#351: Cafe Society (pg 240)

 

July 12, 2025

Cafe 't Smalle

"A favored watering hole since it first opened in 1786."

A flavor of the inside.

But on a day like today and with a view like this, the outside is where you want to be!

Verdict:  No, this isn't something you need to do before you die.  In fact, it was taken out of the 2nd edition and rightfully so.  Enjoy Amsterdam's eating and drinking scene and find a place along the canal on a nice afternoon or evening, but it doesn't necessarily need to be in a "brown cafe" (which name derives from a combination of the wood-paneling which is beautiful and it's tobacco stains from years of pub living, which is, well.... less beautiful).  

#350: Pulitzer Hotel (pg 242)

 

July 12, 2025

The Pulitzer hotel is located along a gorgeous canal in the Jordaan District just a short walk from the Anne Frank house.

It has two very nice restaurants with beautiful outdoor seating options.

And a lovely lobby with some "Pulitzer-prize" winning books.

One of the lovely courtyards that make you just want to stay here instead of venturing out into the city.

Verdict:  No, this isn't a must do.  In fact, it was taken out of the 2nd Edition of the 1000 Places book and rightfully so.  It's a lovely place to stay if you can afford to do so (rooms typically range between $500-$700/night) but it's not something you have to see before you die.  So, while this magical courtyard and historical elegance may draw you in, unless money is no object, I'd stay in a less expensive place and spend your time and money exploring this must-see city!

#349: Anne Frank House (pg 239)

 

July 12, 2025

Posing here with my sister Lindsay in front of the building which housed Anne Frank and her family, along with 4 other people for 25 months before they were discovered. 

As you can see here,  they stayed in the back upper floors of a business.  They were able to stay hidden as long as they did because most of the Nazis were searching in people's homes, not in businesses.  

Verdict:  Yes!!  This is an absolute must do.  The whole experience exceeded my expectations.  It's obviously very sobering, but it's very well done.  The area is bigger than I imagined.  You are not allowed to take pictures inside the house, which is why my only pictures here are of the outside.  But when you tour the inside, you go inside the business building area and then you go behind a bookshelf and up the stairs to where they lived for 25 months.  It consisted of 3 small bedrooms plus a larger kitchen/living area room (which also doubled as a bedroom) and a bathroom.  After touring the building and living area, there is a gift shop and small museum display of Anne's actual diary and other writings.

Also, this was taken out in the 2nd Edition of 1000 Places as its own entry and just added as a subtext under "Amsterdam."  While I agree with the book's doing that with many of the other Amsterdam sights (Cafe Society, Oude Kerk, Pulitzer Hotel, Van Gogh Museum, etc), I think this one should have been kept as it's own entry.  It's definitely worthy of it. 

Cost:  16 euros

Tip:  Makes sure to book these tickets well ahead of time as they sell out very quickly.  Every Tuesday at 10am, they release more tickets and you can book out as far as 6 weeks in advance.   And I definitely recommend booking 6 weeks in advance as soon as they go on sale (I set an alert on my phone to make sure I got these) especially if you are going during  peak season. 

#348: Red Light District (pg 243)

 

July 12, 2025

I honestly wasn't quite sure how to document this one!  As you can see in the windows here, there are "no camera" signs everywhere.  In fact Rick Steves Amsterdam guidebook suggests "leaving your phone or camera in your bag. Don't take photos of women in windows or a snarly bouncer may appear from out of nowhere to forcibly rip it from your hands. In this district, taking even seemingly harmless photos of ordinary people is frowned upon by privacy-loving locals."  So, needless to say, this is the only photo I dared to take. 

The Red Light District is Amsterdam's oldest neighborhood and prostitution has been practiced here since the Middle Ages.  

Verdict:  My normal bar for what I decide to put as "yes" is "Is this something you can't see or do anywhere else?  Is it uniquely interesting?"  etc.  So, if I'm going by those standards, then this deserves a "Yes."  Walking through during the afternoon, I found the whole area absolutely fascinating -it's certainly not anything I've ever seen before!   Window after window with scantily-clad women "for sale."  But certainly, there's also the feeling of sadness in terms of what got these women here in the first place and the whole seediness of it all.  So, I guess I'd say this..... If you do decide to go, I recommend going during the day and just doing a walk-through to get an idea of the place and avoid going after dark, where the whole area turns to complete debauchery. 

#347: Oude Kerk (pg 241)

Oude Kerk

7/12/25

The famous organ pipes

Verdict:  No, this isn't something you need to see before you die.  In fact, not only does the 2nd edition not have this listed as its own entry anymore, it only makes a very brief mention of it in the Amsterdam listing on pg 228.  It's a cool church with a lot of history as Amsterdam's oldest church dating from ~1300.  The book states that "summertime concerts are one of the season's greatest pleasures" so maybe I would feel differently if we would have had the opportunity to hear the carillon bells and world-famous organ in action during a concert.  But as it stands, I would say this is beautiful church from the outside and a unique, deeply historic church on the inside, but not a must see before you die church.  

Cost:  Adult:  13.50 euros

Student ages 13-17:  7 euros

Children 6-12 3.50 euros

Children <6: Free 

For an extra charge, you can go to the top of the tower for great views of the city and an up close view of the carillon bells, but these are timed entry tickets with a max capacity of 10 people/group.