traveldk.com

Beads and then even more beads – from gaudy plastic ones to real pearls, amber and semiprecious stones – and also lots of jewellery accessories.

From 1690, gables fell out of vogue and decorative top mouldings came in: examples line the Herengracht.

A wonderful selection of beautiful, handbound books and albums, printed and marbled wrapping papers, and inks in all colours.

Founded in 1840 and now occupying three grand villas, Coster is one of a handful of diamond workshops offering guided tours. About 30 minutes in length, they give you the opportunity to observe stone graders, cutters and polishers at work. In 1852, theKoh-i-Noor (mountain of light) diamond was re-polished here for the British Crown Jewels, and a replica of the crown that contains it – incorporating a copy of the fabulous blue-white stone – is displayed in the entrance hall. If your budget will allow it, there are also diamonds and jewellery for sale over the counter.

In a pretty alley behind the Nieuwe Kerk, downstairs a caféand upstairs a restaurant providing Breton cuisine.

Classy classical recitals are held within this private, plushly restored concert hall on the upper floors of these former 17th-century coffee and tobacco warehouses. Named after the inventor of the piano, Italian Bartolommeo Cristofori, the repertoire regularly extends to tango and jazz.

If you have to, cross tramlines at an angle, to avoid your front wheel getting stuck.

A straightforward citycentre business hotel with good business facilities and a leisure centre, and the bonus of Dorrius, a late 19thcentury Dutch restaurant (see Erwtensoep).

The RAI Derny Race is Amsterdam’s only criterium (road circuit).

Amsterdam’s main square is named after the dam on the River Amstel, around which the city grew. By the 17th century, it had become the focus of the Dutch trading empire (see Dam Square).