Amsterdam’s claims to (in)fame are drugs and prostitution, and that’s a shame, because there’s so much more to that beautiful city. The Netherlands in general is really a different place with its canals, geography, and bicycling infrastructure, but Amsterdam in particular is wondrous. Just walking around seeing its canal houses and hundreds of years of history apparent everywhere is worth the trip. But, it’s also home to the Rijksmuseum; numerous other art, history, and curiosities museums; lots of beautiful parks; and delicious fried treats. All this is to say it’s an amazing place, and you just have to experience it, so I was especially pleased when the folks expressed an interest in seeing it. We would be more than happy to return to meet them there and share some of our favorite things about Europe.
Starting their European Vacation in Amsterdam would also give us the excuse to spend some time in there ahead of my parents. The stars aligned, and we were able to be in Amsterdam for a whole month before their arrival. This was great because we were able to do a lot of advance logistics work, like getting transit cards and museum passes, figuring out which towns were good for day trips, and otherwise finding the best places to see. When the folks’ plane hit the ground,we were off and running.
Mom & Dad arrived on a Wednesday morning, and after dropping luggage off at our apartment, we set out do some of the most Amsterdammy things to do that don’t involve pot or hookers – visiting Rembrandt’s house, shopping for tulips, and learning about canal houses. Meghan and I had been to Rembrandt’s house a few weeks prior, and given its small scale, audioguide, and fame of its former resident, we thought this would make a good first stop for jetlagged tourists. After walking in the footsteps of the master in his own house, we took a lunch break, meandering in the direction of the Bloemenmarkt, Amsterdam’s floating flower market. Checking American agricultural import laws, we decided against making a substantial investment in tulip bulbs.
Before collapsing from lack of sleep and walking around for a few hours, we resolved to resolve some questions about the history of Amsterdam and specifically of its canal houses, we popped into the Canal House Museum. It’s by no means comprehensive, but it does have an interesting bit on the expansion of the city from its initial city walls to more or less how it is today. Plus, its dark rooms and films gave some people a chance rest their eyes after a long day.
Next time: Seeing the Best Art in the Western Canon
Wish I had known about the Canal House Museum. It sounds interesting and, like many museums, performs a great service to travelers by offering a nice resting spot, haha!