Beyond the red lights: 7 essential Amsterdam experiences

5. Taste genever, the national liquor of the Nederlands
Apparently, nobody in Amsterdam sniggers at the name of the genever distillery Wynand Fockink. 'Fockink doesn't mean anything in Dutch,' said the guide who showed my group around. Or perhaps the city's inhabitants are simply enamoured with the flavoured spirits that this little shop turns out, and don't want to jeopardise their supply chain. Genever is a full-flavoured type of gin made from barley, rye and corn, and the facility (founded in 1693) uses traditional processes and gorgeous old stills to produce it. We tasted versions that ranged from wonderfully sweet to strongly aromatic. (I would recount the names, but after the first five or so samplings, they began escaping me.) In the end the Kraamanijs (pictured) proved irresistible. This genever is traditionally given upon the birth of a child - available in blue for a boy or pink for a girl, or clear if you don't know the sex.
Distilleerderij Janssens
Pijlsteeg 33 + 44
Tel: +33 (0)20-622-5334
www.distil-janssens.nl/, info@distil-janssens.nl

6. Rent a bicycle for a day
Cycles are a preferred method of transportation on Amsterdam's cobbled streets, and the city's system caters to for cyclists. Act like a native by renting some wheels and pedalling your way around town without having to worry about parking or taxi fares. You can pick up route maps from the Amsterdam Tourist Board or, for a more formal look round, book a tour with Yellow Bike. Just look sharp, whether you're on your own or with a group - traffic patterns can be mysterious, and you should always use a lock to ensure your bike is waiting for you where you left it.
Yellow Bike
Nieuwezijds Kolk 29
Tel: +31 (0)20-620-6940

Amsterdam Tourist Board
www.visitamsterdam.nl