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/34690 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34690 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33570 If you want to get away from the cringe-inducing ugliness of Rokin, the main tourist drag that leads straight to and from Amsterdam’s Central Station, this is the perfect spot. It’s only five minutes away by foot from Rokin and the almost equally garish Dam Square, but it’s as authentic and charming a place as you’ll find in the city.
Full of natural light, natural wood furniture, and naturally a fat house cat, van Zuylen is a great spot to fire up the laptop (free Wi-Fi) and waste away the afternoon with cheap beer and friendly service (a rarity in the city). Not to mention the decent Dutch snacks and pub-ish fare and a very decent cappucino and apple tart (There’s also a restaurant attached - haven’t eaten there yet - for a more intimate setting). And on a nice day, the seating spills over to a bench outside and a sizable collection of tables overlooking a canal.
Better yet, open up your map on the table and plot your next stop, or open the travel journal and watch the people going by - your first entry will likely start with “Maybe I should just move here...” It’s like a movie about Amsterdam, with more than enough interesting faces going by to offset the occasional hipster twirling his sad mustache while looking for jobs online.
How else to put it? It’s a cosy, unassuming, cool place. And it's one of those unique spots that is always busy, but somehow there’s always a spot for you.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33570 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32738 It has 300 stalls, from cheap chic clothing to fresh fish, from bike accessories to huge amounts of flowers (10 roses for 5 Euros. Guys - it's never been cheaper to buy your way out of trouble).
It's a classic outdoor market, with various vendors barking out their specials all day while locals and tourists amble along and scarf down a fresh stroopwafel (thin syrup waffle) or fries. What it lacks in aesthetics - cheap-looking stalls atop dark grey gum-imprinted asphalt - it makes up for in products and in characters.
I personally get to experience the best and the worst of it. The best being tons of fresh, quality food about 90 seconds walk from my door, one street north of Albert Cuypstraat. This also includes the roasted chicken dripping off the spit, and the butcher who always has a spare bit of smoked turkey for our dog.
Tied for the tops are the people. The characters are real-life, seasoned market-hawkers - mostly very friendly, some gruff, always authentic and fair (this is not one of those markets where you haggle). They'll switch to speaking English in a second too. The old salty dogs selling an awesome variety of fish look like they caught it themselves that morning, and a faulty bike lock is replaced right away. You never feel jobbed (ahem, Istanbul and Barcelona markets - looking at you here).
The worst? The clattering fish and flower trolleys at 5:30 in the morning as they get set up for the day ahead, 6 days a week (the market is closed on Sundays). Ear plugs are a must for this time of day if you sleep anywhere near the market.
And the trash - the street is remarkably clean after 7pm as the city cleaning crews sweep it all up, but between 5 and 7 you can't imagine the heaps of trash and heaps of stink. (Of course, time your trip right at the end of the day and snag deals like 10 kiwis for 1.50Euros, and the stink is less than you think).

The next day, from a blank, flat slate, it rises all over again from the pavement. This is one of those places that you can't experience in many parts of the world.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32738 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20931
There is a general market on Saturdays on Lindengracht (parallel to Noordermarkt) selling everything from the mundane to the exotic and on Monday mornings the market specialises in cheap and cheerful materials.
Both are great places to mingle with the locals.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20931 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19687 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19687 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19686 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19686 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18747 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18747 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18018 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18018 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16762 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16762 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16015 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16015 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15541
There's a limited but great-value repertoire here, and on an empty stomach the all-in get-your-hands-dirty dishes are to die for. If there's a group of you, order a variety of mains (all served on a stodgy bed of pancakes) and you can pull off a massive dinner for under 15 Euros per head.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/15541 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14234 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14234 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14194 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14194 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14081
The service starts at 5pm, is open to all and free to attend. Having filled the soul, an easy two-minute stroll will take you to the Bird cafe on Zeedijk 77. Why is this tiny Thai snack bar always frantically busy ? Sit down and try the food. Then you'll understand.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14081 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14078 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14078 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14046 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14046 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14008 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14008 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14002 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/14002 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13998 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13998 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13993
Every kind of fondue is on offer, but no meal is finished until you have the chocolate fondue. It's a terrifically romantic place, and we were lucky enough to be there in the snow - it holds many happy memories.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/13993