Zurich and Amsterdam!

[nieh]

So, I'm going to be in Zurich and Amsterdam from March 5th until the 14th, so if any members are in those areas, are there any places I should go, (sight seeing, venues, music shops, etc) or any places I should avoid?

[fcknoise]

I was at a pretty sweet guitar shop in Amsterdam where I bought a cheap hm-2. Can't remember the name but it was on the canal by de pijp. Van Gogh museum is pretty sweet, and if you like that stuff then for gods sake pre-book your tickets (goes for Anne Frank, Stadelijk and Rijksmuseeum too). Costs just as much and you can do other things than line up for hours!

People usually like to see the red light, but personally I hate it. It feels weird coming from a place where prostitution is illegal and there are quite a lot of shady characters there lol. I don't know. Amsterdam is very different in atmosphere than the rest of the Netherlands I think, it's like less welcoming and home-y. Goes for Rotterdam too but every other place is just so gezellig.

[D.o.S.]

I agree with brands re: Amsterdam and the rest of the Netherlands as far as I've seen it. I would recommend checking out the Jheronimus Bosch Art Center if you have time to get out of the city -- it's about 45 minutes by train from Amsterdam, if memory serves.

Haven't been to Zurich so I can't comment, but have fun dude! That's the most important thing. There's probably some cool gigs happening in both of those cities while you're there, so do some googling.

[actual]

Remember to look up while walking the streets of Amsterdam. The architecture there is awesome.

[ProCarsteNation]

Are you in Zürich the 7th?
I'd come meet you for a (very expensive) beer or something........

[nieh]

Are you in Zürich the 7th?
I'd come meet you for a (very expensive) beer or something........

we'll be in Zurich the night of the 4th, and 11th-13th. Amsterdam the 5th-10th.

[Tristan]

I'm in Haarlem, very nearby!

What kind of things do you like to do?
What kind of things do you like to see?
What kind of things do you like to drink?
What kind of things do you like to eat?

[nieh]

I'm in Haarlem, very nearby!

What kind of things do you like to do?
What kind of things do you like to see?
What kind of things do you like to drink?
What kind of things do you like to eat?

Hiking, music, pot, we wanted to go to a few museums, big fan of beers and wines, as far as eat, I'm not very well versed in foods other than typical American, but I'm open to most things.

[Tristan]

Hiking:
Zuid Kennemerland (Santpoort - train station)
Bloemendaal Beach (Bloemendaal)

Beers:
Het Uiltje (Haarlem - train station)
In De Wildeman (Amsterdam Centraal - train station)
Kaapse Brouwers (Rotterdam Centraal - train station)

Pot:
Boerenjongens (Amsterdam)
Kashmir Lounge (Amsterdam - not the very best pot, but a nice place to hang)

Museums:
Escher Museum (Den Haag Centraal / Den Haag Holland Spoor - train station)
Boijmans van Beuningen (Rotterdam Centraal - train station)

Music:
Paradiso (Amsterdam)
Melkweg (Amsterdam)
Bimhuis (Amsterdam)
Sugar Factory (Amsterdam)
De School (Amsterdam)

Food:
You name it, we got it, in each (bigger) city.
African, Indian, Japanese, Spanish, Suriname, Thai, Turkish, great pizza. (Amsterdam, Den Haag, Haarlem, Rotterdam)
Don't try Dutch food!

You could try and go to Utrecht one day as well, it has a nice relaxed atmosphere and it's really close by from Amsterdam.

[ProCarsteNation]

I can confirm "In De Wildeman" good times, Tris!

As for Zürich...
It's been ages since I've been there, Switzerland is too expensive for me.
But Zürich is beautiful, and there's usually cool stuff happening especially in the area around Rote Fabrik.

http://www.rotefabrik.ch/de/home/

today The Notwist, 22. Cybals Eat Guitars... and, sorry for bad timing, Russian Circles on the 5th of march.
Surprisingly enough nothing on Saturday the 4th? Or maybe the Techno party friday is one of those extra long ones....

11-13 I'll have my kids and probably not be able to make it,
if it makes sense with your travel arrangements/jet lag/professianal obligations I could make Saturday the 4th

[nieh]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

And I'm not sure how the the fourth will work, well have been traveling for almost 24 hours by the time we land at about 230 pm. As far as obligations go, our only plan is to go to the house were staying for the night, so hopefully we can sleep on the plane so we're not too tired.

[ProCarsteNation]

or go to the afternoon-party at the Kaufleuten:
http://www.kaufleuten.ch/event/sanapa-5/


http://hafenkneipe.info
is also recommended to me as worthwhile....

[fcknoise]

Don't try Dutch food!

This is a lie! Maybe it's because I romanticize it as an exiled dutchie but kroket, bamischijf,patat oorlog, stampot, roulade is all delishous dutch food.

[Tristan]

A kroket and a patatje or frietje (fries) can be nice from time to time but it isn't exactly top notch compared to other cuisines I'd say.
Don't get me started on the other Dutch food.
But yeah, try for yourself.

[K2000]

I was in Amsterdam 15 years ago. All the food was disappointing (not just Dutch food, but their take on other cuisines too). Could have been my bad picks though.

The red light district was super depressing, IMO. Not fun or sexy or even delightfully sleazy, but sad. YMMV.

Great city for walking! I smoked some coffeeshop pot that totally kicked my ass (had to lie down in the hotel room and stared at the ceiling for 6 hours). Hotel rooms are tiny there. Overall, it was a good time (despite my criticism).