THE NETHERLANDS - Europe by Eurail 2015: Touring Europe by Train - page 408

The city has more than 60 museums, including the famous Rijksmuseum
( Hours: 0900-1700 daily), where you can view Rembrandt's renowned Night
Watch , along with an extensive collection of his other dazzling works. The South
Wing is devoted to a wide-ranging overview of 18th- and 19th-century Dutch Im-
pressionist art. All the paintings have explanations in English, and you can rent an
audio guide that describes in English, German, or French the 200 most signific-
ant paintings in the collection. For more details visit www.rijksmuseum.nl or E-mail:
[e-mail]. Tickets: €15 adults; younger than age 18 admitted free.
The Van Gogh Museum is also a must-see. For a preview check out
www.vangoghmuseum.nl , or E-mail: [e-mail] for more informa-
tion.
One of the newest of Amsterdam's museums is appropriately named “new Met-
ropolis” Museum or “NEMO.” It is an interesting attraction, designed by Italian
architect Renzo Piano, due to its location on top of one of the major tunnels lead-
ing into and out of Amsterdam. Plus its roof offers a spectacular view of the city.
The building appears to rise from the water of the Oosterdok as a bow of a ship.
A 21st-century public center for science and technology, this museum fits with our
earlier statement, “The Dutch are inventing the future,” by using up-to-date, hands-
on techniques. Visit www.e-nemo.nl .
“Diamonds are a girl's best friend,” and Amsterdam is a good place to see how
a glassy little piece of stone can become the most beautiful, desirable gemstone
in the world. With nine diamond factories to tempt you, we suggest taking a tour of
the AmsterdamDiamondCenter, located at Rokin 1-5. Tel: [phone]; Fax:
(020) 625 12 20; www.amsterdamdiamondcenter.nl . Hours: 1000-1900 Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday; 1000-2030 Thursday; 1100-1900
Sunday. Although free samples are not available, a diamond sure makes a great
souvenir!
Dining in Amsterdam is an exercise in international cuisine. The expression
“You can eat there in any language” is no exaggeration. First decide what type of
food you want—Hungarian, German, Italian, Greek, Scandinavian, Japanese, or
Indonesian—then select from among the many restaurants offering such dishes.
For more traditional Dutch bill-of-fare, try one of our favorites— Haesje Claes
at Spuistraat 273-275. Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone];
www.haesjeclaes.nl . E-mail: [e-mail]. Named after Lady Haesje
Claes, this restaurant's slogan is “From canapes to caviar.” Born in 1520 into a
prosperous merchant family, Lady Haesje Claes was the founder and patron of the
Public Orphanage, now the Amsterdam Historical Museum. Have a typical Dutch
lunch or dinner in one of the eight chambers, each with its own special atmo-
sphere. The salmon with lobster sauce is excellent.