Streets made of water, cobblestone walkways, beautiful row houses, bicycles as the primary mode of transportation, a thriving arts scene, people of every race and religion, outdoor dining even the winter, and the subtle fragrance of cannabis tickling your nose as you stroll the streets. Welcome to I AMsterdam!
Amsterdam’s origins are rooted in the floods of 1170 and 1173 when the region was wiped out and the villagers built a bridge, and subsequently a dam, over the river Amstel giving the region its name “Aemstelredamme”. That name eventually evolved into Amsterdam in the 1300s when the city was formally established. Since that time, this city has endured two world wars, nazi occupation and yet evolved into one of Europe’s “Alpha World Cities” for commerce, trade, industry, multi-culture and the arts. It might surprise you to know that the Amsterdam Stock Exchange is the oldest in the world.
Unlike Venice, the canals of this city where planned and managed to preserve the region from drought over time. While you won’t see gondolas with singing drivers, the canals and bridges give the city a romantic essence that makes its guests want to aimlessly walk around, whether it be day or night. And if your feet can’t take the cobblestones, hop on one of the glass top boats and take a canal tour. These tours come in a variety of options. I’m partial to the champagne version!
With Dutch masters’ Vincent van Gogh and Rembrandt van Rijn being home grown, the artistic scene is a dream for those who aspire or simply appreciate. The city is home to several world class museums; the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk, the Amsterdam Museum, just to name a few. Should you go to any of these museums, book online and schedule a time. The cues are crazy and ordering online will save you a lot of time, but do expect them to be crowded.
One of the most famous destinations in Amsterdam is Anne Frank’s hideaway during the Nazi occupation of Holland. Anne and her family where hidden in a couple of rooms behind a bookcase in the building her father worked in. They hid there for two years until their arrest and eventual death in Auschwitz. The only family member to survive would be Anne’s father, who upon his return to Amsterdam learned that Anne’s journal had survived. That journal would eventually become the book The Diary Of A Young Girl. As with the art museums, book your visit to Anne Frank’s house online to save yourself time in a very long cue.
And of course, you can’t write about Amsterdam and not mention its more “notorious” side, the red light district, the sex museums and the cannabis coffee shops. Yeah, I’ll have a half-caf-cinnamon-coconut-milk-latte with a coral-reefer. That’s not on the Starbucks menu! For those with more delicate sensibilities this might be bothersome, but quite frankly, I’ve seen more “rancorous” behavior in my home country in a less than legal manner. All that to say, you may have heard about these things, but Amsterdam is one of the safest cities I have the good fortune to visit. Day or night, I feel safe. In fact, I could very easily live in this progressive old world alpha city.
Next up…the Gateway to Europe, Rotterdam, Netherlands.