The thing is that most travelers find out that the deal was indeed too good to be true when they are actually standing in front of the apartment, where they expected to have a nice – and especially a cheap – vacation. To make it even worse, at that moment the vacation is not as cheap as expected, because of the lost money paid to the scammers and because you still have to look for new accommodation, which will probably be an expensive hotel. Plus there is the chance that you will have to pay for another taxi, what can be quite expensive in some cities!

But the question that than is in everyone's head: how can I be sure that the apartment that I want to rent is not part of a scam?

The hard truth is that you can never be 100% sure if you don't book your apartment through a website like Perfect Visit. A website can be easily made by anyone these days with a computer and a web-design program downloaded from the internet without any problem. So you might think that you are safe when you book through one the major players offering hundreds of apartments, hotel-rooms, etc. and are known worldwide. Unfortunately nothing could be further from the truth. As an example, check out this blog. Scammers are also publishing "their" apartments through these websites, even using these websites as a major source of apartment pictures, adding a different address and publishing the same apartment on the same website under another name!

Unfortunately, we have also found out that scammers have used our apartment pictures or addresses and published them on other websites where people think that they are getting a good deal. In the end, they are standing in front of our apartment or someone else's and seeing a totally different building in front of them than what they saw in the pictures. That is the moment when they find out that they have been scammed! In unfortunate cases like this, we always try to arrange new accommodation, but it can happen that all our apartments are fully booked or out of budget. So if you are not booking through Perfect Visit, how can you make sure that the apartment you want to book is legit?

1. Trust your instincts
2. Do not pay by cashier's checks, if they say that it is the only way to fulfill the payment, than it is probably a scammer
3. Check if the availability calendar is up to date. It could be that it is not the case on their partner's site, but should be on their own.
4. Look for reviews of previous customers and try to contact them
5. Scammers most of the time don't want to meet in person. For example; they want to send the keys by mail
6. Look for home and holiday addresses. Perhaps you won't be show it in an early stage due to scammers, but it should be visible at some point during the booking process
7. We can see the whole world through Google maps! See if the pictures match the address.
8. What do we do when we want to find information? Search the company on Google and see if they are widely known. A normal holiday/serviced apartment agency is connected with social media and has some followers.
9. Pay with PayPal or credit card. This will not help to get you a legit booking, but PayPal payments are covered till 45 days and most credit cards cover payments in general. If you get scammed, this is at least a good salve for the wound.
10. Finally: if it sounds too good to be true, IT PROBABLY IS!!!

Hopefully when everyone reads this blog and follows these steps, there won't be any business anymore for these kinds of scammers and that they will be pushed out of business! This will enable the honest short stay agencies to run a fair business and ensure that all (international) travelers can have a pleasant stay, the way they envisioned and deserve.

Whilst New York & London are the first cities that come to mind with the term Christmas shopping; Amsterdam has been pushing itself up there with the big players as a great location to celebrate Christmas and take part in all the pre-Christmas festivities and the necessary ‘mise en place’ that needs to be done.

The popularity of the Christmas holiday has grown immensely over the past years in Holland. ‘Sinterklaas’ (he’s like Santa but way skinnier) which takes place on the 5th of December was always the more popular winter festivity, however, when he leaves Holland on the 6th; in the blink of an eye, Amsterdam is transformed into a winter wonderland and the race is on to find those perfect gifts in the hustle and bustle of the city!

Main Shopping Streets
The two main shopping streets in Amsterdam are the kalverstraat and the Nieuwedijk. One being after the other, they create a 1,5 kilometer path to shop till you drop, starting near Rembrandtsplein and finishing almost at Central Station. Other great streets to go gift hunting are the ‘negenstraatjes’, ‘Leidsestraat’ and ‘Haarlemerdijk’.

Exclusive Shopping

The ‘Bijenkorf’ department store is situated in a stunning 140 year old monumental building aside the Dam Square. A definite ‘must’ to score Christmas ‘pressies’ and a great place for inspiration if you do not know what to get yet as the 6 floor building offers perfume, top designer brands, accessories, interior décor and has a fantastic jewelry section. A strong recommendation to all the sweet-tooth’s amongst us; try one of the exclusive cakes made by the Bijenkorf’s own pastry department on the ground floor. These are to die for! A personal favorite; the strawberry baravois!

Christmas Markets

The two main squares and entertainment areas of Amsterdam, Leidseplein & Rembrandtplein by winter are full of Christmas trees, snowmen and festive music that surround numerous stalls where great little original presents can be bought. Warm yourself up with a cup of gluwein and indulging in sweet or savory treats including the famous ‘olliebol’, a traditional Dutch (not the lowest in calories) pastry that is typical this time of year.

The Flower Market
This is also a fun road to stroll down to have a peek at  the Christmas trees of all shapes, colors & sizes that are on offer! Next to the market you will find the Christmas Palace; a place where it is Christmas all year round, as it is open 365 days a year! Everything and anything to do with Christmas you will be sure to find it here!

Funky Xmas Market
If it is your goal to win the prize for most original Christmas gift; then you will most definitely succeed if you go to the Funky Xmas Market in the Westergasfabriek on the 18th of December. Discover things that you won’t get in the high-street shops, in an atmosphere that is completed with great music, hot coco and a group of fun-loving people that will get you into the funky side of Christmas spirit!
 

Christmas Deals 
Check our Christmas deals here, save more so you can spend more on shopping!  

After living in the same place for a certain period of time in Amsterdam, it is very easy to slowly become visually impaired to the charms and beauty the place has to offer. I sometimes forget that I live in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. And when I see the gorgeous architecture in the center, how stunning the view is of the lit up bridges over the canals at night, the amount of precious art & history the city boasts or the sight of a population peddling their way through the busy streets; helps me realize this. I would like to share with you one of my favorite parts of the city: the ‘Grachtengordel’ or the Canal Belt; the perfect location to stay when in Amsterdam.

The Apartments -  Dutch Masters

The Dutch Masters serviced apartments are situated in the art district on the Keizersgracht; one of the four renowned canals that wrap themselves around the city center. Built in 1687, the building now belongs to a group of 2000 monumental landmarks situated around Amsterdam that are protected by the government in order to preserve the city’s architectural heritage. The old canal house comprises of 9 fully-serviced apartments; each named after an influential Dutch artist and is uniquely decorated to compliment their style; from the 16th century such as Johannes Vermeer, to contemporary artists like Karel Appel.

The location of the Dutch Masters serviced apartment is a perfect starting point to most of the must see attractions and the city’s main public squares such as the Leidse & Rembrandts Square. Here are some of the ‘must sees’ in the area that celebrate the country’s rich artistic heritage.

The Big-Shots
The Vincent van Gogh museum is walking distance from the Dutch Masters apartments. It holds the largest collection in the world of the works of this man, from self-portraits, landscapes to still-life. The museum additionally displays works of other 19th century artists in themed exhibitions.
Just across from the Van Gogh museum and therefore also walking distance from the apartments, you will find the Rijksmuseum. Situated in this impressive building, (which is a splendid example of architectural styles of the Dutch Renaissance) you will find an extensive collection of paintings from the Golden Ages. The legendary ‘Nightwatch’ by Rembrandt van Rijn, the ‘Milkmaid’ by Johannes Vermeer and Frans Hals’ ‘The Happy Drinker’ can all be appreciated.

A Bite & a Sip at Dante 
This restaurant/bar is situated on the Spuistraat, parallel to the main shopping street and about a 10 minute walk from the Dutch Masters apartments. It is a great place for a cup of coffee, a drink or traditional Italian lunch or dinner. Dante is a well-known location amongst the ‘Amsterdamians’ and this is because the late artist Herman Brood used to have his work studio where the kitchen of the restaurant now is.

‘De 9 Straatjes’

These are the nine little streets that link the canal belt together. It is a great little zigzag route to take as it is full of super little restaurants, vintage stores, boutiques and delicatessen shops. Enjoy a club sandwich at restaurant ‘Lust’ situated in the Runstraat or indulge in home-made pastries and chocolates from Chocolatier ‘Pompadour’ on the Huidenstraat. For all you vintage lovers out there, visiting ‘Zipper’ is a must! This shop opened its doors in 1979 and is known for their redesigning and recycling of garments from the 70’s & 80’s. This shop is also situated on the Huidenstraat.

Secret Treasures
There are many little art galleries and antique shops situated around the Dutch Masters apartments. Take a stroll down the Nieuw Spiegelstraat which runs down the corner of the apartments and discover the hidden arts of Amsterdam. Here you can find an exquisite mélange of little art and antique galleries. ‘Aronson Antiquairs' is a great place to find 17th and 18th century Delftware. For the more contemporary enthusiasts; ‘So Art Gallery’ is a great place to see an authentic Herman Brood or Karel Appel.

Finding the Best Business Lunch restaurants

So I came up with the subject of business lunches since one of my main passions in life is cooking and my main passion is, well, eating (going to the gym isn’t).   One of the other reasons for my choice was a self-image of me playing this sort of Michelin-Guide-restaurant-reviewer-role, who will even make chefs like Mr. Ramsey sweat

in the kitchen and waiters attend to my every need & demand …

Back to reality (and the fact that when I proposed this to my boss, he laughed at me as if he was watching an episode of Fawlty Towers for the first time); I have been to the below suggested restaurants, so unfortunately no need to go again on the bosses’ expense.

Okay, so this is the scenario; you are in Amsterdam for business, you need to have a meeting about this & that but would like to avoid stuffy meeting rooms; you know the ones that come without oxygen, U-form seating, stale coffee and school canteen-like sandwiches prepared the night before. Better option: going out for lunch. Even though Dutch cuisine is not renowned like the French or Italian; Amsterdam boasts some pretty good attempts. Here is my top 8 of potential meeting venues to get some food for thought.

8: Sumo – Japanese restaurant and suitable for business

Located in the centre of Amsterdam, one can find Sumo; a Japanese restaurant with beautiful oriental-influenced decor, contradicting the hustle and bustle of the Leidse Square. Okay, there are some rules that you have to follow when eating here, however this is all compensated by one of my favorite phrases: ALL YOU CAN EAT! Oh yes! So now the general rules: you have 2 hours to do so. You have 5 rounds and per round you can order 5 dishes per person.Out of respect, you are expected to eat what you order (which is never a problem for me).

7: De Bakkerswinkel– For Healthy Business

A cozy & homely type of lunch-room which is more suitable for the casual-type business meetings or get-togethers. Dig into sandwiches with regional & seasonal toppings, home-made soups and killer fried eggs. No microscopic dishes with fancy yet futile garnish; what you see is what you taste and what you taste is a fantastic blend of good honest products! 

6: Cafe George – Much variety

Located alongside a quiet canal just behind the Leidse square, this cafe has a bit of a Parisian feel to it. Suitable for all regarding variety and portions; from salads, to sandwiches, to hamburgers and a choice of 4 different types of fries (which is a little detail that I think, makes all the difference!) 

5: Vakzuid – Near World Trade Center

Don’t let the name discourage or encourage you for that matter, the word ‘vak’ in Dutch means ‘section’. This restaurant is located in the south of Amsterdam, near the World Trade Centre, in the Olympic stadium which used to be home to football team Ajax in our glory days. The menu consists of a melange of European & Asian ingredients and flavors. Dishes that I highly recommend: ‘Ossenhaas (tenderloin) Vakzuid’ & the ‘Tempura’, both of which are the signature dishes of the restaurant. Be sure to order a portion (or two) of fries with their famous wasabi-mayonnaise: absolutely lush! 

4: Vis aan de Schelde – Near Rai Congress Center

If you are not a fan of fish…well this is not really your thing even though they do have 1 non-fish dish. However, if you are; prepare to be amazed! Chef and owner Michiel Deenik is a scientist/artist with his diverse creations and signature dishes like the sashimi and bouillabaisse, not to forget the fantastic oysters for the real fans! And then we have the wine…this is a book I just want to read over & over again! It contains abeautiful combination of classics and new world wines from countries such as Chili, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. If in doubt about what to choose, the knowledgeable waiters & waitresses will be more than happy to offer advice. The restaurant is located right across from the Rai Congress Center and poses as a good pit-stop to do some business when attending an event there. 

3: Van Dobben – for a Dutch Business experience

You may have heard of the ‘haute cuisine’ dish of Holland: the ‘kroket’. A bit of history for you: Croquettes originated from France in the 1800s and were invented as a way to use up leftover meat. It then became a popular method after World War II in The Netherlands. A young man named Aat van Dobben started doing the same successfully and in 1945 opened his ‘broodjes’ lunchroom, with the van Dobben kroket as the crowd-puller. Don’t expect a gourmet meal here. These are back to basic sandwiches and the decor of the lunchroom is even more so. However the service is fast & friendly and the sandwiches & toppings are mouth-wateringly incredible. 

2: Loetje – Great Atmosphere

Okay, so if you’re a vegetarian there is no point reading further, Loetje is for real carnivores! The meat is fantastic and the gravy is so good I just want to dive in it. This place has real atmosphere and is always quite busy, so if you are looking for a quiet place to discuss budgets and forecasts, maybe do that in the office beforehand! P.S, for the die-hards who always have room for more; try the ‘sticky toffee cake’, it is fantabulous!

1: Looks – With separate meeting room for Business

Located in the Nieuwmarkt area in a monument building, this restaurant has quality dishes at a good price. This combination is accomplished by having a menu with just 5 starters, mains and 2 desserts, all prepared by 2 young & ambitious chefs. Enjoy international cuisine with excellent national as well as international products. They also have a separate meeting/lunch-room for business purposes that can fit up to 28 people and, on request, the kitchen can prepare a 3 to 4 course business-lunch. 

Every morning when I open up my mail box somehow I know what to expect for the day.   As the person responsible for giving correct directions and details to guests prior to arrival, I think it is handier for me to list all questions asked frequently in this blog.

So, if you have questions in mind regarding your check-in, please feel free to read the list below.

I have an early arrival / a late departure, is it possible to have an early check-in/late check-out?

It is possible IF the apartment is still available at the time of your request. There is an additional fee depending on how early/late you will be.

Okay, the extra charge is quite expensive; could we just drop off our luggage in the apartment?

I’m afraid not. Unlike a hotel, we don’t have a reception desk in apartment building. Therefore, we kindly ask you to bring your luggage with you unless you have apartment keys. You can store your luggage safely in the luggage lockers in Amsterdam CS or Schiphol airport.

What is the best way to get to the apartment?

Please check our post about what you should know about Amsterdam.

We want to travel around Amsterdam by bike during our visit; do you know any bike rentals?

You can find Macbike shop next to Amsterdam CS

Or go to Recycled Rentals if you want to ride an original Amsterdamian bike.

Check out our post about biking rules in Amsterdam.

Where is the closest parking space from apartment?

IMHO, it’s not really efficient to bring or to rent a car during your visit in Amsterdam. Amsterdam has high parking rates unfortunately.

Street parking in Amsterdam costs from EUR 2.60/hour to EUR 5/hour. However, if you need to come by car, feel free to check for cheap parking places in Amsterdam.

Also take a look at our post ‘traffic-free Amsterdam’.

We will travel with our 1 year old baby, could you please set up a baby cot for us?

Sure we could, it costs EUR 15/night/item. For more services please contact us.

Do you know the closest supermarket from our apartment? Can you suggest nice restaurants or Cafés to hang out nearby?

I would suggest asking your check-in host at the time of your check-in. They can direct you to some nice places in neighborhood of the apartment. Or check here for more popular places in Amsterdam.

Why do you need our passport copies?

The law requires us to keep a night-register. This means we need to have copies (or digital scans) of the passports of all the people staying at the apartment.

A refundable security deposit of EUR 500 is too expensive; could you please explain what you use this for?

Please be informed that we will keep your credit card details during your stay only and will not charge the security deposit unless we find damages and untidiness in the apartment during your stay.

We cancelled our trip to Amsterdam, will we get a refund?

It depends on how far you are now from your arrival date. See our booking T&C for cancellation policy.

Should you still have questions or need more assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

November’s Perfect Destination of the Month: Brussels!

Perfect-must-Visit

Hôtel de Ville & the Grand Place
	Built in 1402, Brussels’s Town Hall is one of Belgium's most breath-taking buildings. Situated on the Grand Place, which is well worth to take a walk around as this square is full of museums, cafes and charming little shops.
The Atomium
	The definite historical landmark of Brussels and one of the finest works of modern architecture; the Atomium is one of the most popular attractions of the city. But what is it you may be asking? It is a 165 billion times bigger reproductionof a crystalline iron molecule!
Brussel Beach (1st of July to the 7th of August, 2011)
A beach in Brussels? That may not seem geographically possible; however during the month of July it definitely is! This urban beach offers fun for all; from beach volley, to workshops for kids, to a zen area on the beach where you can relax and read a book from the beach library. To satify the appetite, there is an abundant choice of different flavours from countries such as Mexico, Brazil, Spain and of course traditional dishes from Brussels itself. Weekend evenings are filled with fantastic live music of numerous genres. N.B: The beach is always closed on Mondays for maintenance and upkeep.
The Museum Cocoa & Chocolate
Find out about the fascinating history of the origins of cocoa and learn about how it made its way to Europe. There is even a demonstration by one of the chocolate experts on how the traditional pralines are made.

For more tours in Brussels check out:

Brussel Tours, Sightseeing and Trips

Perfect-must-Try

Beer
	If France equals wine; it is safe to say that Brussels definitely equals beer! Go into one of the many pubs and bars to sample an ‘abbey’, ‘trappist’ or a ‘fruit’ beer. For the real connoisseurs, visit Beer Mania; where there is an astounding stock of 400 different types of beers!
Chocolate
	It is all very well learning about the history of cocoa, but nothing teaches better than experience! For all our chocoholics out there, you are all firmly requested to go to Place du Grand Sablon-Grote ZavelPlein, where the 3 best chocolate shops are located: Neuhaus, Pierre Marcolini and Wittamer.
Mussels
	Mussels (‘moules’ in French and ‘mosselen’ in Flemish) with fries. You can find this dish everywhere. However, do a bit of inspection. Try to avoid the ‘touristy’ looking ones (especially on the Rue de Bouchers).
Waffles
	Belgian waffle (‘wafer’ in Flemish and ‘gauffre’ in French). Experiment with different toppings such as chocolate sauce, caramel, banana or just dusted with powder sugar. (Just in case all that chocolate from before was not enough).

Perfect Transportation

The public transport infrastructure in Brussels is of excellent quality and you can get around the city by tram, metro or bus. The fastest method would be by metro and stops are situated at almost all the points of interest. They are also very frequent; every 3 to 5 minutes in peak periods during the day and every 10 minutes in the evening.

• Single ticket: EUR 1.70 (presales) / EUR 2.00
• Card for 5 journeys: EUR 7.30
• Card for 10 journeys: EUR 12.30
• 1-day card: EUR 4.50 Airport line one way ticket: EUR 3.00

Perfect Transfers from the Airport

• Brussels Airport Transfers
  
• Charleroi Airport Transfers

Perfect Area

Nyhuset

The Nyhuset Suites are centrally located in the historic heart of Brussels, minutes from Central Station and a number of the city's key tourist attractions. The opulent Galerie de la Reine, the famous Opera House “La Monnaie”, the Grand Palace and the lively Ilot Sacré area, filled with excellent restaurants, are all at your doorstep.

Freesias

The Brussels Freesias Apartments are located in the beautiful Quartier Lambermont, a quiet, green residential neighborhood. The Josaphat Park, one of Brussels' largest parks, is within easy walking distance, and there is a wide selection of restaurants, bars and shops in the surrounding streets.

As is known the world over, Holland is a beer country, with one of its biggest exports being Heineken beer from Amsterdam. The former Heineken brewery is a major tourist attraction, a visitor’s center called the Heineken Experience. It's a fun place to visit, especially on a rainy day (frequent travellers may know that It sometimes rains in Amsterdam).  But as well-known a brand as Heineken is, there are also smaller Amsterdam based breweries with really good beer! Here are a few worth visiting and drinking…

Brewery ‘t IJ

Housed in a former squatted building, this brewery produces 250,000 liters of A-grade organic beer on a yearly basis. Check them out by doing the tour or settle yourself on their terrace in the summer and have a few. Writer’s recommendation: the Zatte, the brewery's all-time classic. Moderation while drinking one or two of these is advised (8% Alc.)

Brewery De Prael

Founded as an initiative to reintegrate people with long-term psychiatric illnesses back into the labor market, this brewery knows its beer and its aficionados. On their website (sadly in Dutch only) you can find beer recipes, a how-to on brewing the stuff and more. Be sure to check out their gift shop, because they have a lot to sell you (a beer brewing kit being one of them)! Writer’s recommendation: the Johnny, a traditional blond beer. This easy to drink beer is a good thirst quencher after a day of sightseeing (5,7% Alc.)

Brewery De Bekeerde Zuster

Not far from the previous brewery, this brewery makes some nice beers, which they also serve in their restaurants: De Beiaard en De Klos. On Wednesdays or Thursdays you can watch the brewers work their magic. On other days, you can check out the brewery during a guided tour. Writer's recommendation: the Manke Monnik (the limp monk). Even though this monk’s got a limp, it’s a beer with a good kick (7.2% Alc.).

P.S. the above beers are served in a lot of bars in town. A great bar, or as we say here in Amsterdam: a temple, which serves a lot of these beers is Café In de Wildeman. If it’s not on tap there, it does not exist!

Even though Amsterdam is renowned as a tolerant and liberal city full of open-minded, weed smoking squatters on bicycles; the fact of the matter is…well it isn’t always.

Laws and rules of conduct have gone through an evolution in quite a short amount of time. Direction: zero tolerance. The main factor is that a policeman is required to write out a certain number of fines per year to reach a type of target. The result: even us ‘Amsterdamians’ need to be cautious about the consequences of our actions.

Example: Yesterday I was in the metro with my friend. We were babbling on as we usually do, when all of a sudden at the Waterlooplein stop, two policemen come running to the door opening. They pointed at my friend and told her to take her bags and step out of the metro. We looked at one another in disbelief. We were quickly brought back to reality by the severity of their expressions as well as the severity of the florescent yellow jackets they were wearing.

We both stepped out of the metro quite terrified to say the least. One of the officers announced that the reason we were removed from the metro was because my friend was resting her feet on the seat in front of her – apparently that is against the law and she was to receive a fine! At this point we could not define whether the shock was still from what just happened or the fact that this happened because of her JUST having her feet on the seat in front of her. Don’t get me wrong; one’s feet should stay on the floor and not where others sit. However, the exaggerated manner of how this was dealt with was absurd! Finally, the icing on the cake, they asked for my friend’s I.D and of course she always has it with her…except for this day! All in all, our adventure cost my friend EUR 70! And she was lucky; not having I.D with you can already conclude in a EUR 60 fine, or even worse, being escorted to the police station for further identification.

Here is a top 7 of fines just waiting to be given!

7. Do your part for the environment; leave the car at home…or make sure you pay for your parking space!

A parking ticket is EUR 49.60 plus the parking rate for one hour. Additionally, back by popular demand: The wheel clamp! To have this beautiful piece of yellow metal removed from your wheel will cost you about EUR 103.60. And this is a whole journey: first you have to go to local office to pay the fine (which is not always that close to where you are parked). Then you have to wait for someone to physically remove the clamp from your wheel, which can also take some time. Should you wish to extend your trip, just leave you car clamped for 24 hours, this will ensure that it gets towed away!

6. Okay, so you left your car at home, doing your part for the environment and using public transport to get around Amsterdam…Buy a ticket!

Joyriding around the city in any form of public transport can result in a fine of EUR 60.00, no matter how short the distance is!

5. When Freddy Mercury said that he wanted to ride his bicycle where he liked, he most probably didn’t mean the center of Amsterdam!

Take good notice of the traffic signs. Certain roads are only for pedestrians and cyclists must get off their bike and walk. If you are caught cycling you will get a fine of EUR 40.00. Also when it is dark, be sure to have both front and back lights on, otherwise you can say ‘doei’ to EUR 20.00!

4. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire!

It is prohibited to smoke in trains, the stations and even platforms. A special smoking pole has been implemented on some platforms. You can recognize these by the blue smoke surrounding the 100 people huddled up together, trying to stay in the permitted radius. Should you be smoking outside of this area, you will be fined EUR 25.00 and if you extinguish your cigarette butt anywhere else but the provided (though always full to the brim) ashtray, you loose EUR 40.00.

3.

Don’t drink & walk

Drinking alcohol whilst doing a bit of sightseeing is not recommended. This can cost you EUR 70.00. And don’t think that you can get away with hiding the beverage in the famous brown paper bag; the police in Amsterdam have X-ray vision!

3. Don’t drink (anymore) if you can’t walk (anymore)

Even though the street performers here in Amsterdam sometimes seem like they are ‘away with the fairies’, there is no need to copy! Be careful with having one too many because being drunk in public also has its price. Not only will a headache & embarrassment awake you the next morning, but so will the vague memory of a EUR 108.00 fine! Cheers!

1. Urine deep trouble when caught in the act! Yes, the number 1 of all fines which in Dutch is known as ‘wild-peeing’. You are strongly advised to do your business in a toilet as apposed to on the streets or in the canals. Try the world's first toilet store in the Kalverstraat for example! For all you men out there, you have the luxury of being able to make use of the public urinals scattered around the city which boast exotic ranges of aromas!

Anyone who’s ever been to Amsterdam knows it can be quite a challenge moving around in the city's narrow streets and alleys, especially when those small streets are loaded with tourists who don’t have a clue where they are heading.    Renting a Car Renting a car is probably the last thing you should do. Walking around like a ‘chicken

without a head’ or as the Dutch say ‘als een kip zonder kop’ is probably a much better idea. Of course nobody wants to walk around like a chicken without a head. So the Dutch invented bicycles, billions of them!  

Walking in Amsterdam

  If you do decide do go for a walk, at least you won’t get stuck in traffic. It’s only a 30 minutes walk from Central Station to the museum area. Within those 30 minutes you can visit as many of the main tourist sites as you want. The city's numerous canals and historical buildings make it a scenic route along the way. Don’t forget to bring a good map so you don’t get lost, or you might end up in the Red Light District. The way Amsterdam is built makes all streets look similar. You can pick up a free map in almost all the VVV tourist offices and hostels near Central Station.  

Public transportation

  The public transportation network works well. Trams, buses and yes, even subways can take you everywhere you want to go. To use public transport you’ll need a public transport chipcard. This chipcard works like an electronic wallet for all modes of public transport. It’s the size of a credit card and you can buy it at all public transport services. Don’t forget to chip-out when you leave the bus or tram, if you don’t, 4 euros will be charged automatically. If you want to see the whole city you’re probably better off buying an All-in One Travel Ticket. This ticket also allows you to go from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Central Station and back within 24-, 48, – or 72 hours.  

Avoid traffic on 2 wheels

  Here’s the key to avoiding traffic in Amsterdam: rent a bike! Although in general Dutch people know how to ride a bike (but not all of them!), many tourists have to get used to it.  I know it looks easy seeing someone riding a bike, but for many tourists it is something they never did and they will probably need a few lessons. (Staying on a bike cannot be guaranteed). Fortunately there are dedicated bike paths throughout Amsterdam built for cycling only, which makes riding your bike a lot more comfortable.

Written by Marvin Croon