The Dutch stroopwafel might be one of my favorite new foods of the trip! I have already written about the thin, crunchy waffle split in half and slathered with thick, sticky caramel sauce, but it is truly delicious enough to mention again. If you ever cross paths with a stroopwafel, do NOT pass up the chance to taste it...and make sure you get your own because you will NOT want to share!
Pedestrians do NOT have the right of way...and neither do cars!
There must be nearly as many bikes as people in Amsterdam. There is a bike ramp near the train station, similar to a car ramp in the U.S., that can hold tens of thousands of bikes. The bikes have the right of way, and they don't really know or care if you're a tourist, so you better learn quickly to look both ways!
Beware! Coffeehouses don't sell coffee...and they're on every street corner!
We learned very quickly that we couldn't buy coffee in the shops labeled "coffeehouses." They only sold marijuana in various forms. If we wanted coffee, we had to go to cafes (which in Belgium had actually been bars). It was all a bit confusing, but we learned quickly when Jeremy went into a coffeehouse to ask for directions and the smells were not of roasting beans and brewing coffee.
If there is one building that can improve a landscape, it is a windmill.
The reflection of the windmills in the water and their unique silhouettes created an unforgettable image that will always remind us of The Netherlands.
The canals in Amsterdam are larger than in Bruges but just as romantic.
I'm convinced that canals can make any city more majestic. They bring a sense of calm to a bustling city and encourage afternoon strolls. They also can make it easy to get lost, but sometimes that can be half the fun!
Touring a genever factory and a brewery should be planned for separate days.
Although Jeremy thoroughly enjoyed back to back drinking tours, most people would find them a bit more memorable with at least a few sobering hours in between.
The Dutch are known for their windmills, cheese, and clogs; however, they have adopted and perfected amazing ethnic food!
While in Amsterdam, we ate delicious Turkish shawarmas, authentic Chinese food, and incredible Indian food. While the chefs were not truly Dutch (they were immigrants from their respective countries), Amsterdam has truly adopted a variety of foods in their melting pot of a city.
Kari's Top Three:
Stroopwafels
Zaanse Shanse
The Bols Experience
Jeremy's Top Three for The Netherlands
Zaanse Shanse
The Bols Experience
The energy of the city and melting pot culture
Things we'd like to do someday...
Rent bikes--Once again the weather didn't allow for this, but next time we would like to see the city the way the locals do.
See more cities outside of Amsterdam--We enjoyed the bus tour that took us to the various smaller cities, but next time we would plan a bit more time in each instead of some of the touristy demonstrations and shops.
Buy more stroopwafels--It should be obvious by now, but I would make sure that I always had a little extra room in my stomach just in case we were to pass by a stroopwafel stand. And I wouldn't pass up the opportunity to buy a pack of the delicious treat to hoard in case of a shortage.
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