Noah Cagle AKA Bagel TCG is an Amsterdam-based player and content creator, who focuses on high level strategy and competition, as well as budget decks and beginner tips. Ahead of Pro Tour: Amsterdam, Noah is here to impart some sage local advice on making your way round town, sights to see, things to do, and of course, the best local joints for a bite to eat.
Hallo, hoi, goedendag!
The mists have parted on… Amsterdam?! Welcome to the city of canals, and to the 5th Pro Tour for Flesh and Blood! Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, well known for its water, bikes, and nightlife. One of the smaller capital cities in Europe, it’s incredibly easy to get around, allowing you to fit in plenty of sightseeing after your 4-3 finish Day 1. Check out this guide to learn how to make the most of your trip. Play the game, see the world.
Path Well Traveled
The first step to attending Pro Tour: Amsterdam is getting there! Depending on the length of your trip, I have a few recommendations.
If you plan on going to a nearby country for a few days beforehand, such as England or France, then coming to Amsterdam by train is what I would recommend for the easiest and most relaxing journey, avoiding the craziness of airports as much as possible. If you are only coming to Amsterdam, I would highly recommend a direct flight if available.
Once you are in Amsterdam, you will need a place to stay. Hotels are almost always the best option for parties of 1 or 2, but once you are in a party of 3+ the hotel prices increase enough that Airbnb will often be cheaper. If you really want to go on a budget, there are hostels around the city too.
Schiphol Airport is a bit outside of the city, so the best options to get to your accommodation are either taking the train from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Centraal Station, or calling an Uber/Taxi. Amsterdam Centraal Station connects the entire city, and is your gateway out of the city as well, so once you are there it’s not hard to get anywhere you need. If you ever get lost, you can always return to Centraal Station to regain your bearings.
Amsterdam has some of the nicest, cleanest, punctual public transport in the world. This includes trams, buses, metros, trains, ferries and more. Luckily, all of it is incredibly easy to use. My main recommendation would be using tap-to-pay. All public transport services in the city allow you to tap in and out with your Visa or Mastercard. I personally use the card saved in my Apple Pay, so I don’t even need to get my card out when traveling around. If tap-to-pay isn’t your style, you can buy 1 hour or 24 hour tickets when you enter most trams or buses, or at the entrance to any station. The cheapest option will be 24 hour tickets bought at the station, as they charge more once you are on the bus or tram.
As one of the smaller cities in Europe, you can also walk almost anywhere. I highly recommend Google Maps, as it is synced with all public transit and up-to-date on walking and biking routes.
The last thing to note about traversing Amsterdam is biking. As one of the most bike-friendly countries in the world, it may be enticing to jump on the two-wheeler and join the locals. I would advise against this though, unless you are an incredibly experienced biker yourself. You will need to start and stop regularly, as there are many pedestrians, cars, and trams around the city, and you will need to be comfortable biking very close to others. If you do want to bike around the city, I would recommend booking a bike tour instead. Not only will you get to see Amsterdam from a local’s point of view, but you will also be much safer in a group led by a trusty guide.
Most surrounding cities are just a 20 minute train ride away, so if you want to explore the nearby area, or utilize cheaper accommodations, it could be a great idea to check out areas such as Haarlem and Zaandam.
Preserve Tradition
There are many, many things to do around Amsterdam. Museumplein is a large square near the center of Amsterdam, with many museums circling it. Most of these museums listed below sell out, so I would highly recommend booking your tickets as soon as possible.
The Van Gogh Museum is one of the most popular in the square, and I particularly like it for the size and focus. It is a smaller museum so you won’t need to spend more than 1-3 hours in it, and it entirely focuses on the famous Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh. I recommend paying a few extra euros for the audio tour.
The Rijksmuseum is the largest of the square, so you do need more time if you plan on checking out the whole thing. It has some of the most well known and breathtaking artwork in the country though, including the Night Watch. Also in the square is the Stedelijk Museum and the MOCO.
The most famous museum in the city is not actually in Museumplein. The Anne Frank House is a must see piece of history situated just slightly west of the center. This will be the most unique and humbling experience you will have in the city, and tickets run all the way until 9pm. Tickets for the Anne Frank House are the most sought after in the city though, as the small size of the house limits how many people can enter at a time, so book as far in advance as possible (July is fully sold out at the time of writing this, but people may cancel closer to the event).
The Heineken Experience is great for those who love a beer, and want to learn the full process behind this famous beverage. Slightly south of the center, this is a bit of a touristy experience but well worth it for those who like to learn how it’s made, and don’t mind a few drinks included while you’re educated. Please remember to drink responsibly.
A Drop in the Ocean
Canals are the most iconic part of Amsterdam. Running throughout the entire center, canals are great places to sit and eat while you watch the boats pass bye. If you would like to learn more about the city and hop on the water yourself, I highly recommend a canal cruise.
There are two main types of canal cruises. The mainstream touristy type are cheap, with long flat canal boats. These give you earbuds and you listen to a prerecorded track explaining what you see as you navigate the city.
What I personally recommend is the second type of canal cruise, the small boat. These are more expensive, but typically only sit a dozen or so people instead of 50+. You are driven around the canals by a local guide who personally explains the history of what you are seeing, and they often include unlimited food and drinks. I have used Pure Boats myself a few times and always enjoyed it.
In addition to the museums and canals, there are plenty of shopping streets and hip neighborhoods around Amsterdam. The main two shopping areas are Kalverstraat and The 9 Streets, or if you want some fun vintage shopping, Haarlemmerstraat is a great pick.
If you enjoy a good movie or two, there are two particularly well known theaters in the city. Pathe Tuschinski is a beautiful large art-deco theater that opened in 1921, while The Movies is a much smaller cinema, and is the oldest in all of Amsterdam, having opened in 1912.
For our LGBTQIA+ friends, Amsterdam is one of the most queer-friendly cities in the world. Reguliersdwarsstraat is the gay nightlife street of Amsterdam, and Lellebel Queer bar is legendary for its drag shows.
Lastly, Friends and Foes is the place to get anything Flesh and Blood you need in Amsterdam! Please be sure to stop by and support them, as they provide cards for everyone in the city.
Stir the Pot
On to what many will consider the most important section - food!
Let’s start with the most classic Dutch foods that every tourist should try, and then I will move on to the best non-touristy eats. Stroopwafels are not just a great Flesh and Blood team, but also a classic Dutch treat. Two thin waffles with a syrup filing, I recommend getting them freshly made in Albert Cuyp Market. Poffertjes are small puffy pancakes that I also recommend eating freshly made, and together with stroopwafels are likely the two most iconic treats in the Netherlands.
The Dutch also love their fried food, so stop at any snack bar or pub and ask for some bitterballen, frikandel, or kaassoufflé. Fries and mayo are one of the most popular fried foods, but I personally enjoy Patatje Oorlog, which translates to War Fries. They are your classic Dutch fries with mayo, but they also have peanut satay and diced onions on top. Fabel Friet is one of the best fry places in town, and where I would recommend picking up your Oorlog. If you really want to try some wild tourist food, swallow a pickled herring whole! A lot of Dutchies will try to get tourists to do this, but won’t do it themselves.
Amsterdam is home to many fantastic bakeries, such as Hoi tin, Fort Negen, Salvo, Toki, and my personal favourites: Margo’s and Saint-Jean, both vegan bakeries. If you want more sweets, Monte Pelmo is the best gelato I’ve had outside of Italy.
For fun neighborhoods, Jordaan and De Pijp are where you will want to go. They each have their own respective food markets, with Noordmarkt in Jordaan running every Saturday, and the famous Albert Cuyp Market running daily in De Pijp. Many of the food recommendations above are situated in these two neighborhoods. Both neighborhoods also include trendy bars, restaurants and shopping. I recommend walking around and exploring them yourself!
Sea Palace is a famous floating Chinese restaurant in Amsterdam, and Fiaschetteria “Pistoia” is a great Italian spot. Jazz Café Alto, Kikkie van de Prinsensluis, and Café ‘t Smalle are all great bars. For my fellow vegetarians, I highly recommend Vegan Sushi Bar, Vegan Junk Food Bar, Men Impossible/Kitchen Impossible and Madre. Some more great Asian eats are Taigu and Chun, although the latter often has quite the line.
I am so excited to share the city I love with the rest of the Flesh and Blood world. If you see me walking around at the Pro Tour, don’t be afraid to come say hi. Play the game, see the world!
