I'm of two minds about riding lessons here. I like to put in some equestrian time wherever I am in…read morethe world, and after the whole process of getting approved at this stable, I was excited to ride here. On one hand, it was beautiful and the horses were well-trained, and once I got into a nice riding rhythm, the experience was enjoyable. On the other hand, the trainers... I dunno, maybe it was a cultural barrier... because they seemed checked out. They just never seemed particularly enthusiastic or personable. I get that these trainers might be 20-year-olds used to training adolescent girls and they don't need to be particularly sociable to be good instructors, but it kind of felt like I was in their way and they were just rolling from one lesson to the next. Then again, I might be overthinking. My regular private instructor once said that busy riding schools tend to be like this - filling up as many lessons as possible, resulting in stretching their attention thin. They were respectable enough and some of the other students I interacted with were fantastic and much more willing to talk and trade helpful tips.

In dit prachtige rijksmonument van bouwmeester Van Gendt is de oudste rijschool van Nederland…read moregevestigd. Dezelfde architect is verantwoordelijk voor Concertgebouw en Stadsschouwburg. De ingang is aan de Vondelstraat. Bezoekers komen binnen via een museumwinkeltje waar de entree betaald kan worden. Die geeft toegang, recht op een drankje en komt deels ten goede van het Levend Paardenmuseum. Deze stichting heeft tot doel de binnenkant van het gebouw in oude luister te herstellen en te onderhouden. De gemeente Amsterdam is verantwoordelijk voor de buitenkant, manegehouder Vincent Valk voor het paardenbedrijf en de horeca. De manege heeft een binnen- en een buitenrijbaan. De buitenrijbaan en binnenplaats grenzen aan de tuinen van de buren. Dat was bij de bouw in 1882 wel anders, toen was dit braakliggend terrein, ver buiten de stad. De foyer bevindt zich boven, daar is ook de bar. Via de foyer kom je op het balkon. Van daaruit een goed uitzicht op de binnenrijbaan en een prima plek om een drankje te drinken. Je kunt hier paardrijden, volwassenen kopen een starterspakket alvorens in een groepsles verder te gaan. Kinderen vinden zo ook hun weg. Voor hen zijn er ponykampen waar een hele week met vriendjes en vriendinnetjes met en tussen de paarden wordt beleefd. Er zijn hier twee studentenverenigingen actief. Er wordt dressuur-, spring- en carrousel les gegeven. Carrousel is een teamsport waarbij figuren op muziek wordt gereden. Privépaarden stappen na de les regelmatig uit in het Vondelpark, altijd een bezienswaardigheid in dit stadspark tussen de joggers en fietsers. De manege heeft ook een paardenvrachtwagen waarmee buitenritten in het Amsterdamse bos kunnen worden geaccommodeerd. Dit mooie gebouw kan gehuurd worden voor onvergetelijke feestjes, groot en klein. Er zijn hier films opgenomen, even geleden "Keetje Tippel", meer recent "Pak van mijn Hart". Kinderfeestjes met taart, pannenkoeken of patat en een begeleid ritje op paard of pony zijn hier te boeken. Voor de volwassenen zijn er high teas met lekkere hapjes. Zo timmert 's lands oudste rijschool aan de weg om ook in deze moderne tijd succesvol te zijn. En dat lukt aardig, ga maar kijken!

Sandwiches!!!:) Nice…read moresmall place to get a quality sandwiches/salads/soups to go or have them there (though the place is small). The best is to drop by during lunch to grab a nice snack:)

Fun history of Bols and the distilling of different flavors of alcoholic liqueurs…read more Self-guided tour with audio. After you pay for your ticket at the front desk, you put your jackets and loose items in a locker (free) and pickup an audio tour device and program it for your preferred language (easy). You get a yummy cocktail to savor at the end! And there's a fun gift shop to peruse, where we bought tulip glasses for the purpose of drinking Genever . We enjoyed the Espresso martini and Red Light Negroni at the bar at the end. Both were made skillfully and tasted delicious! The highlight of the experience, honestly, was meeting Lars (aka "Larson") and Julia at the front desk. They were hilarious with each other and delightful with us. They helped us package the 6 tulip glasses in paper within styrofoam boxes for sturdy protection during travel. They are the true stars of this operation.

I enjoy distillery tours when I travel. I browsed the list of attractions that accept the I…read moreAmsterdam card and came across Bols Amsterdam. It's located near Museumplein by all of the major museums which was so convenient. I was interested in doing a cocktail class with the tour, but wasn't sure if I could book the class with the I Amsterdam card. I sent an email through the website and a DM on Instagram and no one responded, which was disappointing. When I arrived, I inquired about it. They offered to let me upgrade my ticket, but I declined. Once I got checked in, I received a vial of a mystery flavored genever to taste at the end of the tour. The tour is self guided and it is truly a sensory experience. The tour starts with the history of Bols, then goes into the process of making genever. There are interactive elements throughout. It was really cool to see Lucas Bols' original recipe book from 1820. Towards the end of the tour, I tried the mystery genever in the sensory booth. I don't remember the flavor, but it was red and it was sweet. The sensory booth contains a camera that records your reaction as you're tasting it. At the end of the tour, guests are able to enjoy a complimentary cocktail. The bar area was really cool. They have a flair booth where you can learn how to spin and throw cocktail bottles. They also had house music playing which created a fun vibe. The bartender that made my drink was Serchan (pronounced "Sar-John"). He was so nice and let me sample a couple of genevers. I ordered the First Aid cocktail. It was citrus forward and refreshing! He also printed out a receipt with the cocktail recipe. I threw some cash in the tip jar and learned that they accept cash in any currency! This was a fun experience! Any activity where I can have a delicious cocktail and learn something new is right up my alley.

A club walking distance from where we were staying and close to other local bars. Shots are so…read moreinexpensive here?! Compared to the US, we were pleasantly surprised how inexpensive drinks were at a music venue/club. We came for Techno Tuesday and it was a vibe. A smaller crowd probably but we didn't have to wait outside or pay any cover. We went around midnight. Around 3AM there was a line outside (Euros party late). The upstairs has like riser seating throughout and the downstairs is one big dance floor. The bathrooms were a little bit of a walk (for the good ones). Overall, we had a good time here!

Recently went an Amsterdam Rapido Event here and was very impressed!…read more 1. Fantastic acoustics 2. Digital locker system that lets you unlock any time you need it I don't know if there is always enough lockers for everyone, but if you can get one it's awesome. They also have a separate wardrobe / clothed check if you don't get a locker. 3. Free water - not sure if this is normal but glasses of tap water were free and that makes a huge difference. I would definitely go to an event here again.

This must clearly be one of the most amazing venues I have ever seen! We ran a training workshop…read morehere, but I can imagine all sorts of events in this location. The most amazing thing about it is just the vast space you have. Being here feels like having moved in together with a group of friends, there are fridges with soft drinks and Nespresso machines, you simply help yourself to anything you need. To create a nice atmosphere, there is a Sonos sound system with Spotify, and also a TV screen for presentations. They do provide all possible adaptors (HDMI, VGA, Mac, etc...) in case you forget to bring your own. It is a bit pricey, but completely worth it if you want to run an event at a location that leaves an impression.

We had the pleasure of staying here for 3 nights prior to boarding a Viking River Cruise. We were…read moreupgraded to a beautiful suite - very comfortable all around. The hotel staff were beyond helpful and friendly. The location is perfect for walking to a nearby shopping and dining area.

Had a great stay at Hilton Amsterdam. Location is quiet and a bit far from the main tourist sites,…read morebut it's an easy tran ride away. It's close to the convention center (20 min walk) as well as one of the large city parks. Was lucky to get upgraded to junior suite with canal view. Staff were friendly. I had forgotten my outlet adapter and unfortunately they did not have any to borrow. Executive lounge was smaller than other Hiltons with limited offerings. Breakfast was okay and more "continental " than other Hilton breakfast buffets throughout Europe and Asia.

I have been wanting to come in here forever. Reminds of a shop I use to enjoy back at home. Color…read moreMe Mine is a shop to paint your own pottery. They have some great packages for groups or you can paint solo if you like. They have a large selection of ceramic items to choose from. I definitely plan on coming back in here with a group of yelpers or friends to practice my artistic side. Ideal place for kids,adults, or a day out with the girls. Here is how it works. 1) You pick the Ceramic 2) You paint it 3)They fire it 4) You take it home Enjoy!

I stopped by here on a quest for local businesses and shops while studying abroad here for the…read moresummer. Even though they did not have the object of my quest, Dokibooks, they had a HUGE selection of everything. I loved shopping in here for stickers and odds and ends for my scrapbook planning and such. They do have classes and they man who helped me was super friendly and had great customer service. One of the places I plan on going back to before leaving. It's a bit off the beaten path but worth looking for!

First and foremost, the standout service sets Your Space apart from other shared meeting…read moreenvironments. The ladies who run this space add creative, enthusiastic flare to their inspiring venue to help your ideas develop. It's choice location in the inner canal belt makes this a grade A+ venue for work and social gatherings, easily accessible by tram and bike. The views ain't bad either; you can see as far as the Marnixstraat from it's second story window. Canals as far as the eye can see! These ladies have carefully curated their snacks; making sure they tick all the boxes for any kind of diet. They also have drip and SUPER FANCY coffee - don't forget to ask for a flat white! They are Aussies, after all. The venue is equipped with high speed wifi, chrome cast and funky tunes. There's a whiteboard wall (!) and if you're like me and have a weird thing about stationary and office supplies, you'll basically want to live up there. There are 3 large rooms, all beautifully decorated and themed with names (ask them about it!) to help you get into your creative groove. If you love quiet, victorian inspired decor, you'll love the Library. Would highly recommend their service/venue.

From the owner: Your Space is a unique, creative meeting and event location in the heart of Amsterdam in a stunning…read moreand spacious 17th century canal house. The venue features three unique meeting rooms, gorgeous canal views, an oxygen-rich indoor oasis and lush velvet sofas that'll make you say 'ahhhh...' It's a laid-back, inspiring atmosphere that breeds creativity, growth and innovation. But that's not the clincher. It's the experience that the space's hands-on hosts are committed to providing each and every time - the unparalleled service, impeccable attention to detail, and flexible offerings customised to meet your unique needs.

The College Hotel is located in a historic building with a monumental status. It was constructed in…read more1894 and has exclusively served as a school building. When it converted to a hotel in 2004, the architectural status required many of the elements to stay; the hotel has 40 different authentic rooms, no two rooms are the same. At one point this was a boy's school, so there are many touches where the "naughty schoolboys" spray painted the paintings or marked the school tables (wink wink). Our suite is comfortable with high ceilings, large windows, large bathroom (with a desk), complimentary mini bar, personalized room scent, etc. It's conveniently located to the Museumplein, very accommodating staff.

This is the second hotel we stayed at while in Amsterdam. It's a former school building and the…read moreinterior definitely gives you a bit of Hogwarts vibe which I really liked. The rooms are a bit awkwardly shaped but it was comfortable and cozy. The breakfast is much smaller than the Anantara but was very good. There's also a library where you are welcome to leave or take books and I picked up a new book as a result. Would definitely stay here again and would recommend it to others.

The Amstelkerk is a small church right in the center of Amsterdam. It's property of Stadsherstel,…read morewhich is the organization that looks after lots of old churches and other historic properties in Amsterdam. The Amstelkerk is no longer used as a functioning church, it now holds the offices for Stadsherstel and is also used regularly as a concert space and can be rented for other occasions such as weddings. It's on a square that is cornered on 2 sides by canals, so it's also a very picturesque location. I come here semi-regularity to play or hear concerts, and I always enjoy myself.