More To It Than Sex In The City

Sun Herald

Sunday March 12, 2000

By NATALIE DAVISON

SOMETIMES it's the sights, architectural beauty, food, atmosphere or even the people that make a place.

In Amsterdam, the attraction is a combination of all those things.

The tulips, windmills, clogs and cheese are a compulsory part of a visit to the city which is also known for its relaxed laws.

Its well-known tolerance of soft drugs and the sex industry add to the attractions that make it a sought-after destination.

While it has the quaint feel of small-town living, Amsterdam has everything a big city has to offer: good food, nightlife, museums, art galleries and, of course, beer.

A visit to the Heineken factory is an eye-opening, if not intoxicating, experience. Not only do connoisseurs get to see the brewery but half-an-hour sampling the goods doesn't harm a tourist's impression of the place in the slightest.

Pedal power is one of the main forms of transport through the flat streets and by the canals of the city.

In contrast, being a pedestrian in Amsterdam can be quite hazardous, dodging trams, cars and bicycles.

The city's maze of canals lends itself to another unusual feature of Amsterdam: houseboat living.

Once-dilapidated boats and floating barges have been transformed into living quarters for the locals, while for others the terraces are the city's most sought after tenements.

And despite its reputation, the red-light district is not only a stickybeak's dream, it's completely safe. A stroll through the tiny back streets not only reveals windows from which women beckon, but tourists are encouraged to wander through the sex stores or even sit in on a live sex show.

There's even an alley for the men who prefer how shall we say? a bigger type of woman.

The locals are remarkably laid back about the whole scene.

For a foreigner, smoking at the appropriately named Grasshopper or the Smokey Cafe is a rare public treat, but to those who live here, it's just a part of life.

Probably the most welcoming aspect of Amsterdam is its hospitality. While most locals have a Dutch or German background, most are more than willing to speak English, or even teach you some of the local lingo.

After just one visit to Amsterdam experiencing the lifestyle, atmosphere and people you may find it's one of the few places for which a traveller feels homesick.Natalie Davison flew courtesy of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.