Amsterdam in the Winter: Food for thought and warmth
Fri, Nov 18 2011 07:50
| dutch food, things to do in Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Winter, Dutch cuisine
| Permalink
When in Amsterdam and the east wind blows in winter the city gets cold, very cold. It is that time of the year again, Winter. There are many good things about winter in Amsterdam. The city is not so busy, you can go ice skating and walking along the canals reveals the architecture of this great northern European capital.
Through shared struggle comes identity. Winter in Amsterdam at times can be a struggle and food brings people together and creates an identity, Dutch Cuisine. In Winter Dutch Food comes into its own.
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| photo taken from La buena vida a food store in the Hague |
The Dutch are not known for their cuisine, something that their southern cousins in Belgium consistently remind them.
If you are in Amsterdam during winter don't lament the cold, embrace it. Food will be your savior. There is no better time of the year to enjoy good old fashioned Dutch food.
1. Stampot (stamp in a pot)
This is a winter classic. Everything is stamped/mashed together in a pot - makes sense, yes? Normally mashed vegetables with gravy and a boiled sausage.
There are many versions of this of Stamppot:
- Hutspot has onions, carrots and potatoes mashed together.
- Boerenkool, translated as farmers cabbage, but in English Kale. This is mixed into the mashed potato at the end of the cooking and mashing process.
- Zuurkool Mashed potato with sauerkraut
- Andivie stampot: the same as Boerenkool but instead of using Kale, endive is used.
Bacon bits are a popular addition but the dish is limited only by your imagination.
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| photo of Zuurkool by blog Kattebelletje |
Karin Engelbrecht from About.com Dutch Food made an Asian inspired Stamppot with bok choi (an Asian cabbage), cashew nuts and shitake mushrooms.
The secret is always in the sauce. Plenty of sauce is needed.
2. Erwtensoep (pea soup)
Similar to the English pea and ham soup the Dutch have been at lengths to explain the difference. First a traditional Erwtensoup must be cooked slowly over night on a very low heat. Vegetarian versions can be found but normally there is pork hock and sausage in this thick soup. It is perfect after ice skating.
3. Gehaktbal (meat ball)
A good Dutch meatball will quickly make you forget the cold. Normally served with potatoes and gravy you can also have a sandwich of meatball. If your into meat, this is a show stopper. Dutch meatball is 5 times the size of a Swedish meatball normally around 100grams. Every house has its own recipe but normally there is mixed spice and a toasted bread mixed into the ball.Wednesday is traditionally meatball day. Yes, that's right a whole day attributed to a meatball.
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| Picture taken from an Australian Food Blog |
4.Oliebollen (oil balls)
It doesn't sound healthy and it isn't. The Oliebollen is a Dutch donut without the hole. Amsterdam's squares and train stations are filled with Oliebollen stands during winter. If your waiting for the train or tram because it is to cold to bike this is a perfect treat. Freshly cooked and sprinkled with icing sugar a perfect snack to ward off the east wind.
These also come in many varieties some are stuffed with currents (krentenbollen) or apple.
5. Chocomelk (chocolate milk)
A warm cup of chocomelk goes a long way in winter. The famous brand chocomel originating out of Friesland, a northern province of the Netherlands, is distributed widely in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. This Dutch favourite is served in almost every business from Cannabis Coffeeshop to high end restaurant.
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| photo taken from blog: Almost barefoot farm girls |
5. Mullwijn (mull wine)
Similar to the German and Scandinavian versions. Although a Swedish friend said the Dutch version was nothing like the 'great' Swedish winter wine. Warmed red wine with herbs, warms you to your very toes. Rembrandtplein, the Dam and Leidseplein are popular places to grab a warm red wine.
Here is a list of highly recommended Authentic Dutch restaurants in Amsterdam to enjoy. Click on the links to their websites.
- Restaurant Greetje
- Bij Ons,
- De Keuken van 1870. (website under construction at time of writing)
- Kop van Jut,
- Moeders
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All-time Top 10 Things to do in Amsterdam: a critical look
Fri, Oct 28 2011 04:41
| Van Gogh, anne frank, Rijksmuseum, canal, things to do in Amsterdam, when in Amsterdam, Amsterdam, heineken, tours and attractions
| Permalink
When in Amsterdam has realised that every website associated with Amsterdam travel has a top list of things to do in this city. Some websites only have Top 5 or 10 lists.
When in Amsterdam could provide our own list but honestly there is no Top 10 list. Waking up in Amsterdam the list would change from day to day because of mood, weather and the place in question.
So we are going to give you the All-time Top 10 list of things to do in Amsterdam.
Our approach is simple:
- · Collation
- · 100 web pages were analyzed.
- · Search Terms were “top things to do in Amsterdam”, ‘top 10 things in Amsterdam’
- · To qualify the page needed to have in its title top things to do in Amsterdam. For Example: Top 5, Top 10, Top 20 things to do in Amsterdam.
We collated the results then ran a critical look at the list to provide you with an alternative.
Counting down from 10 to 1.
The last market in Amsterdam still on the water. A wonderful place for colour and it is central. The Dutch are famous for cut flowers and bulbs. The 1637 stock market meltdown because of speculation on tulip bulbs made the Dutch synonymous with the Turkish flower.
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| Amsterdam's Floating Flower Market |
Critical look:
- · The market has no educational aspect at all.
- The market is not really floating.
- A retail market servicing mostly tourists from Europe. Custom’s regulations restrict other visitors from taking back bulbs to their countries.
Alternative:
· Alsmeer Flower Market: An hour by bus outside Amsterdam it is the World’s largest flower market and the world’s 4th largest building. You can’t help but learn on the self-guided tour.
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9. Vondel Park
Named after the famous 17 century poet and playwright Vondel it is Amsterdam’s central park. The park was created in 1864 after Victorian England made such gardens popular. It has a Picasso sculpture, wonderful bike paths, the film museum and a theater.
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| Vondel Park, Amsterdam |
Critical look:
- · As is commonly reported Vondel Park receives 10 million visitors a year. On a sunny day finding a quite spot in Vondel Park is not possible.
- The smell in parts also demonstrates the lack of toilet facilities.
- The high numbers of visitors and its central location the park attracts people that want to be noticed. Unsocial behaviour and drunkenness is common.
Alternative:
· Westerpark is central and large like Vondel Park. The east-west layout results in more sunshine hours, if you are lucky to get a sunny day in Amsterdam. Large range of bars, eateries and toilets.
8. Visit the Albert Cuyp Market
With over 220 stalls and situated within the old Latin Quarter of Amsterdam, the Albert Cuyp market is the largest street market in the Netherlands and professes to be one of the largest daily markets in Europe. Named after the 17th century painter the market has operated since 1905.
Critical look:
· It is not the most affordable of Amsterdam street markets.
· Expensive nature means working class Amsterdammers go to other street markets.
Alternative:
· Dappermart: cheaper, more rustic, fewer tourists, rated top 10 shopping streets in the world by National Geographic 2007.
7. Ride a bike
With an estimated 600 000 to 1 million bicycles circulating in Amsterdam, the city is one of the bike capitals of the world. The compact and flat nature of the city makes biking a fast and affordable travel option in Amsterdam.
Critical look:
- Most anger from locals towards visitors is about biking or walking in bike paths.
- Many Amsterdammers believe that visitors should take a test before being allowed to rent or ride a bike in Amsterdam.
- Riding a bike in Amsterdam traffic is not for beginners.
Alternative:
· Travel Amsterdam trams – bike riders don’t mess with trams
The second or third largest beer maker in the world depending with whom you talk started in Amsterdam. The old brewery has a tour called the Heineken Experience.
Critical look:
- · They have not made beer in this brewery since the 1980s.
- The tour concentrates on the advertising and marketing power of this international brand.
- The tour only includes two half pints of Heineken.
Alternative:
· Spending the price of entrance to the Heineken Experience at one of Amsterdam’s three active micro-breweries will result in more beer. Amsterdam’s three micro-breweries : Brouwerij ‘t IJ, Prael, De Bekeerde Zuster (the twisted sister) are well worth visit for beer lovers.
5. Canal Tour
Amsterdam is known as the Venice of the North. Even though the canals do not smell and the canals are not deep like Venice 20% of Amsterdam's surface is water. With over 100 kilometers of canals, around 90 islands and 1500 bridges traveling by water is a great way to see the city.
Critical look:
- · Few Amsterdammers use their canals.
- There are three main canal tour companies in Amsterdam. They run tours that are similar with recorded messages, and their boats have not historic relevance to Amsterdam.
Alternative:
· Find a local Amsterdammer with a boat. This option is hard to find.
Visit Het Grachtenhuis (Canal House Museum) learn how Amsterdam's world heritage listed canals were created
Visit Het Grachtenhuis (Canal House Museum) learn how Amsterdam's world heritage listed canals were created
4. Red Light District
Situated in the oldest part of Amsterdam this area provides an eclectic mix of sex shops, brothels, coffeeshops, hotels, gay bars and around 340 red light windows. Since 2000 Amsterdam legalised sex workers. The Red Light District is the main centre of this industry in Amsterdam.
Critical look:
Situated in the oldest part of Amsterdam this area provides an eclectic mix of sex shops, brothels, coffeeshops, hotels, gay bars and around 340 red light windows. Since 2000 Amsterdam legalised sex workers. The Red Light District is the main centre of this industry in Amsterdam.
Critical look:
- There is more to Amsterdam than the Red Light District. The area is often full of young men peering at the scantly clad women.
- On weekends the neighbourhood can be over loaded with travelling parties of men and women.
Alternative
Take a guided walking tour of the Red Light District. The area is the oldest in town and full of hidden secrets. A little bit of knowledge goes a long way compared to peering into the bewitching red lights.
3. Rijksmuseum
The greatest collection of Dutch art and history in the Netherlands. Normally ranking in the top 20 of museums in the world the Rijks has been under reconstruction. Although most popular masterpieces such as Rembrandt's Night Watch and Vemeer's Kitchen Maid are still on display the renovation could explain the slip to number 3.
Alternative:
Alternative:
Rembrandt House: Comparable there are no crowds and you can see what sort of bed the old master Rembrandt slept in and toilet he used. Also the largest collection of Rembrandt etchings in the world
2. Van Gogh Museum
The expressionist painter was famed for his rough style, sharp colours and considered a trail blazer for modern art. This museum houses the largest collection of Van Gogh paintings under one roof and tells the story of the man from child hood to his end at 37 years old.
Critical look:
The expressionist painter was famed for his rough style, sharp colours and considered a trail blazer for modern art. This museum houses the largest collection of Van Gogh paintings under one roof and tells the story of the man from child hood to his end at 37 years old.
Critical look:
- Van Gogh did not spend a lot of his life in the Netherlands.
- His fame has only come about through Van Gogh's influence on 20th century art.
- Expect large lines as the renovation of the nearby Rijksmuseum has catapulted this attraction to number 2.
- Closed for refurbishment until April 25 2013. Part of the collection is on display at Amsterdam's Hermitage Museum
Alternative:
Pre-purchase your tickets at the tourist information centre at the front of Central Station. Go late to avoid the crowds. On Friday night the museum is open to 10pm with a relaxed and enjoyable environment.
1. Anne Frank Museum
The location of the Jewish Frank family hiding place during WWII. Teenage Anne documented her experience from the annex of this Amsterdam house during Nazi occupation. The book has become one of the world's most widely read. This popularity accounts for approximately 1 million visitors a year to this museum.
Critical Look:
For a small museum there are a lot of people at certain times. The museum has a difficult job balancing the broader context of the period.
Alternative:The location of the Jewish Frank family hiding place during WWII. Teenage Anne documented her experience from the annex of this Amsterdam house during Nazi occupation. The book has become one of the world's most widely read. This popularity accounts for approximately 1 million visitors a year to this museum.
Critical Look:
For a small museum there are a lot of people at certain times. The museum has a difficult job balancing the broader context of the period.
Avoid the long lines and buy on line. Go late in the evening or early before it opens and the school groups arrive. Resistance museum provides you with a greater snap shot of World War II in Amsterdam and the Netherlands. Rated one of the best museums in the Netherlands don't expect long lines here maybe just a school group now and then.
Overview of Amsterdam's Top 10 Things to Do
The 'Big 3' as we call them in Amsterdam fill out the top three. Sex, alcohol and boats are four, five and six. Bikes, markets, parks and flowers round out the list. Quite a range for a small city of less than 1 million people. Do you agree with the list? What is missing in the all time Top Ten? What do you think about the alternative list? Let us know what you enjoyed in Amsterdam.
When in Amsterdam.....enjoy!
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