I am just going to get it out of the way: I went to Amsterdam and didn’t get high. I must admit I had my hesitations before coming to this city due to the expectation that often accompanies it, but once again I was reminded of how the best thing that travel teaches you is to throw all preconceptions out the window.
I did get high on Amsterdam, though. How can you not? The energy is
contagious. It’s uber-stylish sprinkled with a touch of grunge that just
gives it character. And when you’re staying in the boutique district on
Haarlemmerdijk, in a studio that looks like it’s from a page in a magazine I’d normally have to wipe my dribble off, how could I not fall in love.
He’d been to Amsterdam before with the boys, so instantly I knew I had to shake things up to make sure it was completely different to his last trip. I think the mere fact that it took us until the third night to visit the infamous Red Light District cleared that up though. And that we got up early each morning and went for brunch at places like TOKI and The Breakfast Club. Surprisingly though, the best coffee we found was from the cafe inside Urban Outfitters, served by a guy from Manchester that was up for a chat. Shame we couldn’t understand a word he was saying. Apparently it’s still considered English?
Apart from the free walking tour we did on the first day to get the gist of the city, Amsterdam was the city we just lived in the most. We walked the boutiques for hours, got snacks from Stach to keep us going through the day, wandered from one side of town to the other to get lunch at the Foodhallen, dodged through the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum and their teems of tourists, and scoured vintage markets we found dotted around the city. All things I do in Sydney, but it just felt so much cooler over there.
With absolutely no itinerary, we just did exactly what we wanted to each day, even if that wasn’t a lot. Subsequently days rolled into one another and before long I felt like I lived there, or at least that I really wanted to. I’m pretty sure one afternoon was spent looking into both of our ancestry to see whether or not he’d have to pop a particular question for a visa. All I can say is: damn you, Brexit.
With this being my last blog of the trip, I’m going to cut to the chase and just give you the good stuff you actually want to read about. Without further ado, I present to you: Amsterdam.
Where to eat //
We had dinner on the first night at Pizzabakkers
which was awesome, recommended by our host and just down the road from
where we were staying. I had a margherita with burrata (because I
promised myself a while back that if burrata is on the menu I have to
order it) and because it was delicious. We sat near the kitchen and
enjoyed the staff playfully switching their conversations between Dutch,
English and Italian and felt very…inadequate. As the man at one of the
markets told me “come on, even a three year old can speak Dutch!”
Another one down the road was Le Sud, a cheeseboards heaven, with the best falafel wraps I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating. And trust me, it was pleasurable.
If you’re into burgers, you must try Cannibale Royale. Stacked burgers in a stacked restaurant, I’d recommend booking if you can. Oh, and the elderflower gin and tonic. Served in a glass a goldfish wouldn’t mind swimming around in. Yes, please.
To finish off we treated ourselves to a fancy night out at Bak. We got lost at first, but found it at the top floor of a massive and empty warehouse in a very quiet area of Amsterdam. The food was unreal – think hare-blood sauce and a dessert made from carrot. Worthy every and all the pennies it cost.
Where to look //
I’d honestly couldn’t recommend
the area we stayed in more – Haarlemmerdijk, located in the Jordaan
district. The street was lined with boutiques like Restored, Six and Sons, Store Without A Home, Sukha,
and so many more I would have to rent six apartments to be able to fit
all the things I could have bought. Plus the street was lined with
vintage shops that sent me spiraling back to when I had time to thrift.
What else //
Yes, I feel like Amsterdam is the
sort of place that will always have little hidden secrets waiting to be
discovered. One of them for us was The Movies,
also located on the same street (yes I know, it’s starting to sound
like a plug now), which was the oldest cinema in Amsterdam, and where we
escaped the drizzle on our last afternoon to see Bohemian Rhapsody.
To be completely honest, I couldn’t have planned our Amsterdam trip more perfectly than it happened. It’s just the beauty of travel. And I can’t wait to do it again.
Where would you recommend?
E x
Where in the World 