Koninglijk Palais
(Royal palace)
Built between1648 and 1656 during the height of Holland’s “Golden Age,” this was originally the Stadhuis (City Hall).  Located at the Dam Square, it became a Royal Palace in 1808, when Napoleon crowned his brother Louis Bonaparte King of Holland, and the new king decided to move in.  Ever since, it has remained a Royal Palace, passed down through the generations until 1935, when the Dutch Government bought and restored it to use for state functions.

Westerkerk
(West Church)
With its 85-meter tower, known as “Lange Jan” (Long John), topped with a blue crowned orb and gilded weathercock, many consider it the prettiest of Amsterdam’s churches.  The church bells are the loudest, largest and heaviest of all the churches in Amsterdam.  For 5 euro it is possible to climb the tower for a magnificent panorama of old Amsterdam.

OudeKerk
(Old Church)
The city’s oldest building and earliest parish church, was built in 1306 and dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of Amsterdam.  The church survived both of the great fires (1421 and 1452) of Amsterdam, when all other buildings around the church burned to the ground.  Today the church is both place of worship and an art gallery.

NieuwKerk
(New Church)
Built in 1395, 90 years after the OudeKerk, the NieuwKerk is only new in comparison to the OudeKerk.  This church was destroyed in the second great fire of Amsterdam in 1452, but afterward the city rebuilt it to be the premier church of Amsterdam.  Coronations of the kings and queens of The Netherlands always take place here.

Red Light District
Since the 15th Century, Amsterdam has tolerated open sex trade in a contained area, known as the Red Light District in the oldest part of the old city, once a medieval marin

Coffee Shops
Since the 1970s, Holland has the most liberal marijuana laws in Europe.  The weed is effectively both legal and illegal.  There is medical marijuana by prescription, and then there are the coffee shops for recreation.  The shops can carry up to 500 grams of weed and hashish, and patrons can have up to 5 grams individually.  Anything more than that is illegal.  It is legal to smoke in coffee shops but not on the street.  Nevertheless, the Amsterdam police usually turn a blind eye to people quietly smoking.  There are more than 200 registered coffee shops in Amsterdam for chilling out, relaxing and enjoying cannabis smoke.  Most shops are open from 10 a.m., and at night they close at 1 a.m.  There are coffee shops for every taste and style.  Some are very seedy and dingy.  Some are very bright and cheerful.  Some are designed for local clientele and others for tourists.  Some have very elaborate, decorative interiors.  Some are modern and some are traditional.  Many serve varieties of teas and fruit juices, along with coffee.  Some also serve alcohol (be careful, know your limits, combining alcohol and the has an exponential effect).  It is easy to walk around the centre and stop in just about any shop, have a look at the menu and take in the vibe, and then decide to stay or to move on.  It is possible to sit for hours in nice shops, smoking, sipping your favourite soft drink and having long conversations with people from around the world about every conceivable topic.  For a change of pace try some space cake or space muffins.  Along the way you may stumble across these favourite coffee shops:  De Dampkring, Abraxas, De Rokerij, Dutch Flowers, Kadinsky, Siberie, Kashmir Lounge, The Bull Dog, Jolly Joker, Hill Street Blues and many more. Enjoy