Is amsterdam really that fun?

Question

I'm thinking about going to Europe soon and am considering going to Amsterdam. I've heard the city described as both must-see and disappointing. The people who were really into the city raved about the legal pot activity. I don't plan on smoking if I do go. The people who didn't find the city that exciting said the city was just like any other European city except for the legal pot.

Would a traveler find Amsterdam interesting to go to if they dont plan on smoking out while there? I may still visit the red light tho...

Answer 1

Yes. But of course it depends on your interests. If you have no interests in mind-altering drugs or erotic fun, then Amsterdam would be somewhat less appealing – kinda like going to Los Vegas if you have no interest in sex or gambling. But even without sex and drugs, there are some things you might like. Perhaps the Van Goth museum? Or the The Rembrandt House Museum. Or the hiding place of Anne Frank. Just a few examples. But something else to consider: I think it is interesting and worthwhile to simply spend some time in a culture that is not as freakishly conservative and prudish as American culture. Even if you don’t agree with the political/social climate, you could gain some insights into other ways of being in this world.

Answer 2

Amsterdam Fun

Answer 3

I went to the Netherlands (spent most of the time in Amsterdam) back when I was in my early 20s and while it wasn't awful, it wasn't particularly thrilling either. The women in the red light district (that I saw, at least) were scary-looking. The public lavs are right there on the street and seem to empty into the canals, as such there is a pervasive odor of sewage in many parts of the city.

There are nice museums (Rembrandt) and the Anne Frank house and the Heineken brewery, but really, just about any other large city in Europe has the same kind of stuff.

I would recommend Berlin, Paris or Dublin over Amsterdam. If you want the sexy, then Berlin, Munich or Copenhagen.

Answer 4

You've said why you're not going(not going to smoke) but you didn't say why you're going. If youre interested in architecture, museums and history, then it's going to be a total bore. The architecture sucks, the Anne Frank house will probably fall because they pack so many people in there at once because there is nothing else to do. The Rijks museum is under construction, and all of the good/famous Van Gogh paintings are in the Musee D'Orsay.

There are probably 25 cities better than Amsterdam, when your looking for those things.

However, if you're going there to experience the culture of another country, you're not going to find it in Amsterdam, try going to Rottedam, VollenDam maybe even Eindhoven.

Answer 5

Being Dutch myself, I'm not a big fan of Amsterdam. Too many damn tourists... But I guess for a tourist it is fun to see so many things you can not see in most other countries, and I'm not only talking the stuff we legalized and most countries do not have (or at least, not as open as in Amsterdam). There is so much culture, great atmosphere, good beers and interesting history, just try to avoid the usual tourist traps, although a trip on a canal boat is even great fun for me!

Answer 6

Right, I really want to say something here. I do not understand most answers, and sorry Yo Yo, but I don't know where you do live in Amsterdam as most people in the whole of the Netherlands speak very good English. Being Dutch myself I am often amazed in Amsterdam that in shops most people start to talk English to me.

Then I do not understand that everybody here seems to think that Amsterdam is mainly about pot and prostitution. That is so untrue! Amsterdam is our capital and culturally very interesting. The history is very interesting and there are plenty of musea to dive into that history. Besides that, it is a fascinating beautiful city and history is seen everywhere in the old buildings.
If I visit Amsterdam I go not for the drugs or prostitutes, I go for the whole unique athmosphere, for the nice little weird shops and for cultural reasons.

But I agree that Amsterdam is definately not the only interesting place in the Netherlands. It is a small country so everything is pretty nearby, and I can advise you to make a trip through the whole country.
For cultural interesting cities, visit:
- Den Haag (our government seats there)
- Rotterdam (modern achitectural city with the biggest harbour on the planet)
- Utrecht (Very old city, friendly, beautifull buildings and canals, mellow athmosphere)
- Maastricht (in the very South. Used to be a Roman city)

And just visit the provinces! They are al different, like Zeeland (sea-land) is very interesting and pittoresk, Drenthe beautifull and very old, the Islands are very special and beautifull, and I can go on and on.

Check these websites out:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g188553-Activities-The_Netherlands.html
http://www.visitholland.nl
http://www.excite.nl/directory/Regional/Europe/Netherlands/Travel_and_Tourism
http://www.alltravelholland.com/Holland/Destination_Guides/Regions/Zeeland.htm
http://home.hccnet.nl/jos.sparreboom/mapdrgb.htm

Answer 7

If fun is what you are looking for than Amsterdam is a good choice. It is definetly up there as far as having a good time, even without pot. It has intricate canals that encircle the city center and it also has some must sees like the Van Gogh musuem and Anne Frank House. However if culture is more what your looking for there are plenty of of other Europesan cities that offer a better cultural experience (ex. Rome, Athens, Paris).

Answer 8

Yes you will have fun even if you don't smoke. There are so many beautiful canals and you can take gondola rides down them, and there are lots of great museums including the Van Gough. I went to the sex museum also which was so much fun. The red light district is something you have never experienced in your life. I wouldn't plan on walking through there alone. There are glass windows all along the buildings that have prostitues in them dancing and trying to get you to buy them. They have a curtain behind them in the glass box that they bring you behind to do your thing haha. Some places actually had people standing outside talking to ever person that walks by trying to get them to come in. There were men prostitutes too that say come on in we got every kind of d*ick you want--- crooked, large, small, black, white, etc. Kind of freaky.

I paid for one of the city bus tours from a bus company on Damrak Street...and it was the biggest waste of money. I think it came out to around $50 per person and it was a dragged out tour that brought us to windmill after windmill (which was fine but all of the passengers would get off the bus at every windmill to take pictures, and there were about 50 people it was a huge greyhound type of bus so it took forever to get everybody out and back in), then eventually we stopped at this diamond factory for a tour and we were so fed up we just ditched the tour and went off on our own. I would recomend getting a tour book and reading up about what attractions interest you and do them on your own, you will enjoy it more.

I found amsterdam to be pretty safe. Although there were some areas of the city where the men would follow us for a couple blocks making comments under their breath to us but they would just wonder off eventually, it was just my self and a girl friend, both 22 at the time. Make sure you don't dress like a tourist, everything is really casual and not really any vibrant colors. They can tell who are tourist and who aren't, we learned that the first day when we wore bright colors like we do here in the states and thats when we got harrassed haha. Also, we had a hard time finding food that we liked. Their main dish there is mixed meats over rice, and all of their food was kind of weird. We found a great little italian restaurant right across the Street from Dam Square if your looking for something a little more normal.

Hope you enjoy your trip! and make sure you get a good tourbook before you go and read up about everything. Also if you are looking for a budget hotel we stayed at the Delta Hotel on Damrak street and it was perfect becuase it was cheap and we were in the middle of it all and you could walk everywhere- it included free breakfast too.

Answer 9

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Is amsterdam really that fun?
I'm thinking about going to Europe soon and am considering going to Amsterdam. I've heard the city described as both must-see and disappointing. The people who were really into the city raved about the legal pot activity. I don't plan on smoking if I do go. The people who didn't...

Answer 10

In Amsterdam is a wide spectral range of attractions for recreational and social sightseeing. They vary from fascinating old houses, just like the Oude Kerk, to oddities including the Hash

Answer 11

I went in 2001 and had a great time :) We basically went just b/c of the coffee shops, but there is alot of historical and sightseeing to do also while there. We went to the Van Gogh museum which was awesome, the Anne Frank House, and also the Windmills and Tulip fields were beautiful as well. Its fun for that kind of stuff and shopping, including a casino, but i think the best part were the coffee shops ;)