The central public library in Den Haag is attached to the city hall, very centrally located in the…read morecentre of town. In addition to books and other such library items, they also have a really good setup of tables and couches and free wifi if you're looking for a quiet place in the centre of the city to study or work for a few hours. I came here because I had a couple of hours to kill and some work to get done on my computer, and I didn't feel like paying for endless cups of coffee in a cafe. I snagged a spot at a table, easily connected to the free wifi, and got to work! Since I don't live in The Hague, this is the most useful purpose of the building for me. However, I'm sure it's also a great library for borrowing books!!!!!

From the owner: De zes verdiepingen van de Centrale Bibliotheek met informatie en ontspanning zijn vrij…read moretoegankelijk voor iedereen, lid of geen lid van de bibliotheek. Verdeeld over de verdiepingen zijn er zo'n 600 individuele studieplaatsen Ook voor krant of favoriete tijdschrift is de bibliotheek het juiste adres.

A very nice place for a happy hour drink. It's dimly lit and quiet (and warm on a cool night). The…read morefood looked very good, as well. This isn't much of a review, but Leiden has so few reviews for their bars/restaurants that I figure something is better than nothing!

Always a lovely dining experience at de Burgerzaken…read more They don't have a massive menu but it is a menu with something for everyone. I have always had lovely meals there. The tables aren't too close together and it lends itself well to conversation. Their service for Lunch is very nice. Their lunch menu is pared down to a few very well made open faced sandwiches and soups. The outdoor seating or in the front across from the original city hall on Breestraat is a great location for people watching. There is additional seating in the back patio.

Miniworld is a nice place to visit with family or friends. We each used our RotterdamPas membership…read moreand so its free admission for us. Otherwise, admission is currently 14.70 Euro per person. You'll get to see miniature models of Rotterdam's landscape, such as the Erasmusbrug bridge, Euromast, Stadhuis (City Hall building), Rotterdam Centraal Station, and etc. You can spend about 30+ minutes here to browse the entire exhibits. They are also constructing a miniature version of Great Britain in the lower level, but it will probably take a few more years to complete. Overall, it's a cool tourist attraction to check out while in Rotterdam. It's also a five minutes walk from Rotterdam Central Station.

One of the most fun things we did in Rotterdam. Admission (~10,0) euros is reasonable, and free…read morelockers once you get your 2 euro coin back. Stepping inside, you are steeped in a vast, complex mini world highlighting Rotterdam and many neighborhoods and smaller local cities to the area. At a scale of 1min. = 1hr., it's really cool to watch the day lighting transition to evening lighting (pinks), and finally end with night. All the little lights in mini world light up, and you feel like you are watching a tiny world exist. Highly recommend!

After living in a few cities and having to deal with nuances like drivers' licenses and other…read morepermits you tend to develop a disdain for all bureaucratic divisions of local governance. But, this is a different kind of place. Even though the Dutch are famous for their slow bureaucracy, the city hall for central Amsterdam tries its best to make it an enjoyable experience. First off, it's a really nice building, very accessible from all sorts of public transport. They even used to have a post office inside until a couple years ago. They have a photo studio for those last minute photos and certain other interesting offices that I haven't seen. Inside the reception hall, you line up to explain why you're there and get a ticket to await your turn at one of the many booths and counters. If you're with kids, there are small televisions playing cartoons with Dutch voiceovers. The furniture was recently revamped and now is more contemporary, almost like a modern airport. The staff is mostly friendly and courteous. They even speak in fluent english to help support all the expats living in the center of the city. You can pay on the spot for services using your pin card. The center has really good hours, and is actually open until later on Thursdays. All in all, this is a really good model of what modern citizen services should be like.

I love this city hall. If you have to do bureaucratic bullsh*t, then this is the place to do it. :)…read more It lacks the large expanses of marble and lacquered wood of my hometown Chicago's City Hall (as featured in the Blues Brother's movie!), but what it lacks in Steven Spielberg cameos, it makes up for in speed and efficiency. My best tip for increasing your speed and efficiency here is to come with a baby. Any size will do. As long as you come with a baby, then when you go to the room at the end of the hall to state your purpose and take a number, you'll be put at the head of the queue. No waiting! And when you're done visiting with a civil servant, you can head outside to the Waterlooplein market and buy some gyros or loempias or frites, and get yourself an Amsterdam t-shirt or sparkly bag from the market vendors. Plus this place has bathrooms, if you ask the Portiers positioned on either end of the building where to go. I got lucky and my baby strapped to my chest prompted one of them to take pity on me and give me a free token to the handicapped bathroom, so I could more easily take my child along without having to cramp into a tiny bathroom. Plus plus, this place has an opera house and subway station attached to it, and I don't think you can ask for anything more than that.

If you're in Amsterdam and want to try a bunch of different cultures' food, this is it! They have…read moremany cuisines ranging from Asian to European to American dishes. Since a lot of people eat there, it's hard to find seating so I recommend getting it to-go

Visited here and opted for a taste of Indian food. We had butter chicken, chicken tikka masala,…read morevegetable samosas & garlic naan . All very tasty. Everyone orders for themselves and finds a table to dine. There is an upstairs section to sit with a birds eye view of everyone below . Ambiance is great for people watching while enjoying your meal or glass of wine" liquid".

Dam Square - one of the main squares in the city, if you're visiting for at least 2-3 days you may…read morepass through on most itineraries. Based on how Amsterdam is laid out in a semi-circle, this is in the inner part of its radius, so relatively speaking close to the center. What might bring you here? Some of the notable landmarks and buildings are: - the Nationaal Monument: a WWII memorial sculpted of white travertine marble erected in tribute to the fallen civilians and soldiers. Figures representing suffering, resilience and the victory of peace are carved as reliefs on this obelisk. Two lion statues symbolizing the Dutch nation are placed close by. The statue was unveiled May 4, 1956 which is The Netherlands' WWII Remembrance Day. - the Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam (Royal Palace Amsterdam): since the 17th C, this palace has been used for official state receptions and events, and was temporarily closed when I visited in November 2025, though re-opened December 17 thru January 4 for the holidays. Adult tickets normally €13.50, discounted tickets available for students, certain groups and pass holders, and include a free 45-min audio tour. For more info: https://www.paleisamsterdam.nl/en/ - De Nieuwe Kerk (The New Church): a medieval church turned into modern event space, they host a variety of happenings--most commonly museum exhibitions, as was the case when I visited, though also royal weddings and music recitals. Tickets are €22.50 for adults, discounted tickets available for students, certain groups and pass holders, and include a free audio tour. Takes about an hour to go thru the tour, maybe an extra 30 minutes to check out the church building itself. For more info: https://www.nieuwekerk.nl/en/ - Madame Tussaud's Amsterdam: a branch of the world-renowned wax museum where you can see close replicas of famous celebrities. €24 online price €27 at the door. - Ripley's Believe It or Not: g-map description "museum with kitschy oddities on display" sounds about right. Go to be amazed and entertained though also take the exhibits with a grain of salt. €22.50 for adults, €13.50 for kids. - Kalvarstraat: this thoroughfare perpendicular to the south east edge of Dam Square is a main shopping destination with retailers lining the street. - Magna Plaza shopping mall: while not directly next to the square it's a block west and the neo-Gothic architecture is a treat. Given the amount of things to do in the relatively compact city that is Amsterdam, I would put this area as a "nice-to-stop-by" if you have the time, if the palace is open for visit, or there's an interesting exhibit at De Nieuwe Kerk. It's a more touristy area and weekend crowds can be significant so keep this in mind if you're looking for a calmer, quieter experience.

I stumbled on the square by accident. I received directions of where the mall was, where Louis…read more Hutton was located and stumbled upon the square. It's a huge wide open area, in which, it's heavily populated with tourists and people shopping. All the touristy places are here and they had a large monument which I was told was a memorial for their fallen heroes after the World War. I would definitely say this should be an essential stop on your trip to Amsterdam and get some photos!

Stadhuis Rotterdam is the Town Hall of Rotterdam, the building is a historic landmark of the city,…read moreas one of the few buildings to survive the bombings during World War Two, with the Clock Tower being an iconic point of Coolsingel. It is recognised as a Rijksmonument in The Netherlands. Stadhuis was built between 1914 and 1920 with the foundation being laid in the company of Queen Wilhelmina. The mix of the greenery at the back and the grand architecture is a stunning mix, the interior also reminds me of the Houses of Parliament of London, with the huge grand halls fit for royalty. It does close at 5 pm, which I think is a little early, especially during the summer months. Early Birds will be pleased to know they open from 8:30 in the morning. 4* - A stunning grand building and a remarkable Town Hall for one of my favouite cities in Europe. It is well worth a visit just to see the contrast between old and new, especially with so few remaining of the former in the city due to tragedies related to the war.