Book Description
Marvel at the Dutch Masters and take a step back in time in an elegant merchant's house. Join the late-night revellers in the Red Light District or cosy-up canalside in a `brown cafe'. Get the low-down on Queen's Day and see the Royal Orchestra at the Concertgebouw. Elegant, history-steeped port; liberal, laid-back party town. Connect with your Amsterdam using this stylish and streetwise guide.
COMPREHENSIVE LISTINGS - more than 250 reviews of the best restaurants, cafes, coffeeshops and clubs in town
EXPANDED ARCHITECTURE CHAPTER - get gable-gazing with our chapter dedicated to this remarkable city's characterful buildings
BE INFORMED - in-depth analysis of current events gets you under the skin of the city
EXPLORE THE CITY YOUR WAY - tailor-made cycling and walking tours and recommended canal cruises
Customer Reviews:
Lonely Planet Amsterdam.......2007-07-05
A bit disappointed in the useablility of the book. I've used many Lonely Planet books before, and generally like them. The layout of the book leaves a bit to be desired. The descriptions of attractions and restaurants are pretty good, but where the book falls down is that then you need to look up the map the attraction is on (at the back of the book), then look in the index of the map (behind the map), and then back to the map to find the attraction/restaurant.
It would have been much better if they put those references beside the descriptions as well as the index of the map.
In addition, being in the Netherlands, Windmills are nice attraction, and the book said that we had to go on an excursion to near by towns to find Windmills. The book did not mention that there are 8 Windmills within Amsterdam itself. Granted, the ones outside Amsterdam are probably nicer, but if there is limited time in a city, knowing there were some in the city limits would have helped.
Overall, the book is decent with descriptions and local information, (hence 3 starts), but can be greatly improved.
I wouldn't recommend this book because of some of these errors, but more importantly, like another reviewer said, most Museums are being renovated, or are totally closed until 2009. And if you are going to wait till 2009 to visit Amsterdam, I'd buy a more current book anyways.
Great Resource.......2007-03-12
Recently I have had the lucky opportunity to go to Amsterdam several times. This book has been invaluable. While you need to double check the operating times for some sites ( you do with any book as there is a lag time between publishing and the gathering of info) the descriptions of places are engaging, accurate and most importantly informs me well as to where I should spend my time. Bender is very good at his restaurant descriptions and his take on all things cultural and historic. A real blessing. I have looked - and bought several others but this is the only one I carry around while I am in Amsterdam.
Get a more recent edition.......2006-09-10
Lonely Planet has a 2006 edition for Amsterdam--which you need (or one more recent) because so many museums are closed (apparently until 2008/09) and there is much construction going on in the city.
Reliable and Informative Travel Guide.......2006-08-15
Over the past two years, I've purchased and used five Lonely Planet guides, and this one ranks among the top. Andrew Bender provides humorous yet accurate information on the culture and norms of Amsterdam as well as key surrounding areas (Den Haag, Haarlem, etc.) Day after day during our week-long trip, we turned to his guide for advice and weren't disappointed. Highly recommended.
Good list of cheap eateries.......2004-05-15
The value in "Lonely Planet Amsterdam" is in the thumbnail sketches of cafes and reasonably-priced restaurants. The descriptions of the establishments that I am familiar with were right on the money. They are grouped by neighborhood and have basic information, such as opening hours. I was disappointed that Indonesian restaurants were short-changed, because they "aren't authentically Asian." True, but an Indonesian rijstafel shared between half a dozen or more people is not too expensive and is an authentically Dutch form of entertainment. The biggest problem with the book is that it doesn't open flat. You need both hands to force it open wide enough to read comfortably and then it's hard to flip through the pages. And you will do a lot of flipping, because there's no good index to help you find things.
There are about half a dozen pages of photographs of the Amsterdam area, unnaturally sunny and uncrowded. Amsterdam is one of Europe's most interesting and picturesque cities, but nobody goes there for the weather, and the crowds of pedestrians and bicycles are part of the charm. The description of Dutch culture was spot on. Amsterdammers in particular are very broad-minded-one of the reasons that Amsterdam is a favorite vacation spot for gays and lesbians--but they're not part of the have-a-nice-day crowd. Expect them to be polite and helpful, rather than effusive.
I have half a dozen guides to Amsterdam and find that no one of them covers all aspects of a visit. "Lonely Planet Amsterdam" is most useful as a way of finding somewhere quick to eat when you're out sight-seeing.
Book Description
Knock back a frothy beer and discover the unique ambience of Dutch gezeligheid in an Amsterdam brown cafe, p. 34. Wake up early to witness a bidding war for rare tulips at the world's largest flower auction, p. 171. Hear the sludge squelch on an invigorating wadlopen walk across mudflats, p. 251. Get spooked in the total darkness of the Sint Pietersberg tunnels, p. 281. Two expert authors, over 1000 hours of on-the-ground research and 89 maps. Special cycling chapter gives you a push start with recommended routes on the Netherlands' 20,000km of bike paths. Impress your Dutch friends with insights from our dedicated environment, culture, and history chapters. Visit lonelyplanet.com for up-to-the-minute reviews, updates, and traveller suggestions.
Customer Reviews:
Disappointment with Lonely Planet.......2007-10-16
We were disappointed with this book. The maps were almost unreadable. Information attached to them was confusing. Street addresses were sometimes wrong. The written tone was unhelpful and unappealing. No more Lonely Planet for us.
Disappointing for Lonely Planet.......2007-07-16
I traveled all over the world for two years, using mostly Lonely Planet books. That was about 11 years ago. Back then I found Lonely Planet books to be very well written - especially the ones for Asia. This was my second time in the Netherlands, and this book missed a lot -- hardly any mention of Zeeland (beach country in the South); disappointing coverage of small towns. I can't comment on the Amsterdam coverage because we skipped that town.
Book Description
From Ticino's rustic villages to the Alpine summit vistas, Switzerland's breathtaking landscape entices the walker to roam. Whether you tackle the entire Alpine Pass Route or sample Switzerland's mountain grandeur in an easy day, this comprehensive, practical guide is your ideal companion.
- 72 spectacular walks for all levels of experience
- two-colour map for every walk
- four-way language section in English, French, German and Italian
- expert advice on equipment, maps and mountain safety
- helpful information on accommodation and transport, from gateway cities to the Alps
- illustrated guide to Switzerland's flora and fauna
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding Book.......2004-10-30
Excellent book with fine maps and accurate descriptions. It was an outstanding resource for planning out some long trail runs, and was nicely complemented by the efficient Swiss trail signs. Lonely Planet does a very good job with travel guides, but excels the most when doing the walking/trekking guides.
Very helpful, detailed, accurate.......2002-10-05
Last summer I went to Switzerland with my girlfriend. She had this book with her. It was great! It helped us to see interesting places, find affordable hotels, good restaurant. I recommend this book to anyone who is planning on going to Switzerland.
Fantastic resource, very detailed and accurate.......2000-03-22
This was by far the most helpful resource that I took to Switzerland--extremely detailed, logically organized, and quite accurate. Walking in Switzerland was extremely helpful in its well-written trail and regional descriptions as well as precise information on surrounding logistics. A must for anybody who intends to hike (seriously or casually) in the region. At the risk of gushing overmuch, this is quite possibly the most useful travel guide I've ever bought.
This was a great resource.......1998-11-11
It took us to places that the locals thought were not available without local knowledge. I highly recommend this book. Please e-mail me with your comments
Book Description
Whether your idea of bliss is world-class art, picture-perfect castles and romantic, medieval Bruges or clubbing in Antwerp, acres of chocolate and 800-odd types of beer, Belgium and Luxembourg are more satisfying than a pot of moules et frites. This newly updated, comprehensive guide leads you to the very heart of Europe.
* BE INSPIRED - with highlights and itineraries from Flanders fields to bustling Brussels * GOURMET TREATS - the cream of top restaurants and grand cafes, with a chapter dedicated to Belgium's national brew * BE IN THE KNOW - incisive history and culture of the countries plus French and Flemish language guide * STAY IN STYLE - rest your head in the pick of chambres d'hotes, gits and hotels * EXPLORE THE COUNTRYSIDE - practical walking and cycling coverage from the flat Flanders coast to the scenic Ardennes
Customer Reviews:
Lonely Planet disappointment.......2007-10-16
We, too, were shocked with the inadequacies of this guide, (along with the Netherlands guide). What's happened to Lonely Planet? Maps were almost unreadable, information attached to the maps was confusing, streets there were incomplete, addresses were wrong, and the tone was opinionated and unhelpful. To top it off, one of the hotels that was editor's choice cancelled our two-day booking when a full week booking came along from someone else, and we weren't told. No apology, only a remark that we wouldn't like the room with someone else in it. Who selected this place for inclusion in the book with an extra recommendation?
The worst Lonely Planet I have read so far !.......2006-04-12
As much as I am faithul to Lonely Planet guidebooks, I was shocked by reading their edition of Belgium & Luxembourg. Not only did we have to wait 2004 to have a LP guidebook for those 2 countries (which must be after about all other regions in the world, even Antarctica, Papua New Guinea and tiny tropical islands), but it's not even half satisfying.
They should have kept the previous title "Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp", as there is frankly not much about the rest of the country. For instance, Belgium has some 3000 castles, but for some reason only 2 (yes, a miserable 2 !) are listed in the Lonely Planet. Same sparsity for the abbeys. Then, the book is heavily centered on Brussels and Flanders, as if the author didn't know more about Wallonia than the average occasional tourist. No mention of towns like Huy, Ciney or Gembloux - in fact they are not even on the guide's map ! No mention of the beautiful stone villages of the Condroz and Meuse Valley. It's like if they had written a guidebook about England without writing about the Cotswolds, Mendips and the country's many castles and stately homes ! It seems that the author is more interested in finding the best pubs and clubs in Antwerp than in historical and cultural sightseeing. There is more than lots of beer and legal drugs in Belgium !
Belgian exchange student knows her stuff, and this is it.......2002-12-09
I'm an exchange student living in Belgium for a year.. and this book is AMAZING! I'm determined to do everything in this book, and I'm already on my way! A few of the pricing things and anything to do with money is a little outdated (ie: the Diamond museum in Antwerp is no longer free). But the authors know their stuff, and (quoting Notting Hill) has actually been to Belgium, which is a plus. And not only do they know their stuff, they give it to you straight up. No sugar coating, nothing, and that's a huge plus. Go out, buy the book, then visit our amazing country!
Book Description
Belgium is booming and now's the time to explore its four cities in one. Delve into Euro-culture in dynamic Brussels, stroll around the historic buildings of Bruges, find the sparkle in Antwerp's diamonds and high fashion, and hide away in the bars of up-and-coming Ghent.
Customer Reviews:
GREAT book...especially for food and dining!.......2007-07-14
We used this perfectly sized guide in both Brussels and Bruges, and we really enjoyed all of its recommendations. What really sets it apart, however, is its stellar food recommendations. 'T Kelderke, which specializes in traditional food, was our absolute favorite place we visited in Brussels. The crockpot of mussels was so good we went twice :-) And the book definitely does Belgian chocolate justice. Highly recommended!
Book Description
Lonely Planet's city maps present the travelers' city in one easy view
• Complete street and sight index makes navigating the city a breeze for walkers and drivers alike
• All new, improved mapping styles and fully updated
• Sturdy, laminated, easy-fold format
• Quick-find highlights and reviews of the top city sights
• Includes up-to-date transit maps and essential practical information
• Full color throughout with gorgeous photographs
Customer Reviews:
Don't go to Amsterdam without it.......2002-02-02
I went to Amsterdam twice last year and used this map both times. It is extremly durable as I normally kept it in my left rear pocket - still good as new after two trips. I like the laminate since I can use those erasable markers used for presentations to mark landmarks or places of interest. Once done, simply wipe them off and add new ones. The main map showing Amsterdam could be just a tad larger to show areas to the east and south. Bring this map and a small compass and you won't get lost. Worth every penny.
Good map except for metro & trams section........2001-09-18
The maps are actually very good. And I like the weather resistant finish (A real asset considering the climate).
But the section (map) of the trams makes it very hard to figure out or get your bearings. Fortinatly, good maps for this are easy to get, free, and well posted at every stop. However I geuss
I would still say it is a pretty good value.
map.......2000-12-19
I am on holiday in Amsterdam as I write. This is by far the best city map I have ever used. First, it is durable enough that I anticipate it will survive the entire stay. The street names are clearly indicated; the public transportation facilities are identified. Amsterdam can be a bit disorienting because it's a city build with concentric streets. North and South can be confused easily. I have found my bearings several times when I would have been lost without this map. If you are interested in finding you way about Amsterdam, this map will be interesting to you.
Definitely worth having........2000-09-19
We found this map really useful and easy to follow. I don't what the other reviewer means about the street names not being printed on it because they were on my copy! Where a canal has a street either side of it, both streets have the same name-really the two roads are just differnt 'lanes' of the same one, so perhaps this is what confused them. Some of the suffixes of street names are abbreviated to save space, but it is always obvious and the abbreviations are listed and translated. The map is laminated, so it survived the heavy rain better than we did. Just don't stand in any cycle lanes whilst you're reading it.
Book Description
From the cosmopolitan wonders of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague to windmills, tulips and boundless bike tracks, this indispensable guide will help you to experience all that the Netherlands has to offer.
- 45 maps including eight colour Amsterdam city maps
- accommodation options from trekkershutten to five-star hotels
- the background on windmills - how they work, where to find them
- all the entertainment choices, from coffee shops and brown cafes to opera and classical music
- the lowdown on where to see Dutch art from Rembrandt to Mondriaan
Customer Reviews:
Incomplete and Inaccurate.......2006-05-16
I just got back from a week travelling around Holland. I had used this book to plan much of the trip and thought it was a great help before hand. Using it during the trip was a mistake. The maps are small, hard to read, and labelled poorly. The hours listed, descriptions and prices are out of date.
Filled with factual mistakes.......2006-04-12
I have been a fan of Lonely Planet guidebooks for years. However, I must admit being hugely disappointed by this guide of the Netherlands. It seems that the American and Australian authors have very little knowledge of European culture and history, and wrote this book based on very rushed up research. Let me give a few examples.
1) In the History section :
- p23 : "Between the 7th and 8th centuries, the Franks finished their conquest of the Low Countries and began converting the local populace to Christianity, using force whenever necessary."
=> This is false. Most of the Low Countries were already Christian many centuries before the Franks arrived, as part of the Roman Empire. In fact, the Franks first converted to Christianity with Clovis in the early 6th century., while the first Christian church in the Low Countries dates back to the 4th century (in Tongeren, Belgium).
- p23 : "Charlemagne, the Holy Roman emperor, built a palace in Nijmegen but the empire fell apart after his death in 814."
=> This is rather inaccurate. His son Louis the Pious suceeded him until 840, and only after that was the Carolingian empire divided between Charlemagne's 3 grandsons. What's more the Holy Roman Empire continued to exist until Napoleon dissolved it in 1806. That's only 1000 year later !
- p24 : "Even Spain's Philip II had no love for the Low Countries."
=> This comes after explanations about Charles V's rule. However, Charles V (Philip II's father) was born and raised in the Low Countries, and had French as his mother-tongue, as opposed to Spanish for Philip II. Charles V did "love" the Low Countries much more than his son. So the "Even" in this sentence seems very weird.
- p24 : "Philip was a staunch Catholic so confict was inevitable as the protestant reformation spread through his colony."
=> The Low Countries were not a "colony" of Philip II. It was his father's homeland, while Spain was his mother's. Although smaller in size, the Low Countries' population and economy were almost as considerable as Spain's. In any case, the word "colony" is highly inappropriate.
- p 25 : "The southern regions of the Low Countries had always remained Catholic and were much more open to compromise with Spain. They eventually became Belgium."
=> Again highly inaccurate. The southern Low Countries also had their fair share of Protestants. The thing is that most of them moved to the North after the North declared its independence from Philip II. There were numerous battles (Ostend, Antwerp...) and tens of thousands of Protestants killed in the South as well. In fact, all the Protestant intelectuals and merchants from the South moved North, which is partly why cities like Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp went into economic decline, while those of Holland experienced a Golden Age. Then, not all of what remained Catholic became Belgium ! All the South of the Netherlands (Zeeland, North Brabant, Limburg) also remained Catholic.
- p 28 : "...the Netherlands in th north and Belgium in the south were joined into the Untied Kingdom of the Netherlands, with Willem as king. The marriage was doomed from the start. The partners had little in common, including their dominant religions (Calvinist and Catholic), languages (Dutch and French) and favoured way of making money (trade and manufacturing).
=> 3 mistakes here, including a huge one. First, as mentioned above, the Netherlands also have a substantial Catholic community. On p.40 of the same guidebook, the author recognise that in today's population, 21% are Protestant and 31% Catholic. This doesn't sound like a predominanty Protestant country... Secondly, a completely unadmissible mistake from travel authors, Belgium is not only or even dominantly French speaking. Over 60% of the population if Dutch-speaking ! Finally, manufacturing was not yet what differentiated the Dutch and Belgian ways of making money in the early 19th century. This came after the 2 countries split !
Now the Transport section :
- p 319 : "The high-speed Thalys only stops at Amsterdam, Schiphol, Den Haag and Rotterdam, before going to Antwerp, Brussels and Paris (or Luxembourg)."
=> The Thalys never passes anywhere near Luxembourg ! However, it does also go to Liege in Belgium and Cologne in Germany, among others.
- p 319 : "Many stations now rely on ticketing machines to cut personnel costs and queues at the counters. The machines are firly complicated with instructions in Dutch only." ... "The machines will indicate how much it wants to be fed - coins only, though change is given."
=> I guess this only should have been updated a while ago, but new machines have menus in English and French as well, and do take debit cards. Neither old nor new machines are complicated.
There are other mistakes, inaccuracies or confusing statements in the book, usually about Dutch or European history and culture. I believe it is not a good idea to choose non Europeans to write about Europe, especially when so many Lonely Planet authors are from Britain or Ireland. Furthermore, the information in this book often concentrates on the most touristic destinations, given little details about other places. I had already noticed the same in the Lonely Planet Belgium (even worse actually).
I am also fairly surprised that Lonely Planet had not published any guidebook about the Netherlands until October 2003 and Belgium & Luxembourg until February 2004, when they had published one about Antarctica in 1996 (already 3rd edition now) and are already at their 5th edition of Rarotonga & the Cook Islands, 6th edition of Chile, 7th edition of Papua New Guinea, which are all by far less popular tourist destinations than the Benelux.
A Must Have.......2005-09-02
This is a great book as all the other books from lonely planet.
good for initial orientation but lacks complete coverage.......2005-05-14
This book is helpful for its good background information and for a general overview to the country and its highlights. For such a small and organized country, I expected more complete coverage of the areas outside Amsterdam and was disappointed to find some information outdated, hotels and smaller towns missing entirely, and a poorly organized index. This is a good book to start with, but should be followed up with a more detailed guide if you plan to explore much outside of Amsterdam.
Not a good Lonely Planet.......2004-07-30
First of all, I was surprised to find out that this was the thinnest travel guide on Netherlands in the market. Granted it is printed in small fonts (albeit not much smaller than many others in the market), but the contents obviously show that this book is below Lonely Planet standard. I had read about half a dozen guide books on Netherlands and been trying to find information on a town named Tilburg, which is in fact the largest in terms of population in Netherlands. However, Lonely Planet contains essentially no information on this town, while both Fodor's and Rough Guide introduce quite a few worth-visiting places in the town and its neighboring towns. Out of curiosity, I also searched for some key words in the index of all these guide books and found Lonely Planet lacks the contents which seemingly should be included in a travel guide intended to be thorough.
On the other hand, if one is only looking for a 'rough guide' to one or two of the most touristy places in Netherlands and does not plan to explore for long, this book may suffice.
Book Description
15 Maps
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Guidebook, like all LP guidebooks........2001-03-12
I found the LP Brussels to be informative, clear and altogether correct. I used this to live in Brussels for 3 months while working, and it never failed me, just as their guides never do. I highly recommend.
Bad Book!.......2000-07-28
My husband and I traveled to Brussels with this book, and got so lost. We met another couple with the same book--and they could not find anything either! We had better luck with our hotel map. I love lonely planet books, but stay clear of this one.
Book Description
From bars and cafes hidden down Stockholm's cobbled lanes to snow-capped forests sparkling under the midnight sun, Sweden is diverse and captivating. Make your trip unforgettable with this comprehensive guide.
- insider tips on exploring Sweden's beautiful capital, Stockholm
- accommodation options from five-star urban luxury to camping in the wilderness
- smörgåbords and schnapps: the best eateries and nightlife revealed
- ski in Lappland, cycle on Gotland - activities for every season
- includes practical, user-friendly Swedish language chapter
- with 57 detailed maps
Customer Reviews:
Good, but could be better........2001-06-09
Graeme Cornwallis almost immediately makes a misstep with his best and worst lists. The Top 10 is fine, but the Bottom 10? You can tell he was put up to this by the publisher. Arvika is shabby? I didn't find it that way at all! A lovely town with beautiful locations and a great arts and crafts store. Forests extremely tedious? Sorry. Ticket machines? I guess if you like ganging up on an overworked clerk, it's more fun not to have a ticket, but otherwise, it's very civilized. If these are the worst that he can find about Sweden, it must be a wonderful place! And that's how I found it. To be fair, Cornwallis is trying to fit a lot of information in a small book. He did miss an item or two (how could he not discuss allmansrãtt, which basically says you can hike or camp anywhere that you're not being obnoxious?) but he certainly covers a lot of what is available. It would take more than one vacation to cover all the attractions he outlines just for Gothenburg. And his directions to eating places in Gothenburg are right on the mark.
Lonely Planet: Sweden.......2000-08-02
This comprehensive guide assures the best plans for your visit to Sweden. It is jampacked with essential information to get you there and away to wonderful destinations and events for every interest and attraction.
Like an encyclopedia, it leaves nothing to chance for planning each leg of your trip. It has two outstanding sections that sets this travel guide apart from others.
First, is it's Facts For The Visitor. It highlights the Best And Worst of what to hit or miss on your visit, which includes incidentals like free car-ferries, but expensive beer, bread, and parking fees. This section also includes the essentials for planning prior to your visit. It is a must for acquainting yourself with the cultural differences and practicals of visiting abroad.
Second best, but not least, section is the Getting There And Away. This is the best guide I have seen that gives all the transportation alternatives available to get you where you want to be, with schedules and pricing. Though this section does not boast of winning any photo contest, it has more cities per area to give the best overall opportunity to visit the real country, not just the tourist traps. Also included are internet connections to give even greater details, which brings the reference material to life.
Overall, I believe this guide is the bible for experiencing Sweden in the first year of the new millennium.
Books:
- Lonely Planet Amsterdam
- Lonely Planet Argentina
- Lonely Planet Belize
- Lonely Planet Caribbean Islands (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)
- Lonely Planet Central Asia
- Lonely Planet Costa Rica
- Lonely Planet Croatia
- Lonely Planet Cuba
- Lonely Planet East Africa
- Lonely Planet Egypt
Books Index
Books Home
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General
| Europe
| Travel
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| Books
Joe Pauker's Get Lost! the Cool Guide to Amsterdam (Get Lost)
Streetwise Amsterdam (Streetwise)
Lonely Planet Amsterdam City Map
Lonely Planet Paris
Lonely Planet London
