09 January 2015

Travel : Amsterdam After 21 Years

Amsterdam, city of bikes and scooters!

It was way back late 1993 when I was last in Amsterdam and 21 years later I decided to return, this time with Captain on tow! It was his first visit to this amazing city and what he saw was not what he expected. After 21 years, Amsterdam to me was still the same city I remember it to be and it was nice to again experience the city as if I never actually left! 

The Bulldog Coffeeshop in the Red Light District, is one of the many coffeeshops in Amsterdam


There is so much more to Amsterdam than the usual cliche it normally is associated with - drugs and sex. Sadly the normal scene would be groups of youngsters wondering around the city enjoying the freedom this city embraces yet forgetting to actually 'see' the beauty it has to offer. Besides the many coffeeshops (places to enjoy marijuana, not to be confused with cafes) and the colorful Red Light district, Amsterdam is filled with museums and fabulous architectures. The highlight of this trip was a visit to the Van Gogh museum to see his famous master pieces and my one favorite, The Sunflower in person. There was also the Museum of Handbags, (can you believe it?), Anne Frank House, The Rembrandt Museum and the gorgeous Rijksmuseum just to name a few. 


Mike's Bike Tour has some fabulous excursions to enjoy


We decided to take a bike excursion outside the city just to get away from the hustle and bustle for a day. The whole trip took about 5 hours and it was worth the effort. It was interesting to learn about the protocol of cycling in the city and to enjoy the fantastic scenery along the journey. The excursion took us to see one of the windmills Holland is famous for. This particular one actually has a family living in it! How cool is that? We also visited a small family run shop that makes cheese and clogs. It was a great experience and I highly recommend the bike excursion if you ever in town. Lets just say we learned a lot through the trip :) and dinner was well deserved!







One of the many boat houses!

Since this was Captain's first trip to Amsterdam, we had to do the tourist must - the cruise on the canal! This is the best way to see the city besides the city excursion by bike. More romantic ;). I especially love the cute boat houses and I was telling Captain that the next time we are going to be in the city, we are renting one of them!


A replica of the old Dutch East India Company, part of the Maritime Museum

These houses along the canals were not exactly straight and some even lean forward!



The gorgeous view from our window


The busy street of Amsterdam came night fall


At night Amsterdam was transformed into the most spectacular scene. It was end of November and the city was already decorated with Christmas decoration and lighting. The walk along the canal at night on the way back to our hotel, The Ambassade, which was away from the busy area, offered a breathtaking scenery. The rippling water of the canal reflecting the street light giving the most romantic feel. Yes, Amsterdam at night was truly amazing!


Long Pura, a Balinese restaurant served some amazing flavorsome dishes

Speculoos! We brought back jars of it!


Eating out was another experience. One could get any sort of cuisine in Amsterdam. We tried a variety. I discovered Speculoos on one of our breakfasts and I must say it was love at first bite! How is it possible that I didn't know about this delicious spread earlier?


Sniffing cacao, anyone?


At the end of the trip Captain confessed that he was not expecting Amsterdam the way he experienced it. He had always thought Amsterdam to be a sleazy city, based on what he loosely heard. Instead he concluded that it's a city that was honest, liberal, cultured and had tons to offer. Me, I just had to confirm that after 21 years!  


Have you been to Amsterdam? What was your impression of it? Do share your experience here :)


post signature

25 comments:

  1. Oh, this is so exciting to read as we're planning to visit Amsterdam in late May! We will definitely be signing up for that bike tour!! I also want to see the Dutch Masters museum in addition to the Van Gogh. It looks so lovely there, can hardly wait!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are going to have so much fun in May especially when the weather is just right! At least half a day for Van Gogh should be allocated.. so much to see!

      Delete
  2. Looks like you had a eonderful time there, great pictures. My last trip to Amsterdam was maybe 30 years ago, it's probably time to revisit...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think after 20 years, we have to re-visit ;)

      Delete
  3. I haven't been to Amsterdam yet. Thank you for sharing it! Your photos are wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, this was fun reading!!! I am so glad the city lived up to your expectations. If you want to see how my city looks in sunshine, go to the top navigation of my blog and click on the tab Amsterdam. You will find several posts there. Including the East India ship and the Bag Museum.
    As for the houses leaning forward... some of them were built like that deliberately, to have less rain hitting the front of the house. I know that from my father. Others of course are just not as straight as when they were built.
    Windmills... ach... we are famous for it, but we only have a handfull left. Same thing with clogs... only farmers still use them nowadays. Very handy for muddy ground and easy to get off when you go into the house.
    Would have loved to meet you. Oh well, next time? In spring or summer?
    Greetje

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. East India ship you will find in the post Amsterdam Maritime Museaum....

      Delete
    2. Thanks Greetje, I will browse through your blog for more of Amsterdam. Yes, we were told by the cruise guide that the house were build leaning forward on purpose - for rain and also for bringing up furniture as the houses were mostly built narrow, apparently narrow houses less tax! I would like to return again with some girlfriends this time and yes, I would love to meet up! Fingers crossed that it will be soon :)

      Delete
  5. Incredible Amsterdam !!! lovely pics !



    xo
    http://www.thetrendysurfer.com/

    ReplyDelete
  6. Loved reading this : ) Brought back so many memories for me.

    I visited Amsterdam for the first time in my life this last September and stayed with bloggers Sylvia, Anja and partied with Greetje. It was so much fun! They were the BEST hostesses. You can see a video of us on touring the canals on Greetje's husband's boat...it was divine.

    http://suzannecarillo.com/what-to-wear-when-cruising-the-canals-of-amsterdam/

    I did up three posts on the trip.

    I really do hope you make it over for the blogger meet-up. Have you been to Canada before? Vancouver is gorgeous...and our dollar is down...so you get more bang for your money. So far there are about 20 people coming...

    bisous
    Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Suzanne, thanks for the link! If by any twist of fate comes July and there's no plan for the summer, I shall be there :) If not, there's always another time especially when I have never been to Canada before!

      Delete
  7. I have never been to Amsterdam and this is in my bucket list. I thought years before I migrated to the US that I was meant to live in Netherlands, unfortunately things didn't go as planned. I thought I belong there because I'm in love with biking (I'm more of a slow poke) and would definitely embrace the bike commuting culture.

    Glad you were able to return even after more than 20 years and share the experience with Oh Captain Your Captain! You are one gorgeous couple Mrs. C!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Karen :) It was good to return, especially when the 2 visit were totally different in terms of company, maturity and $$$ LOL! This trip was a lot better ;)

      Delete
  8. The Images are wonderful :)
    One day i have to visit it too!

    Happy Sunday ,lovely Greets from Vienna <3

    ReplyDelete
  9. Amazing post! Great pictures!
    Have a nice day!
    Angela Donava
    http://www.lookbooks.fr/

    ReplyDelete
  10. wow very nice travel and love it your story... nice to meet you....

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful photos, looks like both you and the captain had a wonderful time! I've always wanted to go to Amsterdam, hopefully we'll make it there eventually. We had plans to travel there many, many years ago, both plane tickets and hotel booked, but then we found out that I was pregnant, so we never made it. I'd love to see the Van Gogh museum!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awww.. well, maybe one day you will visit Amsterdam together with the 'caused' of the cancelled visit :) The Van Gogh museum was really something.. I now can say I know Van Gogh a bit more ;)

      Delete
  12. When I first browsed quickly through the images, I thought you were in Copenhagen:) Did you try sniffing a line of cacao?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha! No, dare not.. look deadly LOL! I have to visist Copenhagen one day :)

      Delete
  13. Never been to Amsterdam, so the more interesting it was to read your notes and to see the photographs. Nice city it seems, worth traveling to. Love that photo of the houses along the canal.

    ReplyDelete
  14. LOL! It's funny how Amsterdam is categorized as a sleazy town. Well, I have to be honest as that's what I heard a lot about as well. I haven't been there yet as according to my bf he said there's nothing much to do there. I would love to go there some day and I will try to convince him to go with me =D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Diva in me... Have a look at the top of my blog (www.nofearoffashion.com), underneath the button Amsterdam.... You will see even more of Amsterdam. Maybe that will convince your boyfriend?
      Greetje

      Delete

Say your thoughts!