Amsterdam: An overview - Part 9

House of Bols Cocktail & Genever Experience

A visit to House of Bols Cocktail & Genever Experience is an unforgettable experience as long as you do not sample too much of the product. It provides an introduction to the world of cocktails and bartending. Visitors will find out all about Lucas Bols which is claimed to be the oldest distilled spirit brand in the world. It has been made in Amsterdam since 1575. Visitors on this tour go through an interactive journey of the ‘World of Flavour’. In the Tasting Hall and Genever Room you will discover the secrets, but not all of them, of the 36 Bols liqueurs and genevers. The tour completes in the Mirror Bar, where bartenders will make a Bols cocktail of your choice. The first drink is included in the entry price, but you can enjoy a second drink for just 5 euros. All this is at Paulus Potterstraat 14, Amsterdam

Madame Tussauds Amsterdam

I have included this on the list for completeness but most of you will know what to expect here.
You will find the usual collection of film stars, royalty and sporting heroes. There is a new interactive art exhibition which allows you to be inside the one of the paintings of Dutch Masters like Piet Mondriaan, Vincent van Gogh and Rembrandt van Rijn or get lost in one of Escher’s paintings. You can even accompany Mona Lisa in her portrait. You can see this at Dam 20, Amsterdam

Heineken Experience

The former Heineken Brewery in Amsterdam is now a national monument and is also listed in the European Route of Industrial Heritage. Millions of hectolitres of Heineken beer were brewed here until 1988 when it stopped production. The products are now produced in Zoeterwoude which took over production from the closed plant. The plant was renovated in 2008 and what was once just a brewery tour added a whole lot of new exhibits, for the most part I found these to be a bit weak. The adult ticket at 18 Euros also includes tokens for two glasses of Heineken which you receive at the end of the tour. Visit this place by going to Stadhouderskade 78, Amsterdam

Flower market

The Singel flower market is one of Amsterdam’s most colourful attractions. This is the only floating flower market in the world, and one of the most fragrant places of interest of Amsterdam. The small shops are located inside a row of floating barges which is a hangover from the days when flowers arrived in Amsterdam every day from the countryside by boat. You will find there all sorts of tulips, narcissus and other bulbs and flowers. The bulbs are ready for export, so you can enjoy them at home too. If you plan to buy bulbs to take home then just check they have a customs cleared stamp on the packet so you won’t have trouble. The barge are at Singel 630 - 600, Amsterdam or you can just follow your nose.

Continued in part 10