James Bond in Amsterdam

When in Amsterdam...remembers the James Bond moments in the city. With the release of Spectre, in the Netherlands and worldwide and surprisingly good reviews lets see the moments when the British spy was in Amsterdam for Diamonds are for Ever.

In 1971 filming took place in one day on two locations. The first location was the famous Marege Brug, the Skinny Bridge. Here the body of Mrs. Whistler is lifted out of the water as a tourist boat goes past. 

Overlooking the scene is the characters responsible for the death. In the back of the scene James Bond in his yellow Triumph car arrives in Amsterdam. The bridge and the tourist boats that pass have barely changed over the years.

The second location is the picturesque Reguliersgracht. This canal is normally visited by canal cruises and described as the 7 bridges. At the residence of number 36 and number 34 scenes were shot of Sean Connery's arrival as an under cover diamond smuggler. The residences are still there with only minor changes to the facades.

Amsterdam is famous for diamonds. If you are interested in these precious
stones visit Gassan Diamonds and take the free tour of the polishing and cutting areas.

The National Release Date for Spectre in the Netherlands is October 30 2015. The best place is view the movie is in the historic Tuschinski Theater in the heart of Amsterdam's historic city.

When in Amsterdam...enjoy!

Overcoming the Biggest Problem Visitors have in Amsterdam.

Gaining a Sense of Direction.

You may have been a Boy Scout, a Girl Guide, a Navy Seal or a SAS officer. Unfortunately, these skills don’t help you on your first, second or even your third visit to Amsterdam. The capital of the Netherlands rivals, parts of London, Istanbul, Hanoi, and Venice for complicated layout.

When in Amsterdam you maybe the sort of traveller that loves to wander, get lost and find weird new things. Great, there is good lost and bad lost. Wasting extended parts of your holiday can be an adventure but also extremely frustrating. With this blog entry you can do both because armed with some knowledge you can get more out of your stay in this beautiful city and find your way back to your bed.

First, why is Amsterdam so complicated?

1.  Not too many high points or land marks. The country is topographically flat. Hence the name, the Netherlands. Most cities have hills, mountains, a coast, a river or a visible business district with tall skyscrapers that can serve as a reference point.
2. The old city center has been designed on a semi-circle layout. No modern city grid system for Amsterdam the streets don’t run north-south, east-west, instead streets are circular and radial.
3. The city has many street names that are longer than the ally or street they name. Also, street names can change suddenly at an intersection or a canal.

Common strategies:

Winging it:

Pros: Amsterdam is a relatively small city. Eventually you will find your way back. You will stumble on things you never would have found.

Cons: Everything looks the same. To an untrained eye most of Amsterdam buildings and canals look the same. This is because they were generally designed or built in the same period. This is why Amsterdam is one of the most intact historic cities in Europe.

 Looking for high points:

Pros: The high points, church towers and towers in the city center are high and can been seen from a radius of a few city blocks.

Cons: Most of the towers were designed by the same person, Hendrik de Keyser. This means they look the same and can easily be mistaken for each other. See the attached picture of Amsterdam’s skyscape. It hasn’t changed much in over 400 years.

Amsterdam towers

Using a paper or app map:

Pros: You think you know where you are, knowledge is power.

Cons: Many street names are too long to be printed on a map. This results in the street name’s omission or being shortened to something that is not on the street sign in front of you. For example:  Eerste Lindendwarsstraat but the map says 1e Lindendwarsstraat. You attract petty criminals with your fancy phone.

Essential tips from the locals:

1. 1.       Know your north point

Generally, Central Station is your north point. When asking for directions ask where Central Station is and then get your bearings.

1. 2.      Mark your map

Hotel/hostel, main attractions and places you want to visit. When you find a place you like ask someone to mark it on your map.  

1. 3.       Know the main canals

Keizersgracht(Emperor’s canal), Herengracht (Gentleman’s canal, Prinsesgracht(Prince’s canal). You may not be able to pronounce them but knowing that these three canals run around the city centre in a horseshoe shape will help. Also know that the house numbers on these canals start on the north-west side of the city and go up in an anti-clockwise direction. Many a visitor has walked more miles than necessary without this information.

1. 4.       Know your tram lines

Tram tracks are the best reference points. Amsterdam has a fantastic network of trams. Following the line is often the fastest way to get out of the maze of alleyways and heading in the right direction. Keep an eye out for Trams that are listed as Central Station. This will help you with gain your north point.  When using your map look how many tram lines you will cross to get to your destination and what number trams run on those lines.

1. 5.       Ask somebody

This may help. Amsterdammers are famous for their tolerance and their friendliness. However, if you keep hearing ‘go down to the canal and turn left at the next bridge’ refer to the first four points.

1. 6.       Go in, before you go out

What many people don’t realize and maps don’t accurately depict is that when a city is design on concentric circles the blocks get bigger the further you go out. Rather than follow the same canal it is often quicker to head one or two canals towards the center and then head back out. This will save your legs the extra distance.

6. Go on a walking tour on your first day.

Great way to orientate yourself and learn about the city along the way. There are tours for every budget from Free tours for those on a shoe string. There are small group tours for those that wish for value for money and Private tours for those who wish a personal experience or with large groups.

Lastly, When in Amsterdam….. Enjoy!

Where is Amsterdam?

Where is Amsterdam?

Did you know the answer to this question? If not, don’t worry because you’re not the only one. By the end of this blog you will know what many people don’t, that is where and what is Amsterdam?

This question, When in Amsterdam came across in a conversation had when travelling Papua New Guinea (PNG), a country east of Indonesia. A well-educated young man called John who spoke excellent English and had travelled throughout the Pacific region had never heard of this famous European Capital city. It is the capital of the Netherlands. ‘The Netherlands?’ John replied with confusion. At the mention of the word, Holland, a smile came across his face. “Yes, Holland, very good soccer team I support them in the World Cup. I like orange. I liked Ruud Gullit but you are wrong the Hague is the capital of the Holland?”

John from a county on the other side of the world from Amsterdam was almost right but we are getting ahead of ourselves.

Where is Amsterdam? Amsterdam is a city located at latitude 52˚22’23’’north and longitude 4˚53’32’’east in the south of the Province of North Holland in the Netherlands. The Netherlands or commonly referred to as Holland is a small country of 16 million people in north-west Europe. It borders Belgium to the south and Germany to the east and north. To the west is the North Sea which is north of the English Channel and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean.

John and many people, maybe you are one of them, are right to be confused between Holland and the Netherlands. The difference between Holland and the Netherlands is that Holland is two western provinces of the 12 provinces of the Netherlands.

How did this come about? Holland in the middle Ages was its own region with its own lords and governors who were connected to either the old Kingdoms of Germany or France. Historically, Holland was rich and many countries traded with Holland. Under Napoleon the regions of this part of Europe were place together and called the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The official name is still the Kingdom of the Netherlands but because many countries had important trade connections with Holland the name, Holland, has stuck.

In Amsterdam it does not matter which word you use, Holland or the Netherlands. Just be careful when travelling north, south or east in the Netherlands as the people there will not appreciate you calling them Hollanders. 

John was also right to be confused about the capital of the Netherlands. This is because the political parliament of the Netherlands is in The Hague. This strange anomaly officially occurred in 1815 after Napoleon had been sent into exile after defeats at Leipzig and Waterloo. The new King of the Netherlands, Willam I, knew the importance of Amsterdam as a trade and financial center. Also, Amsterdam had been the capital under Napoleon occupation. The constitution of 1815 lists Amsterdam as the capital but the seat of parliament is in The Hague. The reason behind this is that the royal family had previously been regent of the region now known today as parts of Belgium and the Netherlands. They were Princes and called the House of Orange and Nassau. Historically this family had been located in The Hague since 1584 when William of Orange was assassinated in a town close to The Hague called Delft.

‘So this is why they wear orange, the soccer team?’ John immediately interjected. Yes, the Dutch wear orange as their national color because the royal family of the Netherlands is called the Orange family. However, most Amsterdammers don’t wear a lot of orange because the royal family has historically lived further south in The Hague. Amsterdam’s colors are red and black. ‘This Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands and not The Hague. Only the parliament is in the Hague?’ John replied. Yes. ‘And Holland is in the Netherlands?’ John added. Yes. ‘What a complicated little country’ John concluded. Yes.