Page 144 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Amsterdam

142 ❯❯ Streetsmart

Shopping higher the percentage), number of Surinamese
bought at one shop on the restaurants – Suriname
For a medium-sized same day and exported being another former
city, Amsterdam punches within 90 days. If the shop Dutch colony on the South
well above its weight has “tax-free” status, American coast.
when it comes to shops collect a Global Refund
and shopping. The Cheque, have it stamped Discount Cards
main shopping drag is by Customs on departure,
pedestrianized Kalverstraat, and claim your refund There are a number
which runs south from when leaving the EU. of cards and passes
Dam Square, and this is available to help stretch
where you’ll find most of Dining the holiday budget. The
the international clothing I amsterdam City Card
stores. More distinctive To cater for its many represents good value for
are the cluster of chi visitors, Amsterdam money, at €49, €59 and
chi shops and boutique heaves with restaurants, €69 for one, two and
stores that dot the everything from cheap three days respectively. It
northern reaches of the and cheerful cafés to the entitles the holder to free
Grachtengordel and are super deluxe. Dutch public transport, free
collectively known as cuisine is healthy and admission to many
De Negen Straatjes (The hearty rather than subtle. museums, a free canal
Nine Streets). Typical street food tour, and discounts at a
Also popular, and includes herring in a variety of restaurants and
particularly convenient bread roll with gherkins other attractions.
for the city centre, is the and (raw) onions in spring The Museumkaart
Magna Plaza shopping and summer and pancakes (Museum Card) allows a
complex, which occupies in autumn and winter. year’s admission to over
the old post office just off The city has a plethora 400 museums across the
Dam Square, its several of Dutch restaurants, but Netherlands. On sale at
floors crammed with is more famous for its leading Dutch museums,
clothing shops. Indonesian places. Indeed it costs €54.95, or €27.50
Amsterdam also clocks Amsterdam has the finest for under 18s. Certain
up a good range of open- range of Indonesian museums have no fee for
air markets, from the restaurants in Europe, under 18s.
organic food market held reflecting its colonial The Cultureel Jongeren
on Saturdays on the history as the conqueror Paspoort (CJP) gives
Noordermarkt to the flea of what was long called under 30-year-olds
market that sprawls over the East Indies. If you are discounted admission to
Waterlooplein every day not familiar with theatres, museums and
except Sunday. Indonesian food, you may other attractions. It is
As for specialist shops, want to start with a available online, and
the Spiegelkwartier is the rijsttafel – a sampler meal from the offices of the
heart of the fine art and consisting of boiled rice Amsterdam Tourist
antiques trade; Gassan is a and/or noodles served Board, the AUB Uitburo
factory outlet for diamonds; with anything from 10 to ticket shop and Stayokay
and De Bijenkorf, on 20 small, usually spicy hostels. Prices start
Damrak is the city’s best dishes and hot sambal at €17.50 for a one-
department store. sauce on the side. year CJP.
Amsterdam is, of
Tax-Free Shopping course, an international Trips and Tours
city so there are lots of
Most marked prices other cuisines: Italian The Amsterdam tourist
include 21 per cent VAT. restaurants are industry makes the most
Global Refund entitles commonplace; Chinese of the city’s canals with
non-EU residents to a restaurants congregate in a veritable armada of
percentage back over a Chinatown on the Zeedijk; glass-topped cruise
minimum figure of €50 and Caribbean flavours boats shuttling along
(the more you spend, the are available from a the waterways offering

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