AMSTERDAM, HOW TO FIND OUT ON THE WEEKEND

The trip that took me to Amsterdam started with an idea and before reaching the usual conclusion read on. In this article, I don’t list the things I saw on my travel, but based on that initial idea I will explain how it became a reality.

I spent a weekend in Amsterdam in June 2017, taking a flight departing from Venice and arriving in Schiphol and I spent €130. Schiphol airport is perfectly connected by bus and public transport in Amsterdam is efficient.

The common idea of Amsterdam is the image of a city where perdition is legal but Amsterdam is much more.

What would we like to see and how to discover it?

Amsterdam is the city of legality and for its red light districts and coffee shops, it is known all over the world. All this could make it a degraded city instead, the regulation makes the city civil and advanced. Coffee shops allow the consumption of drugs in peace for those who are interested and you do not see ugly guys in the corners of the city. The red light district allows you not to see the girls in the street.

Here I confess that the only two museums I have visited are the museum of Hash and Sex because only here they can be found and I must say that they are very interesting. In the city the means of transport par excellence is the bicycle and priority should be given to cycle paths. I found walking in the streets safe and serene, as in a city on a human scale and modern.

bicycle channels Amsterdam
bicycle channels Amsterdam

Amsterdam and its canals.

Amsterdam is also called the Venice of the North because it is formed by 100 canals and crossed by 600 bridges. You can make beautiful boat trips and travel the entire city. The idea of Amsterdam from the high houses close to each other and the maze of canals pushed me to take an organized cruise, which I had never done in other cities.

During this travel, I used the Getyourguide app a lot to book entrance tickets and excursions, as well as for this experience. The result was above expectations. Thanks to this excursion and the audio guide I was able to discover the history of Amsterdam from a different point of view (from the canals), to see in one afternoon the characteristic buildings (for example the headquarters of the East India Company) and to know the curiosities of one of the most famous cities in the world.

Bloemenmarkt Amsterdam
Bloemenmarkt Amsterdam

Amsterdam and its tulips.

The idea of the colors of the different types of tulips and the feeling of spring guided me on this trip. I strongly recommend you to go to Amsterdam in April, during the tulip blooming period (from the end of March to mid-May) to visit the Keukenhof where you can admire all kinds of tulips. In addition, every day in the city center there is the market Bloemenmarkt where you can buy tulip bulbs as souvenirs (you can also put them in hand luggage on the way back, I had no problems at the airport).

Amsterdam and its windmills.

The idea of the windmills led me to take the train to the central station in the direction of Zaanse Schans where I found a row of windmills and some are working. The thing I remember most about that half day is the walk in this timeless place and the farm that sold its typical products, including the Gouda a typical Dutch cheese. There is also the possibility to rent a bike and go to Volendam, a fishing village but it is 20 km away and I chose to go there by bus.

Zaanse Schans Amsterdam
Zaanse Schans Amsterdam

Amsterdam and the fishing villages.

I spent the other half of the day in a quaint seaside village where the houses extend along the coast and you can rest on the grass along the harbor. It was very relaxing as a visit and ended with an abundant dinner of excellent fish at sunset.

Amsterdam and Heineken.

A visit to the Heineken factory is recommended and a visit to the Heineken Experience is recommended. Taking the ticket jumps in line, I did the guided tour with the various taste breaks. There are several interactive activities to do and I found her interested to do at aperitif time.

What do I remember about Amsterdam?

Beer drinking

– The tulip bulbs brought home that bloom on my balcony

– A feeling of peace that few cities can give

With the languor of still tasting the Gouda, I can tell you that this trip is recommended by Call me Claire.

Claire

Call me Chiara, the idea is to take you with me on my travels and share with you my passions: from hiking in the mountains to days of kitesurfing, from urban cities to forests and all surrounded by the delights of the world.

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