If you are going to relax in Europe, then, of course, knowledge of foreign languages will be far from excess. First of all, English. Without inglishes now, as they say, they will not leave. National Netherlands - Netherlands. This language sounds like a mixture of English and German, in my opinion, but even if you know both languages, to understand the Netherlands, or, as it is also called, Dutch, it is hardly possible, although there are similar words.
If you at least once a little more English, it will be much easier: I did not meet any Dutchman who would not speak English. Moreover, almost everyone speaks English in English, with an excellent pronunciation (in contrast, for example, from the French, whose explicit problems with English). Also, many Dutchs own the German language.
If you are completely tight with English, it is better to take care in advance about buying a dictionary or a phrasebook.
In general, Russian tourists are shred in Amsterdam everywhere, you can turn to them, as a last resort.
In Russian there are guidebooks and audiohyda in museums (such as in the State Museum, the Museum of Torture, the House-Museum of Rembrandt (Besides, the audio guide is free), etc.), in some restaurants there are menus in Russian ("Lucius" on Spuistraat 247,), Russians say some workers of restaurants, hotels and hostels (for example, at Hotel Apple Inn 3 *, Hotel Abba 1 *, in the restaurant "Da Giorgio" on Warmoesstraat 38, Argentina Restaurant Los Santos on Spuistraat 285b and etc.).
In short, you can get out. But, nevertheless, this is not Russian-speaking Egypt or Turkey.
The easiest and cheapest way to sit on the Internet -Wi-Fi zone, which are crushed throughout Amster. Basically, Wi-Fi is free and often not pardoned. It is in all hotels and hostels (best catches in the lobby at the reception), some cafes and restaurants, museums, etc. There is no Wi-Fi, except for, in the Amsterdam zoo.
You can also go to any Internet cafe, then such in Amsterdam is enough. There are several cafes at once, for example, on Amsterdam Internet City on Nieuwendijk 76 (works from 9:00 to 1:00), "Café Internet FreeWorld" on Martlaarsgracht 11 (SPR-W from 9:00 to 01:00 , PT and SB from 9:00 to 03:00), "Advidi" on Teerketelsteg 1 (open from 9:00 to 18:00).
There are such cafes away from the center, "City Games Internet Cafe" on Sint AntoniesBreestraat 3 (next to the Nieuwmarkt Metro Station, it works from 11:00 to 22:00), Krystal InternetCafé on Voetboogstraat 7A (through the channel from ALLARD PIERSON MUSEUM) , "The Mad Processor" at Kinkerstraat 13, etc.
As a rule, half an hour of use of the Internet in such cafes costs about 1 euro. Computers are equipped with webcams, so that you can contact your relatives. The speed is excellent everywhere, you can not worry for it. Also available printers and scanners for a small fee. Also in these cafes, you can order drinks in parallel, including alcoholic. We pay for the few minutes after using the computer.
If you want to make not only a couple of calls home, A la, "I'm alive," I actively call back with the locals, it is better to buy a local SIM card (and then I have left a pair of SMS with a short call in the deepest minus) . You can buy a SIM card either Lebara (read here more http://www.lebara.nl/?isocode=en_gb, or lycamobile (http://www.lycamobile.nl/index.aspx?lang=en).
The call from such operators to the mobile phone to their homeland will cost approximately 8-10 rubles per minute, and at home - 4-6 rubles. You can buy a sim card where, starting from the station in GWK centers (where the currency can also be exchanged). To then replenish the account, in the same salons you can buy cards with a different amount (5, 10 euros, etc.).
Well, many travelers advise not to bother with local SIM cards and buy SIM-Trevel, then you mean, a map that works in many-many countries, and this is convenient if Amsterdam is not the only place you want to visit. (http://www.sim-travel.ru/) plus, operators speak Russian.
Well, these are technical questions. As for purely everydays, for example, where you can smoke (ordinary cigarettes), I will answer: a lot where, but not everywhere. You can smoke on the streets, you can. But in some hotels, cafes and restaurants it is impossible! That you mean, you will have to get out and smoke there, for this there is also ashtrays.
But nevertheless, most cafes allow visitors to smoke a cigarette right inside (at least I don't remember that someone asked my friends to go out or put out the cigar). For a couple of years they have existed a law prohibiting smoking in bars of a small size, but he failed with a crash, and now you can smoke again. Marijuana can only smoke in Cofesops (he remembered how my friend asked for a cigarette's street on the street, and he delivered his pocket instead of a twisted kink with marijuana. We were modestly refused, and he smoked this jamb with his pretty pleasure right on the street. Overtack!). If you want to smoke ordinary cigarettes in a coffee shop - you'd better ask in advance at the staff, whether it is possible to do it, as in many such institutions smoking tobacco is prohibited.
As for alcohol, it is a bit more stricter.
For sale to alcohol to persons from 16 years old (though, up to 18 years will be sold "Alkashka" only less than 15% of the fortress). Fun through the streets, being strongly drunk, well, drinking on the street, it is not recommended - they can also pick up or present a penalty in a bottle of beer - from € 18, for strong drinks - from € 90). In bars and clubs with alcohol, everything is as usual, drink health.
In stores, you can also acquire alcohol, with identity card. (For example, a pack of 6 cans of heineken beer 0.33 liters costs approximately € 5). In general, people in Amsterdam somehow do not eat much. At least I saw much more drunk, say, in Berlin. So, in Amsterdam always somehow calmly and not scary, even late evenings. For example, it happened that in Amsterdam I arrived alone (friend pulled up with a delay), and the train threw me in the night Amsterdam - and you know that I got to the student party: music, cafe lights and lanterns, tourists walk. If you think the Dutch does not like Russians - it is not true. Russian tourists in Amsterdam are a lot, and how not to love those who bring good income to business? Therefore, shops and restaurants are always welcome to Russian tourists (as well as others equally). After talking with the locals, who has no financial interest in tourists, learned that they know about Russia not so much, but they are interested in different domestic aspects, such as, frost in winter, level of life, vodka, and so on. In general, it is rather even anyway.And yet, in Europe, the Russians behave quieter than during holidays in the Turkish-Egyptian coasts, which they do not love them there!