I AMsterdam

I’ve just come back to London, back to work and back to the rain (It’s JUNE for crying out loud!) after perhaps one of the best weekends of this year. (I had a pretty great one a few weekends back in the countryside on the outskirts of London with friends and another with Filip’s parents in town – but this was one of the best travelling weekends I should say)

The best of travelling is that I get to do it with him!

Amsterdam is such a pleasure to see and be in. I use that word well aware that it is appropriate for both the Amsterdam I know and the Amsterdam that many travel to ‘see’. When you push aside the infamous aspects of what Amsterdam represents – the Red Light district and the freedom of cannabis – the representation of what Amsterdam is as a city and character is lit up and your experience is a completely euphoric one… well for me anyway.

I had been to Amsterdam before – I loved the city, but felt I had degraded my trip with the experiences many Kiwis and Aussies told me ‘I had to do!’ Pressure aside – I was indeed curious to see what the Red Light district was really like and how easy it was to go and explore different cafes etc. I had a great time, but I could see peripherally that there was a lot more to this place that captivated and interested me aside from the superficial characteristics I’d been told about.

The houses reminded me of NYC with the high ceilings and beautiful architecture

This time – was just the best! The city as I said earlier is just such a pleasure. There is so much here – it reminded Filip of Malmö and a little of Gothenburg in Sweden. It reminded me of getting lost in Venice, thinking one street looked like the next and in the Dam – thinking one canal was similar to the last. It has this relaxed feeling, when you get past the Red Light District and reach the canals (away from the main street where all the tourists flock for the shops), and feels very easy and safe – possibly partially to do with the freedom within their laws. It oozes quirky with modernity, and has art available within every glance of every street. It has a true café culture, with great food – vibrant atmospheres and fantastic décor. Similar to Sweden – the Dutch have amazing design skills.

The bicycles are of course a main characteristic of the city

It’s a place I do believe everyone must see – but not for the reasons I was first told I had to go there for. Go there for a rich culture, fantastic people and true European beauty with a solid history and a bright and engaging future ahead of it. When you go – check out of course the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum and Vondelpark on a nice day. 

As extras and more off the touristy track – be sure to go to  Gallery LaRaven – we accidentally fell upon this gallery – open in Central Amsterdam for the final day before moving to its new location – and I literally fell in love with both the artist, gallery manager and the gallery space itself.

I became inspired again within a second of looking through the window, and was overwhelmed by how open and generous these guys were. I felt at home, and if I were financially a little wealthier, I would have been walking away with at least three or four pieces by Mark Janicello as they were utterly STUNNING.

This is the absolute top of my list for anyone going – and as you’re strolling along to their gallery – be sure to have your camera ready for the vast amount of art you’ll spot in the streets along the way. Very very talented people have imprinted all throughout the city, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled.

Amsterdam hosts unique shopping boutiques, and has cheese flowing from every street corner. All in all a truly impressive, stylish and imaginative city. A place to take your family, to stroll with friends or travel to as a couple. In regards to shopping – as I’m trying to save a little at present it means my shopping must be kept to a low but of course I did manage to stumble across By Fabric (no website for me to share with you sadly)– and fell in love with the fact that they change all of their products weekly – how cool! They have two stores I believe, and I just thought it was such a great idea to keep things changing and updated. I bought a little bag for the summer evenings, as am loving the brights this season…. Good fun!

We stopped for lunch at Van Harte – great food, service and ambience. Huge portions…I literally didn’t think I would be able to eat the club sandwich due to the height of the bread. As per the below image you can see a half (yes just a half). But to be honest – the city is filled with cafes like this one, so stop wherever you think looks nice, and I’m pretty sure you’ll not be disappointed.

Trying to find a way to eat the HUGE sandwich from Van Harte

So in conclusion – the advice I have to offer is to keep your eyes open, push aside the preconceived ideas you have or you’ve been told about, and go and explore a truly enriching, creative, artistic and thoroughly enjoyable city. Explore explore explore and have an absolutely fantastic time.

A bride on her way to the church in a broken
down retro Volvo :( I hope she made it!

Amazing night sky 

The final farewell at the airport with Tulips