Transcription
[Music] welcome to domination travels and today we are exploring Amsterdam, an iconic city that combines beautiful architecture, charming canals and streets, and cultural institutions in a friendly, easy-to-get-around urban environment. Amsterdam is known as being one of the most fun cities in the world, and indeed, there is something here for everyone. In this video, I'm going to share with you how I spent 3 days exploring this one-of-a-kind city, so let's go!
I arrived into Amsterdam by train at the Central Station, located right in the heart of the city. Built in the late 19th century in a Gothic and Renaissance Revival form, Central is an impressive-looking station and a workhorse that handles hundreds of thousands of visitors a day. As you exit the station, you will immediately enter into the old town. Right away, we get to experience Amsterdam's lovely canals, narrow walkways, and enchanting medieval architecture. It is here where you can find the oldest building in Amsterdam, the Oude Kerk, or Old Church, built in the 14th century. The Old Church has endured through war, revolutions, and more, and stands as a resilient witness to Amsterdam's incredible history. For 4 euros, you can climb up the tower for a view of the city, which I didn't actually do, and I kind of regret that.
Just a couple minutes away, I walked to the Nieuwmarkt, an old square in this neighborhood, and here you will find the Waag. Originally a gate to the city, it then became a warehouse, a theater, firehouse, and more, and it is considered to be the oldest non-religious building in Amsterdam. Now, while this area is appealing because of its history and cityscape and proximity to the Central Station, it's also packed with tourists, souvenir stores, the infamous Red Light District, and other tourist traps, so don't get caught spending too much time here.
Walking a few minutes south, I arrived next to Dam Square. The name Amsterdam comes from the fact that a dam was built on the river Amstel, and Dam Square is the location of where that dam was built. This square is one of Amsterdam's most significant historical gathering sites, hosting celebrations and protests alike. Lining the square is the neoclassical Royal Palace, used by monarchs of the Netherlands to host state functions. Also here is the Nieuwe Kerk, which is actually not so new, at over 600 years old, and you can also see the National Monument, which memorializes the victims of World War II.
After stopping through Dam Square, I'm going to continue to walk south along Kalverstraat, one of the main shopping streets in Amsterdam. This area is very busy with a wide variety of shops, so how much time you want to spend here is up to your preference. Next up is to go all the way to the Singel canal, to visit the Bloemenmarkt, the world's only floating flower market. The Netherlands is famous for tulips, and at the Bloemenmarkt, you will find various floating stalls selling flowers, bulbs, and garden accessories. And even if you don't plan on bringing something home for your garden, it's still a fun place to stop and take a look.
After the Bloemenmarkt, I am finished exploring the innermost section of Amsterdam for today, and now it's time to head back north and cross the river to Amsterdam Noord. To cross the river, we're going to head back to Amsterdam Central Station, and on the other side is a ferry dock with ferries that will take you to various parts of the north side of the city. While on the ferry, you can actually get a great view of the city, and the best part is that the ride is free. And I'm going to be visiting two parts on the north side of Amsterdam.
First, I'm going to take a 15-minute ferry ride to NDSM. This is an area that used to be an industrial shipyard and has been converted into a new district that has art installations, restaurants, and bars, and hosts various events and festivals throughout the year. It's an interesting area to walk through, as some of the industrial history has been left behind, and though it was a bit on the quiet side when I visited, it would be interesting to see what this area is like when an event is taking place.
After taking the ferry back to Amsterdam Central and then hopping on a second, much shorter ferry ride to visit the A'DAM Lookout tower, one of the tallest lookout points in the city. Before heading up the tower, you can take a look at the EYE Film Museum, a building that shows off Amsterdam's modern flare. And now it's time to go to the top of the A'DAM. Here you are greeted with a breathtaking 360 panoramic view of Amsterdam. And if you are up for it, you can also take a ride on the highest swing in Europe. Or you can also get some great views from the bar area, which is one level lower. Since I'm a bit hungry and thirsty, I'm going to grab a beer and some bitterballen as a snack while I enjoy watching the sunset on my first day in Amsterdam.
[Music] Day number two is going to be a big day. I'm going to be exploring more of the city, as well as visiting a couple of Amsterdam's most notable museums. To start, I'm going to briefly pass through Rembrandtplein. It started off as a dairy and chicken market, but it got its name once a statue of Rembrandt was moved here in 1876. Today, the square is filled with hotels, bars, and clubs, and gets pretty busy, especially at nighttime.
Next, I'm heading into De Pijp, a neighborhood just south of the city center. This is a vibrant area with a mix of ethnicities, filled with creatives and plenty of food, and it all comes together at the famous Albert Cuyp Market, the busiest street market in the Netherlands. The market runs all along Albert Cuyp for several blocks and is very long, lined with stalls selling everything from food to fabrics, which makes it a really neat area to explore.
After walking around for a bit, it's time to grab some food. First up, let's try some herring. Herring is a traditional fish dish enjoyed by the Dutch for centuries, and it can be found everywhere in the Netherlands. And so, I was able to easily get some from one of the vendors at the market. Herring is a fatty fish that gives off plenty of flavor, and the sandwich, topped with the pickle and onion, perfectly complements it. To follow up the savory herring, it's time for something sweet. And for dessert, it's time for another famous Dutch treat: the stroopwafel. Rudy's Original Stroopwafels is one of the most well-known places to get this classic snack. It's a family-run operation since 1978, and the sons running the stand were friendly and humorous. I went with the version dipped in chocolate, and I've eaten imported stroopwafels at home, but having a freshly made one was something else.
Next up, it is time to visit the Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands. The building was designed by Pierre Cuypers, who also designed the train station, and inside, the Rijksmuseum is home to some of the most important art and historical treasures of the Netherlands. To enter, you will need to buy a ticket online, which I forgot to do, but I was able to easily get a ticket while waiting in line. There are many beautiful works to visit here, but perhaps what the museum is most well known for is its collections of paintings from Dutch Masters of the Golden Age. And while Rembrandt's masterpiece, The Night Watch, is the grand centerpiece of the museum with its striking use of lighting over its sheer size, there's still many other works of his and his contemporaries that will take your breath away. The Rijksmuseum is large enough to feel like a worthwhile visit without being too large that it becomes overwhelming, making it a great museum to visit.
Walking through Amsterdam and taking trams and subways has been a really enjoyable way to take in the city, but now it is time to travel through her famous canals, the lifeline of the inner city. There are many different options for exploring the canals, including renting your own boat, but I'm going to keep it simple and jump in on a tour with an open-roof boat run by Flagship Amsterdam. The tour was 1 hour long, and it was really neat to see the city from the water. The guides were also very informative and did a great job of sharing insights into Amsterdam and the city's one-of-a-kind relationship with the waters of the canals and rivers. Yeah, it's touristy, but it was still worthwhile doing the canal tour.
The tour I selected departed and returned in the Nine Streets neighborhood. This area, along with the Jordaan neighborhood next door, are the quintessential Amsterdam neighborhoods that you've probably seen in postcards and movies. Here you'll find more canals, charming narrow streets, and these neighborhoods are filled with all kinds of independent shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, galleries, and so much more. While I was strolling around, I made sure to stop into a cheese shop and buy some Gouda, which happens to be one of my favorite cheeses. And I also grabbed an ice cream from Monte Pelé. They have a nice arrangement of flavors, and I went with the blood orange and lime, and they were both perfect for the sunny weather. But in addition to all the shops and food, the Nine Streets and the Jordaan also boast well-preserved 17th-century architecture, complemented by unique personal touches from businesses and residents. And when you put it all together, you just get one of the most enjoyable places imaginable to stroll around and take pictures. So give yourself plenty of time to enjoy these neighborhoods.
For a snack, I'm going to go grab some fries. And though fries were not invented in the Netherlands, there's still plenty of great options for fries here. I'm going to stop in at Vleminckx Sausmeesters. The fries they make here were just delicious. They're perfectly prepared, thick-cut, and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and plenty of exciting mayo options to choose from as a dip. I was this close to getting a second portion.
So, day two has been a lot of fun and very fast-paced with lots of exploring, but now it's time to change the pace a little bit and take in a more somber, yet incredibly moving and important experience that you'll find in the city, and that is the Anne Frank House. Now, you are not allowed to record at all inside the museum, so apologies for the lack of footage, but take my word for it, this museum was worth visiting. The Anne Frank House will take you through the actual Secret Annex where Anne and her family were forced to hide away from Nazis and their collaborators simply because they were Jewish. Sadly, Anne and her family were eventually caught, and all but her father died in the concentration camps. But as you move through room to room, you get a glimpse of what their life was like hiding and how difficult it must have been. But learning about who Anne was, her family, and those who tried to help them through these dark times, the museum does shine a light on their courage and love, which I found was important to take away from this experience as well.
After visiting the Anne Frank House, and with the sun setting, it's time to enjoy a quiet evening walk through the neighborhood once again and just reflect on this experience, as well as some of the bigger questions of life, before calling it a wrap on a memorable day. I've had two wonderful days in Amsterdam so far, and I only have one day left for exploring.
While visiting Amsterdam, to save some money, I stayed at a bed and breakfast in Haarlem, a smaller city about 20 minutes away by train. Haarlem is an incredibly beautiful city filled with cafes, museums, and galleries of all types, and at the center of the city is its famous square, the Grote Markt, featuring the beautiful Grote Kerk. Whether you come here to check out the open market or just stroll through the city streets, Haarlem is a wonderful city to explore and offers a different pace than the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam.
After exploring Haarlem, I then took the short train ride back into Amsterdam, and now I'm going to need to grab a coffee and a pastry. And I came across Oslo, a Nordic-style cafe, and I thought I would check it out. The cafe latte they made was delicious, and I couldn't resist a freshly made cardamom bun, which just tasted amazing. Afterwards, I stumbled by the Amsterdam Cheese Museum, which I couldn't help but go inside. Now, it's really more of a shop, but down in the basement, they do have a section that has some antique tools for making cheese, as well as other information, and it was fun to pop through, as well as sample some cheese.
Now, I've explored Amsterdam by foot, transit, and canal, and all that's left to do is explore it by bike. Amsterdam is world-famous as a biker's paradise, and it is estimated that 75% of residents use a bike on a daily basis for getting around the city. And this is all thanks to an impressive network of bike lanes and paths that make biking fast and safe. There are tons of places that you can rent a bike from, and today I'm going to go with Bike City. They had a lot of great bikes to choose from, and the staff was really friendly and had some great tips. And after checking out my bike, I biked around the city for an hour or so, just to enjoy the ride and to experience the city like the locals. Thanks to the dedicated, protected bike lanes and signaling system, it felt so comfortable and safe to bike around. And since I already had a bike, now it's time to use my bike for the rest of the day and visit the next stops on my itinerary.
So, first, I'm biking to the vibrant neighborhood of West to check out a trendy market and food hall, De Hallen. De Hallen, a former train depot, now houses all kinds of unique shops, a crack market, an arthouse cinema, as well as an excellent food market. The food hall here features over 20 different vendors serving delicious foods from all types of nationalities. And as you walk through the hall, the smells make you wish that you could try everything. But since I can't try everything, I went for a vermicelli dish from a Vietnamese stand and accompanied my food with a nice beer for a perfect lunch.
Not too far from De Hallen is our next stop, Vondelpark. Opened in 1865, Vondelpark is a wonderful, large public park filled with walking paths, fields, ponds, flower gardens, and even a Van Gogh sculpture. Having a bike to visit the park is great because you can easily check out a lot of the park in no time, but don't forget to also hop off the bike to find a bench, a field, just to unwind and to enjoy some nice nature in the city.
After spending quite some time at the park, it's time to hop back on the bike and continue riding through Amsterdam, including taking a bike path that will go right through the Rijksmuseum. After all that biking, it's time for another ice cream, and this time I'm going to Ice Scoopy, which has several locations throughout the city. They have so many flavors that I wish I could try, but I'm going to go with an apple caramel crumble and cinnamon flavor.
Now, another thing the Netherlands is famous for is their windmills, and while windmills are more common in the countryside, there's still a couple that you can easily get to within Amsterdam. And one of the closer ones that you can visit is De Gooyer Molen in Amsterdam, which happens to be the largest wooden windmill in the whole of the Netherlands. Formerly used as a flour mill, it is now decommissioned and flanked by a brewery, which makes for a pretty fun combination. The brewery was really lively at dinnertime with plenty of outdoor and indoor space, so I made my way in, grabbed a beer and a platter of sausages and cheese to go with it.
After my beer and dinner, it was time to head back into the city center to drop off my bike and spend my last evening in Amsterdam to enjoy just one more casual walk along the canals and just soak in the city one more time before saying goodbye. Amsterdam was such a fascinating city to explore for these 3 days, and I can't wait to come back again sometime soon and see more. If you've been to Amsterdam, share your favorite part of the city in the comments below, and if you are planning to go, let us know what you're most excited to see. Thank you for watching. Please give us a like, and until next time, tot ziens!