Europe 2018: Amsterdam

June 29, 2019

Europe 2018: Amsterdam

Europe 2018 Trip

Amsterdam --> Berlin --> Dresden --> Prague --> Munich --> Nuremberg --> Brussels --> Liege --> Bruges --> Amsterdam

Tayler's thoughts are in blue, Rebecca's thoughts in black.

AMSTERDAM

Amsterdam is full of bikes. One of the tallest buildings we could see when we got off the train was a parking garage for bicycles. It was this ugly steel structure that looked about 20 stories tall--it seemed about as tall as the SWKT on BYU campus. And just as ugly.
It was really fun to wander through Amsterdam. Going into it we didn’t really have a feel for particular landmarks or buildings we should see, so it was fun to just plug in the audio guide and be surprised with everything.
There were some pretty churches and buildings, and a couple nice open plazas. There wasn’t as much open space as in Paris or Germany--but there were still a few plazas outside the largest cathedrals and buildings.
The Anne Frank Haus was definitely a highlight of Amsterdam. I read Anne’s diary for the first time just two years ago. The experience was interesting compared other museums because they moderate the foot traffic very carefully. Every patron also gets an audio tour device--a little handheld piece about the size of a two-way radio that you hold up to your ear. When you walk into each room there are sensors on the walls that you wave the device in front of to begin the sequence for that room. It was pretty smooth but still had its problems--for example people swiping at the sensors but then staying there instead of moving away so others could access the sensor.

In front of Anne Frank's House

More important than the actual operation was just trying to imagine living there. If I remember right, Anne Frank and her family lived there undetected for two years. The windows were blacked out, but not for air raids. I think they said that, at least in some of the lower levels, the windows were blacked out to prevent the grains and foods from damage.

Example of the facades in Amsterdam, and how the houses are built long.

There were lots of great stroopwafel bakeries along some of the busy streets. Lots of shopping, and the occasional tobacco (and marijuana) store. Rebecca is pretty sure she learned what marijuana smells like after getting a whiff a couple times walking past some of the coffee shops.
Rick Steves walking podcast for the win, again!

Loved the cobblestone streets and the canals. Amsterdam felt like a nicer, cleaner, English version of Venice to me. Darker colors than venice. It was beautiful and one of my favorite stops this trip!

Went to a shop called Vegabond and it deepend my love for Amsterdam. Europe in general seemed pretty great with food allergy accommodations, but Amsterdam, especially, seemed very aware. Vegabond had a ton of vegan treats and products, I got stroopwafels that lasted me the entire trip and a delicious savory spinach & cheese pastry for breakfast. We also ate at a “pancake” place that had really good ratings, that also had dairy free options (which was a happy surprise). We weren’t huge fans of the pancakes...they were basically like a huge crepe with things cooked inside. I had an almond and apple pancake, which was ok with syrup, but pretty bland overall. I think Tay wishes he would have gotten a huge nutella one instead of the apple/cheese one he got.

The hotel we stayed in was in a great location. Our Steve Ricks tour basically had us walk down the center of the circle that is central Amsterdam, and our hotel was at the end of it. We had to walk up this super steep, narrow staircase to get to our little, cozy room, just big enough for the bed. The bathroom was basically a combined shower and toilet, which was a little different. But we opened the big window and slept with the nice breeze all night.

One of the main roads in Amsterdam (that goes straight down the circle of central Amsterdam) has a trax run down it as well. I loved walking this road! There were pastry shops and gelaterias everywhere. There were also a lot of marijuana shops. But overall, I was really impressed with how clean and nice Amsterdam felt.

The main street running down Amsterdam

One of the main shopping roads in Amsterdam.

The Rick Steves podcast talked about how tolerant and inclusive Amsterdam has been in general. Of the LGBTQ community, the Jews back in WW2, basically everything. I just really loved the feeling there and how beautiful it was. The bridges over the canals had flower boxes, and the bikes parked everywhere.

LGBTQ monument

I LOVED the Anne Frank House and Museum. It was amazing, totally worth it, and one of the highlights of the trip for me. Being there and thinking of what it might have been like in hiding was crazy to imagine. It was one of the best museums I’ve ever been to.
We didn’t go to the old district in Amsterdam, mostly just the Anne Frank house and the main city walk tour. I loved the flower market! I loved Amsterdam!

Outdoor restroom...very awkward to walk past.

Right when we got off our red eye plane, we made it into central Amsterdam and took just about 2 pictures when the wind picked up and all the sudden it was POURING. I was wearing a dress and flip flops, which did not turn out great for me. We ended up buying an umbrella after toughing it out for a while, but the umbrella came in handy.