Travel Agent - June 23, 2008 - (Page TA-18) DESTINATIONS CANAL-HOUSE HOTELS Accommodations to suit both luxury- and budget-minded clients IT’S DIFFICULT TO FIND A MORE LIKABLE OR PHOTOGENIC EUROPEAN CITY THAN AMSTERDAM. Compact in size and tourist-friendly, Amsterdam casts a spell over art enthusiasts, botanists, pleasure-seeking sybarites and history buffs. In fact, Amsterdam appeals to just about every kind of visitor. Spiraling out from the Centraal train station, the concentric canals are lined with whimsical gabled houses dating from the Golden Age, when money poured in from the Dutch colonies in the 17th-century and contributed to the empire’s awesome prosperity. From the get-go, the Netherlands served as a sanctuary for European dissidents (like the Huguenots from France) and this attitude of social tolerance and acceptance continues to this day. Youngsters 18 | TravelAgent June 23, 2008 EUROPE in Old Amsterdam BY ANNE-SOPHIE GUÉRIN from all over Europe converge on the Red Light District, famous for the cannabis-stocked “coffee shops” and free-wheeling sex scene, to partake in the bacchanalia. But this simultaneously hip and laid-back city offers much more than mere sensuality. Amsterdam’s world-class museums include the Rijksmuseum, which houses an impressive collection of the Dutch masters like Vermeer and Rembrandt, and the Van Gogh Museum, showcasing the biggest collection of the artist’s paintings worldwide. The Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art, the Westerkerk Church, Rembrandt’s House, the Royal Palace and the Anne Frank House round out the premier tourist attractions. And yes, you’ll find plenty of dikes and a windmill or two. Advise your clients
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