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Just found out today at work I'll have a couple days in our "Amsterdam office" so I'll have a free evening there. The office is actually right next to the airport so I've never seen the rest of Amsterdam, and I hope to correct that. Is anyone else is nearby and want to meet up? Will be the evening of Tuesday 14th.

I could use a refresher on how the trains work there...

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Popo, if you'd like to plan your train (or indeed any other public transport) journeys in advance, which I'm I happy I did when going to London, go here and plan away: http://journeyplanner.9292.nl/

I'll see if I can come to Amsterdam on the 14th. Not an expert on the city though, I've only been there a couple of times myself...

- Bjorn -

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Street and documentary photographer | Google+ | Twitter | Blog | Tumblr

Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux

Thanks or the link. I have no idea where anything is in Amsterdam myself, so it is hard for anyone to know less than me. My usual plan in this case would be just to walk around the centre region randomly until I get tiered or bored.

On trains, I'm English. We don't know what one is Should be simple enough just to get a local train I think. I only need to know where I'm going...

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

You'd want to take the train towards Amsterdam Centraal Station (or Central Station in English, not too difficult is it?). I'm pretty sure there'll be many trains going to that station from Schiphol airport.

- Bjorn -

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Street and documentary photographer | Google+ | Twitter | Blog | Tumblr

Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux

Just got some more info on my trip. The hotel my company put me in is miles (km? :p) from anywhere. So I'm thinking I might head straight to Amsterdam itself after my 1st day at work there to save on excess travel and maximise available time.

So the question remains, does anyone want to meet up in Amsterdam next Tuesday evening? Roughly speaking I might be able to get into the central region around 6pm. I'll be in Hoofddorp before then if that's on anyone's way and wants to meet a little earlier.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

I used to work for a company with an office in Amsterdam, it is a great city. First thing you will notice about the trains (apart from the fact they run on time) is that some of them are double decker's, yes you can choose to sit upstairs on the train.

The other thing to remember is they drive on the other side of the road so you have to look the other way when crossing a road and they have bikes and trams whizzing down the streets as well as cars.

As a basic outline, the centre of Amsterdam is laid out like concentric circles with alternating layers of roads and canals.

Have fun and choose your coffee shops wisely

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Nikon D90
Nikkor AF-S DX; 18-105 f/3.5-5.6G VR, 55-300 f/4.5-5.6G VR, 35mm f/1.8G
Speedlight SB-700

http://keystrokesukimages.com

Darn you Popo! Finally I get to meet one of the international forum regulars, and you plan it on the date Halo:Reach comes out (yes, I'm a fan) :p
I'll see if I can resist the temptation and join up with Bjorn.

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I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

Hope the weather is good to you Popo, I love Amsterdam and the 3 times i have been the skies have opened up and poured the whole time.

Sue

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canon 400D
18-55 lens
tamron70-300 lens
sigma 18-200 os lens

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I just looked at the long range weather forecast... guess what it says for Tuesday? Yup, heavy rain!

_________________
Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

If I may ask Bjorn and Citruspers, what are your probabilities of doing this meet? I appreciate it may not be exactly "local" to you to meet up for a short time. Especially as the weather forecast isn't looking so promising...

Citruspers, if I can ask where abouts are you located?

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Popo, 'International man of business' eh?

You might want to check out this English page with information about Amsterdam I just found.

Since I guess you'll be using public transportation you may also want to look here.

An easy way to get a preview that could help you to decide where to go is Google Earth's Streetview of course. Since weather isn't on your side I guess you best look for an indoor or sheltered activity. For photo-ops of the city you could consider a canal cruise. At least you'll be dry.

Ben
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When in doubt..... Press the shutter.

Sorry popo, I don't think I'll make it there. Have work to do till late in the afternoon, and would then still have to get to Amsterdam, which takes longer than it should.

I look forward to seeing your pictures though! Have fun!

- Bjorn -

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Street and documentary photographer | Google+ | Twitter | Blog | Tumblr

Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux

I've done a bit of travel as a side effect of my work, but often there is little time to play tourist. Get in, do the job, get out. Maybe European man of business, as I've only left the EU for work once ever.

Ben, thanks for the links, shall have to go through them in detail later. I use streetview a lot to check out places I'm going to.

Bjorn, ok, maybe another time. I know time and travel often work against each other.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Sure you may Popo, I am located in Utrecht. Tuesday's quite a long day for me, so when I'm done at school (~18:30) I might as well get a train to Amsterdam, should be only about an hour. As all dutch bachelor students, I have free access to public transportation during week days so that's nice.

Oh, one thing about dutch transport: Sprinters are the slower trains that stop at every station, and Intercitys are faster trains which only stop at bigger citys.

(This once confused the hell out of someone I met on a train, she'd been travelling across the whole country in sprinters.)

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I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

While I do want to meet others, I'm now wondering skipping my visit the the centre on this trip. It'll be quite late before any meeting, plus travel back for me late at night doesn't sound fun, particularly as it sounds a pain to get to my hotel.

Just looked up my hotel location. It's located next to a park with lake (haarlemmermeerse bos?), so maybe I can find some ducks there to keep me company

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.