Traveling is kind of necessary while you’re abroad in Europe, and by kind of, I mean completely. At the end of January, I had the totally amazing opportunity to visit Amsterdam for a weekend. While it’s hard to escape illegal substances in Amsterdam—seriously, they’re everywhere!—there are other ways to have a great time.
First up, the Heineken Experience. As some of you may know, Heineken (yes, as in the beer) is brewed right there in the Netherlands, and man, is it delicious. (Also, remember while reading this that it is completely legal to partake in drinking under the age of 21. Gotta love Europe!) So, there we were, at the Heineken Experience, and for the amazing—ahem, expensive—price of fifteen Euros, we got two and a half pints of beer, an insight to how the beer is actually made, and a little history lesson in Heineken itself. All in all, it was a fun experience, and something that I would definitely recommend to anyone wanting to visit Amsterdam.
The first day was a relatively easy-going day. After the Heineken Experience, my friends and I got lost in the Red Light District, and finally found our way back to our hostel at about 11 p.m.—seven hours after our departure from the Heineken Experience. At least we got our exercise, right? We were absolutely exhausted (after an excruciating 14-hour bus trip from Manchester to Amsterdam), and passed out as soon as our heads hit the pillow.
The next day was a historically driven day, with most of our time spent waiting on line for, and being inside, the Anne Frank House. Not only do I completely recommend this, I also recommend the use of many, many tissues. I cried like a baby the entire way through. I mean, come on. It’s the house where Anne Frank and her family hid before the Nazis found them and took them to the concentration camps. Who needs a Nicholas Sparks’ book when you got that right in your town?
Now, I will say that coffee shops were involved in this trip—that’s where Amsterdam distributes marijuana to willing patrons, and there are A LOT of willing patrons. There isn’t much to say about them, other than that they are absolutely everywhere, and they are a must-see. Even if you aren’t into the whole drug scene (and most people aren’t), it’s a fun place to just chill out.
Other places that I will recommend (though I don’t know the names) are the bars they have around town. Their sandwiches are usually really cheap, but really tasty and FRESH. One of the best—if not the best—thing I ate while in Amsterdam was a brie and cucumber sandwich on a baguette. If you’re good with geography, then you know that Amsterdam is only separated from France by Belgium, so both the brie and the French baguette were super fresh, and super delicious. Most of these cafés are well hidden, so you have to search for them, but that really is the best way to see Amsterdam. Don’t have a plan, just walk. You’ll always be able to find your way back to your hostel or hotel, as long as you carry a map with you.
I wish I had more time in Amsterdam. There’s so much more to see than that. The royal palace was under construction when we were there, but from the outside, it looked beautiful. Also, there’s the Van Gogh museum, which I could have spent a whole day in, but my friends weren’t really into it. Some other people went, and said it was absolutely fantastic, so if you ever find yourself in Amsterdam, I definitely recommend it.
That’s all for now about Amsterdam. Next trip? Italy. This should be fun!