Amsterdam - City of Tulips and Pancakes – Part 3

What to do in Amsterdam?

The old town is perfect for long walks down the canal ring areas that branch in all directions. A sustainable way to get around the old town faster is renting a bike. You can rent one for as little as a few euros per day and there are various bike rental places in the centre. Another option if you want a quick access to various locations across the city and its surroundings is single- or multiday bus, ferry, metro, train or tram pass. You can get yours at GET YOUR GUIDE where you’ll also find tickets for city, region and even country-wide travelling. The wide range of activities also includes guided tours, such as a canal cruise, a bike city tour for a small group and a trip to interesting locations in the city’s surroundings. If you’re more of a somewhat Bohemian traveller, there’s also a coffee shop and Red District tour that make for quite an unforgettable experience.

Amsterdam’s museums can be pleasant hang-out places for families and friends. The most popular exhibition venues worth visiting are the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum, Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, Amsterdam Museum, NEMO Science Museum, Madame Tussauds and numerous others. It’s worth noting that Hostelling International members get 7% off their tickets at Tiqets. This enables large groups and families to enjoy more activities.

When I was walking down a street in Amsterdam, the morning rain felt pleasantly refreshing on my face. In my head, I kept repeating the lyrics of Pater Noster, Voices of Light. »And I felt an ineffable divine sweetness. And after I have laid myself in you, now lay yourself in me. This is my creature.” I thought of writing a postcard at MyPostcard which lets you create your own personalised postcard at 25% cheaper, thanks to Hostelling International. Each new user can use the HIGlobetrotter code on HI Globetrotter personal profile and send their first travel postcard for free.

City markets and parks

Travellers usually buy cheap groceries and consumerist products in certain market squares. I visited a new one every day, so I could check out the offer at the markets. I visited the first market at Ten Katestraat 97–99. This is where you can find Ten Katemarkt and a restaurant area at Belamyplein 51 — Foodhallen. The market offers lots of fresh produce, clothes, souvenirs and cosmetics. The next on the list was the Bloemenmarkt, which is located at Singel 612–614. Here you can buy seeds, tubers, flowers, souvenirs and various preserved food. If you visit Albert Cuypstraat 99–203, you’ll find the Albert Cuypmarkt which has a wide selection of various products. The long street lined with stalls offers a wide range of meat and fish products, both prepared and fresh ones, as well as baked goods. There’s also fresh produce, flowers, souvenirs, clothes and shoes. There’s something for everyone.

I left the market and took a walk through the city parks where green areas are intertwined with bodies of water. Vondelpark is the city’s largest park and dates back to 1864. It’s home to bronze sculptures, an open-air theatre and numerous ponds with playgrounds. The city’s oldest park, Wertheimpark, first opened for public in 1812. It was named after the politician, Abraham Carl Wertheim. The park is known for the Auschwitzmonument holocaust memorial. If you visit Westerpark, you’re in for a cultural experience. Together with the Westergas neighbourhood, it offers lots of small shops, restaurants and traditional cafés. You can also attend various festivals, watch films and relax alongside live music.

Modern nomadic life

Cuisine also includes dairy products like cheese, which is quite a speciality in Amsterdam. The modern traveller can explore the history of cheese in the Netherlands in Amsterdam Cheese Museum where you can try cheese for free and learn about the tradition of cheese making. The museum is located at Prinsengracht 112, right next to the Amsterdam Tulip Museum. You can find a great selection of various cheeses in one of the Amsterdam Cheese Company shops at Damrak 84. But if Amsterdam Cheese Company doesn’t meet all your cheese needs, there’s a small cheese shop called Cheese & More by Henri Willig where you can choose and try all kinds of cheese products and sauces. The shop is located at Singel 540.

There are also lots of trip destinations in the countryside for all travel enthusiasts who are interested in places outside of Amsterdam. If you’re staying in the city for quite some time, a weekend getaway to the surroundings feels nice. The vastness of the landscape and forest trails make for nice outdoor recreation options in any season. Lage Vuursche in the Baarn municipality is an interesting destination if you feel like going on a trip. The village is surrounded by small towns of Hilversum and Soest. The latter is known for its interesting 14th-century church called Oude Kerk or Old Church, which was dedicated to saints Peter and Paul. The tower reaches a height of 45.50 metres, while the church is 41.78 metres tall. It was built using red bricks, giving it a distinctive appearance.

A culinary experience and a getaway in the countryside or a small town near Amsterdam are unique opportunities that will complement your city experience in the Dutch capital with the countryside life in its surroundings. Exploring the culture and traditions of the Kingdom of the Netherlands brings lots of interesting experiences as well as opportunities for understanding different cultural criteria Amsterdam presents. The capital should be included in every travel plan and the Netherlands should be on the must-list of countries to visit. After all, travelling to the Netherlands feels like rebirth.