Amsterdam rocks!

Amsterdam rocks! Amsterdam is one of the coolest cities in Europe. Beautiful, hip, relaxed, lots to do, lots to see, many pubs, food from all over the world and very friendly people. A visit to this very beautiful city is sometimes like taking a walk in the 17th century. The center of Amsterdam has a lot of charming architecture dating from this period. It’s an excellent city to tour on foot. However, Amsterdam may boast a lot of 17th century architecture, but that's about all that's old fashioned about the place. Amsterdam was originally built on the shores of the saltwater 'Zuiderzee' but as a result of centuries of land-reclamation projects the city now borders the freshwater of IJsselmeer. The center of Amsterdam is shaped like a horseshoe, surrounded by four famous canals called the "Singel", "Herengracht", "Keizersgracht" and "Prinsengracht". These are best to walk along if you want to see the city’s beautiful houses. Amsterdam is also the perfect place to party! Most clubs open at 10 pm and stay open until 4 or 5 am. Usually things only get going after midnight, so try and keep yourself awake. Sometimes the bouncers say you have to be a member of the club, but a little bit of luck you can come in. Some clubs like the Melkweg offer one night memberships for a few euro. It is worth it!Amsterdam offers a wide range of music venues. Try to catch a performance of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra that performs in the Beurs, a turn-of-the-century stock exchange. In June the city hosts the Holland Festivals with opera, orchestra and dance performances. What to eat when you are there? Typically Dutch are the snackbars, where most Dutch people enjoy the large fries topped with mayonaise (Vlaamse frites) or the famous croquets, called 'vleeskroketten'. Very Dutch also are the pancake-restaurants, called 'pannenkoekhuizen'. Originally, Dutch dishes are based on simple ingredients, (boiled potatoes, boiled vegetables, country food) but these days Dutch cuisine is largely influenced by the French. Amsterdam is home to some of the most beautiful sights in Europe. There are several excellent museums and two of the best are next to each other. The Van Gogh Museum is a must for anyone interested in the artisticts work. It houseas some of his most famous masterpieces beginning with his time in Holland to the period of his death in France. On the same square is the 250-room Rijksmuseum, which contains among its treasures a handful of exquisite Vermeers and one of the best Rembrandt collections in the world. "The Night Watch" is exhibited in the Hall of Honor and is most definitely a "work of art". Astonishing is only a portion of the original painting which had to be cut down to fit its intended spot in the city’s old town hall. There is a copy of an uncut version of the painting hanging in the room just before the Hall of Honor. If you have enough time you also should take a look at Rembrandts house near the Waterlooplein and you have to see the ‘Zuiderkerk’ where he painted ‘The Night Watch’. A lot of people come to Amsterdam for a little drugs experimentation. Buying drugs on the street is about the biggest tourist traps in Amsterdam. From the first step out of the central station you will be offered drugs but if you want to get some soft-drugs you can go to one of thousand coffee-shops if you are 18 years or older.