Amsterdam - an eternally young city

If we are on the path of discovering the great masters of Dutch painting, we will find much more color in the city than just in the works of art. And when we stand lost in the middle of the street with a map in our hands, not even two seconds will pass when we will already be offered friendly help from passers-by. And maybe the assistants will join us for a mug of Heineken.

From unrecognizability to recognition
It is hard to believe that Northern Europe's largest planned city was originally just a small fishing village at the mouth of the Amstel River. From its beginnings in the 13th century to the 17th century, thanks mainly to trade, it became the largest European trading port, and it was also distinguished by its tolerance and respect for different religions. The city welcomed French Huguenots and Jews from the Iberian Peninsula. Overseas success had a significant impact on the wealth and habits of the people of Amsterdam. In the New World, the Dutch ruled parts of South America and even bought Manhattan, which they named New Amsterdam. During World War II, the city was occupied by the Germans and thousands of Jews were deported, including Anne Frank, whose diary has moved millions of people since it was first published in 1947. In the post-war period, tolerance in the city attracted new and new immigrants, including many hippies who settled in the city in the 1960s, at a time when the left-wing Provos party was also founded, which supported the development of subcultures and helped build a liberal society as we know it today.

From brine to broodje
It's true that the Netherlands is one of the biggest exporters of cheese, and we can expect a lot more gastronomic creativity from the Dutch than just cheese boards. Amsterdam is proud of countless pizzerias (one of the best pizzas can be found in the Mazzo restaurant), excellent Argentinian meat and dim sum in Chinatown, the Bazar restaurant takes us to North Africa and the Middle East. The memory of the colonial times is still present on the streets. A good example is the Indonesian restaurant Purimas, which offers many exotic dishes with curries, peanuts and sweet and sour flavors. If you want to get to know typical Dutch flavors, the best place to go is the Heasje Claes restaurant. In an atmosphere that combines items imported to the Netherlands by the East India Company, founded in 1602, with Delft porcelain, we must try the specialties of brine shrimp, crabs and stamppot – mashed potatoes mixed with vegetables that usually accompany meat dishes. Restaurant Lucius on the Spruistraat is particularly popular with seafood lovers, and dining at Sucre is a special experience for the palate, especially since chef Peter Scholte puts special emphasis on lunch. One of the restaurants famous for its simple but excellent menu based on daily fresh produce is De Kas. Lunches usually consist of three small snacks, a salad, an omelet or a sandwich, or broodje, as the Dutch call it. Those who are fascinated by important buildings will certainly enjoy the offer of the restaurant In De Waag, which is located in the building where Rembrandt painted his masterpiece The Anatomy Lecture of Dr. Nicholae Tulp, which is on display in the Amsterdam History Museum.

Night surprises
With its diverse range of club events, Amsterdam has finally managed to shake off the image of a city that only attracts young people who want to smoke legal intoxicants in coffeeshops and men looking for carnal pleasures in the red light district. Still, the party is unusual enough to keep the nights short and full of surprises. Why not start the evening at the Supperclub? In it, we will be able to do everything that our parents forbade us to do: we will eat on the bed, sing at the table, massage ourselves during meals, even if we show up in granny clothes, they will not look at us sideways! Next stop is Leidseplein, where bars are mushrooming after the rain. One of the institutions on the street is Biblos, where entertainment lovers have been gathering for 40 years. Amsterdam nightlife icons Sugar Factory and Melkweg are also located on the same street. Since the 1970s, the Melkweg (Milky Way) has been combining creative DJ performances, concerts, theater and dance performances, photography exhibitions and a film program under one roof. Between June 23rd and 26th, Melkweg will be one of the venues of the Amsterdam Roots Festival, and events will also take place at Club Paradiso. The former church is ideal for everyone who enjoys a club with an excellent and carefully selected program.

Under the blue sky
Despite the cold and unfavorable winters, summer days and evenings are pleasant, and the Dutch, as great lovers of nature and outdoor activities, cycle all summer long on the best-maintained bicycle paths in Europe and engage in sports in the two largest city parks, Wester and Vondel. Spending free time in the Westerpark amusement park, which surrounds the Westergasfabriek (the old Amsterdam gasworks), is also enjoyable, as it offers a children's playground, restaurants, galleries and concert halls. Street markets are another attraction of Amsterdam. The Noodermarkt has been delighting visitors since the 17th century, and today, in addition to stalls with second-hand clothes, you can also buy organic food and enough music to keep you entertained for a long time after visiting the market. Every day except Sunday, you can buy almost anything you can think of at the Albert Cuyp Markt at moderate prices. Even more offers for a wide variety of tastes can be found at the Waterlooplein flea market, also known as the Nieuwmarkt, where they mainly sell home-made products and organic food.

The most picturesque is certainly the Bloemenmarkt, the floating flower market, which is a real tourist attraction, because the colors and fragrant smells of flowers simply cannot be missed.