The Flying Pig Hostels Amsterdam Pig Multmedia

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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 and without any pressure of being caught. However, not every coffee shop is the same. There are about 270 coffee shops in Amsterdam, 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? Are there any nice coffee shops out of the centre? 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, that is if you make it and don’t pass out! By the way, for info on how to use, purchase and be sensible with smoking, read the ‘Cough Cough Coffeeshops’ article in Flying Pig News issue number 2, also to be found on www.flyingpig.nl.

So the journey begins…
For this tour you can use the map on the back to find your way. We start off at the Dam square -close to the Downtown hostel- and finish at the Vondelpark -close to the Uptown hostel-. Note: follow the route backwards when you start at the Uptown! 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. For a good choice suiting the way you feel, this is the place to be. It’s a small place so it’s a good take away shop -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 of all. 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 end of the street in the same direction as when you entered it turn right. 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. It’s small, cozy and the paintings inside show elves and more of that fantasy stuff.
Guaranteed you will soon be floating away in a nice fantasy dream. But not too long! There is more to explore!

>> Go back to the Leidse - straat and continue on your way to the Leidsesquare, one street before the square you will find the Lange Leidse dwars straat on your left and after 50 meters De Rokerij will welcome you. This shop can be crowded as it is a popular place. It’s the first of 4 Rokerij shops and has a nice interior with Hindu and Nepali artwork which is combined with styles of many cultures. They’ve created a candlelight atmosphere and a DJ is spinning relaxing music. Definitely worth a visit.

Last but not least
>> There is another really good shop a little out of the centre. 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 -not on the map- is a shop Indian style. Actually, 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...

Had enough? Then it’s time to find your way back to the Flying Pig Uptown or Downtown. Don’t worry, tram stops nearby.

So this is it. Well, not quite yet. I forgot to give you 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, laugh your heads off or be serious. Whatever you do, just have fun!!!

Doing Nothing Hang Out 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 and clouds passing by. The thing is that there are places where you can have a good time by just sitting there for a while, almost invisible to others, doing nothing than observe. Those places are all around Amsterdam. You’ll just have to discover them. It so happens I’ve already found several and would like to share some of those beautiful spots with you. So read on and explore!

. 1 At 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 canalbike 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 are more interesting parks around. Take the Sarphatipark for example, it’s small 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.

. 3 More out of the centre, but easy 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. This hangout spot is hidden from the road by bushes and has nice benches and strokes of grass to chill on. Besides an occasional boat, it is a peaceful spot with strange little statues and it’s 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. -not ont he map- It’s close to congress centre Rai and probably the most unknown park in Amsterdam. Which is a shame because it has some nice gardens, lots of grass fields, great trees and a beautiful round pond. Go there to enjoy nature while still being close to the centre.

. 5 Back in the centre 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. It’s called the ‘Ezelsoor’, the Monkeys-ear, and provides a nice view over the square and all around. The best thing about this spot; there’s a big supermarket located just right under your ass, perfect for when you’re fed up and hungry from hanging out.

So much on the inside story on doing nothing hangout spots. Remember the best places you will find your self. Most importantly, it’s not the spot that really matters; it’s the freedom of your mind to enjoy yourself passively...

Where to park yourself in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is notorious for its nights with too much beer, too much of whatever. Where can you go to recover the next day? Take your plaid and lay down in one of amsterdam-city-parcs. The Vondelpark is the oldest and most well known park. But there are more really nice parks to chill.

WESTERPARK
The Westerpark is a long quiet park, located right next to the citycenter and Central station. The best thing about this parc is a long swimming pool- area. All though swimming pool is a bit of an exaggeration. Lets say, a nice combination between a pond and a shallow swimming pool. But on a hot day it’s a perfect place to puddle with your feet in the water, surrounded by screaming kids. -not so good if you have a hangover-. Next to the park is the Westergasfabriek- area. -translation; western gas factory, it’s an former industrial area that provided the city with gas and electricity- But these days it is an inspiring environment with restaurants, a theatre, a cinema and parties. The Westerpark and the Westergasfabriek is the place where your afternoon turns into evening and the evening into a hot lazy night without even noticing it. Start underneath a tree, or next to water, move to a terrace to drink & dine, and end your night in one of the clubs, the cinema or the theatre.

OOSTERPARK
From the West we are going to move all the way to East. This is a totally different area. More urban, lots of immigrants have settled here and that gives the area an unique vibe. This is Amsterdam! You will find food here from turkish pizza’s to indonesian spicy food or surinam roti’s. Do you want to show yourself or stroll around? Wrong park! Here you play soccer with locals, or watch a capoeira group practise their skills. Rasta’s play drums and chill next to the ice-cream store. Another thing this park is known for is the music-festivals. The ‘Roots Festival’ is the biggest. The whole park is transformed into a festival with various stages and numerous food-stands. The music and the food is from all over the world, and the festival attracts family’s, young people, africans, europeans, dutchies, basically people from every corner of the world. For dancing go to ‘Club Tonight’, an old chapel with two stages and different events every weekend. Cheesy 80’s music or disco music, or hip parties with famous DJ’s.


SARPHATI-PARK
Located in the Pijp-area. This is where the young beautiful cool amsterdam people live. -tourist reference: close to the Heineken experience- Bring a plaid and tan all day, surrounded by young dutch who do the same -do these people ever work?- The only reason to get up is to buy the best ice-cream you can have in Holland: Peppino in de 1e Sweelinckstraat. Stroll back with an ice-cream in your hand and lay down again. Smoke a joint, and stroll back to the hostel on the end of the evening. For food you have to check out Cafe Bazar! In the middle of the Albert Cuyp market. Amazing ceiling, nice north-african food. -can’t pronounce those names- and the tile-wall is insane. Shipped in from Dubai, two amsterdam plasterers have gone mad with this job. Nice wine too. For the hip and famous there are several places close to the Marie Heineken plein where you drink and eat: Twintig, the Kingfisher, and the ChocolateBar in the 1e van Helststraat. Also in this area: loads of really good take-away food: surinam, indonesian, thai.