AMSTERDAM

I embarked on a rather long trip to Europe this past spring. And by long, I mean like 11 days. Hey, in my world, that is an eternity! Okay, okay. So it wasn’t so long because we did five countries and six cities during that timeframe and I gotta say that we did good!

And by we, I mean my mother and I. I had been meaning to take my mom on a trip with me for a while and especially while I am still working at Kiwi Collection. As you may know, the reason I tend to travel on intense 2 and 3-day itineraries is because I get my accommodations looked after. Work tends to cover most of my hotel expenses which is great because I’m not sure if I would ever spend that much money on myself. Hotels are all luxury, not lower than a 4-star boutique, and I really wanted my mom to experience that.

The first stop on my Eurotrip was Amsterdam. We had a direct flight into Schipol and the minute we got off the train, I was in awe. What a beautiful city! The canals that meander in and out of the city made every corner and bridge look so gorgeous - I could not stop taking pictures. Amsterdam is a very, very photogenic city.

We stayed at the W Amsterdam, centrally located and not a far walk from Centraal. It was close to the Anne Frank House, Bloemenmarkt, Red Light District, the palace museum and is in close proximity to the tram and subway lines. Rooms was small, dark and sleek and was standard to any other W hotel - you know what to expect if you’ve ever stayed at a W before. But I had chosen to stay here because of its prime location and centrality.

Back to the city - there are so many things to see in Amsterdam. Whether you’re a museum buff, art nerd, history geek or just there for the architecture and sights, Amsterdam has a lot to offer. Although we were only there for two nights, we managed to cover a lot of ground.

My top two highlights were the Van Gogh Museum and Keukenhoff. Because we were there on such a short amount of time, I really had to prioritize what my mother and I wanted to see. We had aimed to see the Van Gogh Museum and were torn between Stedelijk and Rijksmuseum. We opted for the former and if you are a lover of modern, contemporary art, you might enjoy it. If you are more into traditional art like the Dutch masters, please go see the latter. I’ll have to check that one on my next trip to Amsterdam for sure.

A girlfriend at work reminded me of the tulip festival. Although it is prime to go earlier in the season in April, we just happened to be in town for the last week of the festival and decided to go. Keukenhoff is the largest tulip garden in the world. The grounds itself are very impressive and the sheer variety of flowers that they have on display there is a spectacle in and of itself. I’d recommend purchasing the entrance + shuttle bus ticket online - it’s one easy bus ride that is direct and there aren’t any time restrictions.

Getting around Amsterdam:

Walking - We literally walked everywhere when we were in town. We walked everywhere from Schipol to Anne Frank House to the Albertcuyp Market. I mean, it really depends on how much you can walk but its definitely doable to the point where we almost didn’t need to use our transit passes!

Transit - There are so many different types of transit passes in the city. While it really depends on what you have time to do, we went simple with a 48-hour GVB pass which was pretty reasonable and met our needs. Not to mention transitting to and from Schipol was a total breeze - just make sure you’re getting on the right train!

Things to see in Amsterdam:

Museumplein - Museums, as said above, are a huge attraction in Amsterdam. I LOVED the Van Gogh museum. With anything, make sure you get your tickets online beforehand to avoid your timeslot being sold out. Not to mention that all of the museums are cashless nowadays so you must be them online. It’s nice that all of the museums are located in the same area which makes for a full day of sightseeing (albeit, a tiring one!).
Keukenhoff - Do visit if you happen to be in Amsterdam during tulip season (late March to May). It’s a 45-minute drive away from Centraal if you buy your ticket ahead of time and depart with the shuttle. You can also make your own way down there via public transit which takes over an hour to get there if you hit all of your transfers.
Albertcuypmarkt - Loved this market! Located right by the Heineken Experience in the trendy De Pijp neighbourhood, this market is open everyday during the day except for Sundays. There are lots of great items to buy here (read: CHEESE), snacks, housewares and more. I especially loved the cheese stand at the east end of the market - they offer a great combo pack of Dutch gouda for 10 euros.
Red Light District - I wish I had spent more time in the Red Light District but since I was with my mom we literally did a five minute walkthrough in the evening. During the day, it is really quite a beautiful neighbourhood. But my mother is a very conservative Catholic and we just do not share the same views when it comes to sex work. It’s still a spectacle to see. If you do plan to go and participate, ensure you tip your entertainment!
Jordaan - I loved this district. It housed my favourite market, Noordermarkt, which on most days is an organic market but on Mondays, it is home to a vintage market! You all know how much I love vintage. Not to mention, there are some great eateries around here as well (more on this later!).
Amsterdam Nord - Did you know you could take a free ferry from Centraal up to Amsterdam Nord? By the ferry port, it is very industrial. NDSM is a cool, converted shipping container that has been transformed into a restaurant, cafe and venue space. It’s worth checking out the north and wandering.
Canals - Well, this is a no-brainer. I didn’t take a boat ride down the canals but they are really nice to appreciate it as is. I’m telling you - every street is Instagrammable.
Foodhallen - Not sure what to eat? Sick of Dutch cuisine (it’s a lot of fried food). Take a visit at Foodhallen in west Amsterdam. Tons of different ethnic food options here. De Ballenbar was my pick since it was the only traditional food offering here, but with a modern twist. Great sauces here with the bitterballen. Right across from this stall is the GIn & Tonic Bar. Excellent G&Ts to be had here. You might have a couple…like I did!

What to eat in Amsterdam:

Bitterballen – A must! You’ll find this just about everywhere in the city. Creamy beef-filled croquettes that are fried until golden and crispy. Don’t forget to wash it down with a huge pint of beer!
Haring – It’s a love it or hate it thing. Hey, it can’t be worse that Icelandic fermented shark, right? And it was actually really good! Loved the pickled herring. Similar in texture to sashimi with a light pickling. Always get the raw onions with it – just be sure you won’t be kissing anyone shortly after eating this!
Kibbeling – Fish and chips, minus the chips. Pieces of fish are battered and deep-fried to perfection. Always served with a lemon wedge and garlic aioli or tartar sauce. A great snack indeed!
Dutch apple cake – I’m still dreaming about this. It’s kind of like a hybrid of apple pie and cake in one. Crunchy exterior, a light cake center filled with large, tender pieces of apple. I loved the one at Winkel 43 – don’t forget the fresh mint tea on the side as well!
Pannenkoeken – You can’t go to Amsterdam without trying a traditional Dutch pancake. The batter is thin and crispy and served atop a plate that is way larger than your head. Seriously, it’s the best! I went all traditional and went with the bacon and apple pannekoeken. Lots of butter and syrup is a must!
Patat – To my realization, Dutch food consists of a lot of deep-fried food. Can’t go wrong with a classic here – French fries. Don’t get it wrong here – it goes way beyond the crispy golden sticks. Have it with mayonnaise, with peanut sate sauce, raw onions, curry sauce… the list goes on and on.
Kaas – This was an obvious one. I hope you like cheese because there is a lot of it in Amsterdam and the Dutch are proud of it. They are most known for gouda. Lots of varieties available – aged, smoked, basil, truffle? I brought home 7 different varieties home with me to Canada from the Albertcuypmarkt.
Stroopwaffel – I was the most excited for this. My sister has a friend who lives and after she visited him many years ago, she brought home stroopwaffels for us. Two thin, circular waffle disks sandwiched inbetween honey or caramel. The fresh ones are the absolute best!
Kroket – Croquettes! The Dutch love ‘em. There are tons of these found all over Amsterdam. I had mine at Fibo which houses all of their fast food in little “vending machines”. So cute! Great for a little snack.
Poffertjes – Mini baby pancakes! These are such a treat. Not only are they super cute, they’re also delicious to snack on. Always topped with butter and powdered sugar!
Rijsttafel – This is an absolute must if you go to Amsterdam. If you’re reading this far and aren’t impressed with the food offerings so far, I think you’ll be happy with this one. Rijsttafel is a traditional Dutch-Indonesian table dinner. Every inch of the table is filled with Indonesian curries, vegetables, meats, and side dishes – there is no way you’ll be able to walk after this. It’s advisable to come with a hangry appetite!
Ribs – Random, I know. Not traditional Dutch but there was this awesome hole-in-the-wall pub we visited on our first night in Amstrdam calld Café de Klos. The restaurant specializes in ribs and I gotta say, it was one of the best I’ve ever had! Give it a try – it won’t hurt the bank either.
Bifstukken – Another random one here but I had this amazing steak at Loetje (lots of locations available) when I was in Amsterdam Nord. No foreigners here at all but it’s clear what everyone is ordering: steak with the butter sauce and a side of sliced white bread. Yes, you read that right. Sliced white bread to sop up all that delicious buttery sauce. Weird flex, I know but literally every table had this. No regrets here!

Amsterdam was a lovely city. I would say it’s a wonderful city to walk and roam around in. From the canals to the museums to the cool design vibes, this is a city I would love to come back and explore. The museums, for me, were the biggest draw as well as the picturesque surroundings. Not to mention their public transportation here is practically impeccable, the city is great for not only newcomers but returning visitors from around the world.

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