When summer comes, Amsterdammers move outdoors. They populate outdoor cafés, lounge in the parks or bask in the sun before their own front door. When locals leave the city for holiday paradises in France, Spain or Greece, the tourist crowd moves in. Long days, pleasant temperatures and hundreds of...

Restaurant Athene has the look, the feel and the taste of Greece. The lavish blue painted exterior makes you think that you are in a tavern in Greece. During warm weather the terrace with umbrella-shaded tables is the perfect spot to sip a glass of ouzo. Greek food is a delightful mix of Middle Eastern...

Are you meeting up with friend in Amsterdam? Dam Square and in particular the National Monument is the best place for your rendez-vous. This vast square buzzes with activity all year round. In spring, the fun fair attracts locals and tourists with its Ferris wheel. In summer, street entertainers and...

Vondelpark is one of my favourite summer haunts. I spread out my picnic blanket, open the bottle of viña ducaro tinto (a nice way of saying red wine) bought at Hema department store at €3. The Hema also supplied me with mature Gouda cheese and crispy brown rolls sprinkled with sunflower seeds. A wonderful...

Going to Amsterdam and not visiting a coffeeshop is like going to India and not seeing Taj Mahal. The Fragrant fumes drifting from within are not just from coffee. All Amsterdam coffeeshops sell hashish and marihuana. They have a menu card displayed on the bar or just behind it. This card sports a bewildering...

When the opportunity to visit the Hotel Novotel in Amsterdam came up, I jumped at the chance to not only stay but to attend the Grand Re-Opening event.  Having never visited the Netherlands, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised with both the accommodations and the...