Amsterdam Walk & Eat by Cecily Layzell is a handy small guide with ten city walks, a countryside hike, and two excursion ideas. Apart from describing sights along the hiking routes, the guide also suggests pleasant restaurants, bars, and cafés to visit along the way. The book include ten relatively easy to prepare Dutch recipes from local restaurants and gives some tips on food shopping and eating out for sufferers of allergies and food intolerances.
Walks in Sunflower’s Amsterdam Walk & Eat Guidebook
The Amsterdam Walk & Eat guide features eleven walks – ten in Amsterdam city and one in the Dutch countryside from Castricum to Egmond aan Zee.
Most of the walks are in central Amsterdam but a few walks are in the modern outskirts of Amsterdam not often visited by tourists on short stays. Even the walks in Central Amsterdam do not focus exclusively on famous sights but also point out quirky sights and interesting neighborhoods and buildings. Descriptions and opening hour details are cryptic, which help to keep the guide light and easy to carry around while walking.
The Amsterdam city walks are mostly around 5 km (90 minutes). All walks start and finish close to public transportation points and several can easily be combined for longer walks. Maps are adequate rather than extensive.
Two excursions from Amsterdam are also suggested to areas with cultural sights and fine hiking opportunities. The first is to Muiden with its medieval Muiderslot castle. The second is to the Kröller-Müller Museum, famous for its large collection of Van Gogh paintings and drawings. The Kröller-Müller Museum is at the Hoge Veluwe National Park with great hikes.
Restaurants in Sunflower’s Amsterdam Walk & Eat Guidebook
Pleasant restaurants, cafés, and bars are suggested for each walk. These range from basic hole-in-the-wall kiosks to more upscale restaurants. The author keeps in mind that walkers will not necessarily want to visit the most formal restaurants but casual need not imply low quality or tourist menus.
Central Amsterdam has many restaurants but many have “little of interest to discerning diners.” The recommended restaurants are definitely offering more rewarding experiences than Amsterdam eateries with multi-language, photo-filled menus.
The author has some suggestions for wheat, gluten, and dairy-free eating but allergy suffers are always going to struggle with traditional Dutch cooking. Although the Dutch generally speak excellent English, a list of Dutch menu items is useful for visitors who like to explore beyond the basics.
Recipes in Sunflower’s Amsterdam Walk & Eat Guidebook
The Amsterdam Walk & Eat guide includes ten recipes supplied by restaurants and hotels recommended in the guide. These are a great bonus to visitors staying in accommodation with kitchen facilities or to prepare back home after visiting Holland.
The recipes range from easy to prepare endive mash (stamppot) to the far more time consuming sugar bread. The secret of Dutch apple pie is revealed – measure cinnamon in tablespoons rather than teaspoons – while other favorites such as Indonesian fried rice (nasi goreng) and savory pancakes are not ignored.
With only ten recipes in the guide, the inclusion of crème brûlée is unfortunate. Popular as this dessert is in Amsterdam, it is a bit odd to include the “classic, unadulterated French version” rather than an adaptation with a Dutch twist.
Sunflower’s Amsterdam Walk & Eat Guidebook
Despite being full color and printed on glossy paper, the Amsterdam Walk & Eat guide is pleasantly light and small enough to slip into most pockets. The introductory remarks are to the point and no space is wasted on hotel and transportation recommendations – items that will be of little use once strolling the streets of Amsterdam. Similarly, descriptions of famous sights are cryptic and without much details.
Sunflower’s Amsterdam Walk & Eat guide (ISBN 978-1-85691-394-2) retails for £9 in the UK but costs significantly less when purchased from many online book sellers.
Cecily Layzell is a food critic and freelance writer living in Amsterdam. Her Eat Amsterdam site has a wealth of restaurant reviews and tips on eating and drinking in the Dutch capital.
Henk Bekker - Henk Bekker is a freelance travel writer currently living on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland.
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