Page 260 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

258  FR ANCE AND THE L OW C OUNTRIES

Shopping & Entertainment available from most newsagents
in the city center.
The Netherlands is justly famous for its cheeses, beers, and The main reservations office
flowers, available at specialist stores and super markets across for entertainment and cultural
the country. Amsterdam is a cosmopolitan city, so it is also easy activities in Amsterdam is the
to find a selection of foreign and ethnic goods, from Indonesian VVV I amsterdam Visitor
Centre at Stationsplein, across
beads to French designer wear. The famous brown cafés and from Centraal Station. Reduced-
coffee shops are an important part of Dutch social life, and price tickets can be bought at
visitors to the Netherlands should not miss the chance to try one. the Last Minute Ticketshop.
Opening Hours Witte, a white beer. Specialist Entertainment Venues
Stores in the Netherlands are store De Bierkoning offers the Among Amsterdam’s many
usually open from 9 or 10am to widest choice and best advice. theater venues are the Theater
6pm Tuesday to Saturday, and You can usually buy a good Bellevue, the Stads schouwburg,
from 1 to 6pm on Monday. In selection of Dutch cheeses at and the Felix Meritis (closed for
the larger cities, many shops supermarkets, including any renovations until fall 2017). For
stay open until 9pm on branch of Albert Heijn, street experimental theater, head for De
Thursdays and Sundays. markets, or specialist food stores. Brakke Grond and other venues
Instead of buying the ubiquitous located along the street known
Edam, try one of the many as the Nes. The Koninklijk
Where to Shop varieties of Gouda. Mature Theater Carré hosts long-
Most of Amsterdam’s large Gouda has a rich, salty taste and running international musicals.
department and clothing stores crumbly texture, while young Dance is an important aspect
are located in the Nieuwe Zijde, Gouda is fresh and curdy. of cultural life in the Netherlands.
along Kalverstraat. The city’s Other items for which the The Dutch National Ballet is
best-known department stores Netherlands is famous are flowers housed in Amsterdam’s large-
are De Bijenkorf, often described – which you can buy at street capacity Nationale Opera &
as the Dutch Harrods, and stalls, markets, and stores – and Ballet, while experimental dance
Magna Plaza, which is more a diamonds. For the latter, visit can be enjoyed at De Meervaart
mall than a store. Less expensive Gassan Diamonds. and the Stadsschouwburg.
options include Vroom & The Nationale Opera & Ballet is
Dreesman and Hema. For luxury Markets also home to the Dutch
fashion, PC Hooftstraat and Van National Opera.
Baerlestraat are lined with chic The Dutch love street trading and The focus for Amsterdam’s
designer boutiques, such as almost every town has at least classical-music scene is
Chanel, and Louis Vuitton. one open-air market. In Amsterdam, the Concertgebouw, home
The streets crossing the best-known are the Albert to the celebrated Royal
Amsterdam’s Canal Ring, such as Cuypmarkt in Albert Cuypstraat, Concertgebouw Orchestra.
Herenstraat and Hartenstraat, with a mix of Dutch and ethnic The Netherlands has a huge
contain many specialist stores, food, cheap clothes, and flowers number of jazz venues. In
selling everything from ethnic and the Waterlooplein flea market, Amsterdam, the internationally
fabrics to handmade dolls. in Oude Zijde. The Looier Kunst en renowned Bimhuis, the
Antiekcentrum, at No. 109 Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ, and
Elandsgracht, is a covered market the Alto Jazz Café are worth
What to Buy boasting the largest collection of visiting. The North Sea Jazz
One famous Dutch export is art and antiques in the Festival, held in Rotterdam
Delftware, the blue-and-white Netherlands. For flowers, visit the in July, attracts some of the
pottery from Delft (see p255). Only market along the Singel, between biggest names in jazz.
two factories still make it, though Konigsplein and Vizelstraat. Amsterdammers equate rock
imitation pieces are found in and pop with two venues, De
tourist stores all over the country. Melkweg and Paradiso, which
A certification stamp indicates Entertainment Listings offer a varied program. Big-name
and Tickets
that an article is genuine. In bands also play at Rotterdam’s
Amsterdam, the Galleria d’Arte For up-to-date listings of events Ahoy and Amsterdam’s
Rinascimento and Jorrit Heinen and concerts, the capital’s Heineken Music Hall.
both stock authentic Delftware. official tourist website, www.
The Dutch are keen beer drinkers. iamsterdam.com, in English, is
As well as brand names like a good starting point. Time Brown Cafés and
Coffee Shops
Heineken, Grolsch, and Amstel, Out Amsterdam, a monthly
there are many local specialties, magazine in English, carries The traditional Dutch “local pub,”
such as Zatte, a rare, bottle- extensive listings and restaurant the brown café, is characterized
fermented beer, and Wieckse reviews. The magazine is by dark wooden furnishings, low

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