June 24 - 25, 2016
So now begins our journey #NBIsInEurope!
Our first stop after the academy in Eindhoven was Amsterdam. Whenever colleagues asked us where we were going after the academy and we said Amsterdam, we always got the advice to be careful there. Not sure though why. Is it similar to Tondo in Manila or Carbon in Cebu? But no, the place is peaceful (at least at that time when we were there), quite and very clean. Weather was perfect! A common sight as you walk along the streets was people riding their bikes. Cycling in Amsterdam is actually a way of life. Amsterdam regularly comes as one of the most cycle-friendly cities in the world.
Here are the places we went to in Amsterdam. Enjoy!
Rijksmuseum
Rijksmuseum or the Dutch National Museum showcases the chronological journey through the art and history of the Netherlands. The museum's collections include the works of Johannes Vermeer and Rembrandt. I'm not really a fan of museums so I just took pictures of the building and structures. :-)
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This museum, which is one of the most popular art museums in the world, houses the largest collection of artwork by Vincent Van Gogh. He has produced over 2,100 artworks, including around 860 oil paintings. His artworks include portraits, self-portraits, landscapes, still life, olive trees, cypresses, wheat fields, and sunflowers. You may visit www.vangoghmuseum.nl for more info.
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
This is an international museum dedicated to modern and contemporary art and design. Same with the other museums, we didn't bother going in. Just taking a couple of shots outside the museum is more than enough. You may visit www.stedelijk.nl for more info.
Vondelpark
Vondelpark is Amsterdam's largest city park and the most famous park in Netherlands. It's named after Vondel, the famous Dutch poet. Some people go to the park simply to rest and some to enjoy concerts. Because it's so big and so tiresome to walk around, I was only able to take these two pictures. :p
When you walk around Amsterdam, you will note a number of canals and bridges. Amsterdam has 165 canals that combine a length of over 100 kilometers and 1281 bridges. It actually has more bridges than Venice.
Heineken Experience
The building below is a historical brewery located at Stadhouderskade 78 East of Rijksmuseum. The building was built in 1867. Inside you will learn the history of the beer, how it started back in the 19th century as a small business run by the Heineken family, the entire brewing process, and even creating your own bottle of Heineken beer.
Dam Square
Dam Square is Amsterdam's biggest square, which has been around since the 13th century. Located at its heart is the Royal Palace, former home of the Dutch Royal family. In this square, you will find various food stands, shops and trendy bars and cafes, which were packed with people at that time. About 500 meters away from the square is where we had our first "paid" meal since we arrived in Europe.
Red Light District
When you hear Amsterdam, most often the case, you will hear Red Light District. RLD is known for its sex shops and museums and prostitutes in red-lit windows. Since it's our first, we took time to stroll around the area and see the different women in the red-lit windows. These women, of different nationalities, are in their bikinis ready to offer more than a school boy peep-show in a private cabin. They said it's €50 for 20 minutes. Not sure what's gonna happen in that 20 minutes. :D
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| This is it! I'm no longer innocent...eyes were full! |
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| A quick selfie before deciding where to go next. :-) |
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| After the walking and sight-seeing, WSG treated us to a pint of Heineken. |
There's a lot more to see in Amsterdam. So if you happen to visit Europe, include Amsterdam in your itinerary.
See also:
My Europe Tour: Other NL Areas
My Europe Tour: Paris, France
My Europe Tour: Switzerland
My Europe Tour: Milan, Italy
My Europe Tour: Venice, Italy
My Europe Tour: Florence, Italy
My Europe Tour: Rome, Italy
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