We’ve given the two Starbucks stores at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport a fair try — nine times, actually. But we’re still not impressed, and we’ll tell you why.

We’ll also point you to some alternative Schiphol stores that serve excellent coffee drinks. »

‘t Gasthuys — one of Amsterdam’s typical ‘brown cafés’ — has a reputation for serving good food at decent prices. This is certainly one of our favorite hangouts, especially during the summer when its canal-side terrace is open for business.

We’ll place the café in its historical context, so you’ll know why, for instance, the alley next to it is called ‘prayer without end.’ »

Recently Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen saw himself ‘forced’ to close 43 of its 228 coffeeshops — licensed establishments where marijuana can legally be bought and used — by the end of 2011.

In doing so, Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen “reluctantly” follows up a federal government directive to establish ‘distance criteria‘ between schools and coffeeshops.

However, after both Amsterdam locals and city leaders angry about that approach, Cohen has promised to look for alternatives. »