Sunday, May 14th, 2023 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Updated: Oct 22, 2023
Breakfast in the hotel was included in our rate; it was served in the restaurant area just off the lobby and included a good selection of baked goods, cereals, cooked items and they would also cook breakfast to order – good coffee was provided from a self-serve machine.
It was a cool and bright morning as we set off to walk across the city towards the Rijksmuseum where we planned to catch a canal boat tour. About five minutes from the hotel we entered Dam Square a large, cobbled, plaza that represents the center of old Amsterdam; there used to be an actual dam (of the Amstel River) in this location but now the center is pinned by a WWII monument with the Royal Palace dominating one side and large hotels and department stores all around.
Amsterdam is a great city for walking, we love it; many of the streets are off limits to cars and there are always little side alleys to explore with shops, bars, and cafes. We wandered through the flower market with every conceivable type of tulip bulb for sale – although this market is impressive it must pale compared to those at the time of the “tulip mania” around 1637, shortly after tulips were introduced to Europe, during this period a single tulip bulb could sell for five times the annual salary of a talented artisan.
Our route took us from the center of Amsterdam out to the edge of the historic area; the historic area is surrounded by several canals running in concentric circles – and so as we progressed, we found ourselves crossing several canals. The canal bridges can range from simple to quite decorative and quirky, but it’s hard to cross a bridge without pausing to take in the sights and of course take many pictures. A lot of people ride bikes around Amsterdam, since there are no hills and car access is limited, cycling is an efficient and easy way to get around – but watch out as you walk the canal banks or step out the cross a street; the cyclists definitely consider themselves a notch above the pedestrians and demand right-of-way.
After about an hour of walking we crossed the last and outer-most of the ring canals and found ourselves in front of the magnificent Rijksmuseum. There are several companies offering a range of canal boat trips in this area; a quick web search led us to “Flagship” one of the smaller companies and we had no problem buying tickets for the next sailing, about a 10-minute wait. We opted for the basic though grandly named “Amsterdam Luxury Cruise” for about 20 Euros each.
Our tour vessel was a sizable open boat powered by an electric motor and staffed by two young guys, obviously students earning extra cash; one steered the boat and the other made cocktails to order – both provided the running commentary. The hour-long cruise was absolutely fantastic; the weather was warm, the commentary was educational but funny, the seats were comfortable and there was so much to take in.
Following a quick lunch in a corner café, we headed for the Rembrandt House Museum – we had not pre-booked ticket but had no problem getting in. The museum is housed in a building that Rembrandt did actually live in between 1639 and 1658, though most if the furniture and fittings were scattered to other locations after his death. The museum opened in 1911 and managed to collect up some of Rembrandt’s things and others of similar ilk. Arranged over 4 floors, the collection provides a great idea of a day in the life of the artist – he also used the building as his studio and to operate his art business.
No visit to Amsterdam is complete without a stroll through the red-light district; it is an incredibly popular tourist attraction with sightseers far outnumbering actual customers. It’s not uncommon to see large tour groups being led along the canal side by a flag waving tour guide. In the weeks leading up to our visit we had read about the city of Amsterdam enacting new regulations to stop public marijuana smoking and ladies displaying themselves in the windows – based on our brief visit I’m not sure these new regulations are very effective.
We found a great little Italian restaurant just along the street from our hotel; Sapore Italiano served all of the classic dishes in an intimate, comfy setting – we really enjoyed it.
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