amsterdam - holland

Amsterdam, popular with visitors for quite some years, with so much to offer and explore ......a place which is easy to revisit, for those hidden sights which you may have missed before. Narrow 17c houses with gabled facades, are built alongside the tree lined canals, home to the moored canal boats and busy tourist crafts . Cobbled streets and flowering pots complete the calm and inviting ambience of this elegant city, all the encouragement you need to saunter and explore.

Taster Tours

Travel is easy on foot, by bike or local transport....Eurostar now directly connects London and Amsterdam. The local trains are excellent. Most tours and visits can be booked in and around the area opposite the main train station. The City has a long recognised Artistic Heritage both for the exhibits in the famous landmark buildings and in the lesser know galleries. Covering both Modern and more Traditional art forms....too many to list here. Part of the fun of travelling anyway,  is discovering your own little treasures to share. The National Rijks Museum, exhibits a wide and knowledgeable range of Dutch Art and Historical information

The Van Gough museum houses the largest collection of his drawings and paintings. Time will fly by. The Anne Frank House is dedicated to her life and the story in her diary, written whilst hiding from the horrors of the Nazis in the Second World War. A most sobering visit, very very busy and needs to be booked well in advance. The Historical ring of canals in Amsterdam is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To sit and glide along on a canal boat tour, is another way to appreciate the architecture of these lovely old buildings. Some of the lesser known places to visit are often highlighted and great for returning to later. The red light district and various venues are discreetly situated and usually busy with tourists, particularly at night time. For curious minds it’s safe for a few minutes wander and to cross it off your bucket list.

Keukonhoff Gardens based at Lisse, is a must for a Spring time visit ....April to May...The gardens are tastefully themed and planted with seven million springtime bulbs each year. A true treat for the senses and the most uplifting experience of nature at its best. There is room to wander, pathways drift through flowering trees, woods and shady dells, past streams and lakesides as far as the eye can see. Don’t forget to visit the  awesome displays of formal flower arrangements, made to intrigue, which can be found in the more permanent structures 

Seating is scattered throughout, refreshment opportunities tempt and of course the final stop, the shop for those unusual bulbs to grow at home. Tours and local transport options abound .....a combined entrance ticket for half or full day, self visit is best, if you want to avoid those queues. Be sure to check that your journey takes you past those acres of fields, bursting with colourful blooms, all waiting their turn to be harvested for the global market. Your camera is VITAL

Zaanse Schans: A great place to see authentic Dutch houses and those famous windmills, straddling the canals. Worth a visit whilst there.....a local cheese and dairy factory, plus a collection of small museums highlighting the local skills long past ....baking, chocolate and clocks to name but a few.

Time to Linger

Fromagerie Abraham Kif, provides information on the process of making Dutch cheese......the shop is full of different flavour cheese and more importantly a room for tasting! Historic Breweries and their hand crafted brews ,are tucked into several areas of the City...I will let you research and discover your own and how to get there. The Heineken experience is also a popular go to place for some tourists

Albert Cuyp Market in the De Pijp neighbourhood, has a very multi cultural dynamic, sells an array of fruit, vegetables, fish and shoes daily. A busy place with interesting and lively cafes and restaurants on the outer edges. Dappermarket the oldest daily market in the City, with a full some display of low cost exotic foods and clothes. ....surrounding shops add to the cultural mix. Boutique style shops can be found in most places of the City.  

Clothes , homewares and kitchen equipment in particular, are well designed and stylish ...only if you came by Eurostar or have a check in suitcase! The Concertgebouw is globally renowned for its acoustics and is a superb concert hall...check the programme prior to your visit. If you would like to see more greenery, visit the Botanic gardens and it’s display of plants from the four corners of the world.

Cafes, bars and restaurants serving good drinks, food and snacks can be found everywhere. Most popular are those straddling the canal side, sip in the dappled sunshine and watch the boats float by.The cuisine is varied and interesting and represents most areas of the globe. Home made ice cream, cakes and pancakes are usually too good to miss. The service is laid back, efficient and excellent