Blogs from Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands, Europe

Last day in A'dam, we were up early and had breakfast in our apartment, the Bakery closed due to it being a national holiday today, (ascension day). We had been looking forward to visiting the Rijksmuseum (State Museum) where Rembrandt's the Nighwatch is kept. The building is massive, see photos, just the buildings alone, inside and out were worth coming for, magnificent!!!!!! We have walked many kilometers, taking in a ton of information and lot's of beautiful art and architecture. After the visit to the museum it was time rest and relax with a foot rub, nap and some yoga and meditation. We met with Maria to receive our deposit back (we left the place in good shape) and will have one last pannekoek dinner and walk before we are up bright and early to catch ... read more

Today we made breakfast in our apartment, we needed to use up our food, we only have today and tomorrow before we move on to our next adventure. We wanted to do the *free* canal cruise that came as part of our IAMSTERDAM Card. We walked around for about two hours through the beautiful neighbourhoods along the Amstel River, and then thought we found the right boat company but it turned out we actually had to catch *the boat* down by the Centraal Station, so at this point we looked at each other, pulled out our little chip TRAM Cards and hopped on the next tram to Centraal...We found the right boat company for our free trip and stood in line and when it was our turn, we heard the man at the wicket say **your ... read more

This morning we took the tram to the Prinsengracht to see the Anne Frank House, for weeks I had been trying to get tickets online but they were all sold out, we had no choice, either stand in line or don't see it. We stood in line...for 1 hour, we figured if we stand in line for anything, this would be it. (photo) It was powerful to see the video of Otto Frank and hear him talk of his daughter, and how even though he had a great relationship with his daughter, he realized, after reading her diary, that he had not really known her in that she had such deep thoughts and emotions and he concluded that a parent never really knows a child. It was also really touching to see the photograph of Otto ... read more

This afternoon we walked to the Vondelpark, it was very beautiful with all it's big trees..(see photo) ..on the way there however, Steve needed to find a bathroom, well, we couldn't find one, or so I thought, but apparently he did...(see photo) We were not able to get to Dam square in time for the Remembrance Ceremony, so we went to the Ceremony at the Weteringsplantsoen, at the spot where 30 resistance fighters were fusilated in March 1945 in front of hundreds of Amsterdammer witnesses. It was very moving, and a good speech by Karel Eykman. (see photo)... read more

This was my third time visiting Amsterdam, here is a little info of my trip and Queen’s Day. Background Queen's Day (Koninginnedag in Dutch) in Amsterdam is a unique night and day carnival-like event at the end of April each year. The event includes a huge party (all people wear orange) across the whole city and is combined with the market throughout the streets. This year was the last Queen’s Day as the Dutch know it, this is because at the end of January 2013, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, the longest reigning Dutch monarch, announced her abdication after 33 years on the throne. 75 years old Beatrix said she would abdicate on 30th of April and her oldest son Willem-Alexander will become the King of the Netherlands. From now on the King’s Day will be ... read more