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How I Discovered the Netherlands

The first Dutch city I visited was Rotterdam. It was during the Vietnam War on my exile to Europe in 1969 when many young Americans left the U.S. for Mexico, Canada and Europe. So, I went to Canada and in Montreal I boarded a transatlantic Ocean liner headed for the Old Continent. I saw an endless ocean for weeks and realized how much we are at the will of Mother Nature. Towards the end of that long journey our ship went into a very rough storm on the North Sea. I've gone through two other storms since then on ships to Copenhagen and back to Montreal. But that storm was particularly fierce. I'll never forget the huge waves and wind that tried to turn our boat over. After docking in Rotterdam, for the first time in my life I felt as if I returned to a long lost and forgotten home. I still feel that way every time I pass the Dutch boarder, even though I am not Dutch and don't speak the language. Perhaps I lived there in a past life or perhaps there is another explanation? In about 2006 I did a DNA test and researched my family's origins and also learned that my Mother's maiden name was a noble Dutch name from Amsterdam and the region. So that may be a bit difficult to explain in this short article, but I could be partially Dutch after all. Read more about my 1960s experiences here.

I took this photo on the Atlantic Ocean in 1969

Rotterdam, Netherlands 1969

About Amsterdam

“You don't love Amsterdam... Amsterdam loves you.”
~ Jesus on Amsterdam (from uncyclopedia.wikia.com)

Here's some information I'd like to share with you about Amsterdam in the Netherlands*

Amsterdam is a city that was built on the river Amstel. Many dams were built on the river to hold back the flood waters; hence the name Amsterdam. There are also those that say it's a Japanese mispronunciation of "Amsteldam" that the Portuguese went with basically because they needed the trade with Japan. Today, Amsterdam is inhabited by approximately 1,350,000 tourists, pilgrims and aliens from Area 51 that can't legally smoke the sacred cannabis in their own countries. The city has also been called the Venice of the North and has become something like a holy land (Hol-land) or Disneyland for hippies, artists and bohemians from all four sides of the globe. Maybe it's the canals, the houseboats, red lights or the rickety shack crooked canal houses that make one feel high in Amsterdam. Perhaps it's the peculiar sweet scent in the air of the city and the high concentration of healing minirals in it that act like a narcotic substance on the human neuron system? Or perhaps it's the Heineken beer that gives it that high spirit? I'm not sure what is it? But it's certainly not the coffeeshops, Smart Shops, Head Shops, bicycles, night clubs, gay scene, bathhouses, parades, house music, gigolos, prostitutes, Red Light District, museums, bars, rainbow flags, hotels, live shows, sex shops, porno movies etc. No, there must be something more to it then just those.

The mythical city of El Amsterdamo (artist unknown)

I imagine the spirit of Amsterdam to be like a fair young goddess or a young god with blond hair and a tan, clad in an intricate fabric knitted of all those city attractions, and decorated with a brilliant diamond necklace that symbolize the many precious things that the city has to offer. I believe I've also found an earlier image of that spirit portrayed in one of Rembrandt's greatest works. But that would be another story. The coffeeshops and other attractions I mentioned earlier are a very important part of the Amsterdam culture. Without those the city would loose a lot of its magic and charm. However, there are some folks that feel ashamed of what the city has come to represent, who would like to close some of those attractions down. All I can say is that I am ashamed of them, and proud to admit that I love Amsterdam for what it is and what it is not.

Amsterdam is the Capitol of the Netherlands but the seat of the government is in The Hague (Den Haag). The Hague is also the hometown of two legendary 1960s Rock Bands:
- Golden Earing - recorded the top USA hit single "Radar Love".
- Shocking Blue (1967-74) - recorded "Venus", #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit single in February 1970 and still ranking high among many hippies.

There are more canales in Amsterdam then in Venice and more bridges then in Paris. Bicycles are the primary form of transport in Amsterdam and throughout the Netherlands. Generally speaking, Amsterdam is almost like a Disneyland for some or another world parallel to ours. I think it is what the rest of the Western world could be like in some ways if people would become less restrictive and more pragmatic. But that doesn't mean that it is some kind of paradise. There are many problems in A'dam; though much progress has been made since the 1960s youth revolution. However, problems will not be discussed here. But one should be warned that roses have thorns and that not everything is as rosy as it seems in A'dam or anywhere else in the world. So in spite of my enthusiasm, please don't expect too much, be prepared for anything and perhaps you'll enjoy your visit there.

Generally speaking, the Dutch are a very intelligent people that have a great understanding of the human nature; its weaknesses and need for the attainment of happiness. But there are at least three types of opinion groups on Amsterdam. The first group are the liberals and non-conformists who would like to see more places like it. The second are less tolerant folks and conformists who would like to limit some freedoms that Amsterdam is so famous for. There may also be some among those that may even hope to see the city fall and serve as an example for others not to follow. Finally, the third and the least heard opinion groups are of those who take the freedoms to be as normal as nude sunbathing is in some parts of Europe, for example. I happen to belong to that last group. And as an American residing in Europe, I have also observed the expansion of American culture and politics and the many negative influences it has had on the indigenous European cultures. Therefore, I am happy that we can still enjoy what's left of some of that liberal style European culture in Amsterdam and in a few other places in Europe.

To simplify Europe a bit for those Americans who have never been there, and that's probably about 95% or more, I'll begin by explaining the difference between Eastern and Western Europe in a nutshell. So, imagine that Western Europe is a bit like the Northern United States, and Eastern Europe like the Sun Belt States accept for the climate, of course. And also imagine that Monaco is the European's Las Vegas and Amsterdam to be a bit like New Orleans or what San Francisco used to be in the 1960-70s but with centuries older pragmatic, libertarian and open-minded culture. And finally, imagine the Netherlands to be like the over-populated and below sea-level Bangladesh of Europe but with a much more diversified society and a lot higher standard of living. Well, there you have it in a nutshell. That's that bubbling with premarital creative energy magic place on our planet called Europe that many American ancestors came from.

The Dutch have also incorporated into their culture many elements from their former colonies in Bali, Indonesia, Africa, India, the Far East and the Caribbean making it a truly cosmopolitan place already in the Middle Ages. And do you remember the Middle Ages? Remember the Dutch Masters that painted plump naked women and the books that were published in Amsterdam that couldn't be published anywhere else in the world? Well, that's the place and the spirit of Freedom Amsterdam has always represented.

Though Holland** has changed much since I discovered it in 1969, Amsterdam has managed to keep some of that charm that could be found in Haight Ashbury, Chicago's Old Town or New York's Greenwich Village in the 1960s but on a smaller scale. However, don't be surprised not to find many hippies and peace signs in A'dam anymore. Things are changing and I don't think they're changing for the better at the moment. But that is the global trend of our times. Lets hope this trend set by some extreme conservatives will change in the future.

I have always believed that there where is freedom there is spiritual, intellectual and material growth. And an example of that have been the Netherlands, the country that grew out of the Mother City of Amsterdam. Though not without problems Amsterdam is probably the most pragmatic and congenial urban environment I have come across*** to this day. Therefore, I am proud to admit that I love Amsterdam, that it is my "Paris" i.e. that what Paris was to Balzac, Gertrude Stein, Tennessee Williams, Ernest Hemingway and many others. Perhaps it's like a beautiful dream. But wasn't the world as we know it built on dreams?

Footnotes:
* The name means "low-lands" because much of the Netherlands is far below sea level.
** The name comes fom the words "holt" and "land" i.e. forest-land.
*** So far, I have been only to England, Holland, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Rep., France and Canada.

Sex, Drugs & Bicycles

Here is some information and advise about Amsterdam that I hope may be helpful in making your stay there a pleasent one.

Most of the Netherlands is not like Amsterdam. Almost everyone in Amsterdam speaks English. Amsterdam is the hometown of Heineken Beer and the world's leading diamond cutting, production and trade center. That's why since 1586 it has also been called "The City Of Diamonds". And it has also been well known for its coffee shops (spelled "coffeeshop" in Holland) where cannabis has been sold and smoked since the 16th Century. But if you would like a cup of coffee then visit a café instead. Please remember that smoking weed in cafés, coffee houses, restaurants and in other public places is not allowed, and that there is a difference between coffeeshops and cafés/coffee houses. Those and many other things that would be too numerous to mention here make Amsterdam the most interesting and international city in Europe. But for me, what makes Amsterdam such a wonderful town are the friendly, easy-going and open-hearted people.

Before I continue, I should explain that I do not recommend taking drugs or coming into any sexual contacts with sexworkers or anyone else in Amsterdam. My aim is to information those who may decide to indulge in such activity of some of the hazards or dangers involved. The reader should also be aware that there may be many other things to look out for that I may have failed to mention in this short article. So, utmost care should be taken when one decides to indulge in the many liberties Amsterdam may have to offer. And please remember that because of international pressures mainly from the USA and its allies in the UN, cannabis is formally illegal in the Netherlands, and users are allowed to carry with them only a couple of grams of the herb. But in spite of all of that, cannabis is tolerated and taxed in the coffeeshops. The coffeeshops, smart shops and other such businesses pay about 52% tax on their earnings (2008...and you thought your taxes are too high). One can walk into any coffeeshop and order a coffee, a joint or both in Amsterdam. Though I do recommend purchasing some loose stuff and rolling your own because some of the the prerolled joints sold there are packed with other substances and may have little if any weed in them. When the first coffeeshops openned in the 1960s they sold potent Moroccan hash. So, users used to mix the hash with tobacco and roll them into joints. So if one has kicked nicotene addiction then one would easily get back on it in the process. Fortunately, the mixing of tobacco with weed in coffeeshops was banned in 2008. So, a coffeeshop is a great place to visit for coffee, tea or some fine herbs. And what would a visit to Amsterdam be without a visit to a coffeeshop? The coffeeshops are one of the most recognizable embodiment of the Freedom that Amsterdam has always symbolized to the rest of the world. And that is something that all Amsterdamers should cultivate and be proud of. Otherwise the city would not attract so many tourists, would not be so dynamic, and it would become as boring as many other cities of the world.

The price of a coffee or a joint is usually similar, about 2.50 Euros (in 2009). But you don't have to buy weed every time you visit a coffeeshop. After ordering you could stay as long as you like, sip your coffee or tea, smoke a joint without worrying of being fined or arrested, read a paper, listen to music or just gaze at the sealing for a while, if that's what turns you on. No one will be chasing you out when you're done the way they often do in the US. But coffeeshops will not tolerate behavior that may be annoying to others. It is also not uncommon in Amsterdam as well as in other EU countries to share seats at tables with other guests when establishments are crowded. And yes, there are things one should remember not to do in Amsterdam... Some of them are taking pictures of women in the windows of the Red Light District, urinating in public places or smoking weed in public places such as restaurants, coffee houses or on streets. There are also fines for littering, spitting and smoking in public places. There is also a garbage Police that has investigators scrupulously going through people's litter in search of wrongly segregated litter and evidence of peoples identities on ATM card payment receipts, for example. I have an idea for a TV series entitled "The Dutch Garbage Police". I'm sure it would be a hit if done with humor .

There is a large selection of weed and hash in coffeeshops. So if you visit one, ask to see the menu before ordering. You should also remember that unlike the stuff you're used to back home the stuff they sell in A'dam is of high quality and can really kick-ass. Some is listed as "hydro" meaning that it was grown hydroponically and other as "bio" meaning it was grown in soil or organically. And also don't forget to ask about the percentage of Sattiva and Indica in the weed because that makes difference in the high you'll get. Whatever you do, do not buy anything on the streets because you will probably get ripped off at the least. In spite of such an easy access to cannabis products, "studies have shown that the average use of it in Holland is lower compared to most surrounding countries." (from: "Prohibition open to be challenged" by J.S. Van Der Stad, Summer 2008)

Amsterdam is also more tolerant of gays and lesbians then many other cities in the world. There are many gay and lesbian bars in A'dam. But the community in not as well organized or wide spread as in some American cities such as Chicago, San Francisco or New York. I've been told that the popular cruising areas are in Vondelpark by the rose garden after dusk and the wooded Nieuwe Meer area in the southwest of the city. Amsterdam also has very liberal prostitution laws. However, caution is strongly advised in terms of safe sex and personal safety particularly on Paardenstraat where there are many male hustlers. There are also new boutiques being opened in buildings owned by one of the city's leading developers in the Red Light district where one could buy a gift for the Wife after visiting a prostitute next door .

We Are Proud!

You should also remember that space cakes, cookies or bonbons containing weed or hash that are sold in some places kick in after a few hours. So don't hesitate to ask the staff how many you should eat. And do not eat more then recommended because they are very powerful and the high you get on those is almost like on acid (LSD). Some unknowing tourists sometimes overdose and later are found wasted lying around on pavements giving A'dam a bad name. Also remember that no one under 18 is allowed to enter coffeeshops, and IDs are checked. The cannabis products sold in gift shops and grocary stores have little THC content and will not work like the ones that have a high content of that substance. So those are a lot safer to use.

Here are some last words of advise for a pleasant stay. First of all, avoid walking along bicycle lanes. When you hear a bike bell, quickly get out of the way. I also have an idea for making a Dutch horror movie called "The Killer Bike" . Also, in A'dam as well in other metropolitan areas of the world you should avoid staying out late. So it is advised not to stay out after 1:00 AM in the center of Amsterdam. One should also lookout for pickpockets on side streets around Nieuwendijk, the Southern end of Zeedijjk, the streets off the Damrak, all other popular tourist spots and the public transport routs to and from the airport and at the Central Station. Finally, a 2007 Reader's Digest test has shown that the Dutch are not the most honest people in the world (read more about it here, here or here). So as in other places in the world, tourists should watch their bags and belongings at all times.

People in the Netherlands tend to speak their mind and thus may be taken by some to be rude. Sometimes one may also feel pushed around in shops or find people jumping in front of them in queues at grocery stands. So if that happens to you, don't let it get you down. Besides those negative points that the Dutch need to work on some more Holland is a safe and groovy place to visit. And the Dutch are very kind and friendly people. Another thing about the Dutch is that they are as conservative as their Parents were even though they may smoke pot, have long hair or listen to loud music. Generally speaking, they are modest people and one won't find many smoking weed in coffeeshops or public places because they do that in the comfort of their homes. If one is to function well in Amsterdam it is rather wise to belong to some subculture. It seems to me that the largest ones there are the Techno Music, hemp and gay ones.

Cannabis College

The above advice was for a carefree tourist that would be spending time more intensively then the residents - rushing here and there, asking people for directions or advice, meeting strangers, going to the Red Light or Blue Light districts, visiting coffeeshops, checking out the night life, going to Festivals etc. In other words, advice for a tourist with a higher profile that may attract pickpockets and other types that tend to prey on careless tourists. So most of all, please use your common sense and everything should turn out well.

I guess that's all the basics stuff I could think of that a hip tourist should know about for a pleasent stay in Amsterdam. So, what are you waiting for? Hop on over. Rock & roll all night and party ev-er-ee-day!

Hippies used to gather, play music, sing, practice free love
and also crash for the night in their sleeping bags 
around this phallic shaped Monument Of The Unknown Soldier. 
It was also the place where the Provo freedom action group
used to hold its PROVOcative rallies in the 1960s.