There’s no need to travel far when you live in Paris to discover new horizons, new cities, and enjoy a change of scenery. I had already written several articles about my little trip to Belgium two years ago; here I am again in the north of France with my short stay in the capital of Holland for a city break in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam is a 3-hour and 20-minute train ride from Paris. It’s both far and close… For those curious, the name of the city, Amstel-Dam, comes from the construction of a dam (dam in Dutch) on the Amstel river by fishermen who settled there a thousand years ago to fight against the rising waters. The Venice of the North, as it is called, is a unique city that lives to the rhythm of the water, like its Belgian neighbor Bruges, which is often graced with the same nickname.
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Table of Contents
International Orchid Day
This day, dedicated to the natural beauty of this plant, took place this year on September 4th at the Felix & Foam center (and it was actually the reason for my visit to this beautiful city) featuring a unique and ephemeral work composed of 150 3D potted orchids (5.1 meters long and 1.5 meters wide) by the Finnish artist Janne Kyttanen.
This typically Dutch event is explained by the fact that Dutch horticulturists are the largest European producers of orchids! Every week, some 1.5 million adult orchids enter the market through auctions or contracts. Of all the orchids sold in Europe, 90% come from Dutch greenhouses.
Thus, Art of Life, the association of orchid producers in the Netherlands, asks an internationally renowned artist each year to draw inspiration from the diversity of the orchid and create a special work for the first Thursday of September, the date on which the International Orchid Day takes place every year. This year’s edition was in partnership with Pantone, which designated the color of the year 2014 as Radiant Orchid.
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The Dutch contemporary art center Felix & Foam
Housed in the magnificent Felix Meritis building, Felix & Foam organizes an artistic and cultural program for 6 months with a focus on the young generation of artists.
On the program: photography, video, fashion, design, performances, exhibition, concept store, theater, concert… Felix & Foam Gallery
If you are in the area and the place is still open, I recommend you try the Restaurant Foyer which is located inside. A very good address for lunch or just to come for a drink.
Restaurant Foyer Keizersgracht 324 Amsterdam open from 11am to 7pm / free entry
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The I Amsterdam City Card
This card is particularly convenient if you come to Amsterdam for a short city break of a few days and want to make the most of it to visit the city. With the I Amsterdam City Card, you can have unlimited access to the Amsterdam public transport system for the duration of the card’s validity. In addition to transport, this card also gives access (free or discounted) to numerous museums (over 70) and activities (cruises, tastings…) in Amsterdam.
I Amsterdam City Card 24, 48, 72 or 96-hour cards Rates starting from €65 for 24h
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Insider tips for getting around Amsterdam
- By bicycle obviously, like all the city’s inhabitants; however, be careful not to get run over when you are a tourist, because bikes rule the road in Amsterdam.
- By public transport with GVB (give up the idea of a car or taxi, you’ll just waste time): a good solution is the unlimited transport card for 1 or 2 days (€12); strangely, you validate your card when entering the tram, but you must also check-out when leaving…
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Some great addresses in Amsterdam
As usual, you will find below a selection of great addresses tested and approved in the city.
Amsterdam Cheese Company
To bring back some gourmet souvenirs, including cheese…
Amsterdam Cheese Company 2 addresses Leidsestraat 2, 1015 DE Amsterdam Wijde Heisteeg 9 1016 AS Amsterdam
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The Andaz Amsterdam Hotel
The Andaz Amsterdam hotel is located in the historic city center on the site of the former municipal library along the Prinsengracht, Amsterdam’s "Prince Canal". Even if you can’t afford to stay in this 5-star hotel, it’s worth a look, so go have a drink at the bar, a cozy and chic place where you’ll want to sit down and chat with a friend.
Hotel Andaz Prinsengracht 587, 1016 HT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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The Amadi Park Hotel
In a much more affordable style, the Amadi Park Hotel is obviously a bit further from the center, but it remains accessible via tram and the welcome there is extremely friendly and warm.
The little extra: their organic breakfast is very good and their pancakes made on request are just delicious!
Amadi Park Hotel Eerste Constantijn Huygensstraat 26G, 1054BR Amsterdam
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De Laatste Kruimel
A charming shop with very good homemade cakes and a small tea room area to sit quietly and enjoy the delicacies from the display case.
The little extra: the tiny terrace at the back of the shop that looks directly over the canals, a perfect place to take a break and enjoy the sun!
De Laatste Kruimel Langebrugsteeg 4 Amsterdam
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The Café Bosco
One of the countless places with a terrace that makes you want to take a break when you are wandering around the city. This one is, by the way, right next to the Adami Park Hotel. For a quick lunch or just to have a drink in the sun.
Café Bosco Eerste Constantijn Huygensstraat 7-9, 1054 BN Amsterdam
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The Café Tabac
For a night out, a friendly and lively bar along a canal, and a little French name as a bonus, a funny nod to our tobacco shops of yesteryear.
Café Tabac Brouwersgracht 101 (Prinsengracht), 1015 GC Amsterdam
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After that, of course, there is simply the pleasure of walking in Amsterdam, wandering without any goal other than to discover the city around a canal bend, on a bridge, at the mercy of your strolls…
If you want to discover Amsterdam in a minute, you can also take a look at this short video from Expedia.
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I hope that with all this I will have made you want to discover or go on a city break in Amsterdam, and if you too have your own favorite addresses and insider tips, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments!
Photo credits: Mademoiselle Bon Plan and Art of Life Photos not royalty-free, permission from the photographer mandatory before any use
