Fancy a quick trip around sunny Amsterdam? Whilst the rest of the world seems to be in the midst of winter storms and mass greyness (although as I type this I am gazing out across bright and beautiful Kitzbuhel mountains, but the storms are expected here too later today…), whilst the baby sleeps I am feasting upon photographs full of Vitamin D that I took during our Amsterdam trip a little while back…
Look before you step out!
I LOVE Amsterdam, to me it’s one of the most perfect cities – compact enough to enjoy on foot, but still big enough to earn its city status; full of leafy green streets and friendly people, and with plenty of stuff for everyone to enjoy. It has stacks of great bars and restaurants (obviously a few of those are not so child friendly (!), but they made for an interesting conversation starter as we strolled past a few fragrant establishments!) not to mention famous museums, and art galleries (I am under strict instructions from Small Girl that next time we absolutely must visit the Bag and Purse Museum!), and best of all most of this city of bikes is utterly gorgeous with its masses of canals, bridges and surrounding ancient houses.
Amsterdam Greeness
Apart from The RijksMuseum and dinner at Moeders, in our two-day break we managed to packed in a leisurely canal boat tour of the city, a devastatingly sad tour of Anne Frank’s house (obviously there no photographs allowed inside, and be prepared to queue. For those of you taking children note there are no public loos nearby, and vendors in the immediate surrounds charge silly money for water etc.), a vast rijsttafel at an Indonesian restaurant, a quick lunch with my lovely cousin, and had a fun afternoon at Nemo – Amsterdam’s massive Science and Technology Museum (a final Amsterdam post on that coming up soon enough!)…
Miffys a plenty at the Rijksmuseum
We stayed at the Amsterdam ID Aparthotel, stumbling across it by chance as I left it far too late to book anything centrally. Actually in the end, this worked in our favour, as instead of cramming into a city centre hotel room we ended up with a large two bedroom apartment with en suite bathrooms, a decent kitchen, lounge area and washing machine facilities. Although not directly in the centre of Amsterdam, this didn’t detract from our stay, as the hotel is a few seconds walk from Sloterdijk train station and a train into the city centre takes less than five minutes. Be prepared for the fact that the hotel is cash free – it’s card payment only for drinks machines etc. The restaurant/cafe wasn’t quite finished when we were there so I will just have to try it next time. There’s just so much more of Amsterdam that we need to see.
More Cheese Gromit?
Indonesian rijsttafel
Sadly we didn’t spot a little mouse with clogs on…
- Do book online well in advance for major museums and attractions;
- When everyone is flagging jump on a river cruise, you see much more of the city in a less energetic way;
- Look into things like IAmsterdam cards for savings on main attractions and various transport options, don’t forget to stamp them;
- Consider a stay outside of the city for bigger hotels with better family facilities and a cheaper price tag;
- Make sure you eat lots of Dutch food – Oliebollen, pofertjies, stroopwafels, cheese, herrings (Mr R’s choice) there’s lots to choose from.
Just popped over here to include this post on the BritMums round-up and realised I hadn’t commented. Apologies – it’s great to read about a city I have only just come to appreciate.
Yes, you must visit the handbag museum – the bags are yummy but so are the cakes in the gorgeous, very stylish café.
kein problem my lovely! I will go to the handbag museum next time and eat lots of cake x
I loved Amsterdam so much
It’s a lovely city isn’t it? Thanks Claire.
The absolute best place in the world. Can’t wait to move us out there. Ahhh!
I can understand why you would want to. Fantastic city! Loving Okeyspokey too, beautiful site! I had no idea Steph! :) x
Yes! I love that city so much, it’s just got such a nice feel about it!
A lovely friendly feel to it hasn’t it? Thanks Nichola! (:
Love Amsterdam, especially all the buildings and canals and cheese, but even I haven’t been to the bag and purse museum – on my list now! :)
Brilliant isn’t it? Thanks Steph! :)
I’d love to go back to Amsterdam, it is such an interesting city with all those bikes and boats. Mich x
Such a beautiful place, thank you! :) x
Beautiful beautiful pictures! I love Amsterdam. So chilled and stunning!
Thanks Katy! :)
Your images are stunning – what a lovely, informative post. Cheered me up and bought back many good memories of trips to Amsterdam.
Thanks so much Mary! :)
Oh wow I desperately want to see those Miffy statues! They looks amazing x
Thanks Sonia! They are cute aren’t they?
I haven’t been to Amsterdam for a very long time, but you have made me want to book a trip! I can’t wait to read about the Science Museum too.
I thought of you at the science Museum Emma! :D
I’ve still not been and I’m dying to take the kiddos. I think they’d love it there, too.
They definitely would. You must go Rachel! :) x
I really want to visit Amsterdam, it looks like such a beautiful city and your photos are gorgeous
Thanks Kara! :)
I would love to visit Amsterdam one day and this post has just convinced me even more! It looks like such a fantastic place; I wouldn’t really have thought about taking the kids before either but actually now I think I would.
It’s a fantastic city for kids. So much to do! Thanks Jess! :)
I love Amsterdam. Such a fun vibrant city and everyone is there to have fun. Lovely post Emma.
Gorgeous isn’t it? So friendly too. Thanks Elinor! :)
I’ve just finished reading This Is Not A Love Story by Keren David, It’s a YA book but she’s a friend of mine so I read all her books. I loved this one set in Amsterdam. I think it’s her best yet. Anyway, I realized while reading it that though I’ve been there twice I’ve never seen the dolls houses at the Rijksmuseum (spelling?). And now you tell me there’s a bag and purse museum. Definitely need to go back.
Thanks Rachel. We sadly missed the dolls houses too, will check for them next time around…
I went to Amsterdam a few years back to do the marathon there, it’s a great city!
Wow, that’s a great achievement! Thanks Kate! :)
We have been to Holland several times now and still not visited Amsterdam – this post is really inspiring me to visit it next time.
I know you would love it J. Thank you! :)
A fabulous Amsterdam roundup! I loved Amsterdam. We last visited a few months before we got married. And that will be 20 years ago next year! I remember the giant outdoor chess set, we’d never seen one before then. xx
Thanks very much jazzyville! (:
I reallllyyyy want to visit Amsterdam it looks amazing! My husband went when he was younger and would love to go back too
Definitely go back together, it’s a beautiful city! :)
Amsterdam looks lovely, I’d like to visit, especially for the cheese! (and windmills, and perhaps I’m even tempted by all the Miffys!)
Thanks Anne! (:
Gorgeous photos. I would love to visit Amsterdam again it is too long since I have been there and it is such a brilliant city.
Definitely one of my favourite cities! Thanks Louise! :)
Lovely sunny photos – it was a heatwave last time we were in Amsterdam too, so the canal tour and lounging in the Vondelpark (and some air conditioned art) were perfect. Thanks for linking to my post on the bag museum too!
No problem Cathy! Thankfully we missed the heatwave just! :)
A great insight into Amsterdam for tourists here! I will be visiting Amsterdam in a few months for my sister in law’s hen do so I am looking forward to seeing the place for myself!
Thanks Nadine. What a fabulous place for a hen do! :)
I have never been to Amsterdam but it looks like a fabulous place to visit. I love the idea of a river cruise and I am sure my girls would love the Miffy statues!!
Some top tips here too! Thank you x
Sadly I am not sure the Miffy statues are still outside the Rijksmuseum, but they have to be somewhere in Amsterdam! :D Thanks Donna! :)