Destination - Amsterdam

“Some tourists think Amsterdam is a city of sin, but in truth it is a city of freedom. And in freedom, most people find sin.”

John Green

 

Amsterdam

 

I have never been to Amsterdam, but we are planning a trip in May of next year, and Amsterdam will be one of our stops.  The main part of the trip will be visiting our friends from Scotland and traveling with them throughout Portugal.  But I plan to first fly to Amsterdam and spend a few days there before going on and meeting them.  We will probably take the train from Amsterdam down to Lisbon, where we will meet up with them and travel from there.

When I think of Amsterdam I think of canals, and tulips, and maybe wooden shoes.  I also think about the red-light district which it is so famous for, and the fact that you can smoke marijuana there. And of course, I also think about Anne Frank and what happened to her and her family.  I think Amsterdam will be an interesting place to spend a few days.

The hidden room where Anne
and her family lived.

I think our first stop will be the Anne Frank House,  I have been a little bit fascinated with her since my teen years when I read her diary.  She was a brave girl, and that was a terrible time. 

The Anne Frank House is the house where Anne Frank lived when she wrote her famous diary.  She hid from Nazi persecution with her family and four other people in hidden rooms at the rear of the building. As well as the preservation of the hiding place — known in Dutch as the Achterhuis — and an exhibition on the life and times of Anne Frank, the museum acts as an exhibition space to highlight all forms of persecution and discrimination.

The house is open  from April 1 through October 31 daily from 9:00 am - 9:00 pm, (Saturdays from 9:00 am - 10:00 pm).  In July and August the museum is daily open till 10:00 pm.  November 1 through March 31 daily from 9:00 am - 7:00 pm (Saturdays from 9:00 am - 9:00 pm).  Last Admittance is 30 minutes prior to closing.  Unfortunately, the old part of the Anne Frank House, which includes the Secret Annex, is not accessible to wheelchair users because it is in the attic of the house. The new building with the current exhibition, the museum café and the museum store is accessible to wheelchair users. You enter this part of the museum, which has an elevator and a specially adjusted restroom, through a special entrance. The employees of the museum will help you.



Amsterdam - Prinsengracht Canal

After visiting the Anne Frank House we will certainly explore the canals.  There are 165 canals that encircle the city and keep the sea at bay.  The canals are criss-crossed with bridges to help you get around.  They are lined with museums, shops, galleries and cafes.  The most picturesque of canals is Prinsengracht, lined by shady trees and funky houseboats. This is where the Anne Frank House is located. A smaller canal areas that is worth visiting is the historic Brouwersgracht, one of the city's most desirable residential addresses.

Picture of the Red Light District of Amsterdam
Taken from the Internet
It isn't advisable to take pictures in this area

And at some point I'm sure we will wander
through the Red Light District which has cultivated such a notorious reputation. Situated in a rough triangle formed by the Central Station, it's the oldest part of the city. But its historical significance has been largely obscured by the popularity of window-shopping in the area. Along its streets, the multi-cultural community of prostitutes, junkies, clerics, carpenters and cops freely intermingle, exhibiting a strange kind of social cosiness. As a tourist, of course, I'll be a mere voyeur.  I am told that you should not take pictures in this area.  There have even been fights over this, and cameras have been destroyed.

As for other things to do, here are a few suggestions:

The Van Gogh Museum is an art museum dedicated to the works of Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries.  The museum's collection is the largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings in the world.  Here are their hours of operation:

• 1 May 10 am - 6 pm./2 May to 1 September - daily 9 am - 6 pm,  Friday until 10 pm.
• 2 September to 26 December - daily 9 am until to 5 pm, Friday until 10 pm.
• 27 December to 5 January - daily 9 am until to 6 pm, Friday until 10 pm. 
• From 6 January to 1 May -daily 9 am until 5 pm, Friday until 10 pm.

Times subject to change at any time.

Stedelijk Museum - This bath tub shaped museum has an amazing collection of 20th and 21st-century artists. It holds pre-war works by Cézanne, Picasso, Matisse and Chagall, plus a selection of paintings and drawings by Malevich. Post-1945 artists include De Kooning, Judd, Lichtenstein, Nauman, Stella and Warhol.

Statue of Rembrandt
in the square.

Rembrandt Square is one of the most famous squares in the city.  It is a great place to wander through and people-watch, which is one of my favorite things to do when I am traveling.  There are quite often street performers who entertain the square and the cafe terraces where you can relax over a cup of coffee or a meal.  This former butter market is a one-stop entertainment hub, with diverse attractions on the perimeter of the square and in its immediate vicinity.  One such place is the Café Bolle Jan which is an Amsterdam institution and the sort of place visitors will find nowhere else – a crowded but convivial bar, its walls steeped in history, where Amsterdammers come to listen to traditional Dutch folk music.  There is a statue of Rembrandt in the Square.

Vondelpark is the perfect spot to have a picnic.  It is the largest green space in Amsterdam.  The park is a cultural hub, with a number of sculptures, including one by Picasso.  From June to September people gather here to meet up and there is quite often music, dance and kids' activities.



Bicycles are very popular
in Amsterdam

As for other things to do, you can rent a bike and join the locals in riding around the city.  You will also find lots of people skating in the city and there are skates for rent if you care to join them.  At the Begijnhof, you will find a secluded garden and courtyard which offers a hidden sanctuary where traffic sounds dim and the bustle of the city fades into the distance. 

Another thing to do would be to visit the local flea markets to discover the multi-ethnic spirit of Amsterdam. The most famous is the Albert Cuypmarkt, a large general market that snakes through the heart of Pijp. It offers a great insight into Dutch life, selling everything from smoked eel to Surinamese sherbets. Neighbourhoods have their own markets: the Dappermarkt in Oost and the Lindenmarkt in Jordaan are the most authentic. Also in the Jordaan, the Noordermarkt sells organic farmers' produce on Saturdays and hosts an antiques fair on Mondays – which is less touristy than the big, bustling bazaar of the Waterlooplein flea market.

You can take a canal cruise to see the sights

Of course, there are many tours that can be arranged, the best being walking tours which will give you a chance to orientate yourself to the city.  Take a canal cruise to explore Amsterdam's historic canals by boat. It's the perfect way to enjoy a romantic dinner or simply relax and sightsee. A bike tour is a good way to see the sites of the city. You can also discover the city by scooter or Segway.

Example of work by
The London Police

There are many more museums to visit.  It is a city full of museums and art.  You can also see art without visiting a museum.  Amsterdam has an active street art scene. Every corner of town is a place to discover images of all shapes and sizes, from freehand graffiti to stencils, sculptures and stickers.  Many urban galleries have picked up on the street art scene, including Go Gallery on the stately Prinsengracht, which sells works by The London Police (2 guys who have drawn bubble-headed cartoons all over the walls of Amsterdam) a stone's throw from a giant wall-side example of their monochrome bubble-headed cartoons.

While in Amsterdam make sure you try there food.  One of the best things about travel - in my opinion - is trying the locale food.  It makes you feel more apart of the place.  There are many nice restaurants and cafes along the canals of Amsterdam.  Most cafés open in the morning and don't shut until 1am or 3am during weekends.  There are many traditional dishes to try.  Amsterdam is also famous for its Indonesian cuisine, which comes from the post-war years when the food was introduced by Indonesian immigrants.  Try the rijsttafel (rice table), an extravaganza of veggie, fish, and meat, served in small but mouth-watering portions.

And don't forget the street food.  I love trying foods in other countries that you can pick up at little places on the streets of the city you are visiting.  These foods really represent the culture of the destination.  In Amsterdam the favorite street foods are:


Poffertjes

•  Poffertjes are small, fluffy pancakes made with yeast and buckwheat flour. These tasty treats are prepared using a special pan with several shallow indentations in the bottom to hold the batter and make perfectly puffed small pancakes. Poffertjes are typically served topped with powdered sugar and butter.
• Bitterballen are deep-fried snacks that are ubiquitous in cafes and bars all over the Netherlands. These savory orbs are battered in a crunchy breadcrumb coating and filled with a gooey mixture of chopped beef, beef broth, flour, butter, herbs and spices. They are typically served with mustard for dipping.
• stroopwafel (syrup waffle)  is a chewy cookie.  It was first made in the town of Gouda in the Netherlands during the 18th century. In fact, until 1870 stroopwafels were made only in Gouda and there were about 100 bakeries selling these treats in that city alone. 
• Hollandse nieuwe haring should be tried at least once. The raw herring fish is typically served with chopped onions, and can be eaten with or without bread.

Once you have seen the sights of Amsterdam, you might consider hopping on a train and going to one of the oldest theme parks in the world.  It is just a little over an hour away by train and would be something you could do in one day.   This would be a fun destination for you if you have children with you.

The Ride - The Python
at Efteling Theme Park

Efteling is located in the town of Kaatsheuvel, in the municipality of Loon op Zand. This theme park is one of a kind. Once you arrive you will feel as if you have been transported to different world. The park offers a harmonious mix of fairy tales, folk tales and legends, spectacular attractions and rides, excellent restaurants, breathtaking scenery and enchanting venues. 

There is lots to do at Efteling.  There is a water show, a carnavel attraction where you learn about carnavels in 15 different coutnries including their costumes and music, there is a maze you can get lost in, and some high-speed rides such as Joris which is a double wooden roller coaster where 2 coasters (dragons) fight each other - it almost seems as if they will crash into each other but they don't, or the high speed bobsled down an icy mountain.  There is also the Flying Dutchman ride where you are sure to get wet, and you can visit Raveleijn which is a magical city which tells the adventure of five children who become knights.

Keukenhof Gardens

Amsterdam is a few hours away from the charming Dutch countryside. You could take a trip to see the Zaanse Schans windmills, the fishing village of Volendam, the miniature park of Madurodam, Alkmaar cheese market, or the famous Keukenhof Gardens, where there are over 7 million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths to see.  All of these day trips would be possible to arrange through a local tour company, or you could rent a car and see them on your own.

I know I plan to do quite a few of the things above when we visit, and I am looking forward to seeing this city.