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Basic Amsterdam
Sites to see

Attitude
The Dutch are famed for their complaining, but the Amsterdammers have turned it into an art form. Somehow they never seem to agree about anything.
There is a Dutch proverb going:
"Two Dutchman will found a church, as soon as a third one joins, you'll get the first splinter off."

Climate? What climate?
The weather in the Netherlands is, like all countries in western Europe, under the strong influence of the effects of the conveyer belt. Without the conveyer belt Europe's climate wouldn't have been as mild as it is now, regarding the high latitude it is located. The Winters should be much more severe than they are now (and I am not referring to global warming). For now Dutch climate is very similar to that of the UK, with cool summers and mild winters, although it receives more rain, actually, than the British isles do. Yet, it is dull, boring and utterly boring.
I'll be the first to admit, though, that this, alas, is very true. Rain is possible no matter what the season, no matter what the time of day. But it is most likely to start just as you leave your house.
So, if you want to make a visit in the dry season, I'm afraid you'll never make it to Amsterdam!

But hey, don't be so gloomy, Arabs on holiday buy insurance that ensures them there will be rain!

Drinking habits
To maintain that Dutch drink nothing except beer would be a severe exaggeration. The national drink in Holland is coffee, preferably very strong and hot, served in large quantities.
If your preference really is for beer, it is noteworthy to realize that quantities in the Netherlands tend to be smaller than in, let's say, the UK. If you want a pint, order a pint. Another thing that differs is the frothy head. This is the result of the high pressure under which beer comes from the tap. The positive side is that it doesn't take an hour to have your glass filled like happens in the UK.
Special Beers.
Holland doesn't really have a tradition in brewing special beers. I guess drinking beer for the Dutch came down to the very same principle as the general attitude towards food. As we liked to say:
"Big bites make a fast supper.". In other words, don't bother making it fancy we'll just gulp this down and get it over with. All business like.
Most of what's being manufactured can be ranked under lagers. Since the eighties however, when the special Belgian beers became fashionable, people re discovered long lost traditions, and started brewing the specials, but there will never be a way to beat the Belgians when it comes to brewing beer.

Going out for dinner
Name it and Amsterdam has got it. Amsterdam inhabits more than 50 different nationalities and all of these have brought along their national cuisines. This results in a wide variety of restaurants, ranging from Mexican to Tibetan, from Ethiopian to Surinam. (The latter not so strange, of course). Next to this abundance there is enough opportunity for people that prefer a fine (posh) ambiance rather than colorful cuisine, like Netherland's most expensive restaurant 'De Kersentuin'.

Danger city?
Amsterdam is generally a very safe place if you disregard bicycle theft and pick pockets. (The artful dodgers have managed to pick my pockets three times now). You don't need to worry too much about your personal safety while you move around the city, be it night or day. However, as in most cities, petty crime can be a nuisance and it is worthwhile being cautious, lest it might spoil your vacation. Like any metropolis Amsterdam has its seedy places, which are best avoided by the weak of heart. For instance, The famed 'Red Light District' is located in a seedy part of Amsterdam. So, if you, the tourist, venture deeply into the night life of Amsterdam, be sure to count your money (ha ha).

Sense of humor
Amsterdammers got their own particular sense of humor, which tends to be a little direct and brutal. An Amsterdammer you're acquainted with may very well call you names without the intention to insult you, it may be meant affectionately. A phrase often used between (male) friends illustrates this: "Hey old @#$$, how are you doing?"

Could you tell me the way to?
When you talk to an Amsterdammer, he or she will often try to answer in what is assumed to be your native tongue. Let them, it is their way of being polite. Besides, Dutch people aren't that hospitable in the first place. And if it happens that they find out where you are from when you ask for directions, it could very be that you get an opinion on the political situation in your country as a bonus. Take note: if a Dutchman has an opinion on a matter, you will hear it. Are they being blunt? Not in their view; according to them, they are just being straightforward. If they don't like you, or are in a bad temper that day, they will probably give the wrong directions. ;)

Taxi Wars
Holland is in turmoil! Recently the minister of Transport has released the provision of taxi permits in order to enhance competition between taxi companies and taxi drivers. The result should have been varying prices between taxis and better service. Taxi drivers in the Netherlands, particularly Amsterdam and the other major cities, have got a bad reputation when it comes to manners.
The traditional major taxi company, which shall remain nameless in this chapter, but every Dutchmen can dream this name, has launched a total war on other taxi companies which results in clashes, molesting drivers from competing companies and riots against the police as they regard the streets of Amsterdam as their property. (Taxi drivers are a rowdy bunch, I can tell you).
I can imagine they are very busily putting themselves in an impossible position where no room for negotiating is left altogether.
What lies behind this strife? For years the Amsterdam taxi world has been dominated by trade in taxi permits resulting in very high prices to be paid in order to be able to drive a taxi cab. The result is that many of these drivers are in debt and fear loss of income. All very understandable. The trade in permits wasn't exactly legal, it wasn't illegal either. It wasn't supposed to have happened in the first place.

Traffic rules
Traffic rules in Amsterdam seem to be absent altogether. In fact, for a part this appears to be very true. It's the result of being lax towards forcing those rules upon the people subject to them. At that time police had their hands full on dealing with hard crime.
In connecting with a general lack of respect for those hardworking, law abiding people enlisted to maintain public order, things rapidly deteriorated.
Like with all things, when given a finger (not to be confused with giving 'the' finger) a child is likely to grab the entire hand, and people started ignoring the rules by which they were supposed to behave in traffic. It, more or less, started with cyclists disregarding their rear and front lights, conveniently forgetting about pointing direction before taking a turn, or waiting for a traffic light when it signals red.
Soon, all other partakers in the game of daily traffic followed suit and within a minor couple of years things have gone out of hand. In fact, even I, raised in this city and long time resident, see Amsterdam traffic as pretty dangerous. And yet, there isn't a single working day I'll skip in putting my life at risk.

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