Amsterdam Food and Arts

On our last full day in Amsterdam, we took it really easy.  We spent the day wandering around the city, no plan or agenda in mind.  Our first stop was at a bakery to grab some pastries and coffee before we stumbled upon the FOAM Photography Museum.  The FOAM building is located on the Keizersgracht canal and the building dates back to the 1800s.   FOAM usually has four exhibits on display at any time. 

Part 1 of a trilogy (Night Soil) by Melanie Bonajo.  A semi-documentary film that "looks at the healing effect of the hallucinatory herbal drug Ayahuasca- used in the Amazon rainforest for a thousand years." 

A small part of the large exhibit by Ai Weiwei, a political refugee who lived under constant government surveillance.

Inside the FOAM museum

Small cafe balconies overlooking the canal

Raw herring sandwich; a popular snack with the Dutch for over 600 years

A farmer's market with fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and cheeses, freshly baked goods, and flowers.

The Red Light District (a somewhat innocent and slightly charming place during the day, different story at night)

Alley in the Red Light District

Canal near the Old Church (Oude Kerk, not pictured), which is 800 years old.  It is Amsterdam's oldest building and church.

 The Upstairs Pancake House is a quirky little restaurant.  It is the smallest restaurant in Europe with only 4 tables.  Luckily, we were able to make a reservation for the same day (we arrived around 11am, our reservation was for 3pm).

The building to The Upstairs Pancake House dates back to the 16th century, so the staircase is very steep.

Two out of the four tables in the entire restaurant; upside down teapots hang from the ceiling of The Upstairs Pancake House.

Dutch pancakes are very thin, almost crepe-like.  This is a savory one; the bacon, cheese, and ginger pancake.

A sweet pancake with bananas, coconut, and cream

If you happen to be walking around Leidseplein late at night, you'll be happy to know that FEBO will be open and waiting for you. 

A wall of vending machines filled with late-night comfort food.  Each item costs around 1.60 euros - 3 euros.  Simply enter your coins, open the small door, and enjoy your food.

Kipburger (chicken burger) with rundvleeskroket (beef croquettes); another favorite (not pictured) is the cheese souffle (deep fried gouda)

Another great day of eating and exploring.  Just enough time to see everything we wanted to, and then some!  Tomorrow we will be up early to catch our train to Cologne, Germany.

Amsterdam Sightseeing

If you're staying in the Museum District, you can easily walk through Leidseplein, which is a popular square full of shops and restaurants in the southern end of Amsterdam.

Leidseplein shops

 From our hotel, we walked to Greenwoods for breakfast.  It is located in the oldest and first wine bar in Amsterdam (from the 1600's).  This is their homemade soda bread, so good!

Keizers Rustic: a hunk of old creamy dutch cheese, chorizo, smoked ham, cornichons, pickled onions, green apples, and homemade tomato chutney

Eggs Benedict: Two poached eggs on a hot buttered muffin with smoked ham and hollandaise sauce

Bloemenmarkt (founded in 1862); the world's only floating flower market. 

Bloemenmarkt; where you can find an abundance of tulip bulbs in every shape and size.  You can also find plenty of souvenirs, including shirts, trinkets, and cheese.

Amsterdam Central Station (founded in 1889); here you will be able to find domestic and international trains around Europe

Bitterballen (a meat-based snack, usually filled with beef and a gravy-type filling) and a pitcher of Pimm's punch

View from the SkyLounge in the DoubleTree Hotel Amsterdam.  

Rooftop at the Nemo Science Museum.  Nice view of the city and free! (walk inside the museum and take the elevator to the roof)

Historic wooden boats outside of the Nemo Science Museum

The Rembrandt House Museum where the painter, Rembrandt, lived and worked between 1639 and 1656.

Typical street in Amsterdam (watch out for bikes and scooters! they do not yield to pedestrians)

There seems to be a canal on almost every block

Royal Palace of Amsterdam, built in the 17th century

Church next to the Royal Palace

As mentioned in my previous post, notice the hooks at the top of each building

Next to the tall church, on the left, is Anne Frank's House.  For more than two years, Anne Frank and her family hid in the secret annex behind the bookcase.  They were isolated from the world in complete darkness; unable to enjoy this view, uncertain of what their future held.

Outside of the Anne Frank House Museum.  To skip the lines, purchase your tickets online several weeks prior to your trip to Amsterdam.  No photography is allowed inside the museum.

Koh-I-Noor is located down the street from the Anne Frank Museum

Chicken Tikka Massala

Alloo Gobi and garlic naan

The walk back to our hotel, night view of the city 

The Royal Palace at night

All is calm, all is bright. An appropriate and symbolic ending to a solemn evening.  Despite what our future may hold, this will always be true: "how wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." -Anne Frank

Our First Day in Amsterdam

A few months after our honeymoon, we were blessed with the opportunity to once again travel to Europe.  This time, our adventure started out in Amsterdam.  We took a direct flight there and landed around 10am.  It was too early to check into our hotel, but we were able to leave our luggage with the concierge.  We then walked to Blushing (pictured below) to grab coffee and lunch...

Blushing, a cute coffee shop that is walking distance to the Museum District/Amsterdam sign

"Sawadee-Kip" (Grilled chicken roulade, tomato, boiled egg, cucumber, lettuce, cilantro, and homemade yellow curry sauce)

"Panini Paparazzi" (ham, cheese, and tomato)

View of the Rijksmuseum

One of the "I amsterdam" signs in front of the Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum; Dutch art and history from the middle ages to present day (includes artists such as Van Gogh and Rembrandt)

Inside the Rijksmuseum

'Night Watch' by Rembrandt, 1642

Inside the Rijksmuseum

After the museum, we walked to the canal to take pictures.  Several of the tour shops by the canal sell Heineken Brewery tickets.  Not only can you purchase the tickets at a discounted rate, but you can also skip the long line outside if you already have your ticket in hand (highly recommended)!

The Heineken Experience is a self-guided tour that can take as long or as little as you'd like (we spent about 2 hours here, several floors and rooms to stroll around in).  These copper kettles were installed in 1956.

The Heineken Tasting Room

A 360-degree TV room with various Heineken commercials in different languages

From the Heineken Brewery, we walked over to Albert Cuyp Market.  It's an outdoor market that started around 1904.  You can find everything from fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, cheeses, and clothing/cosmetics.

Freshly-made stroopwafel (1.50 euros) in Albert Cuyp Market

Stroopwafel is popular in the Netherlands (a waffle made from two thin layers of baked dough, filled with a caramel-like syrup in the middle)

The old homes and buildings lining the canals of Amsterdam have VERY narrow and steep staircases.  At the top of each building, you will most likely find a large arm with a hook.  This is so that large items can be hoisted to the upstairs floors (still in use today).

After walking around the market, we headed over the Kartika for dinner.  A friend recommended this restaurant and mentioned that it was one of the best places for Indonesian food in Amsterdam (we would have to agree). 

We ate outside and ordered the "rice table," which was 12 small dishes.  All were very delicious and full of flavor!

If you're looking for a unique lodging experience, these houseboats are rented out as either bed & breakfasts or by their owners.  They come fully equipped and are conveniently located in the heart of the city.

Because we hadn't had enough walking for one day, we decided to walk over to De Hallen.  A former train depot that was built between 1902 and 1928.  

Now, De Hallen is a building with a modern-feel that houses offices and shops for film, arts, fashion, and crafts.

De Hallen also has an indoor food hall with a variety of food stands; both savory and sweet.

We ended our very busy day with one more walk around the city.  Amsterdam is yet another European town with so much history and beauty.  Despite its 165 canals and 1281 bridges, it's hard to get tired of the view.  There is something so unique about each building, flower, boat, bridge, etc. that you will discover something new with every street corner you turn.  Another full day planned for tomorrow!