We woke up at 3.30am, got prepared, a cab picked us up from home to the train station which would take us to Stanstead airport to board the plane at 7.00am.
Accomodation
It was a 5 day 4 night stay. First 2 nights were at a youth hostel (stay okay) centrally located at Vondel Park. Basic amenities available, big spread breakfast, 3 single beds, on suite bath rm and good heating. Next 2 nights at a BnB, Hanna Penso, located on the east side of city, Keizergracht. Large rm, self svc breakfast with everything you need – juice, milk, german coffee maker, toaster hot flask, and even an egg boiler. Fresh pastries were delievered every morning. Comfortable beds, and a cot for baby.
Sight seeing
Dutch village (Zaanse Schans) highlighting 7 man-made windmills, cheese factory, wooden toy shop, clog making museum, clock shops and several other museums and souvenir shops. Things are not necessarily more expensive. A pretty village.
Keukenof Garden
World famous flower garden featuring various species of tulips, Holland national flower. Great place for toddlers to run about safely. Picture perfect destination! Many shops and stalls to buy waffles and ice creams, benches to sit and admire the flowers, and live music to liven the garden.
Museums
Van Goth – famous paintings of the crooked house, and sun flowers.
Rijkes – featuring Dutch famous painter, Rembrandt
Anne Frank – Jewish Christian girl who got killed by German soldiers during ww2 for standing up for her faith.
Corrie Ten Boom – Dutch Christian woman with her sister and dad housed and defended many jews from the germans during ww2. They were jailed, dad and sister died, but she survived the world, toured the world and testified for Christ.
Eating places
Wilhemina Dok
Take a free ferry across from central station. The only sea facing restaurant. Good for western seafood and ships watching.
Shopping
Dam Street – city centre, most happening stores and fun fair grounds. Watch your pockets! Too crowded for little ones to go on foot. You want to whisk through quickly.
What’s nice to do?
Roam the streets and canals, sit down in a café and people watch. Walk in artistic shops selling all kinds of interesting goods, from paintings to tiles, key chains, clogs, cheese, windmill, and miffy stuff!!
Encounters
Once, on the way back from Keukenof garden, we took a bus that went in the opposite direction, discovered only after 20 mins. A nice old man gave us very clear instructions on where to drop next and cross the road to the bus stop to take the ‘right’ bus back to where we started.
On a train to Haarlem to Corrie Ten Boom house, we chatted with a Dutch old man, retiree. He told us he was born in Haarlem, had 4 grand children. It was pleasant time.
Nathan was given free food in shops – yogurt milk drink from the owner, because little boy gave him a fly kiss. And a little toy dog at another shop.
The trip was made possible because of
Sunny weather
Safe journey
Smiles from everywhere
Amsterdam is a pleasant and pretty city, rather ideal for families if you like some sightseeing and shopping.
