Amsterdam

[Boots]

I'm headed to London a week from tomorrow for about 8 days. My wife is traveling on business and I'm just tagging along to have fun. She'll be working during the week, so I figured I'd make an overnight trip over to Amsterdam to just hang out and such.

So I thought I'd check on here if anyone had been there and thus had any suggestions of places to see, a favorite coffee shop, etc.

Also anyone know a good way to travel from the London area (I'll be in Milton Keynes)? It's looking like train is going to be a good 7-9 hours (any faster way, planes didn't seem that much faster). I'm doing my best to navigate these damn internets but it's tough, so any inside info would be appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance

[Albert Tatlock]

I'm headed to London a week from tomorrow for about 8 days. My wife is traveling on business and I'm just tagging along to have fun. She'll be working during the week, so I figured I'd make an overnight trip over to Amsterdam to just hang out and such.

So I thought I'd check on here if anyone had been there and thus had any suggestions of places to see, a favorite coffee shop, etc.

Also anyone know a good way to travel from the London area (I'll be in Milton Keynes)? It's looking like train is going to be a good 7-9 hours (any faster way, planes didn't seem that much faster). I'm doing my best to navigate these damn internets but it's tough, so any inside info would be appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance

You can get a faster train to Brussels (EuroStar - same as for the Paris route) and maybe travel on from there? Is that any better? EasyJet run planes from Stanstead to Amsterdam I believe, and Stanstead would be easier to get to from Milton Keynes that having to go to Heathrow. What with the extra security checks lately that could add an hour onto your plane journey since you would have to arrive earlier.

 

The only time I was in Holland we were driving around for a long weekend after flying to Eindhoven (also from Stanstead with RyanAir), so only had a day in Amsterdam. Never really went to a specific sight there, just wandered around the central canal district (some "window shopping" if you know what I mean ), which was all found in a very compact area. The main railway station is right in the centre if you are arriving by train.

 

Oh, and Milton Keynes : Enjoy the roundabouts!

[mountain bed]

I'm jealous man! Boots,I hope you enjoy & as JG would say have yourself a High Time

Scott

[bedbug]

I shampoo'd my way over to Amsterdam from London on an EasyJet. Pretty cheap ticket, smooth flight. Vondel Park is pretty much incredible. Don't remember any of the names of the shops I went to, but if you're in the red light district, you won't have any problems finding what you're looking for.

[Sir Stewart]

I shampoo'd my way over to Amsterdam from London on an EasyJet.

Nice one.

[Dreamin']

I visited Amsterdam about 10 years ago, so it's been too long to recommend cafes and bars. It's a great city to explore on foot or by bicycle.

 

If you're an art lover, the Stedelijk (modern art), Rijksmuseum, and of course the Van Gogh Museum are a must. I found the Anne Frank Huis very moving - I read The Diary of a Young Girl on the long flight over from the west coast of Canada, so it was fresh in my mind, and some little details (like seeing the clock tower from the attic window) gave me goosebumps.