By Jennifer Ciotta
Amsterdam is the home of Anne Frank, the young, brilliant writer who immortalized the Holocaust in literary history. Her story is one of fantasy, humor and deep sorrow. Anne's spirit lives on in the Dutch capital today, since the city has a youthful, vibrant feel.
Amsterdam is the city of water (besides Venice). It has 165 canals, 2500 houseboats and 1281 bridges. The beauty of the scenery becomes apparent when the golden lights of historic buildings reflect off the deep blue canal waters at night.
It is probably one of the best cities for exercise. To see all the sites, such as Anne Frank's house, a visitor can rely on various modes of transportation. The first one is a bike, which will take an adventurer around the city's narrow streets, while traveling along the water's edge. Another popular mode of transport is a water bike. A group can rent a paddle boat and pedal around the canals for a day as well. Even though it may not provide much exercise, the Canal Bus is a memorable experience--it is a boat in which the top half resembles a bus thus giving the illusion of a bus driving through water. Tourists take advantage of this transportation since it makes 14 stops and runs every 40 minutes.
This next area is not really suitable for children; however, adults get a kick out of the famous Red Light District. First of all, the lights of bright pinks, reds, and yellows entrance visitors. The area is known for brothels, sex shops and peep shows; however, there is a rich culture here as well. The District boasts fourteenth century architecture complete with looming, Gothic buildings such as churches and structures that lean to one side. Cobblestone streets frame both the houses of ill repute and the lush trees hanging over the canals. Prostitution itself has a historical background in Amsterdam which includes legalization, medical care and a move towards the women declaring taxes. Also, a tourist must be warned that it is illegal to take photographs of prostitutes in windows.
A visit to Jordaan gives great insight to the city's past and present. This area was a ghetto for immigrants in the seventeenth century. Now it is an absolutely beautiful artist community. Old warehouses have been converted into bright residential buildings. The colors of mustard-yellows and coral-pinks blend in nicely with the scenic houseboats. The energy is similar to present day Brooklyn or Philadelphia--tourists can see creative types, bankers and budgeting students all together in this one part of town. Popular sites are outdoor cafes, art studios and specialty shops, including antiques and diamonds. A must-see is the Flowermarket. It stands on houseboats thus making it the only floating flower market in the world. Here one can buy the famed tulips of Amsterdam, along with many other flowers.
Perhaps the most visited time of year is tulip season, usually from mid-March to late May. This is when Holland comes alive with color. It is also during this season that the Amsterdam Literary Festival takes place (in late May). There are writing workshops, literary tours, boats tours, a booze cruise with a famous author (which is usually sold out), and poetry and book readings. Many present-day famous names in literature and media speak at the festival. For example, in 2006 Katie Adie, BBC's chief news correspondent, hosted and spoke on the booze cruise. Visit the festival's website for more information.
