Art and antique shoppers can have a great time in Amsterdam. The Spiegelkwartier (literally; Mirror Quarter) is where you head if you’re on the hunt for a unique present or merely want to look at beautiful objects. This quarter is crammed with lovely galleries displaying top notch art works and little antique boutique shops where […]

Bridges in Amsterdam cater to everybody. Whether you’re romantically inclined, are interested in architecture or have a keen eye for photography, chances are you’ll find the bridge of your dreams in this city. There’s no less than 1,281 of them, so take your pick. My favourite Amsterdam bridge is the Melkmeisjesbrug, literally Milkmaids’ Bridge.  It […]

If you’re staying in an apartment in Amsterdam, you’re bound to be fascinated by the way the houses in the centre of town look. Now that you’ve come that one step closer to the real Amsterdam, you could do with a visit to a museum called Het Grachtenhuis, located at Herengracht 386.   Translations catering to tourists […]

Donna Tartt is a bit of a sensation the world over, due to the two best-sellers she managed to pen during the last twenty or so years. Off late, the fortunes of this famous author have started to affect Amsterdam, because the city is where her third novel, The Goldfinch, is partly set. Tartt, who’s […]

Fancy a spot of diamond shopping in Amsterdam? I am not kidding; the Dutch capital happens to be the second most important diamond cutting and polishing capitals of the world, competing very hard with Antwerp in Belgium. Amsterdam’s two main diamond factories, Coster Diamonds and Gassan Diamonds are world renowned as is the infamous ‘Amsterdam Cut’ which […]

Slow food in a fast city like Amsterdam sounds unnatural. But of course, nothing could be more natural than grub, grown and/or procured locally, eaten in most cases on the spot. Various slow food outlets are receiving rave reviews in the press and that’s not only because they happen to operate in a popular niche […]

If you are like me and a bit of a Grand Designs fanatic, you must see the ARCAM museum when you’re in Amsterdam. This centrally located architectural museum currently hosts an exhibition entitled ‘Learning from the Seventies’. This subject is rather topical in the current Amsterdam architectural climate, where urban renewal dominates the agenda, not […]

When you pay a visit to the Artis Zoo, it won’t just be to keep the kids happy. Because besides presenting the flora and fauna, Artis also serves up excellent fodder for grown-ups. For instance, there are many animals in the zoo that manifest gay tendencies, which is something that has caught the attention of the […]

The Houseboat Museum The Houseboat Museum on the canal Prinsengracht in Amsterdam, a renovated vessel showing tourists what life as a real Amsterdammer is like. What usually comes to mind when you think of Amsterdam? That’s right – bicycles, beer and boats. And you can now discover more about the latter at the Houseboat Museum […]

Foam Fotografiemuseum A brief guide to Amsterdam’s Foam Fotografiemuseum, which presents photography enthusiasts with the chance to browse fabulous exhibitions from world-loved artists and new talent.  Photography buffs far and wide flock to Amsterdam to visit the Foam Fotografiemuseum, which is home to stunning exhibitions covering a range of genres. As well as featuring the […]