You won’t find on these in typical top 10s, especially #6
- Drink in a park in the best possible way: a locally distilled Jenever ( Dutch spirit akin to quality vodka or gin) plus a German beer and/or wine… in a beautiful park:
- Go to Flevopark and make sure to stop for a drink at NiewueDiep distillery …
- Drink like a local “kopstoot”: Choose the house “SintJansKrout Jenever plus beer chaser”, aka the “kopstoot” or ‘headbutt’ in English.
- Bonus swim – Go for a swim in the large multi-pool public outdoor swimming pool known as “Flevobad“.
- Enjoy the ultimate panoramic river Ij view from the Eye Film Museum
- Take the free ferry from Centraal Station to the Noord side towards Amsterdam Tower, which goes every 5 minutes and takes about 5 minutes. [Map link]
- Go to the Eye cinema to watch an international film. Many films are in English or subtitled in English. Check the listings here.
- Have a drink or more and enjoy the panoramic view of the busy water outside central station.
- See a ticketed live music show in legendary venues: Go to a gig at Paradiso or Melkweg
- Paradiso: Check listings here, legendary old venue originally a church where Nirvana first played in Europe
- Melkweg: Check listings here – Melkweg is slightly smaller and more modern interior
- Explore some live events you’ve never heard of at the beautiful old Occii…
- Grassroots venue largely volunteer run in a gorgeous unique building.
- See listings here.
- Dance to a subgenre of electronic dance music at underground community club in the West near Vondelpark… club named OT301.
- Listings for OT301 here
- Beware it is in a quiet neighbourhood and draconian silence rules are enforced outside the otherwise excellent club
- Go for a strip tease at La Vie En Proost strip bar near the Oude Kerk.
- Small but fun atmosphere at this well managed strip club: Weeknights are less busy but good after 9pm, weekends ok if you go early before 10pm [maplink]
- Audience varied: many couples and females tend to make-up a significant percentage of the crowd which is still predominantly male
- Entrance is 10€; A strip tease dance costs 20€ and is not for the easily embarrassed as everyone can see you. Small beer is 7.50€.
- Go swimming in Zuiderbad … a public swimming pool beautifully restored to its 19th century glory.
- Open until 10pm and costs around 6Euros per visit. Next to Rijks museum. [ map link ]
- Go to a free petting zoo in De Pijp and see some goats / peacocks / massive rabbits and more
- Maplink here
- It’s not just for kids ( inspite the name )
- Release your inhibitions at the Deco Sauana, a beautiful 1920s spa in central Amsterdam.
- Opens until 22:00 best go by 20:00 at the latest as you need 2 hours
- Costs 30Euros including towels.
- Swimming wear not allowed. Nudity only.
- You can wear a towel around you most of the time. Make sure to take the cold plunge after a sauna for full effect
- Hangout in the OudeKerk Cafe and if on Sunday goto free chansons at OudeKerk
That’s a wrap for now. Let me know your thoughts?