Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Onward north!
We really enjoyed the capital of The Netherlands…Amsterdam!
This city is known for its artistic heritage, elaborate canal system, and narrow houses. Amsterdam is also home to a number of well-known museums and exhibits. Cycling is key to the city’s character, and there are numerous bike paths. BIKES EVERYWHERE!
The atmosphere was so different from Brussels and we really enjoyed the street food (fries, stroopwafels, etc.). Compared to Brussels the cost of living seems to be a little higher, but also we saw so many tourists.
We stayed at Hans Brinker Hostel. It seems to be once a hotel that is now a Hostel. It is massive. It was clean, had en suite bathrooms, new towels daily, and a great bar (with a good happy hour) in the lobby. Very minimal, but that is all we needed. Also, accommodation is pretty expensive in Amsterdam!
Currency: Euro €
Highs: good coffee, beautiful canals on almost every street (walking is pleasant), breweries, nice workspaces for the digital nomads, people were very friendly, despite covid everything is open and masks are not required (Northern Europe has a higher vaccination rate and covid is almost nonexistent here), the grocery stores are AMAZING (real good sushi)
Lows: expensive, super crowded and busy, smells like marijuana everywhere (I’m not a fan)
Places to visit:
Rijksmuseum, Museumplein (a park right in front of Rijksmuseum), Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, A'dam Lookout, various canals around the city, Royal Palace, the Heineken Experience (if your into this beer), we would recommend going up to New Amsterdam (only a free ferry ride away) and going to Walhalla Brewing and Oedipus Brewing! *Walhalla being our favorite
There are much more things to do, but honestly, if you are not into museums and art… go ahead and walk or rent a bike and explore the streets and canals!
Oedipus Brewing Company
Walhalla Brewing Company
Things to eat: we don’t really have a specific places to try these foods, but they’re all over the place in Amsterdam!
Frites - fries 🍟 get it with mayo sauce!
Stroopwafels - two thin waffles with caramel in between them! Tasty!
We do recommend a coffee shop Bocca. It was near the hostel we stayed at. They also offer coffee classes!
A pretty big stroopwafel!
Oh, I forgot! When people think of Amsterdam, they think of the Red Light District! We walked around the red-light district during the daytime and also the nighttime to compare and contrast. We also did some research on the red light district because we met a friend on the Camino that has been to The Netherlands before and he went when all of the prostitutes were doing a protest, and their poster said “we were told that we would dance”. Pretty surreal walking down the alleys of the district. To support these red light distract workers there are several companies that do different tours of the red lights district. With even some have interviews with the workers to have a real first-hand experience and also get an idea of how it feels to sit in a window and have people walking by and staring at you all night long. Red Light Secrets - Museum of Prostitution is a museum dedicated to sex workers.
The streets of the red light district
We enjoyed Amsterdam, but we are super excited to explore Copenhagen, Denmark!