The Flying Pig News Amsterdam No.3
Winter 2004/2005 |
The First Amsterdam backpacker newspaper!
 Page 6 - City Guides |
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Doing Nothing Hangout spots
Well….
the name says it all. At times the greatest thing to do is to just chill out somewhere, anywhere. No, not in a crowded bar, no sky high priced places, just somewhere outside. You only need yourself to do this, but a good friend next to you can be nice too. Provide yourself with a drink or/and smoke and do nothing! Of course you will talk, watch people or just admire the birds in the sky or the clouds passing by. Thing is that there are places where you can have a good time by just sitting there for a while, almost invisible for others, by doing nothing then observe. Those places are all around, you just have to discover them. I already did and like to share some of those beautiful spots with you. So read on and explore! |
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| As most of you already know, Amsterdam is a place where you can smoke freely in one of the hundreds of coffee shops. It is quite normal to go out for a smoke to a nice place where the vibe suits your state of mind, where there is no pressure of being caught. However, not every coffee shop is the same. There are about 270 coffee shops in Amsterdam for relax-ing time. All of which differ greatly. Small cozy (gezellig!) ones are in huge contradiction to the big, commercialized ones. So Where to go you might wonder? And are there any nice coffee shops out of the center? Which ones are really worth visiting? To give you a handhold on the variety of shops, as we Dutchies abbreviate them, below a nice coffeeshop tour which you can walk in a day, well…. if you make it and don’t pass out that is! O yeah, for info about how to use, how to purchase and be sensible on smoking, read the Cough Cough Coffeeshops article in issue number 2, also to be found on www.flyingpig.nl |
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.1 On the edge of the Leidseplein there is a bridge. On the right side you can go down to a concrete thing in the water, part of a small sluice. Sit down here and watch the pedestrians crossing the bridge, the tourists on a canal-bike and the boats floating by in the canals. You might even end up feeling it was you sailing the canals.
.2 Of course parks are good places to do nothing. You could go to the Vondelpark, but there more interesting parks. The Sarphatipark for example. Its smaller and therefore has a warmer feel. You are close to the famous market Albert Cuyp and the Pijp area, which is popular with young locals. The park has nice waters and it’s a perfect place to chill out.
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So the journey begins…
For this tour you can use the map on the back to find your way. Start off at the Dam square, close to the Downtown, finishing at the Vondelpark, close to the Palace. Note: follow the route back-wards when you start at the Palace!
From the Dam you walk down Rokin towards the Spui square. There, in the Heisteeg, you’ll find an excellent shop called the Tweede Kamer which provides superb quality of smoke. There is a menu with about 20 greens and 10 blacks, yes that’s grass and hash. The nice thing is the menu sums up the origin, smell, flavor and the way it will work on you. So for a good choice suiting the way you feel, that’s the place to be. It’s a small place so it’s a good take away shop (so check out the article about doing nothing hangout spots) or relax at the Spui square. >> On the other side of this square where the Handboogstraat starts, you’ll find the Dampkring, can’t miss it. The inside and outside are just amazingly crafted, very arty farty! This is the place with the most extensive menu you can find. For example, they sell Nepal hash which is hard to find elsewhere these days. Its interior will definitely keep you awake, so this is not one to skip! Okay, done here? Than the trip continues. >> Walk on to the street in the same direction as when you entered and turn right. |
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Now straight ahead into the Leidsestraat which will lead you to the Leidseplein. On your left you will find, just check the street signs, the Kerkstraat. After 10 meters on your left is the beautifully painted shop the Global Chillage. Its small and cozy, and the paintings shows elves and more of that fantasy stuff, for sure you will be floating away into a nice fantasy dream soon. But not too long! There is more to explore! >> Go back to the Leidsestraat and continue your way to the Leidsesquare, one street before the square you will find the Lange Leidsedwarsstraat on your left and after 50 meters De Rokerij will welcome you. This shop can be crowded as it is a popular place. It is the first one of four Rokerij shops. It has a nice interior of Hindu and Nepali artwork and combines styles of many cultures. There is a candlelight atmosphere and a DJ spinning relaxing music. Definitely worth a visit.
Last but not least
There is another really good shop a little out of the center. The nicest way to get there is via the Vondelpark, which you have to walk through a fair bit. Check the map how to get there exactly. The Kashmir Lounge is a shop Indian style. Actu-ally you can win a journey to India every year, just by smoking their weed! They have a nice bar which serves beer next to big pillows and nice seats all around to enjoy and relax. Squint your eyes when leaving because the daylight might hurt since it is dim inside. Anyhow it looks really beautiful and you easily spend a long time in there. So had enough yet? Find your way back to the Flying Pig Palace or Downtown, maybe you want to get a tram, a stop is nearby. |
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3 More out of the centre, but easily to find by bike by going to the end of the Hobbemakade (anyone can tell you where that is, you will see why!), there is a watercrossing of canals forming a puddle. The dnh-spot is hidden form the road by bushes and has nice benches and strokes of grass to chill down on. Besides an occasional boat, it is a peaceful spot with strange little statues and perfect to watch the kibbling of the water and the moving clouds in the sky.
.4 A little further from the last mentioned spot you will find the Beatrix Park, it is close to congress center Rai and probably the most unknown park in Amsterdam. A pity because it has some nice gardens, lots of grass fields, great trees and a beautiful round pond. Go here to enjoy nature while still being really close to the center. |
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5 Back in the center you have the free accessible gardens of the Rijksmuseum. You can relax here just watching the people around you. A close alternative is to be found at the Museumplein, its called the Ezelsoor, the Monkeys-ear, and provides a nice view over the square and all around. Fed up with hanging out doing nothing and getting hungry? A big supermarket is located just right under your ass. So much on the inside story on doing nothing hangout spots.
Most important to remember is that you will find the best place yourself, somewhere. Its not the spot that really matters, it’s the freedom of your mind to have a good time by being passive. For now; chill it out! |
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So this is it, well not quite yet, I am forgetting some words of advice. Don’t over blow yourself, you are not going there for a sleep are you? And second; smoke with others, share what you feel, and laugh your heads off. Or be serious, whatever, just have fun!!!
Some advice:
avoid the commercial touristy shops. Of course they seem like crazy shit since you have never been in a shop before, but they are likely to rip you off. They offer you stressed up stuff for stupidly high prices. Nobody wants a sandpaper throat after a smoke! |
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Zipper in the Hoogstraat and the Runstraat is a well organized shop, with lots of tops, dresses and skirts. You’re guaranteed to find something great! A Cool place, but somewhat more expen-sive.
>> In the beginning of Haarlemmerstraat you’ll find Wini. Lots of jeans and other pants, funky shoes and a few |
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pie for over 30 minutes. Don’t worry, it’s worththe wait as you’re about to find out!
End your vintage tour with the best apple-pie in town. O, you don’t like shopping?? Well, in that case forget all the places mentioned above and just make it to Villa Zeezicht. That pie is simply unbeatable!
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Do you love sixties designs, old faded Levis and that distinct smell of old clothing? Than you love second hand shopping!! Low and behold this small vintage-guide through Amsterdam. The well organized shops are more expensive but the ‘going home with something cool-percentage’ is really high. If you have more time but less money you can go visit the out-door markets to search through piles of clothing for that one really cool item. |
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boxes with 1, 2 or 5 euro stuff. It’s hard to leave this place without a full bag.
>> Episode is a big shop located at the Waterlooplein. Heaps of clothing and other accessories. Loads of leather jackets.
>> And of course the Waterlooplein itself is full vintage. But touristy accompanied with tourist prices. Many old Adidas jackets, but also records and old cameras. Spend a few hours just checking out at all the crap, and you might find something unexpected!
>> At the Zeedijk there is a small coffee bar called, Latei. Best chocolate pie in town, and the whole place is full of second hand stuff. No clothing, but cups, mugs, furniture, lamps and amazing wallpaper! Basically everything (but the waitress). Do you want to go home with some mad souvenirs, go to this place. You’re surrounded by hallucinate sixties prints and the smell of fresh apple-pie. Sit down on a couch or comfortable chair and have a look at all your purchases while the craziness of the Zeedijk is passing you by. |
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>> For the more experienced second hand buyer, or for the real penny pinching traveller, there are a few stores/markets in Amsterdam where you have to search harder to find nice stuff, but it’s guaranteed cheap. And hey, isn’t it fun to find something really cool for only 2 euros?
Cheapest Bargains
>> The best place is the Noordermarkt, on Monday morning. Piles of clothing and you’ll have to fight with the locals over a funky dress. But it will be cheap. The cafe on the corner sells the second best (not to be confused with secondhand!!) apple-pie in town. On Saturday morning there’s a biological food market, some second hand stuff and lots of records for the vinyl-freaks among us. But for clothing the Monday-market is better.
>> In the eastern part of town, (take tram 9 or 14 and get off at the HEMA) there’s a Humana, they sell clothes for a good cause, at least that’s what they claim to..Anyways, two floors of clothing, dirt-cheap, |
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lots of old Levis, and lots of ugly grandma clothing but once in a while really nice clothing, usually for less than 10 euros.
Vinyl Records
>> In the eastern part of town you can also find a big secondhand-warehouse called the Lokatie, (behind the HEMA). This is thé place to search for old vinyl records (1,20 or 2 euros).
>> For more second hand re-cords and CD’s, Concerto in the Utrechtsestraat is your best bet. Well organized and huge. >> Plaatboef in the Rozengracht is smaller but offers a good stock too.
Get rid of your books
>> Did some second hand shopping in every city and time to make some space in your too full backpack? Get rid of your books at Booktraffic on the Leliegracht or trade them for cheap second hand English pocket-books. >> On the corner of this canal
there’s Villa Zeezicht. Take a seat, watch the locals pass by while you wait for your apple-
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The Flying Pig News will be published twice a year by The Flying Pig Backpacker Hostels Amsterdam, Holland >> Number 3 >> Winter 2004/2005 >> Circulation ± 50.000 >> Advertising Flying Pig Headoffice +31 (0)20 428 49 34 >> Editor Linda Peperkoorn >> Writers Marike Knaapen, Sander Breggeman, Inge Kuijper and backpackers >> Photgraphy Joyce van Tienen, Marike Knaapen, Sander Breggeman, Jos Groenendijk, Ronald Selter >> Graphic design and lay out AzimDezign&Communication, Haastrecht >> Printed by Drukkerij Verhagen bv
Your opinion, great ideas, travelstories, Amsterdam experience, travel pigtures, etc. >> All interesting material for this newspaper e-mail to >> pignews@flyingpig.nl
Hostel reservation and information: www.flyingpig.nl >> info@flyingpig.nl >> tel. +31 (0)20 428 49 34 >> fax +31 (0)20 421 08 02
Things can only be copied from this newspaper after having received a written confirmation of the Flying Pig editors. This version of the Flying Pig News Amsterdam is strictly informative and no rights can be derived from the content of the articles.
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