TNW2019 Daily: Here’s how to plan your trip to Amsterdam

With only 56 days left to go until TNW Conference, it’s time to start planning your visit to Amsterdam. You might be asking yourself, “Shouldn’t I have done it sooner?” The answer is no! Don’t worry – there’s plenty of time to secure a great hotel and pencil in some fun activities. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Find the real Amsterdam

Amsterdam has two distinct faces. First, there’s the version that tourists tend to see, which is the Red Light District and the very center of the city. It’s everything the city is notorious for: sex, drugs, and semi-comatose British guys. When I visited years ago, I made the very easy mistake of assuming that the entire city was like this.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. It’s hard to step outside of that bubble as a visitor, but once you do, you start to see that Amsterdam is actually very laidback and cool. The other face – the real face – of the city goes far beyond Dam Square and the Red Light District. Make sure you spend most of your time outside of these areas.

Step 2: Stay somewhere amazing

My advice from step one applies to hotels, too. Staying in a great neighborhood is the easiest way to ensure you’re seeing the real parts of the city. Unfortunately, finding fabulous and affordable hotels in Amsterdam can be tricky. That’s why we’ve partnered with our favorite hotels to offer you discounted prices, so you can make the most of your trip. Check out our hotels page to get a great price during TNW Conference.

Step 3: Stuff your face

I’m not much for partying, so if you want advice on the best clubs, then you’re fresh out of luck. I do, however, know how to wine and dine like nobody’s business. I’d make a great date, but unfortunately for you, I’m taken – so I’ll just recommend starting off with drinks at a Belgian beer bar like Cafe Gollem, then walk through the canals (which are beautifully lit up at night), and ending with dinner. Amsterdam is a mecca of restaurants that feature different cuisines and cultures, so enjoy a great meal and head back to the hotel, because you’ll be sleepy from the beer and food. Then fall asleep watching Friends re-runs. Bliss.

Speaker spotlight: Stacia Carr

Stacia Carr is an expert in interdisciplinary leadership. As the Director of Engineering at Zalando, her team are experts in engineering, product, and business. She’s in charge of the e-commerce site’s sizing feature, which creates a seamless experience for customers looking for the right fit in clothing and shoes online.

Stacia is also committed to being a strong female voice in tech. She believes that the key to bringing more women into the industry lies in sharing her own experiences and stories. At TNW2019, she’ll do just that. Whether you’re looking for motivation to take your career to the next a level, insights into female empowerment, or want to know more about her role at Zalando, don’t miss her speak.

That’s a wrap on this edition of TNW2019 Daily! See you tomorrow for more TNW Conference highlights, and make sure to catch up on past editions right here.