A field guide to getting lost in Amsterdam
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March 15, 2011 at 12:05 pm · Written by Christien · Filed under Brewery, Drinking, dutch culture, Going out, Socializing
The Netherlands might be famous for a lot of local brewed products, but something tells me that the first thing tourists try probably isn’t beer. For a reason, Heineken tastes like bitter water and other beers haven’t made it abroad.
However, Brouwerij ‘t IJ they did a courageous attempt to get rid of this stigma. And with some elements of success, as the beverage card features 10 local brewed beers.
A quick tasting of the first four tells that this attempt was rather fortunate.
A Friday afternoon is probably the best time to visit this old brewery that is located right next to an old windmill. In the pub, that slightly reminds the visitor of a tasting room, it is crowded with a vivid mixture of die hard locals just having finished their work and Loney Planet tourists.
Having drunk a few of their local brewed specialities like Natte and Zatte, people start to interact with each other and in only one hour an open minded and well willing traveller could get to know half of its local pub population. Besides, there are no other options than talking to the stranger next to you at the bar, as tables don’t seem to exist in the first area of the tasting room.
A sweet blonde one, an amber coloured bitter brew or a trappist beer, each beer has its own quality. With a local snack called Osseworst, a sausage of raw meat, and a portion of Dutch cheese with mustard a pub crawl should probably start here. Not end, because the brewery is officially not a pub and therefore closes at 8.00 PM.
The brewery is located on a stone’s throw from Artis Zoo.
The tasting room is open every day from 15.00 to 20.00
Regular guided tours of the brewery. A tour lasts about half an hour and are suitable for groups of up to a maximum of 30 people.
Brouwerij ‘t IJ
Funenkade 7
1018 AL, Amsterdam
This blog is run by LivingAmsterdam.com, an initiative of Robin Travels to promote the Socially Responsible Tourism.
October 29, 2010 at 12:56 pm · Written by Christien · Filed under Going out
Are you a lonely tourist lost in Amsterdam and you don’t know where to go on a Saturday night? Fear no more, because you are probably not the only one!
Saturday night, 10 PM. Location: Cafe de D’oude Herbergh, within a stone’s throw from the long and famous shoppingstreet Kalverstraat. I am on my way to a Couchsurfing meeting.
Couchsurfing is a travel website where you can get in touch with people from all over the world. Members can decide to meet up, to exchange couches or to go travelling together.
When I enter the small and cozy bar I see a crowded place with a colourful mix of people from all over the world talking vividly to eachother.
Time for a beer. When I walk towards the bar to get myself a Heineken I start talking to this German girl who stands next to me. Within two seconds I am in the middle of a conversation with someone I barely know. She tells me that she just recently moved to the capital to do an internship. And like so many others in this town she is looking for a cheap place to stay.The darkhaired guy standing next to us overhears our conversation and joins in.
Three hours later I have spoken to at least ten people of ten different nationalities. From ‘locals’ to tourists just visiting town for a couple of days: The differences between those travellers seem endless. But what these bunch of young people do have in common is the fact that they are here, this Saturday night, to meet other people and to share stories, experiences, humour and…Heineken beer.
When I leave the bar to go dancing with my friends in the OT301 (another great place to go) I am happy to have met so many different people who all share one passion. Travelling.
Become a member of Couchsurfing and then click on this link to find out more about the Couchsurfing meetings. http://www.couchsurfing.org/meetings.html?mid=93192
Café D’Oude Herbergh
Handboogstraat 17-19
Amsterdam
CS Meeting: Every Saturday night
OT301
Overtoom 301
Amsterdam
http://ot301.nl/page=site.home
This blog is run by LivingAmsterdam.com, an initiative of Robin Travels to promote the Socially Responsible Tourism.
October 9, 2010 at 11:49 am · Written by Christien · Filed under Rerlax, Sauna
Sick and tired of the raindrops falling out of the sky instantly? Do you want to relax but you don’t know where to go? Here is a selection of a few saunas for you where can forget about the crappy weather outsite and where you can reload your battery.
In the Indische buurt, hidden in a small side street, a huge church-like building shelters a big sauna. Being the only visitor on an early Saturday afternoon, the enormous Finnish sauna, the Turkish steambath, the solarium, the relax room upstairs and the bar looked deserted. The sauna is very simple and old fashioned, but cosy and pleasant. The entrance fee is 12 EUR, to be paid cash.
Halmaheirastraat 28
1094 RD Amsterdam
(0)20 – 774 91 80
http://www.saunacaprice.nl/
In Oud Zuid, at Culture Center De Binnenpret, the sauna has a rather ecological character, where the stress is put on promoting a ecologically responsable lifestyle. A team of volunteers is ready to give a wide range of long massages for only 25 EUR an hour.
The prices for using all the facilities of the sauna (Finnish sauna, Turkish steambath etc.etc.) vary around 8 EUR depending when you leave.
De Binnenpret complex
1ste Schinkelstraat 14-16
1075TX Amsterdam
(020) – 6716780
http://www.saunafenomeen.nl/faq.html
Other saunas in Amsterdam
Amsterdam Forest: Heart of Amsterdam, http://www.zuiveramsterdam.nl/en/home/
Keizersgracht:http://www.saunadekeizer.nl/
Heart of Amsterdam, Herengracht: http://www.saunadeco.nl/
Gay Sauna in the Center: http://www.thermossauna.nl/0index.html
Enjoy!
This blog is run by LivingAmsterdam.com, an initiative of Robin Travels to promote the Socially Responsible Tourism.
October 1, 2010 at 5:55 pm · Written by Christien · Filed under dutch culture, Music, Socializing
Are you a big fan of LP’s? 
Then you shouldn’t miss De Weergever.
This is a small bar and library where one can exchange gramophone records. There is an impressive collection of LP’s from all over the world. Around the big table in the middle of the small basement music fans of LP’s rotating on 78 RPM listen to music. At the bar there is fresh soup and beer for small prices.
At the Weergever one can also buy record players, needles, sheet music and everything you need to have when you are a collector of LP’s.
Every Thursday evening members of the society come together to exchange LP’s, to drink beer at the bar and to talk about their hobby.
If you want to join this unique society in the northern part of Amsterdam, you should become a member. For 25 euros a year you can get in contact with the 650 members of the club, buy your own LP’s and get the society magazine.
The club is open every Thursday from 19.30 to 22.30 and every Sunday from 10.00 to 17.00. The address is: Zamenhofstraat 116C, Postal Code: 1022 AG, Amsterdam (North)
Visitors can call chairman Dirk Woerlee for more information: 020 – 631 45 48
http://www.de-weergever.nl/index.html
This blog is run by LivingAmsterdam.com, an initiative of Robin Travels to promote the Socially Responsible Tourism.
The brewery is located on a stone’s throw from Artis Zoo.
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