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Amsterdam
When I told friends that I was taking a short break in Amsterdam they told me that I would love it and how right they were.
My first challenge after arriving at Schipol airport was how to get out of it, as it’s massive. Eventually I realised the train station was located under the airport! By the time I reached my accommodation I was knackered and decided to take on Amsterdam after a good night’s sleep.
The next morning brought blue skies and lots of sunshine and I was determined to explore the city. The first thing that struck me about Amsterdam was the amount of people cycling about the streets. When walking on the footpath you have to get used to the idea you are sharing with cyclists. Sometimes a bicycle bell ringing or a quick whistle is your only warning against being run down by a pedal powered commuter.
The second thing that struck me about Amsterdam is the beauty of the city lay out. The city is built on a network of curving tree-lined canals with loads of interesting looking boathouses moored along its banks. There are 3-storey narrow town houses on most streets, which seem to lean away or into each other. The houses also have loads of different styles of decorative plasterwork along the rooftops, which gives each building a quirky character.
Highlights of my first few days have been visiting the History Museum, the Troppenheim Museum of world cultures and hanging out in one of Amsterdam’s main squares. In these open plazas there are loads of places to sip a beer or a coffee and watch street entertainers or buskers entertain the crowd from the likes of jazz musicians to break dancers and acrobats.
Although Amsterdam is a popular tourist destination it doesn’t feel too tacky. You get the feeling that it is a youthful, liberated, creative place to live. There are also loads of interesting places to eat out and I recommend Indonesian food, mmm, tasty!
At nighttime the centre of Amsterdam really comes alive but I get the feeling that most people who live in Amsterdam leave the red light district and the tackier coffee shops to the tourists.
I have to say, coming from a rural part of Ireland, it was quite a culture shock to be walking down a street, past a grocery shop and suddenly see a scantily clad Pamela Anderson look alike woman in a shop window gesturing you towards her with her finger and I suspect she wasn’t asking me in for a cup of tea and a scone!
After a while the novelty of all the coffee shops and red light district wears off but the liberal open attitude of Amsterdam stays with you. There is a sense of personal freedom here and I’ve found it easy to mix with and meet either locals or fellow tourists.
Last night I sat on a canal bridge and watched a huge fireworks display in the harbour to celebrate a tall ships festival while a big bright moon rose over Amsterdam. Magical. If I ever won the lottery I would definitely consider buying a canal boat house over here and live in Amsterdam for a few months of the year.
By: John McIlveen
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