AS Christmas lights begin to sparkle and shopping centres become ever busier, a short getaway n search of a break from the hustle and bustle of Christmas, PATRICK MCLEAN heads to Amsterdam

seemed like the perfect idea to beat the winter blues. And no other place can provide the friendly welcome and relaxing atmosphere quite like Amsterdam.

A friend and I decided to book a five-day trip to the Dutch city, and, having picked up our itinerary at Schiphol airport, we hopped on the train into the centre.

The moment we rolled out of the station, we could already tell how lively a place this was (and I don’t just mean in the Red Light district!).

Having checked into Hotel Teleport, we made our way into the city centre to explore the nightlife.

Walking down a street in Amsterdam is impressive, with all the brightly lit street signs and the smell of every type of food under the sun hitting the senses.

You could find yourself a quiet little restaurant, tucked away in one of the many side streets, but if you walk just another hundred yards you will find yourself overwhelmed with choice.

Leidseplein, one of most popular areas for nightlife and tourism, is full of places to eat, relax or have a drink while watching the world go by.

We visited Puri Mas in Long Leidsedwarsstraat, an authentic Indonesian restaurant in the heart of the city. The place was rammed with people enjoying themselves, which is always a good sign.

A succession of dishes appeared before us, the flavours dancing on the tongue while not being overpowering, and all the courses complimented each other perfectly. It was the first time I had tasted Indonesian food and I can safely say I am hooked.

Just next to the Leidseplein area sits Paradiso, a music venue and cultural centre based in a converted 19th century church.

Paradiso has hosted many famous musicians, including Adele and Joy Division. For us it would be welcoming to the stage Jose Gonzales, singer songwriter of the Heartbeats and Crosses fame, and the characterful venue was packed with friends, families and couples.

If live music isn’t your thing, Amsterdam has an abundance of other things to do. Amsterdam is, of course, home to the Van Gogh museum, the house of Anne Frank, the Rembrandt museum and many others, a cultural feast of art and expression.

One of the highlights of our trip was a tour of Brouwerij ’t IJ in Funenkade. The 25-year-old brewery produces some of the finest ales Amsterdam has to offer, from light, crisp beers to the darker and bitter ones.

Wouter Troelstra, salesman at Brouwerij ‘t IJ, showed us round the site, sharing the details of the brewery process and the history of the brewery, while we tested a range of their produce. My personal favourite was the original Zatte, one of the first ales to ever be sold by the brewery.

Business is booming, according to Mr Troelstra.

“We had to open another brewery just down the road to produce as much as we can. We would be selling out and have nothing left to sell to people, so opening the new site means that we can cater to a larger number of people in higher quantities,” he explained.

For people looking to experience a homegrown experience of Amsterdam, then a visit to Brouwerij t’IJ is a must, made all the more interesting with the friendly host.

If you find yourself pining for a cup of coffee while shopping or exploring Amsterdam, just make sure you head for a ‘coffeehuis’ and not a coffeeshop.

The difference by name may not seem like much, and true, you can get a cup of coffee in either, but trust me when I say a coffeeshop atmosphere is maybe on the other end of the relaxation spectrum.

Many people will know Amsterdam as a place for tourists to smoke marijuana legally, and while the drug is still viewed as illegal in the city, it is tolerated inside the coffeeshops.

Don’t take this as an invitation to smoke in the streets though, as the police will have something to say about it.

For those who find themselves looking for a bit of a break from the busy city, the train station in Dam Central can easily get you anywhere you want to go.

On our third day we hopped on a train to Haarlem (only six euros). Haarlem is to Amsterdam what Wells (Somerset) is to Bath. It’s a smaller town with a wonderful cathedral that still boasted a wide range of shops and restaurants to keep visitors on their toes.

When looking back on the time spent in Amsterdam, I have fond memories.

Escaping England for just five days gave us the chance to unwind, although I am left with a craving for a bottle of Zatte.

The only thing I can safely say I will not miss is the traffic around the city.

When I finally became accustomed to looking in the right direction I still then had to get my head around the volume of cars, trams, buses and bikes.

Saying that, nothing would stop me from going back to this city time and again.

 

  • Flights from Luton to Amsterdam are from £45 return
  •  A twin room for five nights at the three star Teleport Hotel is £220. Visitteleporthotel.nl
  •  A 24-hour pass around the city (bus/tram) is 7.40 euros