{"id":2797,"date":"2022-07-14T21:45:18","date_gmt":"2022-07-14T21:45:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/livingwriter.com\/blog\/?p=2797"},"modified":"2022-07-21T01:59:26","modified_gmt":"2022-07-21T01:59:26","slug":"travel-writers-guide-to-amsterdam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/livingwriter.com\/blog\/travel-writers-guide-to-amsterdam\/","title":{"rendered":"Travel Writer\u2019s Guide To Amsterdam"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This Travel Writer\u2019s Guide To Amsterdam was created specifically with the needs of a writer in mind. A traveling writer needs to know the history, where to find inspiration, a great place to write, and a great place to lay their head. That way all your energy can funnel into creating!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

History<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Amsterdam<\/a> was founded as a fishing village around the thirteenth century. The city was developed around a dam in the Amstel river at the end of the 12th century. The name Amstelledamme occurs for the first time in the toll concession of Floris V, Count of Holland, dated October 27, 1275.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it looks and sounds like a picture book, Amsterdam has a gritty, liberal, and even dark past. In the city, you might wander into the well-known Red Light District<\/a> where you will find brothels and sex shops right out in the open. Prostitution in the Netherlands was made legal in the year 2000, although Amsterdam has always had a tolerant approach to the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will find the same goes for marijuana<\/a> in Amsterdam, as it was decriminalized in 1976 for personal use. Although it is not completely legal, you are allowed to purchase small amounts in what they like to call coffeeshops and even smoke it indoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An interesting fact for writers is that Amsterdam was actually a mecca<\/a> for book lovers in the 17th century. In relation to the number of residents, Dutch printers and publishers produced ten times as many books as in France, Italy, and Spain. One of the reasons was that the government exercised less control over the industry than the other countries that operated as monarchies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, Amsterdam also houses very dark memories, as it was occupied by Nazis in the early 1940s. Before this time there were nearly 80,000 Jewish people living in Amsterdam. By the end of the war, 80% of the Jewish population in Amsterdam had perished. Today, the Anne Frank<\/a> House memorializes the lives and struggles of the Jewish people in Amsterdam as well as those who helped to conceal them from the Nazi invasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspo<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

What’s the use of writing abroad if you don’t catch all the inspiring locations? Here’s a list of all the places for writers to draw inspiration from while traveling through Amsterdam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Red Light District<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Red Light District<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You might expect it to look like something out of Sin City however you would be surprised to see that the world of prostitution in Amsterdam is more quaint than expected. Many of the streets are something you would see in a postcard, tall buildings packed together in a slightly crooked formation along a reflective canal. The same is true for much of the Red Light District, with the addition of neon lights signaling you towards sex for hire or live pornography. Strolling past chocolate shops, women behind glass windows dressed in costume will usher you to come inside. Not to worry though, you don’t need to partake in the acts in order to experience the RLD. You can just walk past while eating your chocolate. If ever you were to need inspiration on writing about the life of sex work, the RLD should be at the top of your list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coffeeshops<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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One of Amsterdams many coffeeshops<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you’re looking to buy or smoke in Amsterdam, then the first thing to know is that you will need to visit a coffeeshop. Not to be confused with just a place to buy coffee. If you’re looking for inspiration in Amsterdam then you will absolutely need to visit one or more of them. As there are few places in the world where you are able to legally smoke marijuana in a public place, the experience is quite unique. Some things to know before you visit is that not each one sells, and you are not allowed to smoke at any bar or cafe. You’ll want to search for coffeeshops so you know where to go. For instance, you can smoke while having a drink at the Bulldog Cafe, however, you will need your own supply. This is not somewhere that sells marijuana. You can purchase it somewhere like Barney’s Farm. Then you can bring it somewhere like Bulldog Cafe, or across the street to Barney’s Uptown. Our favorite would have to be Lost In Amsterdam which has an incredibly funky and comfortable decor where you can enjoy cocktails as you smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n