I spent three days in Amsterdam in August as part of my #2SummersEuropeanTrip. I have so many pretty pictures of the visit and if I don’t share them now I may never do it. So without further delay, here they are.
My Amsterdam photos organized themselves into a series of seven categories.
Amsterdam Photo Category #1: Buildings
Amsterdam has crazy architecture — lots of super tall, skinny, very old row-houses, some of which lean at seemingly precarious angles.
Amsterdam row-houses at night.
I think this is a museum of some sort. Note how it lists to the right.
The Museum of Our Lord in the Attic — an entire Catholic Church hiding inside one of Amsterdam’s tall, ancient row-houses. Highy recommended.
Photo Category #2: Cyclists
Bicycles are the main mode of transport in Amsterdam. I took many photos like this.
Photo Category #3: Food and Drink
Amsterdam isn’t known as a foodie city, but I beg to differ.
Fresh herring with raw onions and pickles. You can buy this at little stands all over the city. I did not expect to like it but I did.
A Surinamese restaurant on the east side of Amsterdam, where I bought a takeaway one evening. There are thousands of people of Surinamese descent living in the Netherlands; Surinamese food is an interesting mix of Caribbean and Asian influences.
Dutch apple pie. So damn good.
Traditional jenever, or Dutch gin, which comes in many flavors and tastes nothing like the gin I’m used to. Best consumed in a Dutch Brown Café, which is the equivalent of an English pub.
If you eat only one thing in the Netherlands, eat one (or ten) of these: stroopwafels. Stroopwafels are chewy, waffle-like cookies (biscuits) with a caramel filling. The stroopwafels pictured here are fancy ones from a famous bakery called van Wonderen, but you can buy them anywhere without the elaborate toppings.
Photo Category #4: Canals
Amsterdam, and the Netherlands as a whole, is more water than land.
The Love Boat.
Canal life.
Read more about my time floating on the canals of the Netherlands.
Photo Category #5: Tiny Cars
I was fascinated by the teeny-tiny cars, called Cantas, which are all over Amsterdam. Cantas are designed for disabled drivers and are small enough to fit on cycling and walking paths.
This Canta is the best because it has a matching dog inside.
Photo Category #6: Coffeeshops
Coffeeshops, aka cannabis shops, are abundant in Amsterdam.
Mellow Yellow. Fun fact learned from my Dutch friends: The majority of Dutch people don’t smoke much weed and coffeeshops are patronized mostly by foreign tourists.
I’m sure you’re wondering so I’ll tell you. I felt too nervous to go into a coffeeshop alone and smoke a joint, and as it turns out I was right to feel that way: The weed in Amsterdam coffeeshops is extremely strong. I did feel compelled to try it though, so on my last night I bought a joint and took it back to the flat where I was staying. I had four or five drags before going to bed and that was way more than enough.
Photo Category #7: Sex
Shot in the Red Light District: This one speaks for itself.
And lastly, many of my photos covered several categories at once.
Buildings, food, cyclists.
One more quick note: I don’t have any photos from the Anne Frank House (photos aren’t allowed inside) but I really recommend visiting this museum. I was lucky to get a last-minute appointment through a friend but the Anne Frank House must normally be booked weeks in advance. It’s well worth it.
I loved Amsterdam. Can’t wait to go back.
That dog is the BEST! ☺
Agreed ????
SO JEALOUS. Love the pics. My BF spent some time there and he really liked it, too. It’s one of those countries that I have to hit. In love with any bike friendly town. xxoo
Yes, the whole country is sooooooo lovely.
I love the Netherlands! beautiful pictures, thank you, but how about aged Dutch cheese? I seem to remember that you do like cheese, from a post many years ago? I am French and live in Switzerland, both countries well known for their excellent cheeses but when in the Netherlands, I am always on the hunt for aged farmer’s cheese…
Ah yes! I should have mentioned that – I did buy some cheese and brought it back to SA with me. It was delicious! I just didn’t include the photo I took so I forgot 🙂
Interesting that the cyclists don’t have to wear helmets?
Yeah, helmets totally aren’t a thing there. Some people put helmets on their babies/small children but I don’t think I saw a single adult wearing one.
Basically the streets and bike paths are designed to be safe enough to walk and cycle without helmets. Helmets also only offer limited protection and are a hassle to carry around. Drivers should wear helmets dammit! We like it easy. Cycling needs to be uncomplicated if you want lots of people to do it!
After spending time in the Netherlands in my youth I always wanted to land up there permanently one day, I loved it.
The only reason I can’t imagine myself living there is because it’s so freaking crowded. So many tourists! But it thins out nicely once you’re out of the city center.
It was nice of you to sacrifice yourself on the cannabis altar so your readers could have the full experience. 😉
Also, now I want all the stroopwafels.
Hahaha. Basically I knew my boyfriend would be really disappointed if I came home from Amsterdam without smoking at least one joint. (Also I ate a lot of stroopwafels after smoking the joint.)
A twofer! Awesome.
Nice, next time you can become a pro and venture away from Amsterdam, the rest of the Netherlands is so much nicer without all the crowds and waffle shops!
I heard these Canta cars are a bit of a problem, they’re classified as scooters (so no car license required) and you can park them free on the pavements… which in Amsterdam with €5-10 per hour parking rates is quite attractive. So a lot of undisabled people seem to use them as well!
I was actually wondering about that (the licensing/parking thing). I’m so glad I got to experience other parts of the Netherlands on my boat trip! I also preferred the rest of the Netherlands to Amsterdam. Hope you had a great time in Japan 🙂