But the Van Gogh Museum really is a very intense and involving exhibition.

Here

http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/atm-amsterdam

The Rijksmuseum is near the Van Gogh, and also worthwhile. Personally if the weather is fine, I like ambling alongside the canals and getting away from the city centre.
Be warned that some places will not take credit cards, only Dutch charge cards - so you may find you need more cash than in other places.
The run from the station to Dam square is fine to walk through once, but that is it.
I think you can still visit a coffee shop for a jazz cigarette, but there was talk a month or so ago of restricting that to Dutch citizens. Who mostly dont partake. I felt very old wandering through the coffeeshops, mainly because I thought "haven't you got anything better to do?"
I stay in the Park Plaza opposite the station - but only because someone else is paying. It is insanely expensive (and has a problem understanding the concept of Halal food), but quite nice.

would be the Ann Frank House, the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh.

I wouldn't make a point of avoiding the Red Light District as I found just sitting in a bar watching the way completely normal, ordinary (and the RLD is completely safe, heavily policed and absolutely jammed with middle aged day trippers) people react to legalised drugs and prostitution. Its a kind of sexualised Butlins. That may or may not pique your interest. I wouldn't dream of being involved in the sleazier side of things and its so in your face and public its almost impossible to believe anyone would.

I can recomend the Crown Hotel at the top of the RLD as a good cheap place to stay, if it's still there - it was many years ago.

Other than that, just wandering about, getting hopelessly lost in the intensely confusing concentric canals and taking in the generally very chilled out atmosphere is enough for most people. Have fun!

She wasn't in........

And assuming its still there, Fame Music is just off Dam Square - as much Golden Earring as you can carry is available (plus other things).

Does the last entry really read "Today Daddy brought me a drumkit.."?

If you like photography, then I recommend FOAM on Keizersgracht 609 - pretty cool gallery that has had some great exhibitions over the years (think Anton Corbijn is on there at the moment)

Check out website: www.foam.org

Oh, and theres a great little brown bar on the corner of Niewemarket, just off Browersgracht... nice!

I'm not sure if you partake, but it's best to remember now that all smoking in the coffee shops is tobacco free thanks to a smoking ban much like the UK's.

Yes that's right you can't smoke normal cigarettes in the coffee shops...

Whenever I am in Amsterdam, I spend a lot of time in the American Book Center.

website: http://www.abc.nl

This guy knows everything there is to know about Amsterdam pubs. a particular favourite of mine is t'Arendsnest. In de Wildeman is pretty good.

http://www.europeanbeerguide.net/pubs.htm

There's a retro-football shop called Copa opposite Centraal station going towards the western canal belt.

http://www.copafootball.com/

Plaudits for the Van Gogh museum. Queues for AnneFrankHuis can be massive. Not an experience you'll want if you need cheering up.

A walk in the Western Canal Belt is good for views of the 17th century houses just watch out for cyclists.

I had a great time, strolling around and seeing the sights.

All the tips were useful, especially carrying extra money - the excellent Thai place that Twangothan had recommended doesn't take credit cards.

Many of my fellow tourists were kitted out as if to spend 2 days on Rannoch Moor- Berghaus jackets, waterproof trousers, umbrellas and daybags. I was kitted out for pottering round a city centre - t-shirt and jeans. As I was walking back from the Rijksmuseum towards my hotel, a nervous-looking English couple came up to me and asked "Do you speak English?" I said "Yes, I do". They were looking for the Rijksmuseum. I pointed them in the direction - two blocks away.

Some photos here :

Amsterdam weekend