FREE SPOTS!! 1 Take the free ferry behind Central Station to the other side of the IJ and go for a walk along the North Holland Canal.
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2 Walk up the roof of the Science Center Nemo and admire the view (follow the rail lines east from Central Station, and cross the footbridge to the big green building that looks like a ship). 3 Go to the Begijnhof (entrance from the Spui) 4 Walk along the Flower Market (on the Singel). 5 Visit the Historical Museum gallery (take the other exit from the Begijnhof and turn left). 6 Browse the Waterlooplein market (at the Waterlooplein).
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7 Visit the Albert Cuyp market (tram 10 to Frederiksplein, or 4, 16, 24, 25 to Albert Cuyp). 8 Go to a free lunch concert in the Concertgebouw (Museumplein). 9 Browse the internet in medieval surroundings at the Waag (Old Centre). 10 Go up the tower to the cafe in the Kalvertoren shopping mall, and admire the view (Kalverstraat near the Munt). 11 Go to the cafe in Metz and admire the view (corner of Leidsestraat and Keizers gracht). You can get internet access, and check your email at and for free at the prize-winning Internet Reading Table in the café at: In De Waag, Nieuwmarkt (Old Centre), www.waag.org
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Facts & Figures Inhabitants Amsterdam 780.559 Inhabitants Greater Amsterdam 2.289.762 Nationalities 183 Bicycles 600.000 Trees 220.000 Flower bulbs in parks and public gardens 600,000 Parks 28 City trams 255 Markets 21 Flower market 1 Shops 6.179 Antique shops 165 Diamond polishing factories 24 Canals 165 Bridges 1.281 Wooden drawbridges 8 Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge) 1 Glass-topped canal boats 112 Pedal boats 120 House boats 2.500 16th, 17th and 18th century buildings 8.863 Gable stones 654 Royal Palace 1 Statues and sculptures 302 Windmills 6 Museums 51 Art galleries 141 Paintings of Rembrandt 22 Nachtwacht (Night watch) 1 Paintings of Van Gogh 206 Schuttersgalerij (Civic Guard Gallery) 1 Wax statues at Madame Tussaud’s 140 Animals at the Artis Zoo 6.100 Barrel organs 4 Carillons 9 Historical church organs 42 Concerts and theatrical performances 16,000 Concerts and theatrical performances p/d 40 Theatres and concert halls 55 Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra 1 Muziektheater 1 Cinemas 67 Cafés and bars 1.515 Discotheques 36 Restaurants 1.234 Hotels 370 Hotel beds 48.146 Camp grounds 5 Bed nights by tourists from abroad 9.700.000 Day visitors per year 13.800.000 Source: Amsterdam Tourism & Congres Bureau