The deeper you go The more crowded it gets.

The density of people in Amsterdam's streets seems to increase the closer you get to the middle of the Centrum, Dam Square. This is the great meeting place of Amsterdam, and it is always very, very full
of people, pigeons, and performers.

There are large departments stores bordering Dam Square, as well as one of Madame Taussaud's Waxworks. This is not the orginal. That's in London. Actually, the London original burned down some years ago, so even the London version is now a recreation. In any event, the one on Dam Square is in an artsy building with a huge circular window from which people look out into the Square.

You can see more pictures of Dam Square everywhere, including on our own Amsterdam, the Netherlands page, so we will go on to other things here. Suffice just this one picture of one of the very interesting buildings that surrounds the Square.
You have to crane your head up like a tourist to see all of these rather large buildings, but do not let that stop you. Probably 80 percent of people in the Square are tourists just like you and me.

Dam Square is at the center of the long and narrow Nieuwezijdes, the middle district that stretches south from Centraal Station. The photo below left was taken on Damrak, the street that goes from Dam Square straight down to the Station. You can barely make out that famous, familiar building at the end of the street, at far right in the photo below.

If Amsterdam has a Main Street Downtown, this is probably it.

On the streets to the left (west) of Damrak, there are some really nice stores for shopping, both big and small. This area contains some of the best places that visitors can easily get to which have the regular clothing that the Dutch buy.

In fact, you will see a good percentage of local people in the department stores of this area. They are much like the Pennys-to-Nordstroms types of stores you may be used to. There are sale prices on many items... actual sale prices, not just half of double prices like you see some places all over the world. There are also many upscale items which fetch a pretty pfennig, both in the department stores, and in the very interesting little specialty stores in malls and along the side streets.

But this northern segment of Damrak tends to be a little tacky. There are slice-o'-pizza places, Bureaus de Exchange (each swearing lower rates than all the others), hot dog and ice cream stands, lots of people on the sidewalks and lots of cars in the streets (not mixed traffic like around the Leidseplein.) Surprisingly, you will also find several little 'casinos' along Damrak. You can see one of their signs at top center in the picture.

Do not confuse these with the Holland Casino. A person can just walk into these places from the street, as long as they pass the scrutiny of huge 'bouncers' at the front. These casinos are habituated by people who follow a system of playing several machines at the same time. They are not physically present at the machines. Perhaps they are not even in the casino. They stick a house card in the machine and go off... somewhere. So although the places may be half empty, the machines may be completely taken. Not many visitors go into these places, and those that do go in usually come out again quickly.

To the right of Damrak is the Red Light District of Amsterdam. It's huge and it's legal, but it does not seem to be one of the happiest of places on earth. Perhaps the best way to see it is via one of the canal boat tours.

In a totally different vein, here is a some statuary that sits inobtrusively above a store entrance in the Nieuwezijdes, just off of Damrak. This sort of thing abounds all over Amsterdam... little touches of art that are sort of astounding, in their own, low-key way. Keep your eyes open for them anywhere, and you'll find lots of them, everywhere.

Next is an area of town that has more than it's share of architectural treats. Click here to see them, as we stroll the area around the Rijksmuseum

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