Address: Prinsengracht 267

Hours: March 15- Sept. 14: 9am- 9pm, Saturdays 9am- 10pm; Sept. 15- March 14: 9am- 7pm. July and August open until 10pm.

Tickets: €7,50; ages 10-17: €3,50; under 9: free (starting in 2009, adult tickets will be €8,50 and ages 10-17 will increase to €4. Transportation: Tram 13 or 17 or bus 170, 171 or 172; get off at bus stop Westermarkt, walk to your right onto the Prinsengracht. Located on Prinsengracht street in a row of buildings, the Ann Frank House attracts millions of travelers from around the world. Visitors can view displays in the home, and the Secret Annex, where Frank was in hiding, remains in original condition. The house gives a unique insight to the Holocaust through the eyes of a young teenage girl, and Otto Frank, the only surviving member of the Frank family, devoted himself to preserving the building, along with documents, family photos and letters. There is no formal tour of the house, but a walk-through takes around an hour, and the mood is generally quiet.

Address: Paulus Potterstratt 7

Hours: Daily 10am to 6pm; Fridays 10am to 10pm

Tickets: €12,50; ages 13-17: €2,50; under 12: free

Transportation: Take tram 2 (towards Nieuw Sloten) from Centraal Station or 5 (towards Amstelveen Binnenhof) to the Van Baerlestraat stop. From Station Amsterdam Zuid/WTC, take tram 5 (towards Central Station) to the Van Baerlestraat stop. Also, take tram 3 or 12 to the Van Baerlestraat stop, and trams 16 and 24 or bus 145, 170 or 172 to the Museumplein stop. This museum provides the largest collection of Van Gogh works in the world, including a section of his numerous self-portraits. The collection also includes the work of other 19th-century artists. While a visit to the Van Gogh Museum will not be disappointing for those interested in this intriguing artist, for the backpacker on a budget, the entrance fee is a little pricey for a smaller collection. However, the price may be worth it on a Friday night when you can enjoy Van Gogh’s art while listening to music spun by a DJ and having a drink from the bar.

Address: Stadhouderskade 78 Tickets: €7,50

Tours: 10:30am, 11am, 1pm, and 2:30pm June- Sept.; 9:30am and 11am Sept- May

The “Heineken Experience” provides visitors with a tour of the complete brewing process, and the price includes three 10 oz. beers, a great deal for any traveler. It underwent extensive renovations in 2007 and 2008 and, as of October 20, includes a new tasting bar and Stable Walk, where you can visit the Shire horses. The tour allows you to not only experience a historical landmark, but the new renovations give a sleek, 21st century look to an age old tradition.

Address: O.Z. Achterburgwal 106-108

Transportation: Trams 4, 9, 14, 16, 24, 25 to the Dam

Hours: Mon.- Thurs. and Sun. 7:30pm- 2:00am, Fri and Sat. until 3:00am, afternoon shows begin at 1:30pm.

Tickets: €25, €40 includes drinks Casa Rossa is the most popular and largest sex theatre in the Red Light District, although the shows are a bit tamer than some. But admission costs include eight or nine consecutive acts that rotate throughout the evening.

Address: Ouderkerksplein

Hours: Mon.- Sat. 11:00am- 5:00pm, Sun. 1:00- 5:00pm

Tickets: €5, €4 students

You can see this church reflected in the gleaming pink windows of the Red Light District. The church began as a small, basilica nave in the 1300s, which was extended later on. After the Reformation, the church was looted, and much of the artwork was destroyed. Today, the church contains side chapels and a tower, as well as a famous organ built in 1724 that still plays for services and concerts today.

Address: Dam Square

Hours: Closed until summer 2009, previous hours 11:00am- 5:00pm On the west side of Dam Square in the heart of the city sits the Royal Palace. Originally built as a city hall in 1648, it became a royal palace at the start of the 19th century. Today, it’s at Queen Beatrix’s disposal.

Address: Paulus Potterstraat 13

Hours: 10:00am- 6:00pm

Tickets: €8 Built in 1895, this museum houses works from Picasso, Malevich, Matisse, and many others. The museum building is undergoing an extensive renovation, and exhibits can be found at the Post-CS building until then. The Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam is an accessory to the museum that features brand new artists and fashion designers.

Address: Oudezijds Achterburgwal 124 I, near Dam Square

Tickets: free, but donations are welcome Cannabis College serves as an information center on the “beautiful Cannabis sativa L. plant.” It is not actually a college, but focuses on education of the effects and benefits of marijuana. Be sure to check out the garden, the only Cannabis garden accessible to the public in the world. Cannabis College is a great stop to learn about a much-loved past time in Amsterdam and is an attraction for many backpackers.

Address: Damrak 18

Hours: 9:30am- 11:30pm

Tickets: €2,50 Must be 16 years old to enter. Experience sex through the ages, from Greek and Roman times, to the Middle Ages (where an actual iron chastity belt is on display), to eroticism in Asia, to pin-up girls from the 1950s. Curious tourist wander through room after room of artwork, mannequins, sex toys and literature. With one of the most extensive collections of erotic art, the sex museum is a staple of Amsterdam culture.

Address: Jan Luikenstraat 1

Hours: 9:00am- 6:0pm, open Fri. until 8:30pm

Tickets: €10 Construction on this gothic and renaissance-style museum began in 1876, and the museum opened in 1885. As the official state museum of Amsterdam, it houses a large collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age, specifically Rembrandt. The museum is undergoing renovation until 2010, and exhibitions can be seen in other locations, like the Van Gogh museum.

Address: Plantage Kerklaan 61

Hours: 10:00am- 5:00pm, opens at 11:00am on Sat. and Sun.

Tickets: €6, 50

The Dutch Resistance Museum celebrates Amsterdam’s resistance to German occupation during World War II. The collection includes exhibits on strikes, forged documents, assistance with hiding, underground newspapers and espionage.

COFFEE SHOPS

There are various “shops” in Amsterdam, each offering different types of substances. While a “coffee shop” does serve coffee, it also has a menu for cannabis, hashish and marijuana. Many shops will have descriptions of the type of high you’re looking for, whether it’s mellow and relaxed or energetic and hyper. In “smart shops” you can purchase mushrooms and similar products; “head shops” offer paraphernalia; “grow shops” sell cannabis seeds.

While coffee shops will sell pre-rolled joints, purchasing them will immediately brand you as an inexperienced tourist.

Address: Handboogstraat 29

Hours: 10:00am- 1:00am, opens at 11:00am on Sun.

This cavernous shop was made famous by the movie Oceans Twelve (2004), where a scene with Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and George Clooney was shot. Inside you can find exceptional interior design and movie posters.

Address: Haarlemmerstraat 102

Hours: 7:00am- 10:00pm

This popular coffeeshop offers a full English breakfast and is a popular place to “wake and bake.” Barney’s is the winner of Amsterdam’s Cannabis Cup.

Address: Jonge Roelensteeg 12, just south of the Royal Palace in Dam Square

Abraxas is a gorgeous 2-story coffee shop with rich, colorful design and textures and a unique menu of marijuana and hemp items, including tea and milkshakes. The upper floor, a place to “chill,” has comfy, wall-lined couches, and it’s a wonderful place to take a break from sight seeing.

Address: Spuistraat

The Magic Mushroom is a smart shop, specializing in mushrooms, hallucinogenic, psychoactives and more. The staff is very friendly and can help you find anything you’re looking for. The walls are beautifully painted, and they don’t mind if you stick around to enjoy them after ingesting a hallucinogen.

Address: Warmoesstraat 52a

Hours: Sun.- Thurs. 9:00am- 1:00am, Fri. and Sat. 9:00am- 2:00am

This coffeeshop opened in 1994 and is known for its unique walls, filled with graffiti and markings from customers since its beginning. This laid back bar offers pool, foosball, backgammon, chess, arcade games, as well as a selection of marijuana and hash.

Address: Herengracht 133

Hours: 9:30am- 1:00am Address: Herengracht 133 Hours: 9:30am- 1:00am

Transportation: Trams 13, 14, 17 The pink and fuschia interior of this coffeeshop offers a relaxed, subdued atmosphere. They offer a unique menu filled with variety. Trams 13, 14, 17 The pink and fuschia interior of this coffeeshop offers a relaxed, subdued atmosphere. They offer a unique menu filled with variety.

Address: 1e Bloemdwarsstraat, 5-minute walk from the Anne Frank House Paradox serves up quality vegetarian food in addition to its selection of weed and hash. They offer bongs, vaporizers, and any other paraphernalia you may desire. Paradox tends to be very peaceful and serene, and is a place to enjoy calm atmosphere.

ITINERARY

College Backpacking recommends staying four days in Amsterdam. If you decide to partake in the coffee and smart shop culture, you may be ready to return to sobriety after this time.

Spend the first day in Dam Square and the Red Light District, two main centers in the city, and both with impressive attractions. On Day Two, pay a visit to the Anne Frank House and stop by Paradox afterwards. The Heineken Experience should take up a good part of your afternoon, and catch a sex show at night (if you’re up for it).

The art museums reside in the same district, so check out the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh and Stedelijk while you’re in the area. There’s also a free film museum in the district at Vondelpark 3.

And of course, be sure to experience some of the alternative education centers, like the Sex Museum and Cannabis College. These also serve as good alternatives for those wanting to experience some of Amsterdam’s culture without actually partaking.

At some point during your stay in Amsterdam, be sure to find a kiosk selling French fries. Unlike Americans who eat them with Ketchup, Amsterdam residents enjoy their fries with a tangy mayonnaise. They also offer other sauces like curry. The fries are served in a paper cone, so you can enjoy them as you walk along the beautiful canals.

Address: Jodenbreestraat 4

Transportation: metro Hoogstraat exit

Hours: 10:00am- 5:00pm

Tickets: €8, €5,50 students, includes audio guide The Rembrandt House, built in 1606, was where the artist Rembrandt resided from 1639 to 1658. Unable to pay off the mortgage for the house, Rembrandt went into debt, and the house was auctioned off in 1658. In 1911, Queen Wilhelmina restored the house, converted it to a museum, and opened it to the public. The house contains a wonderful collection of Rembrandt’s etchings, as well as paintings from Pre-Rembrandt artists.

      Location: South of Centraal Station, in the center of town.

Flights: Schiphol Airport (AMS) is Amsterdam’s primary airport.  Backpackers should take Sneltrains to get to Centraal Station.

Trains: Centraal Station is the where backpackers looking to enjoy Amsterdam’s sinful yet beautiful atmosphere will arrive.  Trains depart for Brussels (3hr), The Hague (55min), Leiden (45min), Rotterdam (1hr), and Utrecht (30min). 

Public Transportation: Amsterdam’s public transportation network consists of buses, trams, and a metro.  Most backpackers will stay within the city limits, so trams are the best option.  All three forms run from 6am-12:30am, and night buses run from 12:30am-7am.  A single journey costs €1.60 for one zone (2 strips), €2.40 for 3 zones (3 strips), and a 15 strip booklet costs €7.30.Bike Rental: College Backpacking recommends seeing Amsterdam by bicycle, which allows backpackers to see the real Amsterdam.  Bikes can be rented from MacBike Rentals for €9-13 per day with a €50 deposit.  To learn more visit www.macbike.nl.