Travelling to Amsterdam & Brugge for the first time.

[parasko]

Hi all,

I was planning on spending two weeks in Paris in early May (my 2nd time there) but now I'm thinking of spending the 2nd week in Amsterdam and Brugge (or Ghent) before returning to Paris to fly home.

Can anyone advise on:

1. Buy and process Provia 100. Should I be considering this in Amsterdam/Brugge or just buy and process in Paris (I already know of a lab in Paris).
2. Is 4 days Amsterdam/ 2 days Brugge a reasonable time in both cities? I'm travelling solely for street photography and for visiting musuems/cultural stuff.
3. Recommended area to stay in Amsterdam which is not overly touristy?
4. I'm assuming lack of local language skills is a non-issue?
5. Is Ghent a better option than Brugge (or perhaps spend the 2nd week solely in Amsterdam?).

Any advice appreciated.

 

[Waus]

I am from Holland (Utrecht) and can answer the following questions:
1)Nivo Schweitzer (.com) is a great camera/film shop in Amsterdam/Haarlemmerdijk-avoid Foto Professional at the Nieuwendijk!
2)You can see a lot in Amsterdam in 4 days...it isn't that big...
3)Everywhere in Amsterdam are tourists....the Jordaan-area is great, search: "9 straatjes" on google...
)Almost everybody here speaks English(not that good-but you'll undestand it-hopefully;-)
4)don't know...

Good luck!

 

[johannielscom]

Q4: In Amsterdam you get addressed in English as much as in Dutch, people switch over in the blink of an eye! 😉

 

[NeeZee]

I'm from Germany but close to the Dutch and Belgian border, so i've visited both countries quite often. 7 days Paris, 4 days Amsterdam, 2 days Brugge seems a good plan to me. All three great cities, Brugge being a lot smaller than the other 2. In the Netherlands and the Flemish part of Belgium people usualy speak English very well. In France though, even if they do speak English, they are often reluctant to do so 😉

 

[Austerby]

Amsterdam is a great city but four days is a fair amount of time there: you may want to think about a day-trip to another local town. I'm not Dutch so others can make better suggestions than I but there are some very lovely Dutch towns and the public transport system is excellent.

Two days in Bruges sounds about right (oh, and see the film "In Bruges" before or after your visit)

 

[NeeZee]

good point with the day trip - two suggestions:
- go to the sea if the weather is nice (e.g. Zandvoort by train via Haarlem)
- visit Utrecht - it's nearby and a nice old town

 

[EXksporry]

Amsterdam has got some real good museums. The maritime museum, or the national historic museum that really impressed me. Its a big place and takes quite a few hours. Street photography, why not try the red-light district? sounds weird, but seriously, it may be interesting, and I;'m not talking about taking pics of the ladies behind the window, but the people walking on the streets. There's anne rank house too, Van Gogh (though not really my favourite.
Yes, most dutch speak english quite well.
You could choose a day trip to Utrecht or Delft. Both less than an hour away from Amsterdam. Delft I love myself. Its kinda like Amsterdam, but in mini, and way less touristic! More relaxed too. Utrecht is better for street photography, and has a nice old city centre as well. Maybe even better than amsterdam for street photography! but I leave that to you to decide.
Brugge is really nice, but spend only one night there. I don't know about Gent.
I've been away from Holland too long to know what are good photography shops for processing etc. I know one shop in capelle (near rotterdam) called kameraexpress (www.kameraexpress.nl I believe). They are quite affordable for gear, but I dont think they do processing. And it's way out of your way...

 

[Teuthida]

Amsterdam is a wonderful city, but dress warm and be prepared for rain and low cloudy skies. I lived there for a year in the mid 90s and loved it except for the weather.

As mentioned, the Jordaan district is very nice and not touristy. Good place to find a nice small hotel.

Although not in the Jordaan, Be sure to find time to spend at the Cafe de Jaren, wonderful atmosphere, great food. Great bookstore, forget the name now, in the Spui, which is also a nice place to sit and have a beer.

The Van Gogh museum is worth a visit, as is the Stadiljke Museum.

Be very careful when taking photos in the red light district. The girls are not happy to have their pictures taken. There are smsller, more interesting red light areas on the north side of Damrack (the main street running from Centraal Station to the Royal Palace/Town Hall. These are much more interesting and much less crowded than the main red light district in the center of the city.

Four days may be a little long for A'dam. A wonderful trip and photo oportunity is to rent a car and drive thru the northern provinces of Freisland and Groningen. there you still see glimpses of traditional Nederland, farmers still wearing wooden shoes while mucking in the fields, traditional Freisian farmhouses etc. Beautiful country, sone of the finest in Europe.

 

[gliderbee]

Well, no Belgian reaction yet, so let me try:

4 days for Amsterdam imo is ample. You might make that 3 days Amsterdam, 2 days Brugge and 1 day Ghent.

Both Brugge and Ghent are not that big. Since Brugge is more "touristic" you might spend 2 days there; I prefer Ghent, but that's a matter of taste.

Stefan.

 

[J. Borger]

I agree with Stefan. Ghent is more authentic than Brugge if you ask me.
If you go mainly for streetphotography you will end up taking pictures of tourists in Brugge.
I would opt for 3 days Amsterdam, 2 Days Ghent and 1 day Brugge.

 

[Vince Lupo]

+1 on Ghent over Brugge -- when we were in Brugge (Sept 2008), there were tourists and trinkets everywhere. Ghent is as beautiful, but not nearly as many tourists....just our personal experience.

 

[hellomikmik]

Brugge is what i call a tourist trap 🙂 but for sure some very very nice places there, my favorite is "De halve maan" brewery and their Straffe Hendrik, hmmmmm.
Ghent is Brugge with people (not just tourists) in the streets. Never been in Amsterdam.
But if I would be into street photography I would head straight to Antwerpen - a very rough mixture of people there.

 

[Borghesia]

I would skip Brugge and go to Antwerpen and Gent instead.
Antwerpen is a relaxed city and photo genetic.
Indeed Brugge is a tourist trap, you can't photograph there without avoiding tourist hotdog stands and tourist buses on your pictures.
Amsterdam will be much better if you can cling to a person who knows the way around there. Very much to do in this city. If you are up to it, the nightlife is thrilling.

 

[Ronald_H]

Can anyone advise on:

1. Buy and process Provia 100. Should I be considering this in Amsterdam/Brugge or just buy and process in Paris (I already know of a lab in Paris).
2. Is 4 days Amsterdam/ 2 days Brugge a reasonable time in both cities? I'm travelling solely for street photography and for visiting musuems/cultural stuff.
3. Recommended area to stay in Amsterdam which is not overly touristy?
4. I'm assuming lack of local language skills is a non-issue?
5. Is Ghent a better option than Brugge (or perhaps spend the 2nd week solely in Amsterdam?).

Any advice appreciated.

1. I don't have any specifics but on my last visit I was very surprised to see a regular photo store stocking every film from Lomo to Ilford 3200 (in Amsterdam).
2. Although most people agree that 4 days for Amsterdam, is ample, I don't. It's not a very large city, but there is so much to see that one could easily spend 4 weeks there 😉 Take your time and explore the city on foot and by public transport. It is sheer joy to be there as a street photographer.
3. Sorry, I live too close to it to have ever needed a hotel.
4. God yes, most Dutch and Flemish people speak English adequately to very well. I think it will be quite a challenge to find someone who is clueless in English 😉
5. Both cities are beautiful but are also tourist traps. I spent a lot of time in Ghent and I like the city very much though.

 

[Hatch]

If you can go a bit earlier and be in Amsterdanm on 30th of April you'll be in for a shock.

It's Koninginnedag.
Our NATIONAL HOLIDAY.😀😀😀😀😀

Great oppurtunity for street shooting.
A time when the Dutch let go. 😉

 

[Matus]

Once in Amsterdam be sure to visit some pancake house or restaurant. I have been HERE, but I am sure there are other places. The pancakes are HUGE and DELICIOUS.

Have a good time 🙂

 

[Vince Lupo]

Mmmm....pannekoeken.........

 

[parasko]

Wow! Thanks to you all for your quick replies. Some great advice here.

I'm still considering 4 days in the Netherlands but possibly 3 days in Amsterdam and a day trip (Utrecht or Leiden maybe?). This still leaves me with a couple of days up my sleeve before I return to Paris. It seems unanimous that Brugge is off the list. Ghent looks very picturesque but I might consider another city with more street photography options.

One more question if I may: Does my hand luggage (that is, my film) have to pass through any x-ray machines when train travelling between countries? Excuse my ignorance here but I have never travelled between European countries before and have only visited one country at a time by plane.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[Daan]

Does my hand luggage (that is, my film) have to pass through any x-ray machines when train travelling between countries?

No you don't have to worry about that. There usually isn't even a passport check passing the border.

 

[Austerby]

Wow! It seems unanimous that Brugge is off the list.

Not at all - Bruges is a lovely, interesting city which is why it is popular with tourists. If you want a place for street photography of non-tourists though then a big city such as Rotterdam, Brussels or Antwerp may be an option for you.