Amsterdam (Netherlands)
Map of Netherlands
As the name suggests, Amsterdam was founded on a dam on the river Amstel, in the thirteenth century. During the Reformation it rose in stature, taking trade from Antwerp and becoming a haven for its religious refugees. Having shaken off the Spanish rule, the city went from strength to strength in the seventeenth century, becoming the centre of a vast trading empire with colonies in southeast Asia. Amsterdam accommodated its expansion with the cobweb of canals that gives the city its distinctive shape today.
Amsterdam has 42 Museums, 141 Art Galleries. 22 paintings by Rembrandt and 206 drawings by Van Gogh.
Local Attractions:
- Anne Frank House - Jewish diarist, add: Prinsengracht 263
- Rijksmuseum -great 17th century painters such as Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Hals. The Night watch by Rembrandt is their prize piece. Contains many artefacts as well as paintings. If you only have a limited amount of time, head for the Dutch Masters section on the first floor. Here's where you'll find Rembrandt's Night Watch, and The Kitchen Maid and The Young Woman Reading a Letter by Johannes Vermeer, each capturing a moment in the lives of two women add: Stadhouderskade 42
- Van Gogh Museum - add: Paulus Potterstraat 7
- Stedelijk Museum - over 1,000 modern art exhibits, from 1850 to the present day - from impressionism and expressionism to pop and minimalism. Its features include paintings by Cézanne, Chagall, Picasso, and Monet among others, add: Paulus Potterstraat 13
- Heineken Brewery - cheap beer
- Vondelpark - main park in Amsterdam
- Amsterdam Sex Museum - Damrak 18
- Red Light District - Probably not one of the most culturally appealing attractions in the city, this is certainly the one everyone wants to visit during their stay. Known locally as de Walletjes, this world famous red light district is located in the oldest part of the city and it truly epitomises the old adage which tells us something really has to be seen to be believed. Traditional Dutch buildings lining narrow streets modernised by huge glass windows and neon lights present a unique blend of the old and the new. Scantily clad girls flaunt their wares behind these windows and the throngs of tourists who trawl through the streets are bombarded with shops selling a selection of erotica more extensive and imaginative than anywhere else in the world as well as live theatre, sex shows and the like. It’s not for everyone yet it’s the place that all visitors to Amsterdam are guaranteed to see
The Cast: Craig as Eddie; Patrick as Snatch; Chen as Dickie, Rhys as Sparky and Spratt as Spaniard.
The Gang, the Dam, Sept 2002
The flight there
I flew into Behindtheoven (Eindhoven) airport - 90 mins from the Dam
Be warned - make sure you get to your flight on time...
At least I arrived on time - central station
The canals
Dougie and Spaniard at Teasers - while Dickie, Eddie and Snatch were making the floor warm at Stansted on Friday night, Sparky and I were watching some pretty ladies dance.
Sparky and Spaniard at Teasers
Sparky and Finur at Teasers
Our Amsterdam mates - Sepp and Margo - at the Strip bar on Friday night
Saturday morning and the sex museum - Eddie and the Farting bum
This looks like Dickie's uncle
Snatch at the Sex Museum
Saturday night at Hill Street Blues - Chen and Snatch
Eddie making use of the lax intoxicant laws at Hill Street Blues
Tequila at Hill Street Blues
Me and the muscle chick
Eddie and Sparky posing at The Blues
The toilets at The Blues - all patrons are allowed to add their touch
The Icelandic crew at Dirty Nelly's
Dickie and Spaniard at the Absinthe Bar on the Sat night
Finur downing some Absinthe at the Absinthe Bar
Sparky downing some Absinthe at the Absinthe Bar
Sparky doing tequila this time...quite the dog these days (hehe)
The Iceland crew at the Absinthe Bar
The Square on the way home - Dickie made friends and borrowed their bike
The Square at Night
Spaniard and Sparky bonding by the Square
Dickie smashing Sparky against roller doors - as you do...
And then Sparky having his turn on Dickie
Arriving back from the Absinthe Bar - its called bonding
Waking up in Dirty Nelly's
Wakey, wakey, hands off snakey...where are your sheets Sparky?
The next morning...and I was the one who didn't smoke!? Hmm.
And again...need to decrease that dosage!
Walking the streets
The homes in the Dam where built with a slant so that stuff taken up to their lofts would scrap against the side of the house
The boys having a rest
Want some herbs?
Want some smut?
Eddie found a nice pencil...for a giant...
...While Dickie found a shoe for his girlfriend
The Boys chilling at a Coffee shop
Sparky on the prowl
What is that? Creative photo by Eddie
Dickie making use of the lax intoxicant laws of the Dam...
...which then led to loss of control
The Boys seeing me off at Central Station on Sunday
Painting - one
Painting - two
Red Light District meaning:
According to the Origin of Phrases site, the term "red-light district" dates back to the railroading days around the beginning of the 20th century. Railroad crews used red lanterns for signalling and lighting, and most crew members carried one with them as they left the train yard. When they paid a visit to a working girl, the men would leave the lantern on the porch of the prostitute's house while they were inside, probably to signal that she was busy.
The Phrase Finder bulletin board offers another
explanation, stating the term dates back to the 1890s. Prostitutes would
put red shades on candles and electric lamps, and place these lights in
their windows to advertise their trade. This practice has continued to the
present day in some places, most notably in Amsterdam. The city's
red-light district is locally called the Walletjes or Wallen (both
referring to the walls) or Rosse buurt (meaning the red or pink
neighbourhood). In the Netherlands, prostitution has long been accepted,
and it's been legalized and regulated for some time. Amsterdam's red-light
district is full of windows glowing red, where prostitutes stand partially
clothed to attract business.