Hey Everyone, I'm going to be in Amsterdam from November 16th to the 25th. Originally, the plan was to go with a group of my friends but everyone eventually dropped out so now it's just me. This will be my first trip to Amsterdam so I'm curious if the city is fairly easy to navigate. Are there plenty of signs to help a lost traveller find central station from anywhere in the city? My hotel is a 5 minute walk from central station so I'm hoping that will minimize the chance of me getting lost. Really looking forward to the Cannabis Cup!
Appreciate it, FBN. That is a really cool page you put together. Thank you for taking the time to maintain it!
we will see you there...have fun and youll be fine...come to the crawl thing on the 24th..relax and forget what you were gonna say with us...5 more days...ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhok..lemme go find a tree
about navigation. You should not have any trouble. When you arrive get your bearings before you drink any alcohol or smoke anything. Establish landmarks "My hotel is just North of the Dam." or "If I pass Victoria Hotel I've walked too far." This is what I did on my first trip. I also bought a guide book, found my hostel on the map circled it and put a post-it flag on that page.
I'll definitely be there for the coffeeshop crawl on the 24th! That sounds like solid advice, Aliciao. I have a map of the city that I’ve already started marking up. I’m putting addresses I know into google earth and then marking the spots as accurately as I can on my paper map. I really, really hope that google earth is accurate about these.
its accurate...just remember the city looks like a big wagon wheel...if you mess up on the outside parts of the city you will walk..but walking is fun...start in the middle and work you way out...we bought a tom tom gps and it has europe(amsterdam) preprogrammed in it..all the resteraunts,all the money machines..and all the coffeshops now..lol...all it needs to do is light my bong really...used maps last year, had no problems..you wont either..see ya at the cup...have a great trip
When using Google Earth go to the bottom left on the layers panel and click Google Earth Communties. Most coffeshops are pinpointed with pretty good accuracy.
Oh that's neat, thanks for the tip! Man, that sounds awesome. You are getting GPS guided directions and I'm going to be wandering around with a map and a compass.
I will be in A-dam from the 29th to dec. 3rd. I'll be alone, i'm 18 years old and have never been to the city before. I have been reading alot of things about it being dangerous to walk around the red light district alone at night, can anyone comment one this, if its true, and what not. If so, does this count for even the early evening, or just late night. I mean, I can deffinatly handle myself and wouldn't be affraid of drug dealers comming up to me, but it would get a little sketchy if one would hold me up at knife point or try to mug me. If that happens alot it would surely keep me out of there at night. And how about the rest of the city at night? Since i will only be there a few days, I want to make the best out of the trip and try to do as many things as I can. Any feedback would be awesome, thanks
Well im an 18 year old girl and ive walked around alone at night before, nothing much happened. Sometimes some crazy drugdealer will come up to you but you simply say no, and walk away. The RLD is one of the areas thats most watched by the police, certainly at night, so that actually makes it pretty safe. Just use your common sense and youll be fine im sure.
the key is keep walking when a single person approaches. maybe even say "nay" one time loudly with confidence as you keep walking. also never walk towards a group of people standing around on a relatively empty street. you will see groups of shady people on the niewendijk at night and also on the rokin, damrak, damstraat, oudezijds voorburgwal if walking down an ally if you see somebody just huddling about, don't think twice about turning right around to the main street you came from and finding another side street to travel on. If you have to travel from central station to the leidesplein on foot at night just walk along one of the canals on the western canal belt. they are comparatively empty, a nice section, very safe, i even smoke while walking along these canals at night. the western canals include the (from east to west) singel, herengracht, keizergracht, prisengracht. all four travel in a north / south direction. they travel down half of the city center and then all four turn eastward just before the leidseplein. for more information on the areas of the city you can also check out my "newbie faq" at the top of this message board. watch your luggage if you take the train from the airport to central station. also always watch your purse / bag at all times. (in all restaurants , all bars, all coffeeshops) Have a nice trip Be smart and be safe! Koopa
thanks alot for the info , awesome , anyway, on foot, how long would it take to walk from central station to melkweg? and what part of adam is melkweg located? it just happens that one of my favorite bands here in the states are playing at melkweg the first night i will be in the dam. i'm even morrre excited than before, cant wait
Melkweg, is by the Leidseplein. It's is probably 20-30 minutes. Possibly 1K. Good map here (#5 is the Leidseplein; Central Station is #1 ) http://www.amsterdamhotspots.nl/map.html
melkweg is near leidseplein as bong stated..... its a 15 minute walk if you know your way and walk briskly. 20-30 if "strolling" and getting lost for a few turns
Shit, I've gotten "lost for a few turns" walking from Dam sqvare to Centraal station---well, but that was because I WANTED to...lol. A-dam is a super easy, and FUN place to "get lost" in!
psssssst. By the way, get lost on Handboogstraat (just before the Leidseplein) and dip into Dampkring. It's one of the hippest coffee shops in the city!! cheers!
Theres a simple way to always find your bearings in amsterdam. If you are crossing over a canal it means you are either going to or away from central station. Ask and im sure someone will point you in the right direction
