The Dutch capital
Amsterdam is a city that effortlessly blends history, culture, and modern charm. From its picturesque canals and beautiful architecture to its lively streets and welcoming atmosphere, every corner has something unique to offer. My trip was filled with memorable experiences, delicious food, and fascinating attractions. A destination that truly exceeded my expectations. Whether exploring world-famous landmarks or simply wandering through the scenic neighbourhoods, Amsterdam left a lasting impression and gave me memories I’ll always treasure.
This was my first time visiting this cool, trendy city, and a trip many months in the planning. We flew out of Gatwick on a sweltering Thursday evening and arrived in Schiphol after a short 45-minute ‘hop’ across the North Sea – a far cry from the 16 hours it took to get to Japan.
We took an Uber to our airBnb in Aalsmeer and settled in, full of excitement for the next two and a half days.
Double Dutch
Friday brought the first ‘bucket list’ item of the trip as we visited the Johann Cruyff Arena – named after one of the greatest footballers of all time and home of Eredivisie giants AFC Ajax. The stadium tour took in the home and away dressing rooms, the players tunnel, a birds eye view of the pitch, and a visit to the club shop. I became the proud owner of an Ajax jersey (the away kit as they were sold out of the iconic red and white). I very much enjoyed our visit here, it was the one thing I really wanted to do, so I was very pleased and happy we were able to go there.
After a spot of lunch we caught the train back into the city and had a wander round the shops before our next port of call. Situated on the site of the original 1867 brewery, the Heineken Experience offered an interactive, self guided tour inside the iconic brand. This was very interesting (and we got two pints included in the price) but it would have been good to see the beer actually being brewed so I felt this element of the tour was a bit lacking.
Day One culminated with a visit to the Ice Bar (meh) and then a spot of karaoke before returning to our digs (there may or may not have been a bit of weed!).
A ‘dam’ good experience
We had a slower start to Saturday: there was no rush as we had a free morning so bought some souvenirs, kept hydrated in scorching 36 degree heat and tried to avoid getting mowed down by the maniacal cyclists… more on that later.
First up we headed for ‘Amaze’ as we stepped into a world of light, colour and the audiovisual. Similar to Teamlabs in Tokyo, it starts off very ‘Squid Game’ (without the graituitous violence, of course) before morphing into a labyrinth of rooms shifting from visual artwork, introspective ‘mirror mazes’ and laser lights. You can even try your hand at mixing beats and designing your own music set!
Then I embarked on one of the more surreal experiences of my life. If you had said this 30-something heterosexual male would one day find himself in a pink house with dolls and glitter, I’d have said you’d had too much of that Amsterdam weed! But, alas, so it was we found ourselves at Barbie’s Dreamhouse, complete with Ken, Barbie’s Campervan, the Dreamplane and all things pink – not to mention our flamboyant host Charlie. What else is there to say!
We certainly packed a lot into our long weekend in this vibrant, modern city.
A menace on two wheels
One of the most notable things about life in Amsterdam is the number of cyclists. Two wheels is, by far, the most popular form of transport with over 900,000 bike pounding the city streets (and thousands more which end up in the canals). Traditional cycling gear like helmets and lycra do not exist here nor, apparently, does any form of highway code or road laws. It is every man, woman and bike for themselves!
We started our final day in the Dutch capital with another bucket list activity. I believe you can’t go to a new place, city or town without embracing the past as well as the present. Whilst it would be a stretch to say I ‘enjoyed’ Anne Frank’s House (because you simply cannot be anything other than appalled at the fate that befell them), I am glad we went there.
It was a sobering experience but one in which we learned a lot. The secret Annexe where the intrepid young Jew and her family hid for 761 days was a lot bigger than I though. The silence in the room as we walked through the atric was telling. Exactly who ratted Anne and her familt out, leading to their arrest and exile to Auschwitz will never be known. The audio tour was informative, interesting and quite emotional as we listened to Anne’s story and read her diary excerpts.
Heading for home
Incredibly for one of the world’s biggest cities, there are very few cars. As well as the aforementioned cyclists, the extensive and intrinsic canal network stretches for 62 miles. Initially used for trade and transportation of goods, the canals are now an integral backdrop to daily life here. Now deployed for tourism, recreational use and even to live on, the Grachtengordel gives visitors like us a unique, alternative and picturesque way to explore the city. Our excellent tour guide pointed out some of the more hidden secrets, showed us what to look out for and was less than complimentary on the city’s newly elected female mayor.
Then after a spot of lunch it was time to head back to Blighty: we caught the train from Central to Schiphol for our flight home. Unfortunately, due to perils of EasyJet we were an hour and a half late and landed back at Gatwick at 10.30pm UK time. Then we all went our separate ways with memories and good craic to last a lifetime.
Amsterdam is a great city, perfect for a long weekend with friends or family. It’s less than an hour’s flight and there is something for everyone. Would definitely recommend. Until next time….