Winter Vacation in Amsterdam
During the Christmas holiday, we found an affordable vacation package to Amsterdam we couldn't pass up. We left on Boxing Day, and after a short 90 minute flight, we arrived a Schipol Airport.
Amsterdam Central
We were surprised how fast and time and cost efficient the train system operated. For a little over £4 per ticket, we took a 20 min ride into Amsterdam Central Station. We then caught a city tram directly to our hotel for just under £3 per person. A taxi ride could have easily cost over £35!
After checking in the hotel, we were ready to meander through the city. Since we travelled right after Christmas, there were plenty of winter festivities and treats to enjoy. The Winter Market hosted several shops that severed a variety of barbecued food, pastries, drinks, more pastries, and more drinks. I for one indulged in several Oliebollen, which are doughnut like pastries filled with raisins. And I couldn't help myself when it came to Stroopwafels, a wafer thin cookie filled with a sweet caramel like filling.
One thing for sure is we ate well in Amsterdam. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants to grab a quick bite. On our first day we shared some Friets, or as we know them as French fries. The Dutch make the BEST fries we have ever had, and they top it off with a side of mayonnaise. Now friets are a staple in Amsterdam. You will frequently see people with large cones filled with fries, and topped with a variety of fixings (mainly mayo). We downed quite a few cones ourselves.
Keizersgracht
Aside from food, we enjoyed the wonderful Dutch architecture. The houses vary from street to street, each having different features. Some houses are narrower, others appear slanted, but they are all unique. A coworker from the Netherlands explained that in the past, your wealth was determined by the width of your house.
Amsterdam is known for quite a few things, some we just won't get into. But they are specifically known for their bicycles. There are thousands and thousands of bikes in the city, with designated parking lots. And if you are not careful, you will get hit by bicyclist. It wasn't always easy to distinguish the bike lane and the sidewalk for pedestrians, especially in the evening.
We opted to walk everywhere instead. The city is big, but reasonable to walk without getting too lost. I suggest you bring a map until you familiarize yourself with the city. Google Maps failed us so many times!
We had the chance to visit the Rijksmuseum, which is Amsterdam’s largest and famous museums. This is perhaps the best museum we have ever visited with galleries dedicated to famous Dutch painters and sculptures. Please see our seperate post for our visit to the Rijksmuseum.
If we had more time, we would definitely visit the other wonderful museums such as the Anne Frank House, the Foam museum. The city has hundreds of museums for all types of interests.
Keizersgracht
Amsterdam takes on a new persona at night. They call Paris the city of lights. But you can argue Amsterdam is just as beautiful. The city just glows at night with a variety of blues, yellows, and RED lights.
Amsterdam Centrum
Run Beyond - Angelo Bonello
We visited during the Festival of Lights, where several neon-lit sculptures are placed throughout the city. You can take a Canal Tour, or walk the designated path to view these beautiful pieces of art. Viewing these incredible pieces added to our wonderful experience.
Amsterdam is an incredibly fun city with plenty to do and see all year round. We definitely plan to return soon, and hope to see some of the sites we missed. Please see our other post for our trip to Zaanse Schans, and more photo posts from Amsterdam.














