Category Archives: Hip Guide to Amsterdam

Amsterdam Super Hotel Deals!
Amsterdam is famous for its canals, the Red Light District, its liberal attitude and trendy nightlife. Whether you visit for a few days or a few months you’re sure to fall in love with this city, it’s historic architecture and it’s people.
This site is for those who wish to discover what makes Amsterdam unique. We believe Amsterdam is one of the coolest places on the planet and deserves more than a casual visit.
This site contains hundreds of photos and articles about Amsterdam, Holland and the Dutch people. We also have reviews of hundreds of popular Hotels, restaurants, coffeeshops and other retail establishments so you can find what you’re looking for easily. We are constantly adding more Reviews and revisiting those already listed to provide the latest info.
Our City Maps can help you find your way to the more interesting sites.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, try our powerful Search Engine to locate it, or post your question on our Amsterdam Forum. So browse around our site and let us know what you think!

Scheepvaart Museum

Posted on by
Reply

>

The Scheepvaart Museum is the Netherlands Maritime Museum, located on Amsterdam’s harbor in the National Naval Depot, a former arsenal of the Dutch Navy that is over 300 years old.

The collection within tells the story of the maritime past of the Netherlands. Outside the Museum is a permanent berth for a replica of the Dutch East Indiaman “Amsterdam,” which is great fun to explore with guides in period costumes telling you about life aboard ship in the old days.

If you’ve got a binnacle at home, or a ship’s bell mounted somewhere, you’d be happy to spend hours wandering through this place. It’s fun even if you don’t have one.

Info:
Easy access by public transport: from Amsterdam Central Station 5 minutes by bus, line 22 or 32; or only a 15 minute walk.

Vakbondmuseum or the Stichting De Burcht

Posted on by
Reply

The Diamond Window

The Vakbondmuseum is also known as the Stichting De Burcht. You’re asking why?

Well this building is so interesting that if you have any interest in architecture that you must visit.

Designed by the founder of the Amsterdam school of Architecture, Hendrik Petrus Berlage (1856- 1934), who was a forceful figure on reshaping Amsterdam into what we see now in the 21st Century. The building was created for the thriving diamond industry whose capital was in Amsterdam at the time. Now the National Trade Unions Museum (or Stichting De Burcht) has its home here.

The museum’s website offers the following description: “Inside, you’re under the illusion that you have entered the covered courtyard of a Mediterranean palace. Sunlight streams down through a double roof of yellow and white glass and, passing through glass floor tiles, penetrates as far as the basement. The walls are of yellow, white and blue glazed brick and are relieved by vaults, columns and balustrades. An enormous hanging lamp high in the glass cupola, dominates the most beautiful of Amsterdam’s staircases. In the stylish rooms, you can enjoy paintings by Richard Roland Holst, stained glass windows, wooden panelling and furniture designed by Berlage himself. You can explore as high as the tower room that offers a view of the impressive cupola construction. In the high tower, you will see a lighted window pane in the form of a diamond.”

Museum Het Rembrandthuis

Posted on by
Reply

The facade of the Rembrandt House and Museum

The Rembrandthuis Museum is where the famous painter established his own studios here in Amsterdam, and lived with his family from 1639 to 1658.

He eventually left after declaring bankruptcy, and the home has been restored with approximations of it’s original furnishings based on an inventory of his possessions from that time.

Most of the building is devoted to his daily life from the time, and is of course, filled with paintings and art.

Part two of the museum is the new museum wing, where you will find exhibition rooms. The museum shop, the entrance to the museum café, the auditorium and the Rembrandt Information Centre are also located in the new wing.

On the fifth floor is the Rembrandt Information Center, where you can research on DC-rom, in books and other publications. By appointment only.

De Engelbewaarder

Posted on by
Reply

de Engelbewarder (The Guardian Angel) Jazz Club and Bar

The name of this bar/cafe means “Guardian Angel”. Popular with the literati since the 70s it now serves up food and cool jazz music (on Sunday) to compliment the booze. The menu offers a good choice of items including appetizers like deep-fried calamari (recommended) and cheese fondue.

The canalside seating in nice weather is very popular, although you can’t really hear the music well from outside. Inside it’s usually very crowded, standing room only, and very smoky, especially on Sundays.
Good mix of people, Dutch regulars, expats, and some tourists. Sunday is the most popular day when jazz musicians jam from around 4pm to 7pm.

Old Nickel Hotel Café and Restaurant

Posted on by
Reply

Perfect for the backpacking traveler who wants a little style and comfort while being right in the heart of all the fun in Amsterdam. The Old Nickel is just two minutes walk from Centraal Station, behind the imposing St. Nicklaas Cathedral, at

The style is unique, and the bar/lounge area is resplendent with ornate wood-carvings and paneling from the captain’s quarters of the 17th century sailing ship of Admiral Michiel de Ruyter. It was here that we chose to have a quiet beer one evening, after hammering our eardrums with a Grateful Dead cover band down an alley nearby. The smiling Dutch lady behind the counter served us beers quite cheerfully and bubbled with all sorts of advice. We retreated to a corner table and relaxed over a long conversation, and really enjoyed the place.

The guests arriving and departing seemed happy, and from pictures the rooms look a bit small, but offer a table and chairs in addition to beds. The room price includes a ham and eggs breakfast. The staff speak many languages, and seem to enjoy offering lots of help finding your way about town.

If you are interested in visiting Amsterdam soon, be sure to check out our all new HIP GUIDE TO AMSTERDAM HOTELS where you can search and book Amsterdam Hotels right here online!

Thanks to our association with Bookings® you can choose from hundreds of hotels in the Netherlands, and thousands more in Europe and around the world! We can also offer you special deals not found elsewhere!

Address:
Nieuwe Brugsteeg 11
Amsterdam 1012
Phone: 020 624-1912

Pathé Arena Theater

Posted on by
Reply

I recently visited the Pathe Arena theaters to see a new movie (Goldmember) on the day of its release in the Netherlands. As usual, I went during a weekday afternoon. Why? Because not only did I get a nice discount, but the theater was almost empty (like about 8 people in the biggest theater!). I like that!

The seats are ever so comfy here. The red ones in the largest theater are well-padded and wide, with wide arm rests and lots of legroom. No more cramming your legs against the seat in front!

The sound system was awesome, but didn’t seem to work 100% with the movie I came to see, perhaps because it wasn’t filmed in a compatible mode. I counted at least 30 speakers that I could see.

I really like coming here for the reasons I’ve mentioned, and I would come here more often, if they didn’t only show the latest Hollywood-hyped, factory-made movies. What’s wrong with screening something alternative once in awhile? Well there’s certainly no shortage of theaters in Amsterdam showing non-mainstream films.

The only other gripe I have is that the popcorn we got in the afternoon was stale (and encrusted with salt) from the night before. Someone should be shot for doing this. Stale, overly salty popcorn is inexcusable. Let your employees take it home at the end of the night instead, please!

I’ve seen movies in the smaller theaters at the Arena, and they’re all top quality, and airconditioned. Plus there’s no smoking, and usually no pause in the middle of the feature.

d’Vijff Vlieghen

Posted on by
Reply

This famous Dutch restaurant on the Spui, certainly oozes Old World charm.

A note from their website says: “I am Nicolaas the Fifth, born in 1627 and forgot to die. I am the King of the Five Flies’ Empire in Amsterdam, Holland. If you come to my Kingdom I will give you an experience you will never forget.” Promoted as founder Nicholas Kroese late 40s his Amsterdam Restaurant Five Flies in the United States, as he walked with a brass cage with five bronze flying in his hand on the street and with his charisma and impressive prevent the Americans made enthusiastic visiting his restaurant. Five Flies Restaurant exists today officially 75 years and has long been known worldwide as a must-do in Amsterdam. Especially in the United States has the restaurant a large group of fans. Enjoy good food with a good glass of wine in a unique and beautiful setting, which is where this restaurant is all about. A culinary museum is: Based in five pooled 17th century little houses, decorated in Old Dutch style with four original etchings by Rembrandt on the wall and walls lined with beautiful gold leather wallpaper from the 17th century.

We are ready for another 75 years, and hope we can welcome you soon to create a unique experience together with us!

On behalf of Restaurant d’Vijff Vlieghen, Albert Veerman, King of the Five Flies anno 2014

Info:
Open every day from 5:30 pm. Across the street from the Amsterdam Historical Museum. Reservations probably a good idea.

New Season

Posted on by
Reply

The New Season Chinese Oriental Restaurant on the Warmoesstraat at #39 offers a good meal for a good price. Spicy food is the offering here, with many Malaysian meals that are quite spicy indeed. The functional and clean interior offers tables at the window with a great view of the busy passers-by out on the street.

For a starter I had a bowl of Tom Yam Kai soup, which had a rich dark broth (beef?) and the required few lumps of chicken, sliced fresh mushrooms and chopped fresh herbs making this a delightful treat for only 2.80 euros. My friend had the Chicken Satay, which featured four skewers loaded with chicken chunks and lots of spicy peanut sauce. This was 3.50 euros.

The main courses were also spicy and delicious. Ling Hsiang Ha was a prawn dish with sweet chili sauce and oriental vegetables that was stir-fried to perfection and served with a bowl of steamed rice. Fried Noodle Chicken was our other choice, with fresh noodles stir-fried in a rich and spicy conglomeration of vegeatables and chicken chunks. The portions were nicely sized, filling us completely. The chattering waiter was very polite and quite nice, insisting that we would return many times after sampling their fine food.

All-in-all this place is a great bargain, quiet and cozy. A nice place for a relaxing meal while downtown in Amsterdam. The Warmoesstraat can be reached from the Dam Square or Central Station very easily, and is in the heart of the Red Light District of Amsterdam.