Amsterdam, Netherlands

Sep, 2022

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Sep, 2022

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Sep, 2022

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The previous day began with a cascade of mishaps. One friend, flying in from Italy, lost his passport, resulting in a missed flight. Meanwhile, my own flight was abruptly canceled due to alleged "weather conditions," with no refund in sight (thanks, easyJet). I was forced to accept the earliest available flight, which had a layover, and was only the following day. After a frustrating evening, I trekked back to my apartment only to have to leave early the next morning.


Day 1: Rijksmuseum


Starting with a complimentary continental breakfast at the Hilton, we hopped on a train to the city center, eager to see Amsterdam's rich cultural offerings. Our first stop: the renowned Rijksmuseum, home to masterpieces like Rembrandt's "The Night Watch" and Vermeer's "The Milkmaid." Despite missing out on the Shiva Nataraja statue, a nearly 1000 year old marvel, we were in awe by both the art in the museum and the architecutre of the museum itself.


As we strolled through the gardens of Rijksmuseum, my friend and I stumbled upon a large chess set. We enjoyed a playful moment, my friend sat atop the knight, attempting various poses as I was taking picutes of him, in hopes of an Instagram worthy shot.


Our next stop was the Heineken Experience. Stepping into the brewery, we were welcomed by a roof structure adorned with countless empty Heineken bottles, providing a modern flair to the historic brick surroundings of the brewery. Witnessing the ingenious use of the iconic green Heineken bottles as artistic decor had me in awe. As we ventured through the various rooms, each narrated a chapter of Heineken's evolution, we marveled at the company's journey through time. The climax of the experience awaited at the end: our very own cold Heineken, a well-deserved reward after a day full of walking.


Soon after, we embarked on a leusurely boat tour to explore Amsterdam's iconic canals. Savouring a glass of wine, we glided past the picturesque canals of Amsterdam as our guide gave us a tour of the city. From cozy homes, restaurans and cultural landmarks, we saw a variety of boats parked in the canals. It was remarkable to witness people integrate the canals into their lives seemlessly instead of them being a barrier.

The previous day began with a cascade of mishaps. One friend, flying in from Italy, lost his passport, resulting in a missed flight. Meanwhile, my own flight was abruptly canceled due to alleged "weather conditions," with no refund in sight (thanks, easyJet). I was forced to accept the earliest available flight, which had a layover, and was only the following day. After a frustrating evening, I trekked back to my apartment only to have to leave early the next morning.


Day 1: Rijksmuseum


Starting with a complimentary continental breakfast at the Hilton, we hopped on a train to the city center, eager to see Amsterdam's rich cultural offerings. Our first stop: the renowned Rijksmuseum, home to masterpieces like Rembrandt's "The Night Watch" and Vermeer's "The Milkmaid." Despite missing out on the Shiva Nataraja statue, a nearly 1000 year old marvel, we were in awe by both the art in the museum and the architecutre of the museum itself.


As we strolled through the gardens of Rijksmuseum, my friend and I stumbled upon a large chess set. We enjoyed a playful moment, my friend sat atop the knight, attempting various poses as I was taking picutes of him, in hopes of an Instagram worthy shot.


Our next stop was the Heineken Experience. Stepping into the brewery, we were welcomed by a roof structure adorned with countless empty Heineken bottles, providing a modern flair to the historic brick surroundings of the brewery. Witnessing the ingenious use of the iconic green Heineken bottles as artistic decor had me in awe. As we ventured through the various rooms, each narrated a chapter of Heineken's evolution, we marveled at the company's journey through time. The climax of the experience awaited at the end: our very own cold Heineken, a well-deserved reward after a day full of walking.


Soon after, we embarked on a leusurely boat tour to explore Amsterdam's iconic canals. Savouring a glass of wine, we glided past the picturesque canals of Amsterdam as our guide gave us a tour of the city. From cozy homes, restaurans and cultural landmarks, we saw a variety of boats parked in the canals. It was remarkable to witness people integrate the canals into their lives seemlessly instead of them being a barrier.

The previous day began with a cascade of mishaps. One friend, flying in from Italy, lost his passport, resulting in a missed flight. Meanwhile, my own flight was abruptly canceled due to alleged "weather conditions," with no refund in sight (thanks, easyJet). I was forced to accept the earliest available flight, which had a layover, and was only the following day. After a frustrating evening, I trekked back to my apartment only to have to leave early the next morning.


Day 1: Rijksmuseum


Starting with a complimentary continental breakfast at the Hilton, we hopped on a train to the city center, eager to see Amsterdam's rich cultural offerings. Our first stop: the renowned Rijksmuseum, home to masterpieces like Rembrandt's "The Night Watch" and Vermeer's "The Milkmaid." Despite missing out on the Shiva Nataraja statue, a nearly 1000 year old marvel, we were in awe by both the art in the museum and the architecutre of the museum itself.


As we strolled through the gardens of Rijksmuseum, my friend and I stumbled upon a large chess set. We enjoyed a playful moment, my friend sat atop the knight, attempting various poses as I was taking picutes of him, in hopes of an Instagram worthy shot.


Our next stop was the Heineken Experience. Stepping into the brewery, we were welcomed by a roof structure adorned with countless empty Heineken bottles, providing a modern flair to the historic brick surroundings of the brewery. Witnessing the ingenious use of the iconic green Heineken bottles as artistic decor had me in awe. As we ventured through the various rooms, each narrated a chapter of Heineken's evolution, we marveled at the company's journey through time. The climax of the experience awaited at the end: our very own cold Heineken, a well-deserved reward after a day full of walking.


Soon after, we embarked on a leusurely boat tour to explore Amsterdam's iconic canals. Savouring a glass of wine, we glided past the picturesque canals of Amsterdam as our guide gave us a tour of the city. From cozy homes, restaurans and cultural landmarks, we saw a variety of boats parked in the canals. It was remarkable to witness people integrate the canals into their lives seemlessly instead of them being a barrier.

Day 2: Het Grachtenhuis


Following a night out, we ventured back into the heart of the city to explore renowned canals such as Singel, Leidsegracht Noord, and Prinsengracht. I spent the afternoon capturing picturesque moments along the waterways, as the sun peeked through intermittent clouds


Our journey continued to the Museum of the Canals, also known as Het Grachtenhuis, a must-see attraction in Amsterdam in my opinion. This captivating museum offered a fascinating glimpse into the rich history of the city's iconic canal system. From its inviting atmosphere to its splendid architecture, every aspect of the museum was a delight. The interactive exhibits transported me back in time, showcasing model homes of life from centuries ago. A more recent model of the Amsterdam was the biggest highlight of the museum, it provided insight into the construction of Amsterdam's famous waterways.


We spent the evening exploring the famous Red Light District. We delved deeper into the history at the Red Light Secrets Museum. The night life was vibrant all around us, we enjoyed a few drinks at a bar before heading back home as it was getting quite late.


I would highly suggest the I amsterdam City Card, as it includes a public transport pass along with access to numerous museums and attractions, such as a canal cruise and bike rentals, Amsterdam has to offer.

Day 2: Het Grachtenhuis


Following a night out, we ventured back into the heart of the city to explore renowned canals such as Singel, Leidsegracht Noord, and Prinsengracht. I spent the afternoon capturing picturesque moments along the waterways, as the sun peeked through intermittent clouds


Our journey continued to the Museum of the Canals, also known as Het Grachtenhuis, a must-see attraction in Amsterdam in my opinion. This captivating museum offered a fascinating glimpse into the rich history of the city's iconic canal system. From its inviting atmosphere to its splendid architecture, every aspect of the museum was a delight. The interactive exhibits transported me back in time, showcasing model homes of life from centuries ago. A more recent model of the Amsterdam was the biggest highlight of the museum, it provided insight into the construction of Amsterdam's famous waterways.


We spent the evening exploring the famous Red Light District. We delved deeper into the history at the Red Light Secrets Museum. The night life was vibrant all around us, we enjoyed a few drinks at a bar before heading back home as it was getting quite late.


I would highly suggest the I amsterdam City Card, as it includes a public transport pass along with access to numerous museums and attractions, such as a canal cruise and bike rentals, Amsterdam has to offer.

Day 2: Het Grachtenhuis


Following a night out, we ventured back into the heart of the city to explore renowned canals such as Singel, Leidsegracht Noord, and Prinsengracht. I spent the afternoon capturing picturesque moments along the waterways, as the sun peeked through intermittent clouds


Our journey continued to the Museum of the Canals, also known as Het Grachtenhuis, a must-see attraction in Amsterdam in my opinion. This captivating museum offered a fascinating glimpse into the rich history of the city's iconic canal system. From its inviting atmosphere to its splendid architecture, every aspect of the museum was a delight. The interactive exhibits transported me back in time, showcasing model homes of life from centuries ago. A more recent model of the Amsterdam was the biggest highlight of the museum, it provided insight into the construction of Amsterdam's famous waterways.


We spent the evening exploring the famous Red Light District. We delved deeper into the history at the Red Light Secrets Museum. The night life was vibrant all around us, we enjoyed a few drinks at a bar before heading back home as it was getting quite late.


I would highly suggest the I amsterdam City Card, as it includes a public transport pass along with access to numerous museums and attractions, such as a canal cruise and bike rentals, Amsterdam has to offer.

Day 3: Zaandam


Our last day in Amsterdam. My cousin suggested a visit to Paintmill De Kat, so we planned to spend our day there. Amsterdams train network is so amazing, much like the rest of the Europre. We had to just take one train from our Hotel in Bijlmer to Zaandam.

Did you know the dutch produce almost 950 million kgs of cheese? It's a result of all the dikes they've built over the years. The reclaimed land only grows grass and growing cattle became big business over many years.

Day 3: Zaandam


Our last day in Amsterdam. My cousin suggested a visit to Paintmill De Kat, so we planned to spend our day there. Amsterdams train network is so amazing, much like the rest of the Europre. We had to just take one train from our Hotel in Bijlmer to Zaandam.

Did you know the dutch produce almost 950 million kgs of cheese? It's a result of all the dikes they've built over the years. The reclaimed land only grows grass and growing cattle became big business over many years.

Day 3: Zaandam


Our last day in Amsterdam. My cousin suggested a visit to Paintmill De Kat, so we planned to spend our day there. Amsterdams train network is so amazing, much like the rest of the Europre. We had to just take one train from our Hotel in Bijlmer to Zaandam.

Did you know the dutch produce almost 950 million kgs of cheese? It's a result of all the dikes they've built over the years. The reclaimed land only grows grass and growing cattle became big business over many years.

Last updated April 2024

Last updated April 2024

Last updated April 2024