even better then stroopwaffles, and that’s “gevulde speculaas” spicy cookies with a kind of marzipan in it. Available at any supermarket. Also take home with you a packet of “hagelslag” (chocolate sprinkles to put on bread) a can of “Haagse Hopjes” a delicious hard coffee-candy. I second the idea of taking the varied trainride from Amsterdam to Maastricht and back. The one-way trip lasts 2,5 hours. You’re quite likely to ride in a double level-train, which offers a really nice view over the Netherlands. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538/23 "2006-01-19T17:55:27Z")
The Dutch speak better English that most people in the world, including my fellow countrymen. If you have any electrically powered stuff, buy an adaptor at the airport. Visit the Rijksmuseum if you like art. Visit the Sex Museum if you like, well, sex, but avoid the room at the back if you’re squeamish. Definitely take a canal ride if the weather holds out. Similarly, if the weather’s good, there’s nothing better than sipping a beer and reading a book outside a city square bar. If you like experimenting with food, and you’re at an Indonesian restaurant, order the _rijkstaffel_ (not sure on the spelling) - it’s a set meal where they bring you small dishes of almost everything on the menu. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538/24 "2006-01-19T18:09:14Z")
> [@Crusoe](#): > > If you like experimenting with food, and you’re at an Indonesian restaurant, order the _rijkstaffel_ (not sure on the spelling) - it’s a set meal where they bring you small dishes of almost everything on the menu. That would be an " rijsttafel" (rice-table). Good idea! The smallest rijst-tafel on the menu will do, because the larger " rijsttafels" are enough to feed a company of three. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538/25 "2006-01-19T18:11:31Z")
I’ve never been to Amsterdam, but my mother did. She visited the red-light disctrict… and took pictures for me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538/26 "2006-01-19T18:14:45Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > That would be an " rijsttafel" (rice-table). Good idea! The smallest rijst-tafel on the menu will do, because the larger " rijsttafels" are enough to feed a company of three. Cheers, **Maastricht** , I wondered why my spelling resulted in so few Google hits. ---
**Author:** ![Future\_Londonite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9dc877/32.png) [@Future\_Londonite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Future_Londonite)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538/27 "2006-01-19T18:21:46Z")
Well if you have the time I would second/third a trip to Maastricht - it’s the other Netherlands. If you want to experience great shopping, architecture (old and new), the best food (short of visiting Paris) then Maastricht is your city. I grew up just outside of Maastricht and was there 2 months ago, so I can rattle of some recommendations for you… ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538/28 "2006-01-19T18:35:34Z")
[Frommer’s Guide to Amsterdam](http://frommers.com/destinations/amsterdam/) has most everything you need to know. “Frommer’s Favorite Experiences” in Amsterdam include: 1. Cruising the Canals. 2. Viewing Old Masters at the Rijksmuseum. 3. Visiting with Vincent (at the Vincent Van Gogh Museum). 4. Remembering Anne Frank. 5. Treating Your Ears to the Concertgebouw. 6. Going Tiptoe Through the Tulips. 7. Biking the City. ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538/29 "2006-01-19T18:39:03Z")
I’ll second going too see Boom Chicago, very funny. > [@PeterWiggen](#): > > (1) You have to ASK for your check/bill at the end of a meal. At most places in Amsterdam (and the whole of Europe) they are happy for you to sit there as long as you like. Not knowing this the first time we went out to eat at a fairly busy restuarant, we sat waiting for our bill for almost a hour. the restuarant was kinda busy, and I just figured the server would bring when they saw us just sitting there. Beer at the movies is nice, but beer at the Haagen-dazs is \*\* Heaven\*\* ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538/30 "2006-01-19T18:53:39Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > Otherwise I fear I’ll just sit in my hotel room watching dubbed “Three’s Company” reruns. That would make you the lamest human being on Earth. Amsterdam is a pretty cool city for just walking around in. I spent about six weeks there on business and most of my free time was spent walking around the city checking out the sites. In addition to the places already mentioned, I recommend the Torture Museum, the Madame Tussaud Wax Musseum, as well as the various bars and pubs. If you get a chance, get ahold of a car and check out the Hague (or Den Haag as the Dutch call it). My buddy and I drove around there for awhile but ended up getting lost. We did end up in Delph which is a quiant little town famous for its porcelain crap. Depending on what time of year, you might also want to check out the tulip farms. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538/31 "2006-01-19T19:08:59Z")
> [@EuroMDguy](#): > > Well if you have the time I would second/third a trip to Maastricht - it’s the other Netherlands. > > If you want to experience great shopping, architecture (old and new), the best food (short of visiting Paris) then Maastricht is your city. I grew up just outside of Maastricht and was there 2 months ago, so I can rattle of some recommendations for you… Seconded (obviously, looking at my username 🙂 ) Last year, I volunteerde to hold a [Dopefest in Maastricht](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=305845). Lots of recommendations for a visit in there. The Hague is nice enough, you could even attend a meeting of the national parliament!), but, IMHO, not nicer then Amsterdam. If you want to go to The Hague, best go there by train. Travel in Holland by public transport is cheap, fast and hassle-free. Driving a car is a major PITA. You’'l get lost, you’ll pay 2,5 dollars per liter for gas, and even more for parking, plus you can’t park anywhere, certainly not near the major sights. Forget wanting to ride a car in Holland. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538/32 "2006-01-19T20:49:32Z")
> [@Crusoe](#): > > If you have any electrically powered stuff, buy an adaptor at the airport. …and only use items which can cope with 220V supply! ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538/33 "2006-01-19T21:13:57Z")
> [@Crusoe](#): > > If you have any electrically powered stuff, buy an adaptor at the airport. Don’t try to take a hair dryer. I’ve yet to get a hair dryer to work very well with a 220V adaptor. If you need a hair dryer and your hotel doesn’t supply one, buy a cheap one there. As you may have figured out from posts in this thread, they use commas where we would use decimal points in numbers, and they use a point where we would use a comma. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538/34 "2006-01-19T21:26:36Z")
If you normally use your ATM card to pay for purchases, that might not work overseas, although the ATM card will work in at least some of their ATM’s. I think Mr. Neville tried using his ATM card to buy something in Australia, and it didn’t work. > [@Maastricht](#): > > Native Cloggie checking in. I have a question about credit cards. Is it uncommon in the Netherlands to find a shop, restaurant (other than a street stand), or hotel that doesn’t accept them, or are credit cards not used as much as they are in the US? ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538/35 "2006-01-19T21:36:29Z")
Not a native cloggie, but I can tell you it’s not all that uncommon. In the US if a restaurant or shop doesn’t take cards you grasp your head and exclaim that you don’t understand how they can stay above water. In Belgium, at least, each time you go to a new restaurant you look carefully at the stickers on the door and worry slightly if there’s no Visa sticker and keep in mind where the nearest ATM is or ask if they take cards before you sit down- we frequented several places that didn’t take cards. ---
**Author:** ![Bomzaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Bomzaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bomzaway)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538/36 "2006-01-19T21:39:35Z")
The only thing I might add is bring a small pair of binoculars. They’re worth the extra wieght in your luggage, especially if you plan on enjoying public works of art or the city’s architecture. The binocs make it easier to see some of the detail in things like sculptures, or those gargoyles way up on top of the building across the street from your hotel. A digital camera with 5.0 mgp or better might also do the trick. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538/37 "2006-01-19T22:15:57Z")
What **capybara** said. Most restaurants, but few shops outside the touristy centre take credit cards. The Dutch pay “digitally” with ATM in shops and restaurants (we call it " pin-payment"). ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2006, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538/38 "2006-01-19T23:39:04Z")
Don’t overdo any of the illicit possibilities of Amsterdam, and be prpared for lots of people to assume you were there for those illicit possibilities. The [Van Gogh museum](http://www.vangoghmuseum.nl) and [Rijksmuseum](http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/info?lang=en) are wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538/39 "2006-02-10T12:17:17Z")
So **Sigene** , how was your trip? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538/40 "2006-02-10T15:39:23Z")
As others have said, definitely visit the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Rijkmuseum. When I was there last July, the Rijkmuseum was being renovated, but they had one wing open, containing all of the most famous works. Though it was a shorter visit, it was definitely worth it (and actually better than spending a whole day shlepping through the entire museum). By all means visit the red-light district, but do not try to photograph the prostitutes. Don’t step into the street without looking in both direction. Especially for bikes. Take an umbrella with you. As others have said, don’t even try to speak Dutch, except for “please” and “thank you.” I usually don’t have much trouble learning the basics of a language, but Dutch is very strange. I agree that beer is better there, and drugs are stronger. If you like herring, you’ll be in heaven. The Royal Palace (on Dam Square) is worth a visit. In spite of its grim exterior, the interior is absolutely gorgeous, especially the main hall. If you’re going to be wandering off on your own, always bring a street map, and always be aware of where you are. It’s very easy to get lost and to lose your sense of direction. And always carry a business card from your hotel. See if you can go to a concert at the Concertgebouw. It’s one of the world’s greatest concert halls. A word of advice when travelling anywhere: don’t keep your wallet in your back pocket. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-overseas-travel-amsterdam-what-do-i-need-to-know/340538.md?page=3)