Author Topic: Amsterdam Master Thread (Read 230382 times)

SOS · « **Reply #180 on:** June 23, 2014, 08:39:33 PM »

Did anyone stay at the waldorf?
Which is a better location, the Pulitzer or Waldorf?

Fan of Dan · « **Reply #181 on:** July 23, 2014, 11:13:06 PM »

I have a bit longer than 7 hour layover in Amsterdam from 540 AM till 1 pm.

I plan to see the canals, walk around, maybe check out the flower market and Dams square. Don't want to do museums as my time is so short. Is it worthwhile to take a boat tour on the canal or can I see just as much from walking around?

Is it hard to get around and all in terms of directions? Any specific order I should do things in?

Thanks!

penina · « **Reply #182 on:** July 24, 2014, 03:07:06 AM »

If you walk from grand central station to the flower market you will pass many canals the bridge and Domsquare. The Portuguese synagogue is a 10 min walk from the flower market. We did not take a boat ride but we found walking around fascinating.

@Yehuda · « **Reply #183 on:** July 24, 2014, 03:29:56 AM »

Quote from: Fan of Dan on July 23, 2014, 11:13:06 PM

I have a bit longer than 7 hour layover in Amsterdam from 540 AM till 1 pm.

I plan to see the canals, walk around, maybe check out the flower market and Dams square. Don't want to do museums as my time is so short. Is it worthwhile to take a boat tour on the canal or can I see just as much from walking around?

Is it hard to get around and all in terms of directions? Any specific order I should do things in?

Thanks!

You'll see the canals as you walk around but a boat tour is probably not necessary. The streets are beautiful just walking around. Keep in mind, the flower market is not really a destination. It's more of a thing to walk through as you walk somewhere else so don't expect it to be an activity for you to do for an hour. It was cute to walk through, but most of what they sell is just seeds and bulbs for planting so it's also not as beautiful as "flower market" makes it seem to be.

If your next flight is at 1PM, that means you probably have to leave town around 10-10:30, so I'm not sure you would even be able to get into a museum, but if you want to try, I would suggest seeing the Portugese Synagogue. See if it's open that early and/or if you feel comfortable leaving a little later to the airport. It's not quite that ornate, but it's definitely huge and its wooden interior looks a quite different than other European shuls.

Because of your time limit though, a boat tour might be the only "thing" you'll actually have time for, so maybe just take one. (Yes, even though I said it's not necessary. I'm saying if you want to do a "thing", do a tour.)

Fan of Dan · « **Reply #184 on:** July 24, 2014, 09:42:18 AM »

Quote from: penina on July 24, 2014, 03:07:06 AM

If you walk from grand central station to the flower market you will pass many canals the bridge and Domsquare. The Portuguese synagogue is a 10 min walk from the flower market. We did not take a boat ride but we found walking around fascinating.

Thanks for the info. Did you find it hard to get around and find your way?

Quote from: @Yehuda on July 24, 2014, 03:29:56 AM

You'll see the canals as you walk around but a boat tour is probably not necessary. The streets are beautiful just walking around. Keep in mind, the flower market is not really a destination. It's more of a thing to walk through as you walk somewhere else so don't expect it to be an activity for you to do for an hour. It was cute to walk through, but most of what they sell is just seeds and bulbs for planting so it's also not as beautiful as "flower market" makes it seem to be.

If your next flight is at 1PM, that means you probably have to leave town around 10-10:30, so I'm not sure you would even be able to get into a museum, but if you want to try, I would suggest seeing the Portugese Synagogue. See if it's open that early and/or if you feel comfortable leaving a little later to the airport. It's not quite that ornate, but it's definitely huge and its wooden interior looks a quite different than other European shuls.

Because of your time limit though, a boat tour might be the only "thing" you'll actually have time for, so maybe just take one. (Yes, even though I said it's not necessary. I'm saying if you want to do a "thing", do a tour.)

I don't have in my head that I want to do a thing so to speak, I just want to see Amsterdam as well as I can in the short amount of time. On some websites I have looked at which discuss what to do if you have an airport layover, the canal tour was number one. So I was wondering if that was more for the experience which I don't really care for, or the views of the city.

Good to know what to expect with the flower market, it does sound different from the name.

penina · « **Reply #185 on:** July 24, 2014, 06:07:23 PM »

We be d locally found our way with a map and asked for directions on the street. You can uses Google maps on your phone

Allune · « **Reply #186 on:** July 24, 2014, 11:53:38 PM »

Quote from: SOS on June 23, 2014, 08:39:33 PM

Did anyone stay at the waldorf?
Which is a better location, the Pulitzer or Waldorf?

don't know about Waldorf, but the Pulitzer was great. Near Anne Frank Museum.

SOS · « **Reply #187 on:** July 27, 2014, 02:16:44 AM »

Does anyone have any info on the kashrus situation in Amsterdam? Any restaurants that you can recommend?

penina · « **Reply #188 on:** July 27, 2014, 04:12:32 AM »

Sal Meyer sandwich shop

moish · « **Reply #189 on:** July 27, 2014, 07:13:40 AM »

and hbaron

@Yehuda · « **Reply #190 on:** July 27, 2014, 07:27:48 AM »

Quote from: SOS on July 27, 2014, 02:16:44 AM

Does anyone have any info on the kashrus situation in Amsterdam? Any restaurants that you can recommend?

Seems like all the restaurants are under the same hashgacha (Ams BD) except the bakery and Golan which are under the Rabbi of the Chabad Yeshiva. When I was there, a guy told me he only eats at those 2 places bc the Chabad Rabbi is stricter, but that people do eat at the other restaurants.

- Pizza and Co. was the best pizza we had in Europe. I would highly recommend it.
- Sal Meijer was very good sandwiches in a little cute shop, BUT the sandwiches are kinda small. They're not so expensive, so I wish they would just charge a few euro more and add a few inches to the sandwich.
- We decided on Hacarmel instead of Habaron and didn't like it. We both got the entrecôte and didn't think it was flavored well at all. They also didn't take CC which we found out at the end, and the guy made us run around to find an ATM to pay.

Enjoy! We loved Amsterdam!

ChAiM'l · « **Reply #191 on:** July 27, 2014, 09:07:28 AM »

Quote from: penina on July 27, 2014, 04:12:32 AM

Sal Meyer sandwich shop

Way overrated.

lunatic · « **Reply #192 on:** July 27, 2014, 12:04:58 PM »

Quote from: ChAiM'l on July 27, 2014, 09:07:28 AM

Way overrated.

+1

steve L · « **Reply #193 on:** July 27, 2014, 03:21:44 PM »

Yea I concur. Was there last week. Only good food was pizza and hbaron

yls2011 · « **Reply #194 on:** July 31, 2014, 01:13:02 AM »

Going to be in amsterdam over shabbat, staying in the jewish community at the holiday inn express amsterdam-south. I found some lists of Shuls online, but you never know how up to date they are. Does anyone know of any "decent" Shuls in that area? Ashkenaz or sefardi is fine, just not a tiny shtiebel type of place.

SOS · « **Reply #195 on:** August 20, 2014, 02:07:32 PM »

What's the best way to get to town from the airport?

lunatic · « **Reply #196 on:** August 20, 2014, 03:25:57 PM »

Quote from: SOS on August 20, 2014, 02:07:32 PM

What's the best way to get to town from the airport?

There is a train that goes from the airport to the city

SOS · « **Reply #197 on:** August 20, 2014, 05:01:19 PM »

Quote from: bzuckerman59 on August 20, 2014, 03:25:57 PM

There is a train that goes from the airport to the city

Do you know which train to take to the Portuguese shul?

lunatic · « **Reply #198 on:** August 20, 2014, 05:27:16 PM »

Quote from: SOS on August 20, 2014, 05:01:19 PM

Do you know which train to take to the Portuguese shul?

In general, you need to take one train to the city and then switch to the city trams.. Never been to the Portuguese shul

penina · « **Reply #199 on:** August 21, 2014, 02:22:46 AM »

Once you get to grand central you can walk or take a tram. Its about a half hour walk. You can ask for directions once you get there.

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Author Topic: Amsterdam Master Thread (Read 230382 times)