Breakfast — the Dutch way

Dutch breakfast. Photo: Jula Lulz

The usual Dutch breakfast is made at home and consists of whole grain bread, Dutch farm cheese, a small coffee and freshly-squeezed orange juice. It’s quick, easy and often repeated for lunch.

Working types in a rush to catch a train are usually found in line at the nearest Albert Heijn grocery or “in-n-out” market. These smarty-pants supermarkets have the basics to go, from freshly-squeezed fruit smoothies (€2) to coffee machines (€1.50) and baked goods such as croissants and appleflaps (€1 to €2).

Other grab-and-go options are Bakkerij Bart and the usual train station bakeries.

Bagels are back

Those hole-in-the-middle circles of perfection were bound to catch on somewhere in Europe, and Amsterdam welcomed the classic bagel and cream cheese combo with open arms. Shops like Bagels & Beans, Gary’s Deli and Tony’s NYC Bagels offer various bagels and spreads with classic Dutch sides like fresh juices and mint tea.

The difference lies in the service. Most bagel places in Amsterdam have a sit-down style, which can be a bit confusing to North Americans. Still, it’s a fair option, and it’s the kind of place that encourages patrons to take their time.

Ponder on pancakes

In the end, the safest bet for a classic Dutch-style sit down breakfast is a pancake café. Unlike the classic flapjack, Dutch pancakes are thin like crepes but lay flat with an array of sweet or salty toppings.

Be sure to branch out and try different flavors; the menu will have lots to offer. A pancake with apples and syrup or cinnamon sugar is one thing, but try the shoarma pancake or the Greek salad pancake if you dare.

As a bonus, no matter where a pancake restaurant is located, the concept and the  décor will be as unique as possible. For example, the Pancake Boat (Pannenkoekenboot), pictured above, is actually a pancake restaurant on a boat that cruises around the city a few times daily. The Jordaan’s brick-walled Pancake Bakery is nestled in a cozy pocket along the Prinzengracht, and the Carousel Pancake House is actually designed like a carousel.

If the saying “you are what you eat” were to show any hint of being a farce, it would in the Netherlands, as the tall and lean Dutch provide a strong contrast to round pancakes and bagels. Nevertheless, when in Amsterdam sink your teeth into a Dutch breakfast and enjoy both a traveler’s and local’s most important meal of the day.

The post Amsterdam: Where to have a traditional Dutch breakfast appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

A neighborhood with flair

We the Cheapos do love us some far-flung city character. So, when last in the city of Rembrandt and pancake houses, we opted to stay in Plantagebuurt, where today university buildings and historic remnants reign supreme.

Nestled in the northeastern most part of Amsterdam’s city center, the neighborhood is lush with tree-lined sidewalks and smaller parks and is about a 10 to thirty-minute walk from many sights. Neighborhood attractions include the Rembrandt House Museum, Artis Zoo, and easy walking distance to Nieuwmarkt Square, where you can still see an original guild house or visit the flea markets.

Wartime past

Plantagebuurt was a Jewish neighborhood from the 16^th-century when it boasted factories, booming commerce and specialized industry. The neighborhood has always been a bit more isolated by canals and bridge constructions than other parts of Amsterdam, so it’s understandable that in World War II German armies cordoned off the area to create a Jewish ghetto.

When the war ended, many of the tragically deserted homes were destroyed here. Plantagebuurt was eventually restored in the 1970s. Today only the synagogue and the Jewish Museum remind visitors of the neighborhood’s past.

Getting around

Since Amsterdam is a city on bikes, quite literally, it will take you no time at all to get from Plantagebuurt to the rest of the city’s attractions. Or, you can always hoof it. When the Cheapos were last in Amsterdam, they noted that a good, swift pace got them from the Artis Zoo in Plantagebuurt to Centraal Station in about twenty-five minutes.

If you go, be sure to check out Cafe in de Waag and don’t miss the zoo.

For a list of budget hotels in Amsterdam, visit our guide here.

The post Amsterdam Neighborhood Highlight: Plantagebuurt appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.