Great for a laid-back day on the sun.. There is a grass area for you to lay and watch the boats and…read morean AMAZING sunset. (sorry other places but the sunset in this part of Amsterdam is amazing, you can see the sun setting and the reflexion on the water, and you get an ample view) It's a more quiet area of the town, super relaxing, & there are little cafes and shops around. Definately worth a bike ride to watch the sunset, or to have a picknick. During the sunny days, a lot of people sit and eat on the grass or by the picknick tables nearby, or even dare to go for a dip (I don't recommend it though, I think it's dirty and you can't swim far because it's forbidden to swim here)

I have been on canal, river, and archipelago tours all over the world, and without a doubt,…read moreAmsterdam is THE place to do a canal boat tour, or just walk along the promenades and see the canals for free as they are literally EVERYWHERE! A friend and I visited Amsterdam right on the cusp of tulip season, so the water and foliage weren't completely in bloom yet - and even then, the beauty of the canals shone through. You won't need to seek out the canals or the canal cruises or tours because they are just on every corner and in every cranny of Amsterdam. Canals canals canals! No complaints here, as I'm from the triple landlocked US state of Nebraska, so seeing a city made up of canals, tributaries, and water was a sight to behold. I can't say that I "recommend" the canals, because you can't escape them anywhere you go in Amsterdam, but I will just say to experience them in one way or another (a paid cruise or a free stroll!)

This is it. THIS is…read morewhat you came all the way to Amsterdam to see. Not the Anne Frank house. Not the Rijksmuseum. Not the Red Light District. Not the Vondelpark, not the Royal Palace. You came to see the city's canals, and they're just as fantastic as you've always thought! I probably took 200 photos of Amsterdam's canals in only a few days. They're so pretty and peaceful, and it's fun just to meander alongside the locals on bicycles while sticking with a water view. If you want to spend the perfect day in the city, just walk the canals until you get tired. Amsterdam's canals are pretty in a different way than Venice, Italy or Bruges, Belgium. They have a distinct personality that's all their own. And personality goes a long way.

my first sail event and unfortunately wasn't able to make it there till the weekend, when it's…read morecrazy busy. If you don't like crowds i recommend exploring during the week. I've never seen the water so busy with boats and it was fun to be in the middle of all of it on a boat. I only wish I could have seen the fireworks but maybe in 5 years i'll be able to see it...hehe. (this event only happens every 5 years). I heard there are plenty of events happening throughout the area (live music etc) and lots of great food. I wasn't able to explore all that but i definitely enjoyed and preferred watching everything happen from the water. i'm not much for huge crowds. If you happen to be lucky enough to be in amsterdam when this event happens it's worth a gander!

Amsterdam has so many festivals all year, but especially in the summer. This festival is extra…read morespecial because it is once every FIVE years. Yes, five! So, if you are in the area, you have to do something with SAIL. I attended the Pop-Up restaurant (http://www.yelp.com/biz/pop-up-l-invit%C3%A9-le-restaurant-sail-2015-amsterdam) for the SAIL IN which was amazing, but really over the 5 days there are a bunch of things going on. Music and themed events on Java-Eiland, Noord, especially on the NDSM area and more. There is a website, and a schedule, so be sure to grab one if you see it! Oh, and fireworks! There are fireworks each night! There is so much more to this festival that I don't even know about because I was happy just to watch the ships come into the Amsterdam harbor, and to leave again. It's a free festival that you can spend with friends and spend no money, or you can attend special events and get a VIP treatment. The pop-up shops and restaurants are great to visit. And there are food and drink trucks around if you want to grab a bite to eat. I can't believe we have to wait another 5 years for this!!

I have to re-write my review! I met the organizer in the Fat Dog and he told me all the problems he…read morehad that night. So next time it will be better and we will help him with the planning. See ya next time!!

Let's manage expectations here. This is not a place to go watch a movie. That's what movie theatres…read moreare for. The movies serve as a background to the hot tubs and the booze drinking, scantily clad people in those hut tubs. The ticket includes one bottle of cava per hot tub. Which is only one glass if you have a full tub. But one glass in a hot tub is double the effect. And no one at the party only had one glass. So it's not surprise that the event kicked off with sparklers and some baller hip-hop anthem. Nor should it have been a surprise that there was too much chatter and revelry during the movie. I quite enjoyed the idea of it - cheesy Vegas hot tub party in Amsterdam. Yes. The problem was the execution. The robes, if you were lucky enough to get one, were still wet from the night before (or if you like to think positively, from the wash). There weren't enough robes because apparently people went home with them. Yes, as in stole them. There was food but it wasn't prepared in time. But really people - you're sitting in inflatable hot tubs, drinking cheap cava in a concrete warehouse - you should have eaten beforehand and NO you should not be ordering any oysters from here. If they do it again, I hope they learn from their logistics mistakes and manage expectations of their customers more. And if you do plan to attend, know you're not going for the movie.

Cruise ship stopped here for a day. Found this little cigar shop. Fantastic selection definitely…read moreworth taking a look at if you're into cigars.

Great choice of cigars and actually too much to chose from (If only I had the money though)…read moreA very kind and hospitable owner, who is willing to help, charge your iPhone (I can tell) and give you a great coffee to charge yourself too. I'd say: pick a good cigar, take place and enjoy the ambiance that comes up in your head when you think of a cigar lounge. Oh, true, they have a cigar lounge too.