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Her Go-Alone Amsterdam...
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| Evelyn Hannon
Amsterdam is high on my list
of female-friendly cities. I've happily revisited this destination
many times, most of them on my own and always in relative safety
and comfort. Invariably, I've had a "real good" time.
The district I recommend,
for journey women travelling solo, is the museum quarter in the
Oud-Zuid sector. Happily, the pesky types who tend to prey on female
travelers in city centers are just about absent here.
In this area, I like the Jan
Luyken Hotel, a four star "gem" owned and managed by
a mother and her two daughters. Rooms are quiet, spacious and decorated
with a woman's touch. Look for the "girl stuff" package in every
washroom--cotton balls, nail file, face cloth, make-up remover,
detergent and clothes pins. Complimentary afternoon tea is served
in the lounge and your location is prime--minutes away from major
museums, shopping and the concert hall. Tel: 020 5 730 730.
Alternatively, if you're on
a tighter budget, you might want to check on the
Hotel Smit located
just around the corner. The Smit
is a no frills, three star, family-run hotel located on P.C. Hooftstraat,
the shopping street catering to the whims of the wealthy. Rooms
are very small, unadorned but spotless. Each has TV, phone and private
bath or shower. If you don't expect the Hilton, this hotel's friendly
service and quiet neighbourhood locale (within walking distance
of the major museums) make it a real find. I've stayed there often.
For latest rates, fax: 020 0 629 161 or tel: 020 6 714 785. |
In Amsterdam it's easy to have fun
on your own.
Here are some of my tried and true go-alone activities.....
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If
art museums are your pleasure, a seven minute walk from either
of the above hotels brings you to a triad of visual treasures.
At Holland's national museum, the Rijksmuseum
(Stadhouderskade 42) you can contemplate the major Dutch masters.
Look out for Vermeer's "The Kitchen Maid" and, of course, Rembrandt's
large scale imposing canvas of the "Night Watch." The Van
Gogh Museum at Potterstraat 7, is considered one
of the best in the Netherlands. Take your time visiting with
such lovely creations as "The Sunflowers" and "The Potato Eaters."
And, close by, at Potterstraat 13, the Stedelijk
houses a modern collection which includes work by Matisse, Monet,
Chagall and Cezanne. Just wonderful! Buy some postcards to remember
your pleasure! |
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Visit Anne
Frank's Home ( Prinsengracht 263) and pay homage
to a young woman with an indomitable spirit. Anne was one of
100,000 Dutch Jews exterminated by the Nazis during World War
Two. This visit will probably hurt your heart but it will definitely
be a learning experience!
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Take a mid-day
break. Walk in Vondelpark
or, if you're feeling frisky, join the joggers who work-out
in this centrally located green space.
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There's also
culture to be found in this park. Movie buffs can seek out retro
screenings as well as other film buffs at the
Netherlands Film Museum (housed in a turn-of-the-century
building). Take the time to sift through their collection of
cinema books and cine-memorabilia. It's considered the most
complete in Holland!
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Browse Xantippe,
the prime women's bookstore (Prinsengracht 290). Ask for their
complimentary listing of "women's places." Expect excellent
resource material and, their female-friendly postcards are great
fun!
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If antiquing
makes your collector's heart go pitter-pat, head for the Spiegelkwartier
where a cluster of over one hundred quality shops awaits your
scrutiny. Ask shopkeeper Peter Korf de Gidts to show you his
famous white delftware, the pottery used by the privileged in
the eighteenth century. It's extraordinary! (Nieuwe Speigelstraat
28)
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At Srikandi
, a charming neighborhood restaurant, order rijsttafel
for one. This Indonesian-Dutch specialty is a delightful mix
and match eating experience. Enjoy small dishes of curry, chicken,
shrimp, coconut, veggies and a variety of hot sauces all served
over mounds of white rice. Wonderful! (Stadhouderskade 31)
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Catch a concert
of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra at the Concertgebouw
with it's world class acoustics (Concertgebouwplein
2-6). Don't worry excessively about dress code. The audience
is a genial mix of young and old who appear to be less concerned
with dressing up and much more interested in the quality of
music they are enjoying. And, don't fret about getting back
to your hotel after dark, either. There's a taxi stand right
outside the Hall.
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Shop up a
storm on fashionable P.C. Hooftstraat.
Choose Dutch delftware at Fooke and Metzer or original Dutch
fashions at Oilily. Stop in at Hugo Boss - the shop with the
most female-friendly view in Amsterdam. Do your own browsing
while all around you beautiful Dutch men are choosing suits,
ties and jeans. A perfectly lovely sight!
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Finally, if
at any time you feel that you'd like some company or some exercise,
remember the name Yellow Bike.
I'm told that these folks offer guided walking tours as well
as interesting bicycle tours of the city. You can contact them
at: Tel: 620 6940.
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Need more information?
 For
anything from tulips to cheese to windmills, where to stay and where
to go, be sure to check out the Netherlands Board of Tourism website:
www.holland.com.
The
Netherlands nationwide tourist info bureau is called the VVV.
In Amsterdam, they have four locations--
(1) inside Centraal Station,
(2) outside Centraal Station,
(3) on the corner of Leidsestraat and Leidseplein
(4) as well as one office at Stadionplein.
The staff is friendly, courteous
and oh-so-willing to help. They will assist with everything from
booking accommodation, to finding a fun restaurant, to providing
maps of the city. Main telephone number: 06 340 34066 |
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