January is probably the coldest and ideal month in Amsterdam when city delights with the magical covering of dust of snow. It is the low season and thus good time to visit the city’s most popular attractions as the queues everywhere are the shortest. At this time days are short and weather might be quite cold but the flights and rooms are at their cheapest rate. The weather in this month is unpredictable-fluctuating from mild to freezing temperature or rain to snow (only dusting). The temperature varies between 31°F- 40°F and the average precipitation is about 69 mm. It is better to include umbrella, waterproof or windproof coat, warm clothes, comfortable shoes and day bag along with the other items of packing. To make the season more exciting public ice rinks are set up in the city offering free skating opportunity provided one owns the skates. If not, skates can also be hired from the place. The most thrilling activity is shopping in this season. A number of shops are in the row offering January Sale and thus the expensive designer dresses can be bought at reasonable rates from the fashionable boutiques. Although there are less annual events in this month but Amsterdam invite the visitors to experience the winter fun by enjoying ice skating, seasonal cuisine while wandering along canals and bridges or hang out in a cafe or coffee shop. The cultural programs at Concertgebouw, Stopera and other places are at full swing to entertain the guests.

This electronic pass is introduced in stages as the project is technically complicated as it covers the entire network of the country. Thus it is planned to use this card as obligatory in Amsterdam. The card is already in process in Rotterdam. ‘Amsterdam all in 1 travel ticket’ is also available at Schiphol Airport. Through this OV card it will be possible to travel unlimited within Amsterdam on bus, metro or tram for 24 to 96 hours. Besides that 2 single train rides from Amsterdam to Airport has also been included. If you expect to walk more in your trip then the option of buying the disposable card each time you use a tram or bus is possible. It would be a little expensive to buy OV chipkaart on the buses or trams.

Passenger will have to check in and check out while moving on their respective trip. The use of the card is quite simple. You just have to swipe the card in front of OV Chipkaart reader machine installed at platform whenever you enter or leave the vehicle. A sound of beep will indicate you that you are checked in. The same process should be repeated in front of OV Chipkaart machine when you check out the vehicle. At some of the metro and train stations gate barriers have also been used. The Strippenkaart would become invalid in 15 municipalities around Amsterdam such as Marken, Volendam, Aalsmeer along with Amsterdam as this card is being used as an obligatory step in Amsterdam.

Strand West – 80

This expansive beach is open throughout the year and is known for a variety of social events including concerts, dance parties, beach events and kids’ shows. However, since this is a city beach, swimming isn’t really recommended here. It is located at Stavangerweg 900, 1013.

Blijburg aan Zee – 96

Located further east of the city, Blijburg aan Zee this sandy spot is an ideal place for enjoying a beautiful sunset. Besides it also promises snazzy, fun and games along with a host of activities like yoga and Capoeira performances, as well as quirky art events throughout summer. It is located at Bert Haanstrakade 2004.

BovenNEMO – 71

NEMO, the national science museum in the Netherlands, opens up this beach’s wonderful roof area to the public every summer. The place has 48 giant steps along the upper deck, a play area for kids and a wonderful café to tickle your tongue. It is open from Jun 27 to September 6 and is located at Oosterdok 2.

Strand Zuid – 95

Located in one of the southern neighborhoods of Amsterdam, this beach offers terrific views from its terrace viewing platform. The place is known for its Mediterranean varieties of food and also has a quiet café. This beach has a unique parasol system which offers guests shelter on rainy days, and shade when it’s too sunny. It is located at Europaplein 22.

Dam Square and Royal Place:

Dam square and Royal Place are located in the center of Amsterdam. Having the pride of a rich historical background, this jam-packed square keeps jostling with locals and tourists day and night. It was created in the 13th century when a dam was built around the river Amstel to prevent the Zuiderzee sea from swarming the city. It is a good place for concerts and artistic activities. There are food stalls, restaurants and shops galores, including the trendy Bijenkorf, Magna Plaza, Bonneterie and the Amsterdam Diamond centre.

Nieuwe Kerk:

The Nieuwe Kerk (“New Church”) is a 15th-century church in Amsterdam. It is the church located next to Royal Palace in Dam Square. The Nieuwe Kerk is a burial site for Dutch naval heroes, including Admiral Michiel de Ruyter, Commodore Jan van Galen and Jan van Speyk. The poet and playwright Joost van den Vondel is also buried in the church.

Rembrant Square:

This is another well-known, posh and a bit expensive square of Amsterdam. The Square is located at the center of the city of Amsterdam behind the Munt Tower and at the end of the Shopping Street ‘De Kalverstraat’. There are many places for shopping activities and also a famous hotel with the same name. There are also many pubs, discos and bars for night life lovers.

Van Gogh Museum:

This is the famous exhibition center of Amsterdam where millions of art lovers and thousands of artizans come for exhibitions every year. The museum’s permanent collection includes more than 200 paintings by Van Gogh and many drawings and letters. The museum holds an extensive offer of exhibitions on various subjects from 19th-century art history.

Stedelijk Museum:

This museum is the center of modern art. It is located at Museum Square and near to Van Gogh Museum. In this museum, the paintings and drawings of Karel Appel and Kazimir Malevich are exhibited.

Though Amsterdammers do not have very strict codes of etiquettes, they expect you to address them by their titles and last names, unless they invite you to do otherwise. A brief and friendly handshake is usually the customary greeting.

Though hours of Business in Amsterdam vary from one industry to another, in general, banks operate from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 16:00 and most offices generally are open during the hours of 08:30 to 17:00 from Monday to Friday. Shops tend to be open seven days a week, but many shops have their own individual times. The pharmacies remain open from 08:00 / 09:00 to 17:30 hours but there are always chemists that open 24 hours and at weekends. The majority of Amsterdam restaurants open daily. The breakfast is served in most hotels until 10:00, lunch is usually between 12:00 and 14:00, with light snacks between 15:00 and 17:00. Dinner is served from around 17:00 to 20:00 and many restaurants close at 22:00.

For currency Exchange in Amsterdam, ATMs can be found outside most banks, Post Officers and at the airport, as well as at the Centraal Station. Smart casual is recommended for all forms of social engagement in Amsterdam. For business, however, both men and women will be expected to wear suits.

Though Dutch are usually cool and comfortable people, following a few etiquettes goes a long run in establishing good business relationships.

Located near the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam Massage Center is although a small concern, but it has an extensive list of massages and treatments including Swedish, Ayurvedic, deep tissue, hot stone, cranio-sacral and Dorn Breuss massages. Shiatsu and chair massages and foot reflexology are also offered.

Address: Weteringschans 121.

Call: +31 (0)20 427 8176 for an appointment and exact opening times.

Koan Float is another option where you can get a good range of massages in modern, restful surroundings, including Swedish, Shiatsu, rebalancing, hot stone and Thai. Some lesser well-known massages available are Boja, which combines elements of classic Western massage with Eastern acupressure, and Esalen, a bodywork technique that uses long, tai’chi-like strokes to encourage deep relaxation. Koan Float also offers the unusual “floating” treatment in private tanks. The tanks are filled with highly salted water which buoys up the body, giving a feeling of weightlessness. The tank is warm and quiet and there are no external distractions thus relaxing your muscles and mind at the same time.

Address: Herengracht 321.

Open daily from 9.30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Call: +31 (0)20 555 0333 to make an appointment.

Perhaps the most beautiful spa and treatment center in Amsterdam, Suana Deco is small and unprepossessing from the outside. However, in reality, it is a large building, originally designed as an office in 1890 by the Dutch architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage.

Almost all of the furnishings of the place were salvaged in the 1970s from the Parisian department store Au Bon Marche, after the board of directors decided that the store needed immediate modernization.

Sauna Deco offers a comparatively smaller number of massages which include Swedish, Shiatsu, hot stone and sports massages. Additional facilities include a Turkish steam bath, two saunas, splash pool, relaxation area, beauty salon, juice bar and terrace.

The theme for the Congress is “Family: more than the sum of its parts”. Founded in 1997 by Allan Carlson, the WCF is a worldwide coalition that stands up for the position of the family and is a project of The Howard Center for Family, Religion & Society. More than 30 pro-family groups in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Poland are co-sponsoring the WCF.

WCF Managing Director Larry Jacobs says, “We’re expecting over 1,000 pro-family leaders, activists, scholars and legislators from 61 countries, to participate in the international strategy session for—and celebration of —the natural family.”

For the access to the live casting, you can both go to the World Congress of Families site (www.worldcongress.org) or to the website of the Dutch local organizing committee (www.worldcongress.nl) and follow the instructions. DVDs of the Congress will also be available for sale on the www.worldcongress.org site.