• eran_morad@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          I had a great visit there in 2013. Nearly everyone speaks English, but don’t just assume, ask (in Dutch) if they speak English. Very walkable, with pretty great transit. Lots to see just walking around. Just be a normal person and you’ll be treated fine.

          • LemmyHead@lemmy.ml
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            4 months ago

            Tbh even if you speak Dutch, they’ll just reply English. That’s the weird Amsterdam behavior

            • Kacarott@feddit.de
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              4 months ago

              This happens in a lot of countries. For me I noticed it particularly with young people in Germany, and pretty much anyone in Norway.

              Can make it slightly frustrating when actively trying to learn the language by speaking with people 😅

            • ipkpjersi@lemmy.ml
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              4 months ago

              I think that’s kinda common in a lot of countries. If you look like you aren’t from there then they will speak in English.

              • LemmyHead@lemmy.ml
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                4 months ago

                I dont think so. I even replied in dutch and they still continued in English. The only place that ever happened to me

        • sunbytes@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          Don’t get really drunk or stoned and end up being obnoxious.

          Try to be aware of traffic (especially bikes) and of blocking sidewalks/alleys etc. Look both ways on every lane of traffic you cross (including both bike lanes).

          Try to branch out your trip from the exact center of the city (or by the train station) and don’t rent an Airbnb inside the city center (they drive up local rents).

          If you’re standing on red bricks or red tarmac, you’re probably blocking the bike lane.

          If you can’t see the bike lane, it’s likely that you’re standing in it (they aren’t always marked).

          • ipkpjersi@lemmy.ml
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            4 months ago

            As someone planning on going in a year or two, this is really good advice. Thank you.

        • Digitalprimate@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          Digitalprimate

          Oh simply be polite and most of all have a sense of your surroundings/situational awareness, i.e., don’t get in the way. You probably want to spend as little time in the main “downtown” area (roughly central station to the Rokin) as possible.

          Although everyone under 80 years old speak near-native English (I exaggerate), you’ll endear yourself by learning to say good morning, good evening, thanks, and please in Dutch and to start conversations by asking “Is English ok?” in Dutch.

          Basically just don’t be a jerk and the native Amsterdamers will happily take your holiday money.

      • zout@fedia.io
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        4 months ago

        True, but also if you go to Amsterdam as a tourist, you’ll end up in the tourist trap places. Shady coffee shops, tours of the red light district, and over priced bars where you have to pay for toilet usage. And you can be rushed through the Anne Frank house for a price.

        • Digitalprimate@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          Fair enough!

          It’s still possible, in my opinion, to visit as a “tourist” (I live in Haarlem now, so technically I’m a tourist when I go) and avoid all the trashy stuff. You can seek out the cool little neighborhoods like the Jordaan or de Pijp.

    • nutsack@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      this is an extremely tourist friendly city. but it’s also filled with drunk pieces of shit at night. they will try to fight you for a cigarette.

      • Digitalprimate@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Yeah for sure, avoid big groups of British English speaking dudes for sure (and some of my best friends are English and they would agree!)

        • nutsack@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          drunk people are garbage in general but English drunk people in Amsterdam are just fucked

      • LemmyHead@lemmy.ml
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        4 months ago

        And drugged pieces of shit as well. It’s a horrible city if you don’t do that kind of stuff

        • Trollivier@sh.itjust.works
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          4 months ago

          The public transport system will make you feel like you’re in the 2030s. Super simple. Have your smart phone or smart watch connected to a credit card, or just have a chipped credit card, and you boop your way in any transport, you boop your way out and it charges you for whatever distance you traveled.

          The hotels are incredibly expensive there and we didn’t take one in the old city, but somewhere at a reasonable distance from a subway station a little further from the city center.

          Do not neglect the possibility to bike in the city. We were walking everywhere, or taking trams or the subway, and I wish we biked more.

          Boat tours are cool, you learn a lot. Lots of museums to visit. And if you can afford it, try these restaurants for an extraordinary experience : Wilde Zwijnen (The Wild Pig) and Moeders (Mothers).

          You can visit Windmills with a 40 minutes bus ride. Pretty nice things to see and to taste (cheese!!!).

    • MeThisGuy@feddit.nl
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      4 months ago

      wat is dit nou weer voor onzin?

      it’s one of the more friendly capitols in europe