This was my 4th trip to Amsterdam (I am a KLM frequent flier). Amsterdam is not nearly my favorite European city but it has its high points. It's a pretty chaotic place with a very young vibe but there is plenty to do for those with more sedate tastes. The city is arranged in a series of conentric arcs, each accompanied by a canal, centered on the central train station on the waterfront and it's pretty much bifurcated by the eponymous waterway running at right angles to the canal system (the Amstel River). I suspect a lot of people on this forum have been to Amsterdam so no further explanation needed.
Amsterdam is pretty expensive. We spent 160 euro per night on the most basic of accommodation (barely better than a hostel) for a family of four. It was very well located though. Eating out was also pretty pricey for what you get. Amsterdam is not known for great cuisine but you can get anything you want here. The big fad in the city is South American steakhouses. They were ubiquitous. We tried Indonesian food for the first time (Indonesia was a former Dutch colonly) and it was pretty good and kind of a cross between Thai and Indian (and also very expensive). Pancake houses are pretty common too but generally not served as a breakfast food.
Here are a few pictures beginning with some shots not in Amsterdam at all, a series of windmills at Kinderdjik which is actually just outside of Rotterdam.
Amsterdam: The Museum Quarter. This area is in the 3rd tier of concentric rings out from the center of the city. It's still only about a 20-25 minute walk to the central station from the Rijksmuseum.
Shop near the Van Gogh Museum.
Van Gogh Museum
Concert Hall in the Museum Quarter
The Rijksmuseum, my personal favorite building (and attraction) in the city. By 11 AM, lines to get in were an hour long. Fortunately, we were there at opening time.
Stately homes across the canal from the Rijksmuseum:
Near the Museum District is Leidsplein, probably the livliest of the city's many plazas
Moving towards the center, the next few shots are from an area in western Amsterdam called Jordaan not far from Anne Frank's house.
My only shot from an area known as Konigsplein
Again, towards the center, this area is a flower market near another of the city's Plaza's... Rembrandtsplein.
Note the bicycles. These are probably the major form of transport in the city along with the numerous trams. The combination of trams, cycles, buses makes Amsterdam a difficult place to drive (I didn't try) and also it can be trying for pedestrians. Bike rentals are available. The bikes are extremely low tech and plain. No 21 speed Treks; they aren't need due to the flat terrain and they would most likely be stolen pretty quickly (160,000 bike thefts per year acc/to Lonely Planet).
The Flower Market
A few pictures from the City Center
Chinatown near an area known as New Market
The Red Light District (sorry, pictures of the prostitutes in the windows were strictly forbidden, even from the street).
Interesting sign assoc/w a restaurant in the Red Light District
Immediately adjacent to the Red Light District is the city's oldest church
Dam Square. This is the city's most central and largest public plaza but it did not have the large population of restaurants around it like Leidseplein or Rembrantsplein did.
Shopping Street off Dam Square
The Central Station. Great Building.
The ubiquitous Amsterdam coffee house. While there is no doubt that there is plenty of soft-drug related tourism in Amsterdam, I saw only one person smoking marijuana outside of a coffee house setting (and that was in the Red Light District). I was told that smoking weed was not socially acceptable in public outside the coffee houses.
A couple of scenes along the waterfront
Hope you enjoy. I'll try to get the other lesser-known cities up soon.
. They stand completely still like statues and have a little cup out for money; I don't think they ate all that well that night.