Last time I went to London and Amsterdam was in July '07. I posted pics, reviews, etc.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=37434
The thread about experiences specific to Amsterdam is floating around somewhere... I also made a quick video tour of the room. I'll look for that now. Seriously, that poolroom is a treasure. (fun fact: they have fans blowing in the restroom. Not for smell, but to discourage druggies. "It blows away the coke!" one patron explained.)
Important bits: go to Club 8 in Amsterdam. Bring your cue. The people there are wonderful, friendly, talkative, open... if you are. They have weekly tourneys and a challenge table- there is no table time charge on this table, it is only there to encourage players to play each other and to gamble. For the most part, it's gamble per game, but when there's no line on the list, sets are permitted.
Also, the food in Amsterdam is hit or miss. You'd think it'd be all good because of your state of mind, but that's not necessarily so. Eat at Club 8. Yummm. Try mayo on fries. It's not really mayo, and you may or may not like it, but you have to try it just to report it back home.
Transportation: take the canal rides, try the tram, but eventually you'll realize walking beats it all. Especially since the Dutch aren't really trying too hard to be helpful (bad personal experiences with lazy, lying tram personnel.)
Speaking of geberal helpfulness: if you buy cigarettes and they "throw in" a lighter or chocolates- it's not a gift. It's their sneaky way of making you buy something else while tricking you into thinking it's a present. Tell them thank you for the gift but you're not paying for it and see how fast they snatch it back. The price of a pack of cigarettes is on the pack- a good way to tell if you're paying too much.
My favorite cafe: the 420. They play all blues all the time, and you sit at long wooden pirate tables at benches. You get to know your neighbors, play backgammon for hours, and they have vaporizers.
Hotel: My favorite was Prins Hendrick. 4 stars, smoking allowed, you have your own suite and lots of privacy. Not too expensive and there are deals on the internet. Call and ask for a deal and they will likely give one to you. A famous American Jazz trumpeter died there. I think he was high and fell out of the window. I was high too, and didn't care about hearing the story's particulars at the time.
I'm telling you, I have been to Amsterdam almost 15 times since 1989. Somehow, some way, all Euro trips pass through there multiple times. It's always the same, and it's always different. Have a great trip.
