Amsterdam: From Tulips to Tussauds
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
If you're looking for something a bit cooler than the Mediterranean for your holiday, think about Amsterdam, the gemstone of northern Europe. Its beauty shows from the moment you enter its airspace as the neatly patterned fields of farmland emerge below you. If you're arriving at the right time of year, you'll be treated to a sight unlike any you've seen on landing in any other city of the world; thousands of gigantic squares and rectangles shining with every bright colour of the rainbow. These are the famous Dutch tulip fields throwing their patchwork glory to the sky before their flowers head off to distant ports. As you'll see from the artwork and photos displayed in Amsterdam hotels, the Dutch are proud of their most colourful and fragrant crop.
Amsterdam has many fine hotels near its airport and rail connections, and even the most moderately priced ones will be clean and neat and staffed by courteous and professional personnel. Try to arrange for a room on an upper floor with a good view and you'll appreciate your stay all the more as you look out of your window in the morning and try to pick out the highlights of your previous day's travels.
Amsterdam is a city of canals, so perhaps the best way to start your visit is with one of the classic canal cruises that will give you a feel for the layout and size of the city, while also providing tantalising glimpses of churches and architecture dating back to the 17th century and beyond. With over 150 canals and roughly 1,000 bridges, you'll never forget how close to the water you are in Amsterdam, but never fear: they've got a Dutch boy ready with his thumb at every dike!
After that cruise, head straight for Amsterdam's heart, Dam Square, which is a brisk five minute walk from Central Station. It is home to the National Monument, an edifice as uniquely Dutch as the tulip fields you saw from the air. Have your camera ready because no visitor wants to miss a picture of themselves standing in front of this iconic sight.
As you walk to the various attractions bordering Dam Square, don't forget that it is far more than just a central location in the city. The Square has served historically as the coronation site for famous kings and queens and is also a demarcation point between two distinct halves of Amsterdam; the Old Side and the New Side.
The Old Side of Amsterdam can feel almost like another world in a different time as you wander along canals dotted with ancient monasteries and nunneries, while the New Side is filled with the hustle and bustle of the giant warehouses that grew as Amsterdam became a hub of commerce in the 17th and 18th centuries. While neither monasteries nor warehouses may sound much like must-see attractions during a visit abroad, you'll find yourself surprised as you are taken in with the grace and beauty of Dutch architecture. If you crave more excitement, though, just head back to the Square itself.
Walk up to the central monument and let your gaze roam the edges of the Square. The Royal Palace will certainly catch your eye and the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) and the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky will certainly stand out as places to visit, but perhaps the most attractive destination bordering the Square will draw you first: Madame Tussauds waxwork museum. Whether you've wanted to stand within hand-shaking distance of President Obama or hugging distance of Madonna, whether you're excited by the thought of seeing Elvis Presley almost as alive as when he sang Love Me Tender, or simply want to see what it feels like to stand in front of The Netherlands' reigning Queen Beatrix, you'll love Madame Tussauds. And if your children have been less than thrilled by 'boring old buildings', they'll change their tune when they get to star in their own films with Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp!
While Dam Square and central Amsterdam will probably form the centrepiece of your visit, don't be afraid to travel further afield. The Dutch rail system is fast, comfortable and extensive, and it provides a very beautiful view of the countryside as you wind your way through it. Delft, Rotterdam, and even The Hague are all made close through The Netherlands' trains, and its windmills, china, dikes, bridges and thousands upon thousands of cyclists will provide you with holiday memories that will last for a lifetime.
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