Being from New Orleans I felt at home in Amsterdam when I visited. Good food, nice people, close to water, somewhat of a party place for tourist, and artsy. The only difference is that Amsterdam was more accessible. Before I went A lot of people told me they weren’t sure if it would be accessible, and I found it to be great and a pleasant surprise. I loved my time in Amsterdam and would love to go again.

Accommodation

Eden Hotel Amsterdam– this hotel was centrally located, and a short distance from many attractions. . I definitely loved the neighborhood which was close to Rembrandtplein, one of the liveliest squares in the city. When I was there  the hotel seemed to be undergoing construction, but the room was pretty good, if not a little small. The  bathroom was great and really big with a really nice shower chair

Transportation

  1. Train– we took the Thalys train from Brussels to Amsterdam. This train has since merged with Eurostar which is great for wheelchairs because they offer discounted tickets for you and a companion for premium class. I recommend you call them 24 hours before you travel to make sure you get help and they ask you to
  2. Tram– the trams are supposed to be accessible, but I did not try them because everything I did was within walking distance from my hotel.
  3. Chair– before coming to Amsterdam a fair number of people I know wondered how I would deal with all the bridges and bricks. But thanks to the bike infrastructure, I found getting around really easy. Sometimes the sidewalks are too narrow, and when that was the case, I usually used the bike lane. You must be mindful of the bikes at all times because there is a lot of bikes. All the bridges had some kind of ramp or sidewalk that was accessible. The biggest problem I had was getting into businesses because many entrances were not wide enough to enter, or had a few steps. None-the-less, using just my chair to go all over Amsterdam was manageable because everything was within a reasonable walk or roll

Restaurants

 Long Pura– cozy authentic  Indonesian restaurant where all the staff wear traditional outfits. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was fun. We each got the rice tables which included eight different dishes from lamb to chicken to beef to vegetables. Beware! Somefood is spicy. There is a wheelchair accessible entrance and seating, but no accessible bathroom

Fa. Cafe-Bistro Hansel and Gretel Café Restaurant Hans en Grietje Amsterdam– old café restaurant that’s open every day of the week until midnight.. It’s a good spot for people watching. We went there after a visit to the Rijksmuseum which is very close,  for a quick bite and drinks. They have a menu of many different things from breakfast to dinner and everything in between including all kinds of drinks, a place you could get coffee and and a glass of wine. I got the apple pancakes that were delicious. This place is not wheelchair accessible, but had seating outside

Wok To Walk– small counter-service international chain  serving different fresh Asian bowls, where you choose what noodles or rice you want, then what protein or vegetables, and sauce/flavor you want. It’s similar to a Chipotle but with  Asian foods –  quick, fresh and delicious! A good stop after a night out. You can try one out in New York or Vegas! I also went to one of these in London

FEBO– a trip to Amsterdam is not complete until you stop at a FEBO. It is a Dutch chain of walk-up fast food restaurantsknown for its croquettes and vending machines filled with snacks and burgers. I tried some croquettes  and they were OK. iI’s a great option after a late night

Eetcafé ‘t Pakhuis– casual bar restaurant that we found late at night that was still open around 10 PM. I didn’t realize how late it was because the sun was still up. The menu features ribs, steaks, schnitzel, and other Dutch snacks. I remember The food wasgood but the place was not wheelchair accessible. There is nice seating outside

Bars

Café Sound Garden– hip pub with the music theme While not really accessible, I was able to get to the back waterfront terrace with a good amount of help from the staff, friends, and patrons. There is a side gate that is level on the outside, but then down a couple steps. Despite that, I’m glad I went there andhad a good time visiting a friend

Three Sisters Pub– comfy sports pub combination of British and Dutch food with a pretty big menu that stays open late  Located right on the Rembrandtplein with plentyof outdoor seating. We came here for a few drinks, met some people and had a great time. The entrance was accessible, but not the bathrooms. Fortunately, my hotel was close by.

Coffee shops

Original Dampkring Coffeeshop– I will admit I wanted to go there because I saw Anthony Bourdain went there and it was wheelchair accessible. Now before I go any further, if you don’t know, coffee shops in Amsterdam, means they have weed. So this one is a cool funky looking place with lots of weed,  some pre-roll stuff, and you could also get milkshakes! Me and my friend hung out here for a couple hours

Hunters Coffeeshop– this is the first coffee shop  I went to in Amsterdam and while it has outdoor seating, it was raining and is not really accessible. My friends got me inside anyway, and It is a very small space, but it was fun to hang out and talk to people

Attractions

Vondelpark– the largest and most visited park in the Netherlands, just beyond the Rijksmuseum. With plenty of activities, it’s a popular Amsterdam site that we explored for a while and then stopped to eat at a restaurant in the middle of the park. The park has three restaurants with outdoor seating, making them all accessible

Rijksmuseum– the national art museum of the Netherlands features all of the great Dutch painters and artists throughout history. It’s definitely one of my favorite museums and it’s also a cool building. I also thought the elevators were really cool being in the middle. Under the middle of the museum is a walkway and bike lane And that’s where the elevators are. I’d say this is a must when in Amsterdam

Red Light District– everybody’s heard of the famous Red Light District in Amsterdam.No visit to Amsterdam is complete until you go to this part of town, well, if you’re an adult of course. We didn’t spend much time there but we did walk through one night without visiting any particular place. Coming in from New Orleans, it reminded me of Bourbon Street