Amsterdam

**stringtheory** · 09-30-2008 07:13 AM

Any one from there, or have experience skating there?

I'll be there all next week, and I'm trying to determine if it's worth bringing a board with me. Any help is appreciated.

**TexasBomber** · 09-30-2008 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by stringtheory

Any one from there, or have experience skating there?

I'll be there all next week, and I'm trying to determine if it's worth bringing a board with me. Any help is appreciated.

Doin the DAM

Vegas is for pussies!

**stringtheory** · 09-30-2008 07:37 AM

Lol....well I assume that means I'll have fun? Heh....but should I bring a board? Well 2 boards, my wife skates. =D

**Archy** · 09-30-2008 08:56 AM

I skated a little there last January (one afternoon) but for almost a week in Rotterdam, which has similar conditions. Definitely bring your boards. The whole place, and all of Holland, is one huge network of trails and bike lanes, often running along the canals. And a lot of the more interesting things in Amsterdam (after you hit the peyote and whores, of course), are on the edges: new neighborhoods on new land, shipping terminals, parks, places where real people live, etc. The center is great but it can be a cluster#### of stoner brah backpackers and cheap falafel. And the Dutch are the chillest of the chill about everything--no one raised an eyebrow at an old man tourist rolling by.

Set-up-wise, keep in mind it's flat as hell, obviously, and a lot of the streets and bike lanes in the city centers have funky surfaces. More different kinds of funky paving blocks than I've ever seen elsewhere. So...big, soft and low. Rolls Rolls country!

PS: There's a park with huge stainless steel halfpipes in the center of Rotterdam, about a block from the country's oldest skate shop, which is worth a look. I can tell you the street if you're interested. It's like an hour on the train.

**stringtheory** · 09-30-2008 09:01 AM

Thanks Archy! That's exactly what I was looking for. I'll bring 2 cruise/carving set ups then.

**Archy** · 09-30-2008 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by stringtheory

Thanks Archy! That's exactly what I was looking for. I'll bring 2 cruise/carving set ups then.

Also a pile of cheap bearings--it can be pretty drizzly. Have fun!

**IGSA-1** · 09-30-2008 11:20 AM

The best way to see many European cities is by board. Amsterdam is incredibly fun to skate around. In my opinion something versatile like a slalom board, that you can pump with big, soft wheels is best. This year I used my Maximus with Skennet front / Splitfire rear and 3dm Avilas for all my city touring. It rolled great and I was able to pump on the flats, GS down most hills and even ride an occasional park (not the ideal set up but it's possible). Here are some photos we took skating around Amsterdam this summer. It's definitely one of my favorite cities in the world!

You can skate for miles and miles in the huge Vondelpark.

The only hills in Amsterdam are the bridges over the canals. Here is Jackson Shapiera playing around by the Heineken Experience.

They just installed a new, stainless steel park in the Museumplein that I had fun riding.

Go to the Rembrandtplein and take a photo of your board in the Nachtwacht.

Chiara Poscente and Brianne Davies cruising their downhill boards on a bike path.

Leeso, Me, Jackson, Chiara and Brianne chillin in the Leidseplein. This is the best place in the city to relax, drink a beer and people watch.

Have lots of fun and enjoy Amsterdam!!!

**stringtheory** · 09-30-2008 11:31 AM

That was awesome. Thanks for the pics and ideas!

**Basch** · 09-30-2008 11:50 AM

contact the dutch crew @ www.longboarden.nl -=+=- longboarden in de longste zin van de plank we got people is most cities and almost everyone will be willing to show you around, dunno how my time is next week but send me a PM if you want to visit The Hague.

edit, just checked. Onely off next friday. So let me know if ou want to hook up, and if you need a guide or someone to skate with, go to the forum and just ask, there's bound to be someone who's got some time off to skate.

Just don't buy anny dope off the streets, you'll get ripped off

and if you go to our coffeeshops for some fine dutch herbs, go to the ones just outside of the center with the least amount of tourists

**Basch** · 09-30-2008 11:54 AM

oh, and one setup will be enough. Just a nice cruiser will do, wheels around 78a

**stringtheory** · 09-30-2008 03:15 PM

Again, thanks for all the great information, and the contacts!

**Basch** · 10-02-2008 11:42 PM

if ou got specific questions, from public transport to public woman (

) just ask.

better ask 10 stupid questions than hav 1 stupid mistake

**stringtheory** · 10-03-2008 06:47 AM

Haha, thanks again! I'm leaving tomorrow 6:30 pm US EST. Be there by Sunday Morning, your time.

I've decided to not take any boards with me. More to make sure I don't ditch my wife by accident, than anything else. Also it's supposed to rain all week while I'm there.

**pennypusher** · 10-03-2008 07:59 AM

my brother in law just got back ,said it was awesome and had a great time...have fun on the trip..

**Basch** · 10-03-2008 09:32 AM

yeah rain, we 'll be getting a lot next week. Few pointers about food:
DO:
Eat an Oliebol, it's fried dough with raisins and bloody awsom, with suger ofcourse
Eat a Haring, it's raw herring with unions, hold it b the tail and slide it in
"turkse pizza with Donner" a meal on it's own but usually takes as a snack, rolled pizza with meat and garlicsause and hotsause
Try "kroket" and "frikandel" dutch snack's

DON'T:
pickeled herring, iew
get into the first restaurant you'll be pulled into (instead try to find a trad dutch restaurant, hard to find but worth it)

Some more tips:
There's a smokingban in all public buildings and pubs, even coffeeshops, so find one with a smoking area (if you smoke)
Tipping is NOT standard here, we round it off, so 17.50 will be 18.50 (or more if you like) just asking back all your change is ok too, they get paid enough here
Drinking in the streets is almost everywere illigal, except for the parks
So is smoking weed on the streets, onely in shops and parks, although the fines will be less then with drinking if you gt one at all
Get a "busabbonoment" at the trainstation. It will requier some form of ID and a small fotograpph (like on your ID). Cost about 17€ for a 2 star weekpass, this will get you unlimited publoic transport fron the center zone and the one around it
national mergancy numer is 112, always handy to have around
if you valu your life don't go into the Angels place (pub in the redlight district) and shout: "Harley's suck ass!" when you see the pub youi'll know what I mean
Rijksmuseum kicks ass, beautyfull building and beautyfull art.
If you want to see the countryside of holland, take a train and watch out of the window. Ask at the VVV (tourist agency) for a good trainroute with some small town on it, ask it to be a NON tourist atraction but dead centre in the countryside, get out of train and take a walk, bloemendaal is nice, lots of dunes, a beach and beautifull houses and parks

and when in trouble in holland you can call me at 0031652041413, also if you're planning to go to the hague. I'll prob not be able to guide you around but I can always give some pointers as of where to go.

Enjoi our country and have a wonderfull time!

**Archy** · 10-03-2008 10:07 AM

Dutch hospitality, FTW!

**stringtheory** · 10-03-2008 03:11 PM

Basch, you are the man. You said you have off next friday? I will try to contact you even if just for a few drinks, on me of course.

And, I've also reconsidered. I am now bringing a board just in case it's nice out. My EW Executioner, with some Indy's and Bones softcore wheels. The lil soft wheels make it a fun cruiser. =D

**pithaya** · 10-03-2008 03:13 PM

Try packing the trucks and wheels and carrying the deck on or just check it whole, it'll be a bitch to get through security if you don't.

**Basch** · 10-03-2008 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by stringtheory

Basch, you are the man. You said you have off next friday? I will try to contact you even if just for a few drinks, on me of course.

And, I've also reconsidered. I am now bringing a board just in case it's nice out. My EW Executioner, with some Indy's and Bones softcore wheels. The lil soft wheels make it a fun cruiser. =D

yeah I got nightshift so I have the day off, just let me know in advance

**Basch** · 10-04-2008 12:33 AM

one more foodtip, altough I don't know if you can get it in A-DAM a Kapsalon. It's a tipical Rotterdam and The Hague thing.
It's fries with shoarma/doner on top and sauce, covered in cheese and put in the oven till cheese is molten, then covered with more sauce and lettuce. Absolutely amazing, and not just after a few pints