http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19566 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19566 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15964 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15964 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15959
Through the simple-to-use handheld device and headset you can delve deeper in to the stories behind many of Van Gogh’s famous pictures as well as giving you access to a wealth of extra information including photos, letters, film clips and drawings.

A great interactive experience that enhanced my visit and gave me a real insight in to the often tragic life of the man behind the paintings.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15959 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15955
You can create your own 20 second video clip and send it for free to your friends and family (you simply enter their e-mail address).

Easy to use and quite handy when waiting for a while for the other half to emerge from the gift shop. You can even stand in the background and do a little jiggle or Riverdance when others are making their videos!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15955 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15948
It’s a court of almshouses clustered around a peaceful garden where devout women have been housed since 1475 and religious women continue to be housed.

If you miss the hidden doorway, the entrance is also through the Amsterdam Historical Museum, the former city orphanage on Kalverstraat.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15948 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15937 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15937 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15930
Enjoy the museums too and galleries too.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15930 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15908
It has a remarkable collection of the best of a variety of great artists. The choice of the original collection was made by a very discerning art collector. The best Van Goghs are there which you can compare with those in the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam.

And there are many other artist’s works and sculptures in the park set in open countryside.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15908 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15394 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15394 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14222 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14222 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14065 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14065 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14049 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14049 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13961
The hotel is near the Van Gogh Musuem - handy if you arrive on a Friday evening, as it is open until 10pm and there are no queues, so you can explore and then enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Buy a strip of tram tickets when you arrive at Central station - you'll save money and hassle, and can hop on and off trams as you wish.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13961 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13949 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13949 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7717
Also check out the Rijksmuseum with Rembrandt’s “Nightwatch”. And those fascinating Dutch interiors by Vermeer and Van Hals.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/7717 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4475 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4475 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4404 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/4404 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2179
This exhibition (containing over 400 exhibits – a fair amount for a lot of museums but hardly a scratch on the surface for the hundreds of thousands the Rijksmuseum contains) concentrates on the Golden Age of Dutch art – the 17th Century.

Exhibits include the amazingly detailed Dolls House owned and commissioned by Petronella Oortman – as well as representing a wonderful feat of artistry it is also a great historical record of life in a Dutch canal side house. There are pictures and artefacts illustrating Amsterdam and Holland’s standing as a world trading power (a very good accompaniment to many of the exhibits in the Amsterdam Historisch Museum) and paintings by Frans Hals, Vermeer and, of course Rembrandt including the magnificent “Night Watch”.
Beware that the galleries can get very busy, particularly at the weekend and you may find yourself avoiding tour groups and waiting, or jostling, to see some of the more well known paintings. It's worth it though.

Entry: 9 euro plus 4 euro or an audio guide
Opening Times: 9am-6pm daily
The website (www.rijksmuseum.nl) is a fantastic site and well worth a look.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/2179 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6815
This showpiece of the planet's best photojournalism visits several cities around the world, but Amsterdam is its spiritual home and the Oude Kerk is a most appropriate setting.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6815 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5528 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/5528