When is the best time to go on holiday to Amsterdam? Netherlands: independent trip How much does it cost to fly to Amsterdam for a week
Amsterdam is a dirty city. But the mess is somehow familiar, homely. I don’t want to check every shop and the cleanliness of forks in establishments. You know that everything is not very sterile, but somehow you take it calmly. And this is true for everyone. Even those who are used to constantly wiping their hands with antiseptic. Such magic.
What happens with famous houses is very unusual - at first they seem the same, like a solid chocolate bar with a fancy pattern, and then you begin to see the differences: the size and shape of the windows, shutters, the design of the door and porch, the tiles on the roofs and even the degree of inclination of the building itself.
By the way, about the porch. The Dutch take special care of their porch. Required attributes:
- many different bushes;
- a bench so you can go out for a smoke in the evening;
- something on the windowsill (from eccentric porcelain pugs to a touching collection of vintage mini bottles);
- and an Instagrammable parked bike, of course.
At first you want to constantly take pictures and photograph every porch, but then the obsession goes away and you start to just enjoy it.
During sunset, the city is incredibly warm. Regardless of the time of year. The canals, bridges and alco-boats acquire such beautiful color and light that it seems as if you are inside a film photo.
About people
Very beautiful. Tall, stately and, how can I describe it, healthy, or something. Shiny hair, muscles, a white smile - as if they were all from a poster about healthy lifestyle.
There are no abandoned cats, dogs or people in Amsterdam. Only bicycles that can sit and rust for years are abandoned here. You won’t see a single animal on the street without a collar and an owner nearby. Even cats have their own little collars. There are no homeless people here either.
This is how they solve the problem. Let's play out a scene:
Social worker: Hire this wonderful man, he is left on the street.
Dutch entrepreneur: No, I don’t want to.
Social worker: If you hire him, you will not pay tax on him, which you pay for all your employees.
Dutch entrepreneur: But he doesn’t know how to do anything!
Social worker: Okay, you are exempt from taxes and will receive additional compensation for a while.
Dutch entrepreneur: Ok, I'll take it.
The waiters and sellers always smile and are sincerely interested in where you come from and how you like the local food. By the way, in few European cities this is noticeable, but in Amsterdam, before asking for coffee at the bar or starting to voice your order to the waiter, it is customary to ask “How are you doing?”
When is the best time to fly to Amsterdam?
The best months to visit are April and November (according to someone who has been to the Netherlands more than 40 times).
In April, everything around blooms, smells and the air is fresh and ringing. Such beauty that even those who are always dissatisfied with everything will not be able to resist (if you have such a friend, advise him to go to Amsterdam in mid-April).
In November, you can find yourself in a Christmas fairy tale ahead of time. It gets dark quickly, hundreds of lights come on and are reflected in the canals. Sometimes snowflakes can come down from the sky and dance with you to the nearest pub. By the way, there are no drunk people on the streets at this time. And in general there are few people - the autumn holidaymakers have already left, and the New Year's revelers are just buying their tickets.
Summer in Amsterdam is also very pleasant. There is no heat, there is a light breeze, but there are a lot of tourists.
Think twice before heading to the Dutch capital on the Queen's birthday (April 30). On this day, all of Europe comes to Amsterdam. It’s very festive and fun, but if you don’t like crowds and crowds, it’s not worth it.
The same applies to the January holidays. Everyone is drunk on the streets. Of course, people are kind and there is no aggression, but you quickly get tired of the eternal party.
In September-October it is rainy and cloudy in Amsterdam. You might as well go to St. Petersburg.
How to choose tickets
It is better to choose direct flights, although they are more expensive. It's only once, when you miss your plane during an hour-long layover in Frankfurt, that you realize what it's all about. Only after 9 hours at Munich Airport will you realize the value of this advice.
As an option, you can deliberately fly to Munich, eat sausages there and relax, and a day or two later fly to Amsterdam.
It is better to look for tickets for direct flights in advance, taking advantage of all the features of our website.
What to take with you
You can only truly enjoy Amsterdam if you have the right equipment.
Be sure to take with you:
- A waterproof and windproof jacket (even in summer).
- Thin but warm sweater.
- Comfortable waterproof boots (rubber boots are not suitable).
- Spare shoes (when you walk a lot you need to change your shoes, otherwise even your slippers will start to chafe).
- Quick-drying pants (linen is also suitable for summer).
Where to live
Don't rush to rent a house on the central canal. It is absolutely certain that there will be a Coffeeshop or bar under your windows (not everyone likes this). Plus, such housing is 2 times more expensive.
Take a closer look at the areas of Pijp Oud-Zuid and The Plantage (closer to Oosterpark). It’s very cozy there, there are no crowds of tourists, there are many more cute establishments where locals hang out, and adequate grocery stores (the Dirk chain is very cool).
How to get to the city
Taxis, buses, horse-drawn carriages - forget it. Only the train.
A ticket costs up to 4.1 euros (the amount depends on the payment method) and you can buy it on the way to the exit from the airport - in yellow machines, which are located like daisies in the center of the hall. The machine accepts cards and coins. You can buy a ticket for paper euros at the ticket office, but it is more difficult to find.
Trains depart from platforms 1 and 2, travel with stops and arrive at the Central Station. The journey takes 15-20 minutes.
There is only one airport in Amsterdam, so it is quite busy. Be prepared for the fact that you may not be able to get on the train. Fortunately, they run every 15 minutes. At night - every hour.
Things to do?
You should not constantly walk along the red light district, Dam Square and other tourist places. Walk through once, check the box and move further away - beyond the Old Town area. This is where Amsterdam will cover you without any grass.
You need to walk through all the parks while lazily drinking Grolsh or munching on waffles. Amsterdam is very green and the air is rich and tasty.
If you want fashion photographs, go to museums of modern art: Moco Museum (12.50 euros per ticket), Stedelijk Museum (18 euros) or gallery W139 (payment optional).
Here are a few more places.
- Huis Marseille, Museum for Photography- the oldest photography museum at Keizersgracht 401.
- Canvas used to be a canteen for workers of the newspaper De Volkskrant. Now it's a cute rooftop bar with restaurant and club. Head to Wibautstraat 150.
- Cinemacenter- a cinema in retro-modern style, very beautiful. Movies in English. Ticket price: 9.50 euros. Search at Lijnbaansgracht, 236.
In general, Amsterdam is not the kind of city where you just want to run through all the sights and add the Netherlands to your boastful list of countries. Here you just need to walk - on foot, by bike, by boat. And this “must do” list only spoils everything, makes you fuss and run somewhere again. Isn’t that why we go on a trip?
Souvenirs
Chocolate Tony's Chocolonely
The bar is simply huge and catastrophically delicious. There are options with salted caramel and all sorts of coconuts. There are people who, for the sake of this chocolate, went on another Amsterdam trip. The packaging, by the way, is amazing.
A large tile costs 3.5 euros and can be found in almost any supermarket.
Monkey
You can buy this cutie in the souvenir shop at the Central Station in the IJ-hal pavilion, and it costs a little more than 6 euros. The origin of this monkey is unknown and why it was given the honor of being included in the souvenir collection is also unknown. If you find out, tell us.
Duck
A rubber duck in an unpredictable costume from the Amsterdam Duck Store is a great souvenir option. There are also small keychains in the store - but what's the point of them? You need to take a full duck for 25 euros. Collectible options (like Darth Vader, who glows when in contact with water) will cost more. By the way, the store does not accept cash, payment is only by card. You need to look for a duck's nest at Oude Leliestraat, 16.
It is better to buy all kinds of standard magnets, tulip bulbs and porcelain figurines (if you need them) in the Pijp Oud-Zuid area. On a secret street somewhere between the Heineken factory and Sarphatipark there is a market where you can buy watermelon smoothies, fresh fish, a leather belt, mini pasta and traditional souvenirs. They will be no different from magnets from the famous 100% Holland store.
You can also buy a cool set of house magnets at the Flower Market - 10 pieces for 12 euros.
If you think that you will get high from chocolate, tea or lollipop with cannabis, this is not so. Although it depends on the strength of self-hypnosis.
At Waterlooplein Market you can also find souvenirs, clothes and even antiques. The market is open every day, except Sunday, from 9:00 to 16:00.
In general, don’t be afraid to feel somehow uncomfortable in Amsterdam because of the embodiment of imposed stereotypes. Yes, the smell of grass is permanent. Yes, the Red Light District starts working in the evening. Yes, you can meet a grown man at a bar with makeup and a dress a la “Captain Sequin.” But there is no feeling that there is only debauchery around, everyone is stoned and insane. Amsterdam is not about that at all.
Amsterdam is one of the European capitals, which is very popular among tourists from different countries, including Russians.
Since beach holidays are not expected in Amsterdam, there is practically no so-called low season in the city - after all, all attractions and entertainment are available to tourists all year round (although there are periods when there are fewer tourists than usual).
Nevertheless the weather in Amsterdam varies quite a lot from season to season, Therefore, choosing the time to travel depends on your preferences and goals.
Spring
Tourists who come to Amsterdam in the spring can expect good weather - already at the beginning of March, winter begins to slowly recede, and the air warms up more and more. However, I would not call March an ideal month for a trip - it is quite damp, so walking in the fresh air is not very pleasant. Average March temperatures, as a rule, do not exceed ten degrees, but precipitation is quite possible.
April and May are some of the best months to visit the city. Average monthly temperatures are already reaching 15-18 degrees, and the amount of rain is beginning to slowly decrease. The dampness is already leaving, so you can walk all day long, secondly, it becomes quite warm and sunny, and, finally, thirdly, it is at this time that flowers bloom in Amsterdam - first of all, these are, of course, tulips, which This is how the Netherlands is famous.
In general, the weather is conducive to visiting the city, and the flowers give it a special charm. Not far from Amsterdam there is Keukenhof Park, where the tulip season takes place - at this time guests come there to admire the different varieties of these magnificent flowers.
On April 30, the Birthday of the Queen of the Netherlands, tourists also come to Amsterdam to admire the festivities dedicated to this event.
Summer
Summer is the warmest and sunniest season in Amsterdam. It is in the summer that there are most clear, fine days. At the same time, in summer it is not at all hot in Amsterdam (like, for example, in the southern European city of Madrid), so the stifling heat will not prevent you from exploring the city.
I will give specific figures - in summer the daytime temperature in the city is 18 - 20 degrees, extremely rarely the thermometer creeps to 25 and above.
In my opinion ,summer is one of the best seasons to explore the Dutch capital- perfect for walking and sightseeing.
However, it is worth considering that it is possible that the temperature may drop and it will rain - it would be a good idea to take a jacket and an umbrella with you, and perhaps even some warm clothes.
In the summer, the city hosts a Dutch theater festival in the Vondelpark (usually held in early June)
and other events (there are quite a lot of them, you can choose something to suit your taste).
Autumn
Amsterdam in early autumn is quite beautiful - you can see colorful leaves and the so-called golden autumn. In September the weather is still quite warm, which is conducive to walking.
By the way, just in September the city hosts a flower parade. As I mentioned above, Amsterdam is famous for flowers, or rather tulips. A flower auction is taking place near the capital - those interested can buy potted plants there or just see what is on offer. On the first weekend of September, there is also a flower parade - fancy structures made from real fresh flowers ride through the city streets on huge mobile platforms. The whole event ends with concerts and fireworks.
But in October the picture changes dramatically - cool, rainy (and at times windy) weather awaits you.
November temperatures drop below 10 degrees, and inhospitable weather makes exploring the city difficult.
Winter
Amsterdam winter is far from the most pleasant time of year. As a rule, temperatures are not very low - they rarely drop below zero, but at this time the city is wet, damp, windy and cool. It is during this season that the city is characterized by fog and thunderstorms.
Sometimes it’s true that frosts come into the city and snow falls - but still this happens quite rarely.
From my own experience, I note that our trip to this city took place at the beginning of January (it so happened) and it was far from the best time to visit the city - in all five days we never saw the sun, although it was not very cold - in on average 5-7 degrees, but it often rained, which, by the way, started quite suddenly, it was constantly wet and damp. Mostly we tried to be indoors - museums, restaurants, bars, but short runs between them did not bring us any joy :)
We were able to walk around the city itself only a couple of times, when it was relatively dry.
Of course, we liked the museums and other interesting places, but next time we would not go to Amsterdam in winter.
In my opinion, the best time to visit this city is from April to September, next time we will try to get tickets for this time.
Best season to visit Amsterdam
So, to summarize, I note that The best season to visit Amsterdam is the summer months, as well as late spring or early autumn. Of course, good weather also attracts other tourists to the city, so you will be surrounded by crowds almost everywhere. Hotels (especially those at low prices) sell out quite quickly, so if you are planning a visit to Amsterdam during this period, it is better to book everything in advance. For the same reasons, queues at museums and other entertainment venues are not uncommon.
Also, the flow of tourists to Amsterdam increases on New Year and Christmas - prices during this period may increase, although the weather leaves much to be desired.
The quietest (dead) season in the city is November, early December, late January and February- if you are prepared for cold and damp (in Amsterdam there is generally high humidity, but this is especially felt in winter) weather, then you can go there during this period. A pleasant bonus will be discounts on housing, air tickets and the absence of a large number of tourists.
In general, choose based on your preferences, because each season has both its pros and cons.
Let's travel to the Netherlands on our own! All information about the country for organizing a budget trip to Holland: how to get there, what to do, what to try.
Have you long dreamed of visiting the Netherlands and the charming capital of this northern country? Rest assured that traveling to Amsterdam on your own is not at all difficult, just like going to other Dutch cities. All the most important information about the Netherlands is in this article - it will help you realize your plans.
Preparing an independent trip to the Netherlands
1. Finding cheap flights
If we talk about finding tickets for an independent trip to the Netherlands very briefly, it is worth noting the following:
- The easiest option is to track on our website those flying to the Netherlands from Moscow and St. Petersburg. Inexpensive air tickets to Amsterdam can be found from Ukraine International, airBaltic, JAT Airways, Lufthansa, LOT and many other companies that fly from Russia to the Netherlands with a transfer in some European city (Kiev, Riga, Paris, etc.). The average cost of round trip tickets is about 10 thousand rubles. Look for cheap tickets on metasearch sites and Skyscanner.
- The second option is to fly to cities close to the Dutch border - Dusseldorf or Cologne. And from them you can take a bus or train to the desired city in Holland.
- You can also use the method through Lithuania, Latvia or Finland. This versatile option is also perfect for those who want to get to the Netherlands inexpensively.
2. Obtaining a Netherlands visa yourself
To visit the Netherlands you will need a Schengen visa. If you do not yet have an open Schengen card, then you need to contact the kingdom’s consulate or visa center. It is better to apply for a visa to the Netherlands (as to any other European country) on your own - it will cost you twice or even three times less, and the probability of receiving it will be exactly the same as if intermediaries submit your visa documents. For a regular tourist visa to the Netherlands, you will need a standard set of documents: an international passport, photographs, copies of a civil passport, an application form, ticket and accommodation reservations, insurance, a certificate from work or study, a bank statement confirming the availability of sufficient funds.
Don't forget about insurance! It will save you from expenses in case of emergency. Register it on the services or. Cost - from 300 rubles per week.
Travel between cities in the Netherlands
If you plan to visit several cities in the Netherlands or nearby countries (Germany, etc.), then these articles may be useful to you:
Travel accommodation:
- Look for hotels at the best price on Hotellook.ru - it compares prices of a variety of booking systems and finds the best one.
- Sometimes it is cheaper and more comfortable to rent a house or apartment - many interesting options from owners can be found on the popular service Airbnb.ru.
Things to do in the Netherlands
Look for interesting excursions on the Sputnik and . Individual and group, without crowds of tourists and in Russian.
Coffee shops and smart shops
These world-famous establishments are worth visiting in any case during your independent trip to the Netherlands: even if you don’t plan to try marijuana, cupcakes and other Dutch “joys,” you can buy yourself a coffee and just enjoy the surrounding atmosphere. There are a huge number of coffee shops in the Netherlands, so choose the one you like best in terms of interior, music, and atmosphere. The main thing is not to forget that, oddly enough, you cannot smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol in coffee shops. Products containing marijuana are, of course, only sold to persons over 18 years of age - you may be asked for an ID.
Continuing the topic, we cannot fail to mention hallucinogenic mushrooms (magic mushrooms), which are also freely sold in the Netherlands. Beginners should be careful with these things. It is believed that each variety of mushrooms (truffles) has its own effect - euphoria, hallucinations, increased energy, etc. However, in reality, species differences are not as important as the mood of the person who is going on a trip and the environment around him. It is always better to have a friend nearby - firstly, he will control your condition, and secondly, it will be more comfortable for you.
(Photo © Matt Spurr / flickr.com)
Red light district
Visit the fair and cheese attraction
At these events you can try and buy any type of cheese that interests you. Be prepared that the choice will be simply huge - there are even wasabi-flavored cheeses! The largest auction takes place on Fridays in Alkmaar from April to September.
Visit Dutch mills
The mill is one of the main symbols of the Netherlands. To see real windmills, you can go to the village of Zaanse Schans, located near Amsterdam. Most of the mills here function as museums. Also in the village there is a workshop-shop of national shoes and an old cheese factory. In the south of the country, in the town of Kinderdijk, you can also find windmills. The journey here will take longer, but there are fewer tourists here and the place is more authentic.
Admire the flowers
The Netherlands has been famous for its flowers for centuries. Here you can find the most amazing exotic species. But the most important flower of the country is the tulip. A great place to admire flowers to your heart’s content is Keukenhof Park, which is located near Amsterdam. The best time of the year is April and May. You can also visit the capital's flower market.
Visit Amsterdam Zoo Artis
The zoo is located approximately two kilometers southeast of Dam Square. Address: Plantage Kerklaan 38-40.
The area of the territory is almost 15 hectares. Here you can see more than two hundred species of plants and almost a thousand species of animals and birds. In addition to animals, the zoo has a large number of ancient buildings, such as a zoological museum and a library.
(Photo © Reinoud Kaasschieter + filter / flickr.com)
Dutch cuisine
Fresh raw herring
This is a traditional local dish that is eaten with onions. Young herring are especially prized; the time to catch them is spring. If you are traveling at another time of the year, you can try haring - this is again a herring, only lightly salted.
Cheeses of Holland
Of course, one of the main advantages of Dutch cuisine is the variety of cheeses. Everyone who comes to this country should try cheese.
Edamer is a naturally aged cheese. This Dutch cheese is made from cow's milk. Its peculiarity is a light nutty flavor. Young Edamer is not spicy in taste and is even a little sweet. Mature Edamer, on the contrary, is much drier and saltier. True cheese connoisseurs prefer cheese that has been aged for more than a year. However, the most popular and frequently encountered are the unseasoned versions of Edamer.
Gouda. This cheese is also made from cow's milk. Gouda traces its history back to the distant 6th century. The flavor of Gouda cheese ranges from mild and mild to intensely spicy.
Maasdam is one of the most popular cheeses in Holland, known throughout the world. The cheese got its name in honor of the small Dutch town of Maasdam. The peculiarity of the cheese is its large holes and sweetish taste. The famous Maasdam holes are formed during the aging of the cheese due to the gases produced during the fermentation process.
Peasant cheeses. These include Beemster and Stolweiker. They are unusual in that they are made from whole milk - thanks to this their taste becomes rich, close to creamy.
- It is also worth noting that Indonesian cuisine is extremely popular in the Netherlands, because Indonesia was a Dutch colony for a long time. Here you should try rice with some exotic meat sauce.
(Photo © Smabs Sputzer + filter / flickr.com)
Introductory image source: © WilcozPics / flickr.com.
Probably, like in any city where you come to relax and have fun, money in Amsterdam evaporates very quickly. The first time we came to Holland with Svetlana, for three days “pocket expenses” cost us 150 - 200 euros per person. "Where? How?!" – we tried to figure it out on the way home. Let's do the math.
Here I tried to collect information about the most popular costs and prices in Amsterdam. Do you want to add something? Write in the comments! Do you want to clarify something? Ask questions!
So, prices in Amsterdam (as of March 2019)
Transport prices in Amsterdam
- tram ticket: for one hour - 3.20 euros, for a day - 8 euros, for two days - 13.50 euros (find out more details). Order tickets without commission
- train ticket – 4.50 euros (+1 euro). You can buy a ticket online, this will save you 1 euro.
- train ticket – 20.50 euros (similar to ). Train tickets can be purchased online. Here you can buy tickets for the direct bus Eindhoven - Amsterdam (25 euros one way, 40 euros round trip).
- train ticket Amsterdam - Brussels - from 25 euros one way, Amsterdam - Paris - from 35 euros one way, Amsterdam - Dusseldorf - from 19 euros one way
- taxi from the airport to the center of Amsterdam – 40-50 euros.
How to save money. If you plan to travel around Holland a lot, buy (dagkaart). It is better to take care of this in advance, because... at regular ticket offices at the station they are sold at full price - 50.60 euros. Cheaper - for 15-20 euros - they can be bought during special promotions or as part of a Holland Pass.
How to save up to 1 euro on each ticket. When purchasing a train ticket from a machine, you will have to pay an additional 1 euro for a disposable card. When you buy a ticket to Holland online you will save this money.
Prices for tickets to museums and attractions in Amsterdam
How to save money:
- Consider purchasing a museum card, or an I amsterdam city card. Read the tips:
- Buy tickets online. Sometimes they are sold on websites at a good discount. In addition, purchasing tickets online will save you from having to stand in queues at the entrance.
- Make a list of museums that interest you and check out the combi ticket offers. There you can find interesting packages, including entrance to the Rijksmuseum and a one-hour boat trip (32 euros) and dozens of others. – and choose to your taste.
Prices for excursions in Amsterdam and the Netherlands
- group Russian-speaking tour of Amsterdam – 20 euros
- canal boat tour ~ 16 euros, depending on the company
- excursion to Giethoorn from Amsterdam – 89 euros
- bus tour to Bruges from Amsterdam for one day – 95 euros
The prices for all excursions above are per person. Cost of others
On the picture– our check for lunch for two (ice-coffee, tea, two salmon sandwiches – to make the scale clear, it’s in the photo below) at the Bagels & Beans cafe (by the way, I recommend it!).
How to save money. You can eat more modestly, for example, in the chain cafes La Place, in small cafes on Zeedijk street (very close to the Amsterdam Centraal station and). Alternatively, you can try the famous one.
By the way, in the center of Amsterdam there are a lot of restaurants a la Argentinian steak. Tourists love them, but locals are quite skeptical and avoid them. I don't know which one is right, but I prefer to trust the last ones :)
Hotel prices in Amsterdam
The price of hotels depends on the star rating, location and your wishes for comfort. If you're lucky, you can find rooms for 60 euros for two (conditions can be spartan). But it is better to count on an amount of 100 – 120 euros per day.
Prices for souvenirs
- fridge magnets – 5 euros for 3 pieces
- wooden shoes – 30 euros
- soft shoes – 10 euros
- Dutch stroopwafels – 1.50 euros per pack of 10 wafers
How to save money. In general, when it comes to souvenirs, the price tag almost never falls below the given figures. Wherein
What about the Internet and Wi-Fi in Amsterdam?
As a rule, free Wi-Fi is only available at McDonald's and KFC, all others are password-protected, and you won't find any places where you can join the network for free. If you come to a cafe, grab a cup of tea or coffee, then it is quite appropriate to ask for a password and connect to the network.
How much does food cost in Amsterdam?
It depends where and how you eat. We went to a Chinese restaurant and took one dish for two, drank tea, and paid 25 euros for everything. Everything was delicious, there was a lot of food, but still the price tag for food in Amsterdam is not the most friendly. In general, to eat, count on one meal from 10 euros. You are unlikely to find anything below, and if you do, it will not be the best offer. As a rule, cheaper than 10 euros is some kind of fast food (kebab, shawarma, tea and coffee).
Amsterdam Kebab
There are a lot of museums in Amsterdam. What can you tell us about them?
Yes, there are a lot of museums, we visited three, but I won’t say anything special about them, since we didn’t go there for the museums after all. Museums didn't inspire me.
Let's talk about what inspired you then!
(laugh) 🙂 Come on. A lot of people go to coffee shops in Amsterdam, and we are no exception. A coffee shop is an ordinary bar, but instead of alcohol, there is . The price tag is the same everywhere, from 8 to 14 euros. I usually offer 6 types of grass and hashish, which are divided into two large types: hang out and take a walk and relax and meditate.
out of focus
According to the degree of impact, all products are divided into three categories: low, medium and high. Everything is sold absolutely free. The better the quality of the product, the more expensive it will cost, but the sellers will tell you everything and recommend it. They even showed us the herb that won the Cannabis Cup and offered to buy it. You cannot take it with you or smoke it on the street, just like cigarettes.
Although we ourselves saw how some black man dealt with an ordinary policeman about the fact that he was black and wanted to get to the bottom of him because of this. Although the subject of interest of the policeman was the “joint” in the hand of a black guy. The black man insisted that the policeman was not a drug cop and told him to leave him alone. I think that such conversations would quickly end here, but here in Europe - everyone is quite tolerant of each other.
coffee shop amsterdam photo
What is about ?
Expensive and positive. Very expensive alcohol - for one small beer (0.2l) - 3 euros. 1 shot with alcohol (50ml) – 3 euros. If you decide to treat the young ladies present with alcohol, then this will give you a lot of respect in exchange for a lot of your money. Toilets and cloakrooms are paid.
There was an interesting moment, I accidentally stepped on the foot of a huge black man, and I thought that a mess would start, but nothing happened. We apologized to each other and went our separate ways. The difference in mentality is huge, we most likely would have started some kind of mess, here we just smiled and parted ways.
The people are very positive, everyone is singing and dancing, there is a feeling of celebration. The level of service is amazing, and this is felt not only in clubs, but also in everyday life. You are welcome in any store, people smile on the street, the police are happy to help you if you have a question. In any cafe they greet you, and when you leave, they say goodbye, even if you didn’t buy anything. It's very cool, and when you get there, you realize that Amsterdam is a city for people
Firstly, take more money with you, it flies away very quickly there. Food, coffee shops, souvenirs and 100 euros flew away, and you didn’t even notice where. 100 euros is a small change in Amsterdam, without much entertainment.
Secondly, if you are going to be there for a week, buy a pass for all types of transport at once, in the end you will save a lot on travel.
Third, relax and have fun! 🙂
The editors of the adventure project thanks Yaroslava Sokolov(Kaliningrad, Russia) for this interview.
Photos - Evgeniy Polyakov.
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