Traveling to Amsterdam is best done during the spring and summer months, that does not guarantee it may not be rainy and cold.  Air prices are usually very good since Amsterdam is a major European gateway. The Schiphol Airport is 11 miles from the city and the departing trains every 10 minutes or so (until around midnight, and every hour from then until 6:00  am).  If staying at one of the finer hotels, they possibly have a bus to pick you up (KLM for the most).  Travel bytaxi is expensive, and not that often available.                            Shuttles are available, bikes, and canalbus.  There is little use for                             a  car in the city.

Just some facts:  Unlike travel into Canada, the rate of exchange right now is not favorable for the U.S. to the Euro (official European money honored by 12 nations).   Queen’s Day, April 30th, is a holiday (Queen’s birthday) that fills most all hotels and resorts, and is not perhaps the best time to be traveling into Amsterdam.  The time is 6 hours ahead of the U.S.  Voltage is 220 and they use the two-pin plugs. 

Yes, Amsterdam is a city of tolerance – to the religionist that is known by many other names.  The Dutch are into “right to true individual freedom of action and thought.”  They were among the first to legalize abortion, euthanasia, to be soft on drug tolerance, and finally decriminalize “soft” drugs, legalize “sex-for-sale,” and have an unbelievably low “sexual consent with adult age,”  and ignore the fact a person is homosexual and, of course they honor gay marriages.  All ( Picture is from:news.bbc.co.uk/.../ uk/newsid_1462000/1462628.stm) of this may not seem like a place a Bible-belt Christian would want to visit, but like all cities have areas certain people are not comfortable with, and a little planning on what you want to “see and do” will help insure a visit you are comfortable with.  If you can enjoy San Francisco, then you won’t notice much difference (although socially there is a lot of difference) in Amsterdam. 

There are the tulips from the end of April for the next two months following, the beautiful blue-and-white Dutch pottery, delicious Dutch cheese, great diamond buys, museums, trips on the canals, and much more to see and do in this city of “many faces.”

As a whole, you won’t get too excited about Dutch meals, but on the other hand, you won’t be terrible disappointed.  Talk about a meal being neither boring nor exciting – it must have been Dutch cooking!  Lucius is the best fish dining in the city.

For those interested in the historic side of Amsterdam, the Beguinage is the area to be in.  The Historic Museum, historic houses, and the Gallery of the Civil Guard are all in this area.

The area from Nieuwmarkt to Prinsenhof  is where you find the “real” people of the city and the everyday environment.  The area is complete with some buildings from the 1600’s to landmark dining.  In Amsterdam there is the red-light district, the Jewish district,  Jordaan with craft and culture abounding, Rembrandt area with more art, museums,  and culture, Herengracht with magnificent houses and lovely canals,  just to mention a few of the most visited places in the “city of many faces.”

Even though the exchange rate in Europe is not all that good, it may be a long time before it  gets better.  The cheaper air prices help offset that some, so it may be as good a time as any to see the city with the canals and tulips.

Happy traveling.