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The city of Amsterdam is an old city that has embraced the new cosmopolitan flair of Europe. The seat of government is in The Hague, but Amsterdam is also thought of as the capital and it is the home of The Netherlands? royal family. The Dutch are also a cultured people who enjoy the finer things in life when it comes to the arts.

Amsterdam is a city of less than one million residents but has over 50 theatres and movie houses, two ballet troupes, a symphony orchestra, and numerous museums.

The Leidesplein is the theatre district of Amsterdam. Many of the numerous theater cinemas are themed in that each carries a certain type of film ? art house, film noir, English only, new, etc. The Dutch run the film in it?s original language with the sub-titles in Dutch dialogue; as a result, visitors can often find a film in their native tongue; especially English.

The various theatres carry the best and latest in operas, symphonies, dances, and various other concerts. It is not uncommon to find a theatrical production being played out in a plaza or park. There is even a theatre that specializes in programs for the younger generation.

The Dutch art scene covers everything from graffiti to works by the masters; both inside the museums and galleries and out on the streets.

Some 50 of the over 400 museums in The Netherlands are located within the city of Amsterdam and are among the city?s most popular tourist attractions. Besides the typical works of the masters, modern art, film, and photography; some of the museums that can be found in Amsterdam are the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, a Botanical Museum, a museum dedicated to the Dutch resistance during World War II, the Heineken Experience, the Ajax Museum (Dutch football team), a houseboat museum, a torture museum, museums dedicated to sex and erotica, NEMO a hands on science museum for the children that is housed in a boat shaped building, the shipping museum, a Biblical Museum, the tropical museum and the Jewish museum. There are also several art galleries within the city.

The largest of the museums is the Rijksmuseum, which houses Dutch art dating as far back as some early religious works, and of course; the masters.

Located in the middle of the city is the Anne Frank House, where the young teen wrote her diary while hiding from the Nazi?s with her family. The original diary is on display at the house.

The Houseboat Museum is an actual houseboat similar to those used by some residents of Amsterdam. The boat is set up as if the family where merely out running errands or at the cinema and will return at any moment.

Across from the Anne Frank House is the tulip museum. The small museum offers a multimedia presentation of the famous flower including its history.

For those interested in the art of the adult beverage there is the Heineken Experience which provides everything about the famous beer. And there is the Vodka museum that not only gives a history of the alcoholic potato and a display of unusual vodka bottles, but a bar where visitors can sample the famous Russian concoction. There is also a coffee and tea museum for the coffee and tea lover.

The Jewish Museum tells of the history of Dutch Jews and is housed in four synagogues some dating back to the sixteen hundreds.

Located on the edge of the Red Light District is the Museum Amstelkring which houses religious artifacts and art.

Visitors to St. Petersburg, Russia can see a few of the works housed in the Hermitage along the Neva River; but it is nearly impossible to see everything housed within the palace walls. However, visitors to Amsterdam can visit the Hermitage in Amsterdam which features two exhibits each year.

The TIN-Theater Museum features the history of the theater back to the Middle Ages. And the Film museum features a history on cinema history. The FOAM specializes in photography.

And for those who have an interest in things ancient and archeological is the Allard Pierson Museum.

And of course; the old city would not be complete without a historical museum of Amsterdam itself and the maritime museum Nederlands Scheepvaart Museum.

The tropical museum features exhibits on the tropical areas around the world.

There are museums dedicated to the works of Vincent Van Gogh, Rembrandt and writer Theo Thijssen.

Madame Tussauds offers visitors the chance to see Rembrandt at work, see Kylie Minogue, Bono, Bob Marley or hold court with Princess Maxima.

The Tassen Museum Hendrikje is dedicated to the great designers of women?s purses and handbags offering thousands of the women?s accessories for visitors to view. The Brilmuseum features eyeglasses.

For the musically inclined there is a small museum featuring player pianos and thousands of the paper rolls used in creating the music. Sir Elton John has nothing on this small museum which offers s glimpse into the history of eyewear.

With the wide variety of exhibits offered by the museums and the variety of cultural events there is something for almost any interest for the visitors and residents in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam ? a city sometimes called the Venice of the north ? is a city surrounded by water. Holland is a small country located between Germany and England across the sea. Whether it be along the North Sea or one of the many canals and rivers throughout the city, finding a place to stay with a waterfront view is an easy task. This modernized city with an old world charm offers a variety of places for visitors to stay from the finest international chain hotels to an intimate inn and even a houseboat. For a relatively small city Amsterdam contains nearly 300 hotels and that does not include the 100 plus guesthouses, the hostels, cottages, houseboats, and even some apartments for extended stays. But even with all of these available hotel rooms and other places to stay, finding lodgings during the tourist season can be very difficult. As a result, it is recommended for tourists to book a room or other lodging in advance. By booking ahead guests will be ensured that not only will they get the room that they want but at a price they desire as well. There are websites that list these hotels and similar accommodations in the city by category ? large, number of stars, small, etc. ? there are even listings those places that are suitable for families, are pet friendly, wheelchair accessible, and even the ones that are gay/lesbian friendly.

For the adventurous tourists and travelers Amsterdam also offers campgrounds just outside the city. In winter it gets very cold in Amsterdam ? cold enough to freeze the waterways ? so for the avid camper, summer is the best time to visit. Residents of Amsterdam even skate along the waterways during the winter for pleasure and as a way to get from one place to another.

Like many European cities Amsterdam is a popular tourist destination but the city does not offer a lot in the way of parking; as a result, it is best to make use of the extensive public transportation services offered by the country of The Netherlands. Bicycle riding is also very popular in this small country. Visitors can easily rent bikes and even take them on the trains. The Netherlands? transit system includes buses, trams, subways, and a train service that operates over 100 trips each day. There is even a train that runs right under Amsterdam?s Schiphol Airport for easy access into the city so there is no need to pay those high taxi fees to get into the city or to the hotel. It is even possible to take a trip across the country on the train and return to Amsterdam in the same day.

For those visitors who insist upon driving, they must pay close attention to any and all traffic laws. The Netherlands may be liberal in some areas of the law but it has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to traffic violations and tickets with heavy fines are given out even for first offenses and with no warning. If the ticket is not paid within a 24 hour period then the vehicle is towed.

Since the city of Amsterdam is considered small, walking from place to place is also a relatively simple task.

Bicycle and walking tours around the city of Amsterdam are among the items offered to visitors to the city.

Getting to Amsterdam as a tourist destination is even easier than getting around in the city once visitors have arrived. Schiphol Airport serves some 40 million visitors each year with approximately 90 different airline services from every corner of the globe.

The trains that run all through the country also offer trains to the neighboring countries of Germany, France, Belgium, and beyond. Many Hollanders speak English and offer informational kiosks throughout the train stations and airport making it easier for visitors find what they want and to get around the city.

Besides the windmills, wooden shoes, chocolates, and tulips for which Amsterdam and The Netherlands are best known; Amsterdam is the home of the artist Rembrandt and oddities like leaning houses.

Among the other rather unusual things that can be found in The Netherlands and Amsterdam are targeted for adults ? that of the coffeehouse where Cannabis is smoked and the Red Light District where the ladies are displayed in shop windows. In the Red Light District a man literally shops for the companion he wants. Beware: no photos are allowed when visiting the area.

Football fans can watch the two time World Cup Champions the Amsterdam Ajax play. One of the biggest teams in Europe the Ajax have been a part of Amsterdam and football for over 100 years.

Since Rembrandt lived, worked, and died in Amsterdam there are a number of museums and art galleries some of which are dedicated to the great artist; as well as, the other great masters in art.

Amsterdam Attractions

When many people hear the words Holland, The Netherlands, or Amsterdam the first things that comes to mind are wooden shoes, windmills, chocolate, and tulips. But the country of The Netherlands and Amsterdam have a lot more to offer its millions of visitors each year. This small country in western Europe is located west of Germany with England to the east located across the sea.

Amsterdam is a city located on the North Sea and while storms can be fierce the summer weather is pleasant. There are four beaches in the Amsterdam area for residents and visitors to enjoy the warm sun. Some of these beaches even permit swimming.

Like Venice and St. Petersburg, two cities surrounded by water, boat traffic is numerous and tourists can find rides along the waterways in the form of a taxi or a structured ride.

Amsterdam offers the golfer a number of choices to get in a few holes while on holiday.

Since bicycle riding is more than just a popular pastime in The Netherlands, it is also a form of transportation instead of the motor vehicle; bike riding tours are available during the non-winter months. A combination bike and boat ride is also offered during the summer months of June, July, and August. These bicycle tours wind through the Dutch countryside offering tourists a glimpse into the ?real? Holland with trips through the countryside, cheese farms, and clog factories. While on the tour visitors can see windmills, get a bit of history, and learn a bit about how the Dutch have reclaimed some of their country back from the sea ? The Netherlands is a country at or below sea level which floods easily.

And of course; there are the numerous gardens located all over the country showing off the tulips the country of The Netherlands is so famous for. While there are many small gardens hidden behind the walls of private homes, there are also large public gardens with thousands upon thousands of flowers in a rainbow of colour.

For visitors who wish to view the city in a more pedestrian manner, there are several walking tours of Amsterdam. The most well known is the The WOW or Walking Over Water Tour. During this 3 hour and a half tour visitors can see the old Amsterdam City Center, leaning houses, sea dikes, lost city walls, hidden monasteries, sites of former executions and spectacular murders, and the famous Red Light District where the girls are on display in shop windows; but beware taking photographs is prohibited.

The second walking tour takes about 2 hours and is called The Red Light District walks. As the name implies this tour focuses on the Red Light district. The Red Light tour visits the spots where the women offer their services to men and educates the people with a visit to the PIC or Prostitute Information Centre.

The walking tours are conducted in English year round. The residents of Amsterdam and The Netherlands are a cultured and sophisticated people and their festivals reflect such culture. Besides the various festivals for various holidays there are art festivals, literary festivals, and festivals for film and theatre; as well as, music festivals and concerts. There is some kind of festival taking place nearly every month of the year in Amsterdam. The Dutch even put on a festival to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

What began as a country wide celebration of the Queen Mother?s birthday has evolved into a massive outdoor party each April 30. All of Holland comes out dressed in orange to enjoy a giant birthday party and celebrate out among the blooming flowers and warming weather. The holiday is more than just a big party; marketing is strictly regulated as everything imaginable is available for sale; even the children get involved and show off their business skills.

Among the more unusual festivals happens in November when the various coffeehouses in the city hold the High Times Cannabis Cup; a six day festival that includes musical events and tasting parties. In The Netherlands it is legal to buy and smoke cannabis. It is illegal however to carry more than 5 gram of the drug.

December is the month that all the children wait for; on December 5 St. Nicholas arrives but not is a sleigh, but in a boat. The arrival of St. Nick is accompanied by a parade and festival. The Dutch do not celebrate the traditional Christmas of December 25 as the jolly one?s arrival so for many Dutch it is a normal day with businesses and museums open to the public.

The year ends with a bang ? literally ? on December 31 with bars and nightclubs opening late, early evening is for families, and a big fireworks display.

Summer may be the time when most of the tourists come to visit but The Netherlands offers something for residents and visitors any time of the year.

Amsterdam Centrum refers to the main city center of the city of Amsterdam. Many of the main attractions (restaurants, coffeeshops, bars and clubs) are concentrated in a small area of canal belts spreading out from Central Station, the main train station. Here we embark on a walking tour around Amsterdam Centrum, taking us through the most popular sights.

Arriving at Central station after the 35 minute journey from Schipol airport, you are greeted by the large covered glass roof overhanging several platforms serving journeys to and from other regions of the Netherlands as well as further afield in continental Europe. We depart Central Station and emerge on Damrak.

Damrak is the main strip leading from Central station to Dam Square. It is heavily populated by pedestrians, trams and bikes — cars are restricted to only a single lane. You can find a multitude of cheap restaurants and snack bars, hotels, souvenir shops and bureaux de change. Nearly all the stores on Damrak exist to serve the tourist trade and you can find pretty much anything you need here.

Parallel to Damrak is the main high street, Kalverstraat. This has your typical fare – local versions of global brands. Whether you are looking for fast food, women’s clothes, sports gear, cell/mobile phones or travel agencies — the names will look new to you but somehow the street will have a familiar feel to it!

At the end of Damrak, maybe 300 or 400 meters walk, you will find Dam Square. Dam Square is considered to be the center of Amsterdam. It is so called because a Dam was constructed here over five hundred years ago. Over the years, it has played host to regular new years celebrations and also political demonstrations and carnivals. Opposite the monument in Dam Square, you can see the imposing Koninklijk Palace, or Royal Palace. Don’t hang around for hours on end waiting for a glimpse of the Queen though as the Dutch Royal family no longer live here!

East of Damrak and Dam Square is the famous Red Light District of Amsterdam. Tourists and locals alike cut through this area or wander around looking at the obvious sights — ladies ply their trade in the windows offering a whole range of services at different prices. You don’t have to buy if you just want to look, indeed most tourists are simply here for the sights. Although often missed, the Red Light District contains some beautiful sights, such as picturesque canals at night and old architecture. The Oude Kerk or Old Church, was built in the 13th century but various parts of it have been rebuilt due to damage or fire over the years.

Leidseplein, south-west of Dam Square, is a popular tourist spot. Away from the hustle and bustle of Dam Square and Damrak, Leidseplein is a little more relaxed and offers many things to do. To get there, you cross four of the most famous and picturesque canals in Amsterdam — Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht, Herengracht and Singel. Here, you can find nearly fifty restaurants — whether you like Indonesian, Italian, Japanese or any other cuisine — you can find it here. You can also find some coffeeshops, bars, clubs, comedy venues and tourist shops. Many hotels are situated near here and, unlike the Red Light District and surrounding areas, there are very few, if any, beggars in this area.

Amsterdam Centrum is only a small part of what Amsterdam has to offer. Further afield is the museum quarter, Ajax ArenA football stadium and the outlying towns.

Have you decided that you would like to get married on the beautiful island of Jamaica? If so, you are ready to plan a destination wedding. Despite what you might have heard in the past, destination weddings are actually a lot easier to plan than they originally look like. With that in mind, you can keep reading on for a few helpful tips when it comes to planning a destination wedding in Jamaica.

Do examine all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica. Many people like to refer to all-inclusive resorts as one-stop travel. When you book your stay at an inclusive resort, your stay includes your room, snack, drinks, food, tips, qualifying airport transfers, and some forms on onsite entertainment. In terms of your destination wedding, can have your wedding ceremony and reception in the resort property; you never need to leave!

Do consider rolling your destination wedding in Jamaica and honeymoon all into one. You might originally think that you are shortchanging yourself a good time by doing this, but not when you opt for a stay at an all-inclusive Jamaica resort. As previously stated, your food, drinks, snacks, and some onsite entertainment are included. You should have multiple places to eat at, meaning you won’t get bored with your choices. Beachfront resorts have the best in terms of honeymoon activities. In addition to land based activities, you will find a handful of beach activities that can be romantic, such as snorkeling or scuba diving. With all-inclusive Jamaica resorts, these beach activities are typically listed as inclusions, meaning you don’t pay more.

Do look into an all-inclusive Jamaica resort’s free standard wedding ceremonies. The best all-inclusive resorts in the Jamaica do offer guests a free wedding ceremony when they meet the minimum stay requirement, which is often 5-nights. The good news is that you can purchase upgrade packages to have an all-out reception, a professional photographer, and more. With that said, if you are planning a quiet and small destination wedding in Jamaica, the free standard wedding ceremony will likely do.

Do look at a resort’s wedding upgrade package. As previously stated, you may want more than a standard destination wedding in Jamaica, even if it is free. For that reason, you want to start doing the research now. If you have yet to decide on an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica, this research might play an important role in your choice. Some all-inclusive resorts have more extras to choose from than others.

Do start planning ahead. You will find no shortage of rooms at all-inclusive Jamaica resorts; however, you are also planning a wedding. Since you are located thousands of miles away, you will be paired with a wedding planner. You can communicate with this planner via email or over-the-phone. Since you are planning a destination wedding and likely a honeymoon too, you may want to upgrade to a suite and this calls for making your reservations in advance. Moreover, don’t forget that you and your bride, as well as any wedding guests need valid passports to travel to and from Jamaica.

Speaking of guests, do plan in advance. The moment you decide on a destination wedding in Jamaica is the moment you should start informing your guests. Even if you don’t have a set date in place right now, let close friends and family know. There are many ways to save money when planning a trip to Jamaica, but some of your guests may be on strict budgets and they may need to plan ahead and budget for this trip. As soon as your all-inclusive Jamaica resort reservations and wedding is set, inform the guests of that information so they can book their trip in advance and avoid paying higher travel fees at the last minute.

What is nice about planning a destination wedding in Jamaica at an all-inclusive Jamaica resort is your choices. As previously stated, you may qualify for a free standard wedding ceremony offered by the resort, but you always have the option to upgrade. You can invite guests if you want because most resorts provide you with a small number of guest passes and you can purchase more. Or, you can have a small and private wedding ceremony and use a witness provided by the resort. Essentially your wants can become a reality especially when you choose an all-inclusive Jamaica resort that is known for catering to guests.