Have you been to Amsterdam? I (Helena) have been there on a short work trip once, and after that I have always wanted to come back. And soon it's time for that actually! In May we're going to the Dutch capital to go to a concert with a bunch of young people (because you're young if you're under 30...?).
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Peter's son Robin and his wife Alexandra, Peter's niece Dessi and her husband Lasse and Peter's nephew Sebbe and his girlfriend Moa. Wehooo!
Concert with Armin van Buuren
Dutch DJ and megastar Armin van Buuren is celebrating 20 years of performing at the Amsterdam arena, and we weren't going to miss it! Or rather, Robin made sure we didn't miss it as he was quick as a flash to get tickets (they sold out in seconds) and gave us a Christmas present. Fantastic!
What else can you do in Amsterdam?
Our trip will focus on the concert, but we will probably have time for a little trip to the city as well! The things I remember from my previous short visit are all the channels surrounded by charming and colourful houses, the never-ending stream of bicycles, all cosy restaurants (including Indonesian ones!) and, of course, all of the museums that I could only see signs about, like the Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum.
Walking around with Amsterdam trainers
You might think that everyone cycles in Amsterdam, but the Dutch capital is also great for walking. Especially if you get some 'Amsterdam sneakers'. These shoes are especially developed specifically for Amsterdam, including free entry to some museums...!
To find out more, check out the film (which is a commercial and therefore cannot be viewed if you have any kind of ad blocking service).
Have you been to Amsterdam? What do you think we should not miss during our rather short visit in May?
This post contains advertising. The texts, images and opinions are, as usual, our own.
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Pernilla says:
Wonderful city! We were there this summer. Enjoyed the canal tour by boat, a perfect little tour of the city.
15 March 2017 - 7:46
Helena says:
Canal boat in Amsterdam sounds nice!
15 March 2017 - 13:24
Lennart says:
Nice city!
15 March 2017 - 8:29
Helena says:
Can only agree! What I've seen so far then ... 😉 😉.
15 March 2017 - 13:24
Ama de casa says:
I was in Amsterdam for the first time when I travelled by train in 1979. Have been back a few times, but not in this millennium. So, as usual, my tips would not be completely up to date... 😉.
15 March 2017 - 9:13
Helena says:
There's a chance that restaurants and such have changed since 1979 ... 😉.
15 March 2017 - 13:25
Ama de casa says:
But I remember Anne Frank's house as very poignant from my visit in 1979. And eye-opening. As an 18-year-old, I was not at all familiar with the disgusting things that had happened ...
15 March 2017 - 9:15
Helena says:
I would love to see that museum! But don't know if we'll have time for any museums this time (either) ...
15 March 2017 - 13:26
Emma, sun like sun? says:
Funny idea there with the shoes! But I was choking on the morning tea because she suddenly said "fika"! Vaaaa?! What is so Swedish!
Have been to Amsterdam when I was a kid, want to go again. We should have gone by there when we holidayed through Europe when we moved to Spain but it was raining and there was rush hour traffic so we skipped it. Our Dutch neighbour here in Spain said the best thing to do is to fly there and then take a train into the city. As always, it is cheaper to stay in a hotel a bit outside as well.
15 March 2017 - 9:16
Helena says:
I also reacted to fika 😉 Understand that it is cheaper to live a little outside. We have booked accommodation already, together with the "young people" 🙂.
15 March 2017 - 13:28
Ditte says:
How nice with a trip to Amsterdam. Amsterdam is always nice and we have been there a few times and we find spring, summer or early autumn the most pleasant.
Fun with a concert there and together with the "juniors"!
Cycling in Amsterdam is a must, as is travelling along the canals and visiting Anne Frank's house. Right now there is an exhibition about her in Stockholm at the Museum of Living History in the Old Town and in co-operation with the museum in Amsterdam. Well worth seeing.
Eating an Indonesian "taffel" in Amsterdam is also a must, as is a visit to some of the smoky cafés.
Staying in the centre of the city is perfect if you have little time. I know that we have stayed a couple of times at the SAS Radisson, central and very nice. But the range of hotels is large.
15 March 2017 - 10:18
Helena says:
Wow, so many good tips! Thank you so much! We have to prioritise a bit and choose what we most want to do 🙂 .
15 March 2017 - 13:29
Goatfish says:
I have no tips to offer 😀 but have been to Amsterdam for the first time in 1972 and had my eldest son with me, who was 3 years old at the time.
There was one more time recently, but I have "almost" been away again, would like to see all the tulips.
Sunny hugs!
15 March 2017 - 11:21
Helena says:
The tulips are probably beautiful! I've seen pictures ... but it's not the same thing 😉.
15 March 2017 - 13:29
Anna, Travel on a Cloud says:
How nice to have a trip to Amsterdam! Fun with the tickets.
I haven't been there yet but would love to go! Colourful, beautiful houses and canals are right up my alley. 🙂
15 March 2017 - 12:24
Helena says:
Just strolling among the houses and canals seems nice! Hope for nice weather ðŸ™'
15 March 2017 - 13:30
Mr Steve says:
A private trip in the early 70s and a work trip in the mid 90s are my Amsterdam experiences. A very nice city to walk around in, even if I didn't have the right trainers.
15 March 2017 - 16:32
Helena says:
Haha, I think it works with other shoes as well ... 😉 .
15 March 2017 - 22:54
Lena - good for the soul says:
Nope, never been there, but would love to! But what?! "Fika"?!
Hug Lena
15 March 2017 - 16:42
Helena says:
Fika might spread ...!? 😉
15 March 2017 - 22:54
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
Two days with three middle school aged children almost 25 years ago is my experience of this wonderful city. Last year we went by with the motorhome in rush hour traffic and this year it will be a weekend trip to tulips and flower carnival (an eldorado for photo nerds), so we miss Amsterdam this time too, but hopefully it is still there! I remember the Van Gogh museum as very worth seeing and you almost have to go on a canal boat.
15 March 2017 - 16:57
Helena says:
Yes, the city is hopefully still there...! 😉 I also think canal boat sounds nice!
15 March 2017 - 22:56
BP says:
Love Amsterdam, which by the way has the best looking (and tallest) police officers in all of Europe. Keep an eye out:-)
Well, you mentioned all the "tourist musts", so I'll digress here and recommend not only the Indonesian restaurants but Amsterdam's street food for lunch at least.
- Vlaamse frites - best French fries around. Just ask for liiiiite mayonnaise.
https://www.google.se/#q=vlaamse+frites&rflfq=1&rlha=0&rllag=52371499,4893174,426&tbm=lcl&rldimm=8235320197407859234&tbs=lf_msr:-1,lf_od:-1,lf_oh:-1,lf_pqs:EAE,lf:1,lf_ui:9&*
- Herring - raw herring with onions on bread - a must. Doesn't sound so exciting, but tastes all the better.
http://www.whatsupwithamsterdam.com/raw-herring/
- The bitterballen on a small corner near one of the canals, sitting in the sun is also a must - I think.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitterballen
15 March 2017 - 18:09
Helena says:
What fun links! French fries are not my thing at all so I'm not too keen on that. The herring does not sound so exciting either, but who knows? A little bitterballen in the sun sounds good 🙂
15 March 2017 - 22:58
JoY says:
Have been there a couple of times. Cosy with the canal boat, the van Gogh museum, and just strolling around. We ended up in the Red light district and got big eyes where we sat at the cafe and saw how the men went in and came out quickly afterwards ...
Hugs
15 March 2017 - 18:20
Helena says:
Yes, Amsterdam does offer some cultural "quirks" ... I would love to see the Van Gogh museum (I read a biography of him when I was younger) but it seems doubtful that we will have time for that on this trip ...
15 March 2017 - 23:00
Dryden - Traveller's Edition says:
Get on a canal boat and cruise around. Really peaceful and nice to see the city from a different perspective. Day passes are available for purchase.
15 March 2017 - 18:31
Helena says:
Canal boat sounds like a great tip! 🙂
15 March 2017 - 23:01
Matts Torebring says:
Before I scrolled down and saw only the rooftops, in your picture I thought, today we are Amsterdam. I've been there for work a few times, there are "a certain type of people" in most cafes and taxis drive like crazy. That's my purple memory contribution from that city.
15 March 2017 - 19:03
Helena says:
Haha, interesting memories! 😉
15 March 2017 - 23:09
gun says:
Amsterdam is a lovely city to walk among the houses and canals.
Even a trip on the canal boat is nice. You will surely have a nice trip.
gun
15 March 2017 - 20:34
Helena says:
Thank you very much! We hope so!
15 March 2017 - 23:09
Mia's Mix says:
Never been there but would love to go. Have only driven quickly through Holland and Belgium on the way to France. My sister was there last spring and checked all the tulips etc. Great to look forward to a new trip!
15 March 2017 - 21:21
Helena says:
We who love to travel love to have trips to look forward to! 🙂
15 March 2017 - 23:11
Ama de casa says:
Ooo... Now I realised that we even camped in (or rather just outside) Amsterdam once. But in a tent then. There was a good bus connection into the city - perfect! We checked out a beer place in town (Amstel?) and then took the bus home eventually. In the evening, the service wasn't great, and for some strange reason I had to get off and pee...
Haha! We got home quite late that day 😀.
15 March 2017 - 22:12
Helena says:
Adventurous Ama! 🙂
16 March 2017 - 6:34
BP says:
Me again:
Since you don't like my food tips, maybe you and Peter are attracted to the "Red District" which is actually in the centre of town. So it sells the most sunny things - not just "ordinary" if you say so. I certainly laughed my arse off there:-))))
Regarding AMA's comment - Amstel is of course sold in Holland but it is a Belgian beer;-)
16 March 2017 - 0:17
Helena says:
The "red district" haha, yes we may have to check it out! And the bitterball in the sun (with a beer maybe;)) I can definitely imagine 🙂.
16 March 2017 - 6:36
Marina says:
I have only passed through Amsterdam and spent a night in a hotel on the way home from a European holiday when the children were small. However, I promised myself to do it again and then to stay for a while and see the city properly.
16 March 2017 - 4:33
Marina says:
...of course it shouldn't say "laundry" it should say "unfortunately". Getting sloppy when you have spell check is not a good idea at all 😉 .
16 March 2017 - 4:34
Helena says:
Haha, sometimes the spell check is good imaginative....! 😉
16 March 2017 - 6:37
Veiken says:
I think Amsterdam is a bit like Copenhagen - cosy! There are rarely any musts in new places. It's all about feeling in and doing what your gut tells you!
16 March 2017 - 16:53