Girl, Uninterrupted

Evelyn Hannon is an intrepid traveler. To say that she goes where no woman has gone before might be pushing it, but she surely does her bit to ensure that those who go after she has been, benefit from her travels. She begins the tales of her trysts as a woman taking on the world and its sights and sounds with Amsterdam, a city, which despite its racy reputation, she claims, is one of the most woman-friendly corners in the world.

Amsterdam, a city of flowers, canals and bikes is high on my list of female-friendly places. This capital of The Netherlands has long enjoyed gender equality; a woman on her own won’t turn heads. Amsterdam is small, compact and its different neighbourhoods are very walkable. I’ve happily revisited this destination many times, most of them on my own and always in relative safety and comfort. Invariably, I’ve had an excellent time.

Here are some of my tried and true go-alone activities. If art museums are your pleasure, Amsterdam offers a triad of visual treasures. At Holland’s national museum, the Rijksmuseum (Stadhouderskade 42) you can contemplate the major Dutch masters. Look out for Vermeer’s, The Kitchen Maid and, of course, Rembrandt’s large scale imposing canvas of the Night Watch. The Van Gogh Museum at Potterstraat 7, is considered one of the best in the Netherlands. Take your time visiting with such lovely creations as The Sunflowers and The Potato Eaters. Close by, at Potterstraat 13, the Stedelijk houses a modern collection which includes work by Matisse, Monet, Chagall and Cezanne. Be sure to buy some postcards to remember your pleasure.

Visit Anne Frank’s Home (Prinsengracht 263) and pay homage to a young woman with an indomitable spirit.  Take a mid-day break. Walk in Vondelpark or, if you’re feeling frisky, join the joggers who work-out in this centrally located green space. Xantippe Unlimited used to be the prime bookstore for female-centered material in the city (Prinsengracht 290). Today, it houses an excellent women’s resources section but there are general selections as well.

If antiquing makes your collector’s heart go pitter-pat, head for the Spiegelkwartier where a cluster of over one hundred quality shops awaits your scrutiny. Ask shopkeeper Peter Korf de Gidts to show you his famous white delftware, the pottery used by the privileged in the eighteenth century. It’s extraordinary!

Or catch a concert of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra at the Concertgebouw with its world class acoustics (Concertgebouwplein 2-6). Don’t worry excessively about dress code. The audience is a genial mix of young and old who appear to be less concerned with dressing up and much more interested in the quality of music they are enjoying. And, don’t fret about getting back to your hotel after dark, either. There’s a taxi stand right outside the Hall.

Amsterdam’s colorful Red Light District is well known for its ladies of the night who display ‘their wares’ from window perches. Though it is a famous tourist attraction, it’s best for curious solo women travellers to visit this area by day. After sundown there are chances of running into unsavory characters.

At Srikandi, a charming neighborhood restaurant, order rijsttafel for one. This Indonesian-Dutch specialty is a delightful mix and match eating experience. Enjoy small dishes of curry, chicken, shrimp, coconut, veggies and a variety of hot sauces all served over mounds of white rice. Delicious! (Stadhouderskade 31)  Shop for inexpensive, edible gifts in any supermarket in town. We recommend Droste chocolate pastilles, Stroopwafels (Dutch tea cookies) and Rademaker’s orange chocolate sticks.

Finally, everybody from 18 to 80 rides bicycles in Holland. If at any time you feel that you’d like some company or some exercise, remember the name Yellow Bike and join one of their bicycle tours.  Let them show you all the highlights and beauty of one of the world’s greatest women-friendly cities. Website: http://www.yellowbike.nl/en/

Tips for single women travellers

1. Make copies of all your travel documents and store them in your suitcase in case the originals are lost or stolen.

2. Tuck the business card from your hotel into your pocket. If you are lost, approach another woman on the street, show her the card and ask her to point you in the right direction.

3. Study a street map in advance. Avoid opening your map outside in order not to give the impression you are lost or vulnerable.

4. Hailing a cab on the street can be risky. It’s always wise to carry the the number of a reputable taxi service.

5. Want to avoid male advances? Wear a fake wedding ring

BONUS: HERmail.net is a free online directory of women willing to mentor other women travelling to their part of the world. Log in and get answers to your female-centered travel questions.

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