Secret places of Amsterdam, you will not find in a typical guidebook
Travels Four Eyes / / December 19, 2019
1. Ortus Botanicus
Amsterdam Botanical Garden is considered one of the oldest and largest in Europe. It was founded in 1638 and today has about 6000 species of plants and trees.
Ortus Botanicus famous for its greenhouses, each of which are recreated with precision certain climatic conditions. For example, in the local "tropics" very wet, there you can see the exotic vines and magnificent orchids. And in the "subtropical" greenhouse there is a bridge, from which you can admire the ferns and flowering fruit trees. The territory of the garden is huge - if you get tired of studying rare plants, leave to rest in a cafe on the premises.
Address: Plantage Middenlaan, 2a
Site:dehortus.nl
Vicki: Amsterdam Botanical Garden
Mode of operation: daily from 10:00 until 17:00 (during the holidays - special opening hours, in addition, the park is closed on January 1 and December 25).
2. Museum of hashish, marijuana and hemp
Recently in the Netherlands is limited to trade in soft drugs: no more than 5 grams per hand, you can not promote and sell to minors. And from 1 January 2013 - a total ban on the sale of hashish and cannabis to foreign nationals.
But to go to museums, even peculiar, tourists nobody forbids. Especially, at the Amsterdam exhibition hashish, marijuana and hemp noble educational mission. The museum tells about the types and varieties of these plants, their cultivation methods, their medicinal properties, and as the history of application in different cultures and industries (our grandmother, for example, wore clothes made hemp).
The cost of visiting - 9 euros. Wine exhibits are not available.
Address: Oudezijds Achterburgwal, 148
Site:hashmuseum.com
Mode of operation: daily from 10:00 to 23:00
3. Bakery The Pancake Bakery
Taste of Holland - Amsterdam is famous herring, kibbeling, croquettes and bitterboleny. But you will not understand anything about the Dutch kitchen, if you try pannenkokeny. It's pancakes with various fillings - meat, cheese, fruit, chocolate, etc. But, unlike Russian pancakes, filling in pannenkokeny not wrapped, and placed on top, like a pizza.
Top pannenkokeny in Amsterdam served in a bakery The Pancake Bakery, not far from the Anne Frank. In this restaurant the menu of 75 species (!) Of the national Dutch pancakes. The prices "do not bite" - 5.95 euros for a large portion.
Address: Prinsengracht 191, 1015 DS
Site:pancake.nl
Mode of operation: daily from 12:00 to 21:30
4. Monument of the female breast
In the heart of Amsterdam, in the pavement of one of its streets, is another unusual attraction - a monument to the female breast. Bronze composition, which is a magnificent woman's breasts, lying in the man's hand, symbolizes the Yin and Yang. Chest - a symbol of femininity and submissive, and palm - hardness and male power. In this case, the hand is chained to the body of a girl chains, which means codependence of female attractiveness and masculine strength. However, most tourists do not dig so deep, the promise of the sculpture is evident to them, because it is located in the Red Light District.
With this monument linked to many urban legends. According to one of them (the most beautiful) once lived in Amsterdam a boy and a girl, who loved each other madly. But the happiness of the young couple did not last long - the war separated them. The guy went to the front and lost his sight, and the girl because of poverty became a prostitute. Back home, the guy walking down the streets of his native city, when he was suddenly someone called. This was one of the prostitutes. Touching her breasts, the young man learned his beloved.
In addition to the legends, the monument is covered sign. For example, men standing on a bronze chest, male longevity is guaranteed, and stroked her - many sexual conquests.
Address: Prostitutiegebied, in de buurt van de Oude Kerk
5. Science Center NEMO
Where does the lightning? Why do earthquakes happen? As planes fly? Children are always a million questions, and adults know the answer is not on all of them. To satisfy the curiosity of "pochemuchek '(and their own), go to the Science Center NEMO.
This is a unique museum dedicated to science and technology. Its peculiarity is that the rule of "do not touch" there is no effect. On the contrary, exhibits recommended to take in hand, twist, shake, push buttons - children must comprehend the world through personal experience.
The building, resembling a ship's stern, designed by Renzo Piano. Architect specifically "bared" ventilation pipes and other functional elements, since it correlates well with the museum concept. On the roof of NEMO there is an observation deck, which offers a magnificent view over Amsterdam.
Address: Oosterdok, 2
Site:e-nemo.nl
Vicki:NEMO Museum
Mode of operation: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00
6. tattoo Museum
Museum tattoo - a relatively new restaurant in Amsterdam. It was founded by Henk Schiffmacher in 2011. As a tattoo artist, Henk many years collecting various artifacts associated with tattoos. As a result, it accumulated so much that the artist decided to open a museum.
And it really is a must see! Tattoo machine, needles, photographs, paintings, and even a piece of this tattooed skin Boston seaman - more than 40 thousand exhibits.
A visit to the tattoo museum will cost you 10 euros. By the way, nearby there is also a thematic bookshop and cafe where you can rest and share their impressions of what he saw.
Address: Plantage Middenlaan 62 1018 DH
Site: tattoomuseum.wordpress.com
Mode of operation: daily from 10:00 to 19:00
7. Diamond factory Coster Diamonds
The fact that Amsterdam - a city of colors, know everything, and that it is also a city of diamonds - one. However, in the capital of the Netherlands, several factories for cutting the hardest minerals on Earth, and one of the oldest called Coster Diamonds.
It was there in 1852 was pereogranen famous diamond "Kohinur", which is part of the British crown and the treasures kept in the Tower of London. After this cut diamond has become pure white and the "lost" from 191 to 108.9 carats.
"Konhinur" - is not the only jewelry a masterpiece created in the walls of Coster Diamonds. What other diamonds turned into diamonds there will tell you on a free tour, which, in addition to theoretical part, also includes various workshops - you can try yourself as a polisher or cutter.
Address: Paulus Potterstraat, 2-6
Site:costerdiamonds.com
multimedia exhibit
Mode of operation: daily from 9:00 to 17:00
8. Python bridge
Officially, the bridge connecting the peninsula to the island of Borneo Sporenburg called Pythonbrug. But he's a big, red and curved like a snake crawling, so tourists called it "Python".
Serpentine pedestrian crossing built in the Venice of the North in 2001. The project was designed and implemented by West 8 was used as the base material steel - it is light and flexible, that allows to create intricate designs. The length of this - almost 100 meters. The bridge is also decorated with 2000 light bulbs, which makes it especially beautiful at night.
Address: Pythonbrug, 1019 Zeeburg
9. Museum of sex
Amsterdam - a city of tolerance. Here are sensitive to any manifestation of sexuality and believe that carnal love is worthy of a separate museum.
Museum of Sex, and more specifically the Temple of Venus (as the owners prefer to call it) was opened in 1985. For almost 30 years, has collected a solid collection of exhibits: the statue of the Goddess of Love, greets visitors at the entrance to Marilyn Monroe with her skirt lifted by the wind.
Sex is a museum near the famous "Red Light District" in the old building of the XVII century. In this case, the exhibits on display in the back and the front, and on the stairs connecting the premises - it turns a kind frank maze.
If you are over 16, be sure to visit this exhibition (ticket price - € 4) and pofotkat with extravagant exhibits (AVU give background on a huge erect phallus! ;) ).
Address: Damrak, 18
Site:sexmuseumamsterdam.nl
Mode of operation: daily from 9:30 to 23:30
10. Bob's Youth Hostel
Bob's Youth Hostel - this is one of the best hostels in Amsterdam, what is needed for young people traveling to Europe. The room walls painted by local and visiting artists, which creates a special atmosphere.
For 18-23 euros you get a bed, clean linen, breakfast and luggage storage. From 8 am to 3 nights a bar, which sells pretty cheap beer. In addition, this property has no "curfew", but can be occupied only by persons older than 18 years.
Address: Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, 92
Site:bobsyouthhostel.nl
11. Art Market Art Plein Spoy
Every Sunday on a small area of Amsterdam Spoy going 25 professional artists. On the street stalls with live violin or a harp, they present their picture (at least - of sculpture and crafts). The next weekend in their place come other creators, to show the world his art (the market is trading around 60 artists included in one creative association and replacing each other).
Plein Art Spoy - this gallery (you can just wander between rows and admire the painting) and the marketplace. There you can purchase works by contemporary Dutch artists, and much cheaper than in the gallery, generally requiring a fee - 50% of the picture.
Address: Spui Plein, 1012 WZ Amsterdam
Site:artplein-spui.nl
Mode of operation: on Sundays from 10:00 to 17:00 (closed in winter)
12. Restaurant De Kas
De Kas - a unique organic restaurant that offers its visitors only fresh ingredients, literally plucked from the garden. After all, De Kas - This restaurant located in the greenhouse.
In 1926 Frankendael park built a greenhouse, where are going to grow fruit and vegetables for the local social institutions. Soon, however, the need for this has disappeared, and Galicia come to desolation. So far in 2000, an enterprising Gert Jan Hageman bought or building (1 euro!) And none opened an unusual culinary institution.
Organic restaurant is surrounded by the beds, there ripen year round fresh vegetables, fruits and flowers, which later turn out to be on the plates of visitors. But do not think that meat lovers in De Kas is nothing to do - not only on the menu vegetarian dishes (meat come from nearby farms). So in this place you can taste the best dishes of cuisine Dutch (De Kas marked with a star Michelin). Thus biouzhin for one will cost about 50 euros, and dinner for two - 75.
Address: Kamerlingh Onneslaan 3, 1097 DE
Site:restaurantdekas.nl
Mode of operation: Monday-Friday: lunch from 12:00 to 14:00 Dinner - 18:30 to 22:00; Saturday: dinner from 18:30 to 22:00
13. Monument "Do not drink the branch on which you sit"
If from Leidseplein go to American Hotel, and then a little to the south-west, you will find yourself in a tiny park, which is a wonderful tree.
What is remarkable? On his branch is a monument to the wise mind - "Do not drink the branch on which you sit."
According to legend, a peasant with a saw on a branch sycamore appeared in the late 1980s. Unknown artist brought the sculpture to secure it to the tree and, without saying anything to anybody, he went away. Soon the townspeople saw the sculpture and fell forever in this little Ajax. The only pity is that the name of the author of the composition and remains a mystery.
Address: Leidseplein
14. B-80 submarine
In 1956 in Riga it was built another submarine B-80 Project 611 class Zulu. Her fighting equipment included 22 torpedoes and 36 mines. And in 1991, the B-80 submarine was bought by Dutch businessmen and arrived in the port of Den Helder, which turned into a floating cafe.
Then, in 2002, he bought the submarine amsterdmasky architect Miquel found and brought her to the capital Port. I found planned to make B-80 conference room, but the idea failed. As a result, the Soviet submarine resold several times, but the new and the new owners have not been able to find her a decent application. Currently the boat is idle for the most part, only occasionally in its compartments arranged private parties.
Address: NDSM Amsterdam
This is only part of the unusual sights of Amsterdam. Add to the list in the comments. What do you remember Venice of the North?