Last March we took a relatively last minute trip to Amsterdam. At that point I had resolutely sworn-off flying after several bad experiences of having my knees rammed up against airplane seats and hours wasted dawdling about waiting for flights to board at the gate. I decided the only kind of holiday I would take is a rail holiday.
Amsterdam is an easy destination by train from London. Sure, cynics would argue the flight from London to Amsterdam is only 45 minutes and the train ride approaches 4 hours…
BUT, nobody ever considers all the time spent getting to the airport, checking in 2 hours early and then the time it takes getting from the airport once you land. Not to mention that absolute chaos that airports guarantee to provide. So all in all, the time is about the same. Except by train I can just step off the carriage and I’m in the center of the city!
Anyway. Here’s a mini walkthrough about our trip, paired with some (really) bad phone photos.
A rather enjoyable, but still quite knee-crunching, Eurostar train ride across South East England, under the English Channel, across France and Belgium, with just a short stop in Brussels made it easy to wind up at Amsterdam Centraal.
Because Amsterdam Centraal is so, well, central means that you get immediately transported into the unique energy, architecture, and sights of Amsterdam.
Central Amsterdam is, of course, famous for its canals and cycling culture. I found it difficult to walk around the city without fear of having an appendage swiftly removed by bike spokes. Regardless, it was refreshing to be in a city not dependent on cars—though there were some of those too on the narrow streets. One of the kitschy things the tour guides are certain to tell you is about how many bicycles end up in the bottom of the canal—but it is easy to see why.
We came to Amsterdam with very little planned—to both our detriment and benefit. We didn’t get to see some of the must-see sites—most regrettably the Anne Frank Museum—because our trip was last minute and pre-booked tickets are essential. We mostly planned to wander around the city and eat. Which we did.
Amsterdam is fun even if just to gawk about at the architecture and building style. I particularly liked how crooked everything was.
One attraction I was sure not to miss, of course, was The Royal Palace of Amsterdam. I’m always up for a palace.
The palace was unique in that it had started not as a palace, but as the Town Hall in 1655. It didn’t become a palace until Napolean Bonarapate made his brother Louis into King Louis I of Holland who then converted it to a palace. When the House of Orange came back into power after the fall of Napoleon it was returned to previous owners. Until Amsterdam was made the capital of the Netherlands, then King William I decided it was a good idea to have a palace in the capital.
Now the palace is one of three that can be used at the pleasure of the current King Willem-Alexander.
One additional attraction we had planned to visit was the Rijksmuseum – The Museum of the Netherlands. But as luck would have it, that day the power went out in central Amsterdam—all day. For fear of operating a museum without security it was closed down along with everything else.
So we wandered more and found ways to eat lots of crepes and frites. Finally, we took a canal boat tour – which of course doesn’t require electricity. I didn’t do well when it comes to taking photos of that tour…but it was a great way to see Amsterdam.
As you can tell, I didn’t bring my camera with me on this trip. I had quit photography (again) at that point along with airplanes. I go through phases.
Regardless, I hope you enjoyed this little trip recap.
//Blake
