Amsterdams biggest tourist attraction is Amsterdam itself. Millions of tourists line up every year for a boat ride along the world-famous canal belt, with its beautiful (mostly) 17th century houses.

The city centre, and notably the Grachtengordel, is probably the most desirable living area in the Netherlands; its old, its beautiful and its frightfully expensive. The Damrak, the Royal Palace, Anne Frank Building and the Westerkerk are situated along the canals, as well as the sin city face of tourism in Amsterdam with its coffee shops and a small red light district. If you can afford to live here, you have instant access to all thats good and notorious - about Amsterdam.

Apartments start at about 450, but if youre not willing to wait for more than eight years, you might end up paying as much as 2,500 for a three-room apartment. The Amsterdam inner city is hell to visit with an automobile, so be sure to buy a bicycle and at least three good locks if youre lucky enough to end up here.