IBC top visitor tips
Author: Dennis Lennie
Published 1st December 2008
From flower bulbs to North Sea ferries, here are some top tips from the people in the know…!
Tip 1 - The funny smelling coffee shops don't generally sell good coffee!
Tip 2 - Prostitution is legal in Amsterdam - not compulsory!
Tip 3 - When crossing the roads, once you've safely avoided the cars, taxis, trams, bikes and rickshaws - keep an another eye open for a loony on roller blades!
Kevin Cook
IOV
Pick up the latest copy of the IOV magazine 'Institute of Videography' at IBC)
Make sure you get the FREE tram/metro tickets issued at the registration centre, save a fortune and or a fine if you’re caught travelling without a ticket, and is also the best way to get around during the show days, can be used in the evenings as well as during the day.
For a good steak try the NaghtVaght (not sure if this is the right spelling) restaurant in the corner of Rembrandtplein.
For everything else try www.schmap.com/amsterdam lists hotels, restaurants, clubs etc.
Have a good IBC.
Micky Edwards
Commercial Director EMEA.
Miranda Technologies Ltd
Visit Miranda on stand number 8.B80
Dutch food
The best local snack you can get is the “kroket”, which you can get in any snack bar, it’s a meat filled deep fried snack. Get it on a soft white roll and add some mustard. And make sure you don’t burn your mouth, the inside is very hot! While you there also try the chips with mayonnaise and warm peanut sauce, delicious!
Shopping, bars and restaurants:
The Nine Streets - De Negen Straatjes - is in the heart of Amsterdam's canal district and is one of the city's most delightful shopping areas. Just two minutes walk from the Royal Palace in the Dam Square these picturesque streets straddle the 17th Century canals from the Singel to the Prinsengracht. Spend a fabulous day wandering from one to the next exploring the designer boutiques, art galleries, jewellers, gift shops, fashion shops, specialist businesses and there are plenty of great bars, cafes and restaurants to refresh you along the way...
http://www.theninestreets.com/
Nightlife:
Amsterdam has many great clubs, but most of them are not easy to get in to, especially for tourists. Make sure that you don’t try to go in with a large group, better to split up and try with 3 or so at a time. Best time to go is around 11pm, just before the queues form and before it gets busy.
Great clubs are for example Jimmy Woo (just off Leidse Plein in the Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 18), Paradiso (just off Leidse Plein in the Weteringschans 6-8) and Escape (on the Rembrandt Square 11)
Ingrid Leene
AKA Design Ltd
You can find AKA products on the DigiDesign stand, the Avid stand, the Aspera stand and the Omnibus stand or visit akadesign.co.uk
My top tip is to visit this quaint vegetarian restaurant:
De Bolhoed
Prinsengracht 60
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland 1015
or this cool castle one:
In De Waag
http://www.indewaag.nl/
Russell Leak
Brainstorm 3D
Visit Brainstorm 3D on stand numbers 2.A51 and 2.B59
For anyone driving to IBC it's worth considering the Harwich to Hook of Holland route as its easy, takes the hassle out for driving and you can enjoy a good night's sleep both ways. The cabins are very comfortable, dinner and wine excellent, beds very comfortable and you effortlessly arrive in Holland whilst finishing your complimentary breakfast. Similarly on the return, leave the RAI at 7pm and be pulling out of the harbour at 10pm. Have a couple of beers before getting your head down for a well earned IBC recovery kip. It's that easy!
Steve Hathaway
Director, Business Development
Oxygen DCT Limited
www.oxygendct.com
The Amaryllis bulbs at the flower market make great pressies, they are huge and always give a superb display,
Erica
Phabrix
Visit then on stand number 8.E05
Some varied night-time recommendations during IBC:
For reasonably priced and cheerful Indonesian food near the Leidseplein:
http://www.purimas.nl/
For more upmarket Rijstaafel in the Rembrandtplein:
http://www.indrapura.nl/
For some of the best food in Amsterdam, not cheap, and not in the centre of the city (it's in Amstelveen, about a 15 minute cab ride from the RAI), but with its own windmill and a fabulous wine list:
http://www.jongedikkert.nl/nl/
After you have eaten, head here: http://www.bourbonstreet.nl/, one of the best blues bars in Europe.
Adrian
Pro-bel
Visit then on stand number 3.A61
