Amsterdam, The Netherlands
For years I’ve wanted to visit Amsterdam. All the stories I’ve heard, movies I’ve watched, and articles I’ve read made me want to visit even more, and now, it was finally time! After a delayed flight, unexpected checked in luggage, and a missed train I finally made it to Amsterdam Central. Walking out of the station felt like something out of a movie. Churches, clock towers, and railcars; it was immediately the most European view I’ve had yet! I loved it and haven’t even checked in to my hostel. After a couple alleys I finally made my way to the famous Flying Pig Hostel. This was honestly one of the coolest hostels I’ve ever stayed in. The rooms were super comfy and the hostel bar, lounge, and smoking room were by far the most social parts of the hostel! I met so many amazing people at this hostel and can’t recommend them enough for anyone visiting Amsterdam looking for the true backpacker experience.
Amsterdam.. wow.. I honestly don’t even know where to start. The city itself is absolutely gorgeous. Amazing architecture, beautiful parks, and the canals are just the icing on the cake. The city was a beautiful mixture of cultures and beliefs with a laidback liberal attitude made apparent by a variety of churches, psychedelic storefronts, and of course famous coffeeshops and cafes spread throughout the city; each offering their own unique vibe. I honestly spent the first few days just walking around the city coffeeshop hoping and discovering local dive bars and neighborhoods. I was constantly in awe by the beauty of the city and melting pot of travelers from around the world. Then there’s the Red Light District, which is by far the most interesting place I’ve ever walked through in my life. Some areas were more exciting than others, but it was fun to see the expression on peoples faces as they passed by the windows of enthusiastic women waving at the passerby’s and entertaining offers from curious customers. It was actually a really entertaining part of town to wonder through and experience first hand!
There are a lot of things to do in Amsterdam, including the famous coffeeshops! One of my favorite coffeeshops I visited was Green House. I first learned about their shop from Strain Hunters; an awesome YouTube channel where a group of guys travel to remote regions around the world to discover the best strains to bring back to their shop. The walls are filled with celebrity photos and awards given to the historic shop! Another favorite of mine was Dampkring Coffeeshop; which had a really great cafe inside with a good vibe. Then there’s Café Hill Street Blues, which was the coolest place I found to grab a beer and hang out. They have two locations that both overlook the water in the back to give the perfect Amsterdam feel.
Bicycles are crazy popular here in Amsterdam! I rented a bike for a day and checked out Vondelpark, and even found a windmill on the far side of town, which was home to Brouwerij ‘t IJ brewery. I enjoyed a delicious flight of local Dutch beer and called the day a success! The canal tour was also a really cool experience; I went twice because the first time I was enclosed and it was super cloudy. Both times were super fun! There’s a ton of different tours, including ones with wine and cheese and off course even a smoke boat!
Amsterdam is a very fun city, but make sure you take the time to explore some of the museums in town! I’m a huge fan of art, so my favorites were of course the Van Gogh Museum, and the Moco Museum! Both were really cool museums to check out, and were a great place to enjoy some AC and see some amazing art pieces. The Moco Museum was filled with a bunch of contemporary art, including a collection of Banksy pieces, so I was really excited to see more of his work since I was just in London before coming here.
The thing I enjoyed most about Amsterdam was how amazing the architecture was. Every day I just wondered around the city discovering new neighborhoods and admiring the buildings. The peaceful canals, all the spires around town, and every park and green space full of people enjoying the sunshine and being social. Even at night everyone had their windows open and would be sipping wine with their friends or hosting dinner parties letting music flow out into the street. It was a really cool vibe that I absolutely loved. Sure, Amsterdam is a very touristy place, but personally I felt like you could still escape the big tourist spots and enjoy the true beauty of the city!
Since the country is pretty small, it’s very easy to travel throughout the Netherlands. A quick trip on a train could easily take you to Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, or anywhere else you’d want to go! Since I had some friends from Utrecht, I spent a couple nights there to unwind from Amsterdam and enjoy a more authentic Dutch city. Utrecht was much quieter than Amsterdam, but was a beautiful town to explore and enjoy some pretty architecture and nature. The canals downtown were a great place for nightlife, and the universities in town gave life to the quiet city throughout the evening. Watching the sunset over the water and seeing the dozens of green parakeets flying around were definitely my favorite thing to do in Utrecht!
Although I spent a week in Amsterdam, there was so much I didn’t get to see. I loved the Netherlands and will definitely make a trip back to Amsterdam in the future! For now, I will enjoy the memories I made as I daydream about renting a flat and working there remotely! Until next time; I can’t wait to come back and enjoy.