If you like your cities clean, vibrant and compact - you'll be within walking distance to all the hot spots - then Amsterdam is definitely the place to be.
Amsterdam in a Nutshell:
-The city is perched on the stunning river Amstel - just like the beer - and the name Amsterdam literally means ‘dam on the river Amstel'.
- Amsterdam was once the most important port town in the free/known/western world.
- The population is 730,000. That's like London divided by 10.
- The official language is Dutch, also known as Netherlandish. English is widely spoken and if you have a bit of secondary school French or German you could also whip it out and many people will get your drift.
Out on the Town:
It's as if Amsterdam was created just for a great short break. From tranquil canal tours to a buzzing nightlife where you can sample some of the world's finest European and Asian cuisines. And the best part? Well forget about expensive cabs as everything you need is contained in an area of about 2km around the Central station. There is an endless supply of great watering holes from the uber-trendy to the pint-and-chips variety and like their UK counterparts the Dutch take their beer consumption very seriously and brew some of the finest specialty lagers on the planet. Amstel and Heineken are thspecialitye big beer brewing boys and you can even pay a visit to the former brewery and a tenner will get you three beers, a tour and a free novelty glass. That's class. If you're after something a little more chic or sophisticated why not get suited and booted and head down to the casino for a glamorous night of high rolling 007 style.
Daytime Activities:
Classic crowd pleasers are all here: 4x4 driving, karting and clay pigeon shooting. You could spend the day on the river, take a sand kart at break neck speeds, play 18 holes of world-class golf or even spend a day snowboarding indoors at Europe's largest indoor snowfield.
Conferences and Meetings:
Chillisauce has a wide range of partnerships with top Amsterdam hotels that can cater for small team meetings, large conferences and everything in between.
Weather:
The climate is characterised by a fairly cold winter, a cool spring, a moderately warm summer and a long and rainy autumn. However, some summers have weeks at a stretch of temperatures around +30° C, and a warm, sunny summer can keep autumn at bay until mid-October.
Currency:
The former Dutch currency has been replaced by the Euro and the rate is roughly 1.45.
How much do things cost?
As a rule the cost of eating and drinking and being entertained will be less than in a big U.K city like London. However, the cost of resting your weary head will probably be slightly higher as Amsterdam is a perennial favourite with the tourists. Chillisauce has room allocations in some of the city's premium, centrally located hotels so you have the best chance at getting great value accommodation during the peak seasons.
Transport:
Amsterdam is pretty much a living, breathing homage to the bicycle and the Dutch are experts at ducking and weaving in the streets. Just beware that Dutch cyclists are a hardened lot so step aside if you find yourself in their way. Step aside fast. If pedalling isn't really your thing, the public transport system is one of the best in the world with a densely networked tram system, excellent trains and a canal bus. It's user friendly and there's no attitude from the guards if you don't know what Dutch for ‘oyster card' is*.
*It's Stippenkaart in case you're wondering
What Do Chillisauce Do For You?
Essentially we provide a one stop shop for sorting out everything for your stay in Amsterdam. We live, eat and breathe corporate events and weekends and after years of fine tuning, we know what makes a first class stay. As with any tourist hot spot the availability of accommodation is crucial and our partnerships with both hotels and top quality activities will ensure that you don't need to risk taking your colleagues on a dud event. So have a look through the enclosed ideas and give us a call - we're more than happy to answer any of your questions and look forward to giving you a top event!