Well friends, it official. I’m in love. I’ve been back from Amsterdam for a little while now and I can’t stop thinking about the the good times. From the cafes spotted with sunlight, to the canals that create a maze to be discovered – I am completely in love with this city. Annie and I headed there at the beginning of May to catch the last part of the tulip season at Keukenhof, we were not disappointed, it was even better than when I was there last year.
We got an evening flight out of London on Friday and got the train into ‘Amsterdam centraal’ station. Its one of the easiest transfers I’ve ever done. Takes about 20 minutes all up on the sprinter train. We were staying in an AirBNB near Westerpark so just ended up getting a taxi. It was the easiest option when it was getting late and after a delayed flight the last thing we wanted to do was navigate the tram system. Our day ended (as so many of our holidays together do), with a glass of bubbles and great chats trying to dissect the intricacies of life.
The following morning we were greeted by warmth and sunshine…perfect for a day wandering around the city. We had the best intentions of starting the day with a walking tour to help get our bearings and learn a little more about the city. This didn’t ended up happening…because of, well…shopping. We got distracted by shoes and cute outfits. It isn’t the first time and it won’t be the last.
Instead of doing the tour, we headed to the Anne Frank Museum. I would recommend this to anyone visiting Amsterdam. I’ve done it on both of my trips there and plan to continue to do so each time I visit. Much like my trip to Krakow earlier this year it was good to be reminded of the past, to not only appreciate the present but the future as well. I had also just finished reading Anne Franks Diary. It made this trip far more poignant because of the background knowledge received between those pages. One thing to note…there will usually be a queue to get into the house itself. Generally the wait takes about an hour, but its totally worth it. There are cafes close by, so can grab a cuppa whilst you wait (it helps pass the time).
The building is now a museum, housing the original rooms as well as extra exhibitions which have been added onto the existing structure. The secret annexe has been kept as close to the original as possible, even entering the room by the bookshelf that kept the occupants hidden for so long. It felt as if you too had been transported back in time and were being led through the pages of her diary. At the end of the walk through you will find the iconic diary itself. The first time I saw it, it took my breath away. The weight of what I was presented with made me stop and take notice…and rightly so too. In front of me was a physical bookmark in history. A girl whose life was taken far too soon had penned her inner most thoughts and feelings about life, giving us now a precious insight into an important window of history. Little did she know her small words on a page would go on to change how the world thinks and give valuable observation into the war and its affects on Holland. 
There was no sleep in on Sunday morning as we were heading to Keurkenhof. This is one of my favourite things about visiting Amsterdam in spring. Keurkenhof is essentially a giant flower show, covering 32 hectares. Approximately 7 million bulbs are used to make up the multiple exhibitions. The grounds are open to the public for two months each year and understandably are quite busy. Don’t let that deter you however, its totally worth the crowds. Walking through rows of meticulously planted tulips and the vibrancy of the colours are just a stunning as you can imagine. Each year there are themed exhibitions and pavilions of both cut flower displays and garden designs.
My favourite things about Amsterdam are the things that weren’t on the tourist lists. Strolling the canals and getting lost amongst them, will always be one of my favourite things about the place. This is even more apparent at sunset. The first time I visited the city I was doing this exact thing one evening. I walked onto a small bridge going over the canal and turned around, being met by the most incredible sunset, one I will never forget. I remember being transfixed by its rays and not wanting to move in fear of missing the way its light created warm hues against the evening sky and the buildings around me. If I could stand on that bridge and watch the sunset every day, I would do it in a heartbeat.
One of my other favourites is the cafes. Because of the way the city is laid out, the streets run parallel to the canals, giving some amazing cafe viewing spots. You can relax with a cuppa and watch the world go by. One cafe Annie and I visited was TEDS. I fell in love with it instantly. They specialise in all day brunch (just like the ones back home) and even offer a spirited high tea. Its like this place was made for us! Our time I’m Amsterdam was completed by a walk through Vondelpark and doing the Sandemans walking tour. I try to do them everywhere I go to gain a little more understanding of the place I’m visiting and its a great excuse for a little exercise too.
Sending hugs and smiles,
Vanessa
