Talk about parks. The greenest, biggest and most famous is all one – Vondelpark. Time to get romantic? Head to Vondelpark. You can simply chill out with the love of your life lying on the grass in this park. People say the experience is fantastic and maybe that’s the reason why more than 10 million visitors flock to this city park (the largest in Amsterdam). Amsterdammers love it and so do tourists. If you have nothing better to do, this park is one of the best for people-watching. There are hundreds who arrive here on any sunny day for dog walking, roller skating, bike riding or simply to do nothing. Other highlights at the park include
•The Groot Melkhuis with a children’s playground
•Statue of the poet Vondel
•The film museum and its popular terrace [Performances for children on Wednesday and Sunday afternoon]
•Cast iron music dome
•The open air theatre [Free children shows on Wednesday afternoon]
Here is a great review: “You can see some local people playing petanque while smoking a joint and drinking a pack of Heineken, or you can see a couple sitting on a bench and having a picnic, or a beggar sleeping in the grass, or a dog swimming in the small lake for his owner stick, or a musician playing flute, or catch a free concert of local music..”
A kilometer full of nothing but shops on both sides and people on the roads. If you want to get a feel of what the Amsterdam vibe is all about, this is the place to be in. This pedestrian area is close to the Central Station. Shopping in this area gifts you the added advantage of some sightseeing as well mainly because this road leads to the Dam square around which you can find the Royal Palace, Madame Tussauds and Nieuwe Kerk.
Kalverstraat stretches out to the other side of the square. Look out for any brand name and you can find it here. Spui, is one area you can look forward to as a respite from shopping in this area. You can also think of enjoying a quiet drink in the very many cafes, restaurants and bars in Spui.
De Jordaan, constituted by a maze of tiny streets is home to at least a twenty thousand natives – mainly young entrepreneurs, artists and students. You can spend some time strolling around the courtyards, monumental buildings, art studios, numerous boutiques and galleries in addition to doing some exciting shopping.
The Haarlemmerstraat sited nearby is an ideal place to have a hearty meal after a hard day’s shopping. If you are lucky enough you might stumble on a hidden treasure in this funky neighborhood. Keep wishing!