Amsterdam's Blijburg beach brings you just that. The man-made coast on the eastern shore of the city is a swath of sand along the IJ river inlet offering ample space and tempting dips into the cooling water. And when the mercury goes up, sunbathers, water sport players and the rest of the usual beach bum types flock to this little island. The whole area is seeped in bohemian style, with colorful beach-side cafes, Buddha statues and even an open air flea market on weekends.

Blijburg is a little off the beaten path, but it's a pleasant cycle journey from Centraal Station. And its out of the way location means you won't be sharing your sand with the constant ebb and flow of the crowded city parks, but enjoy just enough people watching to know you're enjoying a signature Amsterdam vibe. Soak up the sun and enjoy the beach by day, but stick around for sundown when cafes become discotheques. Enjoy popular DJs and live music, and dance your heart out on the Blijburg sand.

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Amsterdam's only English music bloggers Mokum Groupie are all over the London Calling scene. They suggest hopping on board the hype train and going with it for a night: drench yourself in sweat and pints of Dutch pilsners, and get away with calling cigarettes "fags." But do you research before hitting the venues on the roster and find your picks of the party. They recommend three bands that should be on your watch list:

King Krule: This British youngster is also known as 'Kid Zoo' and has already inspired an international following. Called a "guitar man who plays rock and roll," the King has a signature style that's a throwback to another king: Elivs. His music, however, follows no trend, and has been described as Dark and New Wave, with Dubstep vibes thrown in. But emphasis is on the soul stroking guitar sounds and angsty vocals.

Theophilus London: Fresh lyrics that flow with a surprisingly electronic guitar sound are generating a lot of buzz at this year's spring edition. The Trinidad-born Londoner's music is called "genre-bending approach draws from a range of styles, from soul-pop and post-punk to electro and contemporary R&B," by top critics. His newly released Timez Are Weird These Days is at the top of rap charts. Catch him on this tour, before his shows start selling out!

 Austra: Canadian electropop leaders, Austra are a welcome edition to London Calling this year. Called an "outright stunner" by New York Magazine and labelled the band to watch on the 2012 music scene, they have certainly earned credits from the critics. Audiences too will fall in love with the ethereal electrnics, sweet lyrical sounds of front woman Katie Stelmanis. Blend all of that with some very danceable beats, and it's sure to be a stellar show.

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Not only is the sleek, black boat the only gondola in Amsterdam, it is also one of the few created by a woman. In fact, the Venitian art is deeply rooted in male tradition, with fathers passing the skill down to each generation of sons. Only with much persuasion was Mol able to learn the trade, making her one of only a small handful of women across the globe involved.

"It is like a medieval system, one son had been working there for 25 years before he was allowed to build his first gondola," Mol told Reuters news agency. After finally finding a teacher who would break from the norm, she spent months in Venice learning the trade before bringing her boat making to Amsterdam.

Today, Mol's pioneering spirit and passion are a truly special sight along the canals. with room for up to six passengers, she navigates the labyrinth of waterways with grace and expertise. Gliding soundlessly next to the many large canal cruises that usually fill the canals, she makes for a surprising change of scenery. The only thing that's missing is a bit of a soundtrack..."O sole mio!"

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The Keukenhof garden is the world's largest flower garden. Hailed by reviewers across the globe as one of the must see desitinations of 2012, Keukenhof is unrivaled in its yearly floral displays. Whether you're a fan of flowers, landscape design, kitschy Dutch flair or Mother Nature in general, Keukenhof's seven million bulbs spread across 32 hectares has something special for everyone.

With windmills, Amsterdam style bridges and weaving canal waterways, Keukenhof is iconic of the Netherlands in its own right. It is also one of the most photographed places in the world as millions of visitors each year snap the iconic image of themselves set against a background of flowers as far as the eye can see.

Keukenhof boasts stunning landscape architecture, jaw dropping design and annual themes dedicated to nations that honour floral traditions. But at the heart of these gardens is the simple love of something beautiful - the blossoming bud. During the spring months between march to mid-May, these children of nature come to life, springing up closed buds to flowers bursting forth in silk petaled glory. It is a transformation that reminds us of the rebirth of the season, of the power of Mother Nature and of the unique and special place Holland will always have in our hearts. Feel the Keukenhof gardens with Amsterdam City Tours.

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When she was 16-years-old, Sofia, was placed in hiding in Amsterdam. The daughter of children's author Clara Asscher-Pinkhof, Sofia was a talented artist who spent her long days and nights in seclusion by telling picture stories. Telling the tale of her life at that time, and the effects of German occupation, the visual narrative has lived long after Sofia. Her drawings are now part of the award winning play, Sofia's Drawings created and performed by her daughter Efrat Hadani.

Using puppet theater, dark theater and moving visual art, the performance is a highly moving and creative exploration of the fear and hope of the Jewish community. It is a reminder that many people in Amsterdam were affected by WWII, and of the lasting tradition of paying tribute to everyone and remembering the past.

Debuting for the third year running at theater De Brakke Grond on 4 May, Sofia's Drawings is a fitting way to kick-off Liberation Day festivities in Holland. Each year at 20.00 on that day, Queen Beatrix and the rest of the royal family gather at the Dam Square for the Remembrance of the Dead. Joined by soldiers of past and present, as well as the rest of Amsterdam's community, the queen leads two minutes of silence as she places a wreath of flowers upon the National Monument. Erected in 1965 in honour of all those touched by conflict, it is a reminder of the value of peace and the destruction of war.

As Sofia's Drawings hits the stage an hour later at 21.00, this reminder is carried on. A performance that carries the memories of three generations of Jewish women and their message of love and hope, it is a work of art that lingers on in the hearts of every person.

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Spui was originally a body of water that formed the southern limits of Amsterdam in the 1400s. By 1882, the Spui was filled in, becoming the bustling square that it is today. Relatively car-free and bordered by the shopping district on one side and the historic canal belt on the other, this square is a center of activity unto itself, even if it is far north from the true center at the Dam square.

The intellectual tag at Spui comes from a decades long link to the most academic and forward thinking individuals in Dutch history. Just a stones throw away stands the University of Amsterdam. The third oldest university in the Netherlands, it is here that famous minds were fostered, including a slew of Nobel Prize winners and future government leaders of the country.

Perhaps most notable character from Spui square, however, was the counter-culture activist Robert Jasper Grootveld. Famed for starting the worldwide hippy movement, he first held beatnik activities called 'happenings' in Spui. Attracting huge hordes of young, disaffected youth, his happenings grew to a political movement that inspired the Provo movement and helped draw attention to social reforms and laid the groundwork for Holland's cannabis laws.

Today, Spui is less of an arena for Dutch subculture. Rather, it is a lively center of international ideas in the form of art and the written word. Besides the fact that Amsterdam's two largest English book shops call the area home (The American Book Center and Waterstone's), the square also hosts a weekly open air book market. Each Friday, stalls are erected offering second hand books in a collection of languages, as well as rare literary publications and other vintage and novel finds.

With this quiet, underappreciated background, Spui square is much like a haven. A place to relax, read and relive a history that has helped shape the modern Netherlands as much as those famous coffeeshops and red light attractions.

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Of all the European countries with a Queen, arguably none loves their monarch as much as the Dutch do.

Celebrating the Queen's birthday is a nationwide holiday in the Netherlands called Queen's Day. And in true Dutch spirit, the locals go all out with festivities - all while fully decked out in the national colour, orange!

On 30 April, parties, live music, fairs and open air flee markets dominate every city in the country. In fact, the day is best known for the vrijmarkts, or free markets that pop up on nearly every sidewalk with people selling everything from the contents of their attic to snacks and drinks.

But the best place to be for the holiday is the capital itself. Amsterdam is unrivaled in its Queen's Day offerings. With its already lively atmosphere, and the accessible canal belt, the excitement is found on both land and water.

Boats typically fill canal waterways and the streets are a sea of orange-clad revelers, but there are also a number of special parties planned at clubs and bars that are perfect for anyone looking for a break from the busy streets.

As for the Queen, she will also be out and about as well. Each year she travels to a different Dutch city to greet their locals and partake in birthday festivities.

But, don't be fooled by this spectacular holiday. Only the Dutch know the real secret - it's not actually Queen Beatrix's birthday!

In fact, Queen's Day, called Koninginnedag in Dutch, is a celebration dating back to 1885 in honour of Queen Wilhelmina and was originally held on 31 August. After her daughter, Juliana took the throne, the day was shifted to her birthday, 30 April.

When today's Queen Beatrix came to power, her January birthday just didn't have the right weather conditions for the holiday, which had come to be known as a sun-filled celebration.

She kindly kept the official birthday party in April, and the country - and the thousands who flock here each year for the day - are grateful. After all, the holiday is more than just a fest for a Queen. It's a celebration of togetherness!

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It is this question that author Mark Haskell Smith challenged to get to the bottom of with his newly released book, Heart of Darkness: Underground Botanists, Outlaw Farmers and the Race for the Cannabis Cup. Exploring the roots of high-grade marijuana development, production, sale and political ramifications, Smith gives an unprecedented account of the inner-most circle of cannabis growers worldwide.

Central to the book is the Amsterdam Cannabis Cup event. Recognised the world over as the Super Bowl of the marijuana world, it is here that Smith encounters some of the most exotic strains of weed. Sampling these particular plants, he experiences a range of effects from relaxed, to happy, lucid and energetic. This high, along with the superior smell and taste of the buds make up the "darkness" of marijuana, and the element most connoisseurs and Cannabis Cup contestants seek.

Inspired by the intricacies that go into producing such high-end plants, Smith gets up close and personal with the underground botanists who painstakingly produce it. But he doesn't just hit up Amsterdam. Indeed, he smokes through the San Fernando Valley, meets activists in Oakland, CA, joins outlaw farmers in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and explores why the simple cannabis plant, used by millions of people the world over, is seeped in controversy.

"Witty, civilized and intelligent," Kirkus Reviews calls Heart of Darkness. While the book's fascinating insight into cannabis culture is a page-turning read, Smith's work is also a unique bit of travel writing. Having the rare opportunity to interview some of the most influential individuals in the marijuana world, Smith produces unmatched portraits of people and places the world over. In doing so, he reveals perhaps the most fascinating aspect of cannabis culture that connects people the world over - a shared appreciation of the product in its most perfected form.

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There is nowhere in the world like it. Art, architecture, bicycles and a culture both welcoming and exotic. Amsterdam has a little bit of everything, wrapped around a 16^th century canal belt and exploding with the magic of the past and the vibrancy of the present.

It is an exciting energy that everyone should be a part of, and with a new YouTube channel from Amsterdam City Tours, everyone can.

Highlighting everything from the day-to-day experience of the city, to the colourful Keukenhof tulip fields and the quintessential windmills of Zaanse Schans, their channel brings the Amsterdam adventure direct to you.

“There are so many ways to get the Amsterdam feeling. It can be relaxing, exciting, romantic, chaotic, magical, historical, cultural or all at the same time,” says Enzo Angilletta, the filmmaker behind Amsterdam City Tours' debut video.

Fall in love with master artists like Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh. Be fascinated with the thousands of cycles cruising the city. Explore the historic canal houses that stand next to today's modern design. All of it is on show in the films from Amsterdam City Tours.

Of course, no vision of Amsterdam is complete without paying tribute to the city's remarkable community. A mix of locals, travellers and everyone in between, they bring a sense of acceptance to this picture perfect city and make it a place where everyone can feel at home. “Amsterdam is so open that no matter where exactly you are, you always feel a part of it,” says Angilletta.

Capturing that essence is important to Amsterdam City Tours, not just in their videos but in everyday business as well. They offer the very best sightseeing tours and excursions, but always with a focus on their customers. Attention to individual customer care and satisfaction sets them apart, and is the reason why Amsterdam City Tours is one of the most trusted tour operators in the business.

Whether you are planning a visit, or dreaming up a holiday escape, their Amsterdam YouTube channel will connect you to the landmarks, the locals, the festivals and the culture of this great city. Feel Amsterdam with Amsterdam City Tours.

Check : http://www.youtube.com/amsterdamcitytour

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In Holland, however, the most ample lunch offering is the broodje, or sandwich. Most often, it's little more than a pistolette or round roll, packed with a measly smear of butter and a slice of cheese. Almost anyone, outside of the Dutch perhaps, can agree this is a lunch that leaves something to be desired. That's where Vicky Hampton comes in. With her new book Working Lunch, she revolutionalises lunchtime fare into something you look forward to for the flavour, not just for the break.

"A singular lack of decent sandwich bars, soup shops, salad bars or jacket-potato joints leaves you with three options: visit the horrendous office canteen (if indeed you even have one), take far more than your allotted half-hour lunch break and try your luck with the speed of a service in a local cafe, or make your own… I did the latter," says Hampton on her website.

The result is a cookbook for anyone whose office has even the most minor kitchen appliances. Using items as simple as a blunt knife, chopping board (or even an open counter top!) and fresh ingredients, Hampton's book offers 50 lunch options that are healthy and delicious.

Recipes include salads & dressings, bread-based meals, couscous, smoothies and soups. For the more adventurous cook, the cheeky chapter, ‘Pimp my lunch' offers an impressive lunchtime line-up. And, you can get involved yourself, not just by cooking up these treats in the work kitchen, but by buying shares in the book. In an effort to cover publishing costs, Hampton is offering five euro shares in the cookbook, that will be returned with interest to all investors.

It's a crowd-funding scheme that hits at the heart of what Working Lunch is all about. That is making lunch a mid-day break that brightens up the rest of the day ahead. By using these tasty recipes, lunch can become a highlight of the day spent in the kitchen with colleagues and not behind the computer screen. As if workers weren't already eyeing the clock for noon!

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