Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
turesstripped-down,functional ArtDecosquaresandrectangles, butisornamented withArt
Nouveau elements—Tiffany-style windows, garlands, curvy iron lamps, Egyptian pharaohs,
and exotic gold lettering over the door. Inside (lobby is free), the sumptuous decor features
fancy carpets, slinky fixtures, and semi-abstract designs. Grab a seat in the lobby and watch
the ceiling morph (Reguliersbreestraat 26-28).
This small and quirky-yet-classy museum holds 300 years of pipes in a 17th-century canal
house. (It's almost worth the admission price just to see the inside of one of these elegant
homes.) You enter through the street-level shop, Smokiana, which is almost interesting
enough to be a museum itself. It sells new and antique pipes, various smoking curiosities,
andscholarlybookswrittenbytheshop'sowner.Ifyouwantmore,paytoenterthemuseum,
and a volunteer docent will accompany you upstairs through a tour of smoking history.
You begin with some pre-Columbian terra-cotta pipes (from the discoverers of tobacco, dat-
ing from around 500 B.C.), followed by plenty of intricate, finely decorated Baroque and
Victorian smoking paraphernalia. Ask questions—your guide is happy to explain why the
opium pipes have their bowls in the center of the stem, or why some white clay pipes are a
foot long.
Cost and Hours:
€8, Wed-Sat 12:00-18:00, usually closed Sun-Tue, tel. 020/421-1779,
just off Leidsestraat at Prinsengracht 488,
www.pijpenkabinet.nl
.
In the 1930s, modern cargo ships came into widespread use—making small, sail-powered
cargoboatsobsolete.Indangerofextinction,theselittlevesselsfoundnewlifeashouseboats
lining the canals of Amsterdam. Today, 2,500 such boats—their cargo holds turned into
classy, comfortable living rooms—are called home. For a peek into this
gezellig
(cozy)
world, visit this tiny museum. Captain Vincent enjoys showing visitors around the house-
boat, which feels lived-in because, until 1997, it was.
CostandHours:
€3.75,notcoveredbyMuseumkaart;March-OctTue-Sun11:00-17:00,
closed Mon; Nov-Dec and Feb Fri-Sun 11:00-17:00, closed Mon-Thu; closed most of
Jan; on Prinsengracht, opposite #296 facing Elandsgracht, tel. 020/427-0750,
A pilgrimage for many, this house offers a fascinating look at the hideaway of young Anne
during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Anne, her parents, an older sister, and four
