European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 26, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A visitor in Heineken brewery s guest Center sips the first of up to six free rounds Given those who take the tour. Ass photos by Jim Derheim Amsterdam continued from Page 3 largest port dazzling the rest of the continent with the wealth it generated from a far Flung dutch trading Empire. It was the Boom of the 17th Century that most shaped the face of Amsterdam fueling and financing the construction of the famous canal ring a Hereng Racht Keizer Bracht and Prinsen Racht a and thousands of the narrow step gabled houses that Are the City s most distinctive architectural feature. Today Amsterdam As a port has been overshadowed by Rotterdam. But its Rich heritage has provided a substitute source of Revenue tourism the City began its ascension to the ranks of major tourist destinations during the Post world War ii tourism Boom. Currently some 1.8 million overnight foreign visitors and More than 10 million Day tourists pump 1.75 billion guilders about $910 million a year into lie City s Economy. Nearly a third of the foreign visitors535,000 a Are americans. Connecticut residents Steve Bulmer and Merrill Eason Berg first fell in love with Amsterdam last summer on a tour of Europe. When round trip air fares from new York briefly slipped below $200 recently they could not resist hopping on a plane Quot just to do Amsterdam this time  said. They spent a Long weekend exploring the Parks and museums and dining out. Before returning to the big Apple  pronounced it Quot another great time in  tourists soon discover that Amsterdam is not a t ily to see by car. Many of the streets Are one was and others Are narrow and intimidating. Parking spaces Are very Del cult to Lind and most Art Short term. Cars parked illegal or at an expired meter Aie fair game Tor a police Quot Boot that costs 1 20 guilders i$6-l to haw1 removed. Park y our Cai w Lien of arrive in one til the Multi Toiv Larking garages anti pick it up when of leave Tost is about 18 guilders a Dav. Amsterdam has a Good Streetcar network and Taxe Are Model Tel priced but tithe Rijk museum holds Many famous paintings including Rembrandt s night watch. A statue to Anne Frank stands outside a Church near the House where she and her family hid from the nazis. Most visitors the Best ways to get around Are on foot or bicycle. A Vintage Bike can be rented with lock a for 6 guilders $3.20 a Clay. And for those who Are in reasonably Good shape walking in Amsterdam is a pleasure. The place to Start touring Amsterdam is at the main City Square known As the dam. This is the heart of the City. It is one of the liveliest spots in Europe and a great place for people watching. Swarms of pigeons fed by giggling children compete for space with a sea of humanity in constant motion. The dam is surrounded by some of the City s most popular attractions. Its Centrepiece is the 1 7th-Century City Hull or Royal Palace Konin Slijk Pae a. At tin East end of the Square is the Monument to tiie Netherlands world War ii dead and on the North Side is the massive new Church Viec Kork and the Nieuwendijk the Monkelbaan Tower built in 1s12 As part of the City fortifications now houses the organization responsible for maintaining a constant water level in the canals. Pedestrian shopping Street. In addition to Nieuwendijk itself a half dozen Side streets feature a smattering of tiny shops As Well As restaurants pubs and cafes. It is a cozy comfortable Quarter but More hectic than neighbourhoods farther out. From the dam the City fans out in a Crescent to the canal ring. This is the loveliest part of Amsterdam with wide tree lined Waterways immaculately maintained buildings and Many famous landmarks. It is an area for leisurely  away from the Hustle and hurly Burly of the dam. Ducks gabble in the canals and v visitors peruse bookstores antique shops and curio stores. Its visually dominating landmark is the Westerkerp whose 280-foot Steeple towers above the Prinsen Racht canal at Westermark. But the Quarter s most emotionally powerful feature is the modest House around the Corner at Prinsen Racht 263 where Anne Frank penned her diary amid the cataclysm of world War ii. Just two blocks off the dam in the opposite direction is Europe s most notorious red Light District. This three by seven Block area of sex shops Peep shows Heaters and brothels is a study in humanity s stranger permutations. A Young woman from Lafayette la., who works at a hotel next to a Brothel said Quot you see More in a week than you want to see in a  4 stripes Magazine March 26, 1992