Amsterdam - Citibank Singapore · P2 / LUXE AMSTERDAM Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE Itineraries Citi PrestigeSM • Weather-wise, May-Sep

Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE ItinerariesP1 / LUXE AMSTERDAM

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Amsterdam

FLAT, COMPACT, AND EASILY WALKABLE, THE STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL CITY OF AMSTERDAM AMAZES WITH ITS METROPOLIS HEAD AND VILLAGE HEART.

At once formal yet liberal, the city

beckons with its vibrant but laidback

Dam Square, dazzling Canal Ring, and

arty, gentrified Jordaan. It’s easy to get

lost along the labyrinthine canals, the

cycleways with their steady stream of

bikes and pedestrians, and the artisanal

boutiques and markets, but find yourself

beyond the city centre and you will be

rewarded with lush parks and true Dutch

hospitality. So saddle up and pedal hard!

The cult pocket city guides and mobile

apps for the busy, sophisticated traveler

www.luxecityguides.comCITI PRESENTS LUXE CITY GUIDES


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• Weather-wise, May-Sep is the best

time to visit, the glorious outdoors

is in full swing, though so are

the hordes.

• Winter can be chilly, grey and

drizzly, but crowd-free.

• AMS Airport to city 20 mins / €45

by cab. Train 20 mins / €4.

• Just about everyone speaks English

well, and often.

• Best place to get a taxi is at stands

but can be a lottery. Beware of

scams, especially around

Centraal Station.

• Trams are easy, regular and cover

most of the city. Buy tickets on-

board or at ticket machines; trip

planner at www.gvb.nl

Blah blah• Buy a 1-4 day pass for unlimited

tram, bus and metro rides. Check

in and check out EVERY time

you board/exit.

• Most shops close Sun and Mon am,

but open late Thu.

• Thu/Fri best nights out, Sat can be

vile, quiet other days.

• Service levels can be woeful and

tipping is not required. Though

5-10%, left as cash, is nice when

it’s good.

• Most restaurants offer value set

menus on top of à la carte.

• Several establishments don’t accept

credit cards, and some don’t even

except cash, though most take PIN/

ATM cards.

• A café is for coffee, a coffeeshop is

for marijuana.

• International code for Netherlands

is +31; Amsterdam landlines begin

with 020, most mobiles begin

with 06.

• In emergencies, call 112.


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Esther Coppoolse is fashion director at

ELLE Netherlands. Over the past decade

she has brought style to the casual view

of the Dutch, and also introduced the

ELLE Style Awards as a stylist platform

to Holland. Esther was also the brain

behind pop-up concept store ‘little black

boutique’ and the founder of ‘CLUB

14 A’, a small but charming creative

community/label in Amsterdam.

www.elle.nl

LUXE INSIDER

Esther Coppoolse / FASHION DIRECTOR


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1) WHAT’S THE ONE THING EVERY VISITOR TO AMSTERDAM MUST DO AND WHY?

Hire a bike or a boat. It is great to see

the city from the canals, or to bike

along like the locals. Amsterdam feels

like a village.

2) WHERE CAN YOU BE FOUND ON A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY MORNING?

In the Westerpark (Westergas fabriek).

This is the best park in Amsterdam –

full of nature, but also cultural events.

Great coffee places like Bakker Baard

and De Bakkerswinkel, and very nice

restaurants like Proef and Rainarai,

plus there is a lot of space to have

a picnic and for children and dogs

to run around.

www.bakkerbaard.com

www.debakkerswinkel.nl

www.proefamsterdam.nl

www.rainarai.nl

3) WHAT ARE 3 OF YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS IN AMSTERDAM AND WHY? WHAT DISHES DO YOU ORDER AT THESE PLACES?

Wilde Zwijnen is a relaxed restaurant

in the east of Amsterdam.

They serve great tasting dishes

from local farmers (I love their

steaks) in a raw and industrial but

cosy atmosphere.

www.wildezwijnen.com

4) PONT 13

Is a restaurant situated in an old

ferry. The view over the water and old

harbor is beautiful and romantic. If

the weather is good you have to book

a table outside. Their fish dishes are

simple and good.

www.pont13.nl

5) LE RESTAURANT

Is very charming and so perfect

that it’s difficult what to say. Please

book a table as soon as you can

and be surprised by the talented

French style kitchen and elegant but

cool atmosphere.

www.lerestaurant.nl

6) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NEIGHBORHOOD TO VISIT FOR A DAY OF SHOPPING?

You should start at Haarlemmerstraat,

a great street for all different

boutiques and independent shops.

Then you go to Noordermarkt,

where there’s a market brocantes

and biological food every Monday

morning and Saturday. Then you walk

over one of the canals to De Negen

Straatjes, which is a very dynamic

shopping area with a creative mix

of people and places.

7) WHAT ARE YOUR THREE FAVORITE SHOPS IN AMSTERDAM? WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THEM?

Lock, Stock and Barrel is a multi brand

boutique, mid segment labels, with a

Scandinavian/French authentic style.

SPRMRKT for fashion, interior, books,

music and art. This exciting concept

store is a raw essential place in the

Amsterdam scene. Azzuro Due is a

deliciously decorated shop for fashion

lovers and great for high-end labels.

www.lockstockbarrel.nl

www.sprmrkt.nl

www.azzurrofashiongroup.nl

LUXE INSIDER

Esther Coppoolse / FASHION DIRECTOR


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LUXE Loves

RON BLAAUW Dining

Relocating closer to the heart of

Amsterdam and winning his second

Michelin star has placed Ron Blaauw at

the very forefront of neo-Dutch cuisine.

His molecular gastronomic delights are

stylistically presented in a procession

of bite-sized palate-pleasers.

DE KAS

Dining

Locavore lovers flock to this stunning

nursery and glasshouse restaurant

situated in the middle of Frankendael

Park, which serves solely organic,

locally sourced and homegrown fare.

Leave the growing to the green-

thumbed owner, and exchange that

garden rake for a knife and fork.

DE KAS

Dining

Locavore lovers flock to this stunning

nursery and glasshouse restaurant

situated in the middle of Frankendael

Park, which serves solely organic,

locally sourced and homegrown fare.

Leave the growing to the green-

thumbed owner, and exchange that

garden rake for a knife and fork.

NEL Dining

While the simple comfort food menu

and service can be a tad hit or miss,

it’s all about Nel’s happening terrace

overlooking the Prinsengracht canal.

Check ahead for the varied live jazz,

music or dance performances that

keep this pretty C.17th wooden

ex-church busy and buzzy.

Sophialaan 55 / Old South /

+31 20 496 1943

www.ronblaauw.nl

Kamerlingh Onneslaan 3 / East /

+31 20 462 4562

www.restaurantdekas.nl

Amstelved 12 / Canal Ring /

+31 20 626 1199

www.nelamstelveld.nl


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LUXE Loves

FROZEN FOUNTAIN Shopping

Contemporary furniture and

décor jackpot with top designers

from Netherlands’ art academies

and beyond, featuring bespoke

commissioned pieces and permanent

collections from internationally

renowned talents like Piet Hein Eek

and Tom Dixon.

THE OTHERIST

Shopping

A wonderfully eclectic shop of curios,

botanics, mounted insects, ceramics

and artisanal knits, soaps, stationary,

yarn and more. If you’ve ever yearned

for a ‘vegan’ cardboard human skull,

or a porcelain skunk cranium with 16k

gold teeth, now is your chance to get

your hands on it.

VAN RAVENSTEIN Shopping

The last word in ‘it’ Low Lands fashion

designers, from Holland’s own Michael

van der Ham to Belgium’s Walter Van

Beirendonck, as well as international

favorites like Bernhard Willhelme.

Browse through the handy eCatalogue

then pop in and model the designer

garments yourself.Prinsengracht 645 / Canal Ring /

+31 20 622 9375

www.frozenfountain.nl

Leliegracht 6 / Jordaan /

+31 20 320 0420

www.otherist.com

Keizersgracht 359 / 9 Streets /

+31 20 639 0067

www.van-ravenstein.nl

DE BAKKERSWINKEL

Dining

Breads, cakes, flans, and tarts as far

as the eye can see. De Bakkerswinkel

is an unmissable treat of freshly baked

goods and homemade preserves. Eat

in or take out, but whatever you do,

don’t miss the delectable homemade

jam and scones.

LION NOIR Dining

Movers and shakers flock to this kooky,

low-lit, curio-filled hotspot featuring

a delicious menu of French favorites.

Can’t get a reservation? No matter.

Console yourself at the bar, where the

cocktails are classic and the small plates

range includes oysters

and goose rillettes.

DOOR 74 Dining

The mysterious location that’s only

divulged upon reservation definitely

ups the ante of this exclusive lounge

for those in the know, but don’t worry,

your concierge will get you in if you

didn’t book ahead. The creative,

seasonal cocktails are arguably

the best in town.

Canal Ring /

+31 6 3404 5122

www.door-74.nl

Reguliersdwarsstraat 28 / Centre /

+31 20 627 6603

www.lionnior.nl

Zeedijk 37 / Centre / + branches /

+31 20 489 8000

www.debakkerswinkel.com


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LUXE LovesNOORDERMARKT Activities

Gourmands make a beeline for

Noordermarkt every Monday for

its organic farm fresh produce and

welcoming vendors, and then again

for the Saturday flea market that

abounds in handicrafts, vintage wares,

and artisanal draws.

THE DYLAN

Accommodation

A range of contemporary room

designs, perfect canal position,

sophisticated lounge, comely

courtyard, Michelin-starred neo-Dutch

Vinkeles, and can-do concierge to

orchestrate private airplane tours or

culinary canal cruises make this

a standout choice.

SEVEN ONE SEVEN Accommodation

On one of the city’s prettiest canals

lies this landmark C.19th house. Its nine

luxurious suites are havens of comfort

and convenience, with gorgeously

opulent furnishings and attentive and

friendly staff. Request one of two large

executives suites at the front to enjoy

stunning views of the canal.

Westerstraat / Jordaan /

9am-2pm Mon & 9am-4pm Sat Keizersgracht 384 / Canal Ring /

+31 20 530 2010

www.dylanamsterdam.com

Prinsengracht 717 / Canal Ring /

+31 20 427 0717

www.717hotel.nl

HERMITAGE AMSTERDAM

Activities

It was a charitable home for elderly

women for 324 years, but the

beautiful C.17th Amstelhof now houses

permanent and temporary exhibits

from the incredible vaults of the St.

Petersburg mothership.

Amstel 51 / Centre /

+31 20 530 7488

www.hermitage.nl


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LUXE LoathesTETCHY CYCLISTS

Cyclists rage along the pathways with

daredevil temperaments. Jump out

of the way before you’re driven into

the canals.

RIP-OFF TAXI DRIVERS

Fancy a delay, or a coerced scenic tour?

Then hail these non-gezellig cabbies at

your peril. If in doubt, choose a cab from

a designated taxi rank.

MEDIOCRE WINE LISTS/WINES BY THE GLASS

Picky about your drink? Unluckily

Amsterdam has a rather limited selection

of wines, however jenever, the local spirit,

is definitely worth a shot.


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Fab vs. Drab

CANAL TOURING

No visit to Amsterdam would be complete

without a sail down the city’s famous

waterways, but rather than floating with

the masses on the Canal Hopper’s hop-on,

hop-off service, why not charter your own

private tour of the Venice of the North

aboard a 100-year-old wooden saloon

boat with Classic Boat Tours.

www.classicboattours.nl

GUIDED TOURS

There’s no in sense taking a walk through

the picturesque Old Town without fully

appreciating its history and architecture,

so get the most out of your visit by

booking one of the various area-themed

walking tours from I amsterdam, each of

which comes with a full-color brochure

with removable city map.

www.iamsterdamcard.com

MUSEUM QUEUES

Instead of queuing and then paying

exorbitant entrance fees for the city’s

myriad museums, skip the line and fare at

32 of the best by purchasing a Museum

Pass or I amsterdam City Card, the latter

of which also includes unlimited travel on

public transportation.

www.museumkaart.nl

www.iamsterdamcard.com

COOKING CLASSES

While hearty Dutch classics brown bean

soup and stamppot (hashed vegetables)

make for a tasty lunch, discovering Dutch

vegetarian molecular gastronomy with a

De Culinaire Werkplaats cooking lesson

makes for one memorable experience.

www.deculinairewerkplaats.nl

RENT A BIKE

Being a pedestrian in Amsterdam means

you’re at the mercy of cyclists, so if you

can’t beat them, join them by hiring your

own swish bike or tandem from MacBike.

www.macbike.nl


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The water lapping along the canals of

Amsterdam isn’t the only reason the

Dutch capital is called the Venice of the

North – from fragrant blooms to starlit

meals, this city is awash in romance.

Start the day with a leisurely walk in

the foliage-fabulous garden of Hortus

Botanicus and delectable breakfast

pastries at the terrace café. Next stop the

Westerkerk, this pretty C.17th church with

its 85m landmark tower, the Westertoren,

affords breathtaking vistas of Amsterdam,

but you’ll need plenty of puff to make

the ascent to the top! Come back down

for a soup and salad lunch at canal-side

Nel (see LUXE Loves), followed by a spot

of shopping in the antique, fashion, book

and accessory-filled Nine Streets area of

the Old Town. Look out for lovely lingerie

LUXE ITINERARY

Romance

at Marlies Dekkers in Berenstraat, and

glamorous retro and vintage furnishings

at Roerende Zaken in Oude Spiegelstraat.

What better way to rest those weary feet

than with a chartered private canal tour

via Classic Boat Tours (see Drab vs Fab),

which will have you floating blissfully

along the waterways aboard a 100-year-

old saloon boat. Once back on dry land,

enjoy some gallery time at the amazing

C. 17th Hermitage Amsterdam (see LUXE

Loves), but plan ahead as it closes at 5pm

most days. When the clock strikes and

the guards glare, grab yourself a taxi at

a designated stand and head to your pre-

booked dinner table at Ron Blaauw (see

LUXE Loves) for 2 Michelin-starred, avant-

garde taste sensations. The outdoor

terrace here is the perfect place for a

starlit or moon-drenched supper. Round

off your night at Suzy Wong, a gorgeous

and sultry mix of Chinoiserie, excellent

cocktails and beautiful people, or stop

for a fireside nightcap at The Dylan (see

LUXE Loves), before retiring to your

suite upstairs.


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LUXE ITINERARY

Style

Neighboring style-centric Belgium may

have one fashion-forward foot slightly

ahead of Amsterdam, but the Dutch have

many reasons to catwalk along the canals

too. Get runway-ready by beginning your

day with a glorious pamper session at

the beautiful 1920’s Sauna Deco, where

you’ll be massaged, moisturised, and

freed of toxins courtesy of their fab

Turkish steambath. Feeling refreshed?

Then where better to see and be seen

than Café George, where Amsterdam’s

socialites gather to enjoy scrumptious

brasserie classics in an American-style

setting. Following lunch, carry on to

shopping central Jordaan for a slew of en

vogue Dutch styles at Kabinet, including

labels like youasme/measyou, Isabel

Marant, and a myriad of home-grown and

international brands. Don’t miss WRKSHP

13 for beautiful jewellery, clutches, bags

and clothing by Johnny Ramli, plus alpaca

and merino wool ponchos from Marie Y.

Levi. Channel your inner interior designer

and pick up glam lifestyle objects for the

home at nearby Antennae Interiors, then

if you’re feeling shopped out, recharge

with a sinfully sweet handmade bonbon at

Puccini Bomboni. Next, make a beeline to

the fabulous Tassenmuseum, also known

as the Museum of Bags and Purses.

With a staggering collection of 4000

bags, purses, trunks, pouches, cases and

accessories on show, you’ll suddenly feel

like your own stash is seriously lacking!

Fret not, palate-pleasing consolation is

at hand with a pre-booked negroni and

dinner stop at eclectic Lion Noir (see

LUXE Loves). Head straight to the terrace

for stargazing of both the celestial and

celebrity kind, then stop for a nightcap at

Door 74 (see LUXE Loves), home to the

best and most creative seasonal cocktail

list in the city. Finally, amble towards

Canal House and enjoy a wonderfully

deep beauty sleep in your luxurious suite.

Zoete dromen!


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Amsterdam is a treasure trove of modern

and masterful art, from contemporary

Falke Pisano to legendary Van Gogh.

Have your Museum Pass (see Drab vs

Fab) at the ready, but first, fuel up with

some scrumptious appelgebak (apple

pie) at Villa Zeezicht, and don’t skimp

on the cinnamon scoop. Now that you’re

energized and ready for the big one,

head over to Rijksmuseum to browse the

works of Dutch perennials Rembrandt and

Vermeer. Gaze upon the ‘Night Watch’

and see all the famous names in one

handy wing, as renovations are underway

until 2013. Recover from the art analysis

with a light bite at Brasserie Van Baerle,

and if the mood strikes and weather

permits, enjoy a glass of wine from one

of the few decent lists in the city in the

LUXE ITINERARY

Culturelovely garden. Post-lunch, browse the

shops and galleries of the antiquarian’s

favorite Spiegel Quarter. Antiquariaat

Hoogkamp is heaven for cartography

enthusiasts, so equip yourself with a map

of C.16th Amsterdam and make your way

to Delaive for collections of both up-and-

coming and established contemporary

artists ranging from Sam Francis to

Picasso to Warhol. Shutterbugs will wish

to continue to Huis Marseille for snaps

by Amsterdam’s hotshot photographers,

before pushing on to Parisian-chic

patisserie Pompadour in Nine Streets for

a delicious and equally artistic treat. Now

backtrack to the Museum Quarter and

the Van Gogh Museum to spy ‘Sunflowers’

and other works from the maestro, or if

you’re feeling peckish, you’re a stone’s

throw from Chang-i, with the best Chinese

fusion outside of Chinatown. If serendipity

strikes, catch a concert by the famous

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra at

Concergebouw, and be aurally astounded

by the acoustics of one of the finest

concert halls in the world. Finally, head

home to The College Hotel for nightcaps

at the cosy open fire of the Bar Lounge,

before slipping off to sleep in your suite.


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LUXE ITINERARY

The Essentials

• Hortus Botanicus / Plantage

Middenlaan 2A / East / T: 9, 14

Plantage Kerklaan / +31 20 625 9021 /

9am-5pm daily, from 10am Sat-Sun /

www.dehortus.nl

• Westerkerk / Prinsengracht 281 /

Jordaan / T: 13, 14, 17 Westermarkt /

+31 20 689 2565 / 11am-3pm Mon-Sat /

www.westerkerk.nl

• Nel (see LUXE Loves)

• Roerende Zaken / 5 Oude

Spiegelstraat / Nine Streets / +31 6

5513 3522 /

www.roerende-zaken.nl

• Classic Boat Tours (see Drab vs Fab)

www.roerende-zaken.nl

• Hermitage Amsterdam

(see LUXE Loves)

• Ron Blaauw (see LUXE Loves)

• Suzy Wong / Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 45 / Canal Ring / T: 1, 2, 5, 7, 10 Leidseplein / 6pm-1am Wed-Thu, 6pm-3am Fri-Sun /

+31 20 626 6769

www.tao-group.nl

• The Dylan (see LUXE Loves)

• Sauna Deco / Herengracht 117 / Canal

Ring / T: 1, 2, 5, 13, 17 Nieuwezijdse

Kolk / +31 20 623 8215 / daily

www.saunadeco.com

• George W.A.P. / Willemsparkweg 74 /

South / T: 2 Jacob Obrechtstaat /

+31 20 470 2530

www.cafegeorge.com

• or Chez George: Herenstraat 3 /

+31 20 626 3332 / dinner Thu-Sat / book

• Kabinet / Herenstraat 13 /

+31 20 422 2479

www.kabinet-amsterdam.nl

• WRKSHP 13 / Prinsenstraat 13 /

+31 20 423 6675

www.johnnyramli.com

• Antennae Interiors / Herenstraat 12 /

+31 20 626 9222

• Puccini Bomboni / Staalstraat 17

• Canal Ring / T: 9, 14 Waterlooplein /

+31 20 626 5474 / till 6pm daily

www.puccinibomboni.com

• Tassenmuseum / Herengracht 573 /

Canal Ring / T: 9, 14 Rembrandtplein

/ +31 20 524 6452 / 10am-5pm daily

www.tassenmuseum.nl

ROMANTIC ITINERARY STYLISH ITINERARY

• Lion Noir (see LUXE Loves)

• Door 74 (see LUXE Loves)

www.keeclub.com

• Canal House / Keizersgracht 148 /

Canal Ring / +31 20 622 5182

www.canalhouse.nl


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• Museum Pass (see LUXE Loves)

• Villa Zeezicht / Torensteeg 7 / Canal

Ring / T: 1, 2, 5, 13, 14, 17 Dam / +31 20

626 7433 / 9am-9.30pm daily

Nel (see LUXE Loves)

• Rijksmuseum / Jan Luijkenstraat

1 / Museum Quarter / T: 2, 5

Hobbemastraat / +31 20 674 7000

/ 9am-6pm daily

www.rijksmuseum.nl

• Brasserie Van Baerle / Van

Baerlestraat 158 / Museum Quarter

/T: 3, 5, 12, 24 Roelof Hartplein /

+31 20 679 1532 / lunch Tues-Fri, Sun,

dinner daily

www.brasserievanbaerle.nl

• Antiquariaat Hoogkamp /

Spiegelgracht 27 / +31 20 625 8852 /

http://www.prenten.net

Delaive Spiegelgracht 23 /

+31 20 625 9087

www.delaive.com

CULTURE ITINERARY

• Huis Marseille / Keizersgracht 401 /

Canal Ring / T: 1, 2, 5 Keizersgracht

/ +31 20 531 8989 / 11am-6pm

Tues-Sun

www.huismarseille.com/

• Van Gogh Museum / Paulus

Potterstraat 7 / Museum Quarter /

T: 2, 3, 5, 12 Van Baerlestraat / +31

20 570 5200 / 10am-6pm daily, till

10pm Fri

www.vangoghmuseum.nl

• Chang-i / Jan Willem Brouwersstraat

7 / Museum Quarter / T: 3, 5, 12, 16,

24, 25 Museumplein / +31 20 470

1700 / dinner daily

www.chang-i.nl

• Concergebouw / Concertgebouwplein

10 / Museum Quarter / T: 3, 5, 7, 10,

12, 14, 16, 24 Museumplein / +31 20

573 0573 /

www.concertgebouw.nl

• The College Hotel / Roelof Hartstraat

1 / Old South / +31 20 571 1511

www.thecollegehotel.com

• Bar Lounge / The College Hotel /

Roelof Hartstraat 1 / Old South /

LUXE ITINERARY

The Essentials


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Your LUXE notes

Documents

Amsterdam - Citibank Singapore · P2 / LUXE AMSTERDAM Intro Blah Blah LUXE Insider LUXE Loves LUXE Loathes Fab vs. Drab LUXE Itineraries Citi PrestigeSM • Weather-wise, May-Sep