We’ve transited through Amsterdam a few times but never spent any real time there. With April being peak tulip season we decided to use the opportunity this time to spend a couple of days exploring some of this City of Canals’ many attractions before heading to Paris for the marathon.
We had elected to stay at the Mövenpick Hotel which was next to the Cruise Terminal and 10 minute walking distance to the Central Train Station. However, it was at times best to use the great tram system which got you from A to B reasonably quickly.
The Museum district is very popular so best to book tickets online and you could spend hours in each one – think Rijksmuseum, Moco, Anne Frank House, Van Gough etc. However we’ve always wanted to see Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring which was in the Mauritshuis at The Hague so we caught the short 45 minutes train to The Hague. The Mauritshuis is a more intimate less crowded experience and we enjoyed out time there viewing its artworks. If we had more time we would have explored The Hague further as its much less crowded it very different from Amsterdam.
Our visit to the Keukenhof Gardens – considered to be world’s largest flower gardens – covers 32 hectares and 7 million flower bulbs. Principally tulips – it also includes hyacinths, daffodils, lilies, roses, carnations irises. It was a stunning fine crisp afternoon and the flowers were indeed beautiful but the gardens are incredibly popular and there were traffic jams just to get there let alone the crush of people once you were inside. The gardens were included as part of a bus tour (they are 40 kms out of the city). The earlier stop was the windmill village of Zaanse Schans. There are also traditional wooden houses, handicraft shops and small museums to explore. Unfortunately it was still early and the sun hadn’t risen very high and there was a very cold wind which meant that the museum café held more attraction for us!
Back at Amsterdam city centre the afternoon was beautiful as walked around the canal cafes and shops and even came across a few ’Ladies in Windows’ away in some of the ‘off the main drag’ alley ways as well as ‘Magic Mushroom & Space Cookies’ shops.
Amsterdam – a city of contrasts, conflicting cultures, a unique blend of history and lots of bicycles!
Please contact me if you are interested in knowing more about this destination.
Keukenhof Gardens. Almost as many people as tulips!!