A wanderer finds herself back in the “Venice of the North.”
I started this blog back in 2017. Soon after I debuted my Wandering series starting with Amsterdam. And now I return.
Amsterdam is famous for its canals, red-light district, and Dutch architecture. Not much has changed since my last visit. The canals are still there and so are the very Dutch houses. The red-light district is somehow even more campy.
I again arrived in a super jet-lagged state. However, this time was a bit different. I wasn’t staying. I decided to only pass through Amsterdam this time around. By pass through, I mean only walk 11 miles (17ish k) around town and then take a train to the Hague (which I used as a hub to explore Holland). Even though I only stayed until the late-afternoon, I covered much of the historic center.
Here’s what I found:
Jana Irving Amsterdam Central Station, a wonderful Neo-Gothic station. They don’t make them like that anymore and it makes me sad.
Jana Irving Within visibility of the train station, is this wonderful view. Traditional Dutch buildings and a small port now used for canal tour boats. In the background is the steeple of my first destination.
Jana Irving I got distracted. Awesome 19th century building that was once the home of a bookseller and now a cheese shop.
Jana Irving Getting closer. Here’s one of Amsterdam’s famous canals. The redlight district is on the right side of this canal. Since this is a PG blog, I deliberately framed this photo to avoid the brothel next door to the church.
Jana Irving A pretty typical canal side row of buildings.
Jana Irving Finally made it to Oude Kerk (Old Church), now a museum. I visited last time, but I really enjoyed it.
Jana Irving It’s a pretty typical medieval Gothic church, post protestant reformation.
Jana Irving Typical in Dutch churches, many of the benches were in small cubicles. The pastor would preach from the raised podium in the middle of the seating area.
Jana Irving And for my favorite part. The entire floor of the church is covered in tombstones of those buried underneath.
Jana Irving I love how reflective the canals are.
Jana Irving Moving on to Nieuwmarkt (New Market) and its Waag (weight house), which was once part of the city walls.
Jana Irving House boats are commonly found along the canals of Amsterdam and elsewhere in the Netherlands.
Jana Irving This one has a whole garden thing going on.
Jana Irving This is a proper canal boat.
Jana Irving Canal meeting the Amstel, the river that gave Amsterdam its name.
Jana Irving The Staalmeestersbrug. The Netherlands has quite a few of these interesting lift bridges over its canals.
Jana Irving Canals and bikes.
Jana Irving Aluminiumbrug (the Aluminum Bridge).
Jana Irving A bit more of the Amstel.
Jana Irving Another cheese shop, this on the Rembrandtplein.
Jana Irving The Munttoren, an old tower that was once in the city walls, which was rebuilt in the 17th century into a bell tower.
Jana Irving The famous Bloemenmarkt (flower market).
Jana Irving Not only can you get tulip bulbs here, there’s also other flower seeds and those for fruits and vegetables.
Jana Irving Cool looking building.
Jana Irving The west side of the historic city center has quite a few really fancy buildings.
Jana Irving This one is very fancy. Traditional canal side buildings had cranes attached at the top of the building in order to move cargo into the buildings.
Jana Irving Can’t get enough of the canals. Luckily, the Netherlands is full of them.
Jana Irving Many canals = many bridges.
Jana Irving 18th century buildings, or at least that white one.
Jana Irving Westerkerk (West Church. They were very original naming the churches here.), a 17th century Dutch Renaissance church.
Jana Irving The churches tend to be very simple, but those organs are insane.
Jana Irving I just thought this building looked cool.
Jana Irving Very, very fancy.
Jana Irving Very Amsterdam.
Jana Irving My last stop in Amsterdam, Basiliek van de Heilige Nicolaas (Basilica of St. Nicholas). It’s pretty close to the train station. Didn’t stop last time, figured I would this time.
Jana Irving A very 19th century church. Very dark and full of frescoes.
Jana Irving Gorgeous church though.
My return to Amsterdam was more of a fluke than planned. I wanted to see more of the Netherlands. Amsterdam is a perfect place to fly into and very easy to get to other Dutch cities from there. I couldn’t check into my hotel in the Hague until late afternoon, so I spent the day over walking around Amsterdam. Unlike my trip to Italy, this was the only place on this trip that I had been before. Everything following was brand new.
Check out my next update where I will be exploring the city of Leiden.
or
Check out my first post on Amsterdam!
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