Hallo uit Amsterdam! (Pt 1)

What a treat to be back in Holland after so many years! It was a lazy morning enjoying the port activity from the stateroom balcony. The afternoon took us on canal and coach tours of this vibrant city.

It was busier than expected as we were touring Amsterdam on April 20th, which also happened to be the day Amsterdam celebrates its most notorious crop at the annual Amsterdam 420 Festival. Held each year outside Amsterdam City Hall and at The Sand Beachport & Events Complex in Amsterdam. The Festival features a full day of weed-related activities.

What did this mean for a day of adventure? Well, the canals were packed. People were out cruising with friends and hanging out. The city itself was odiferous with its most notable crop.

Amsterdam’s UNESCO protected canal belt is the quintessential picture-postcard vision of Amsterdam, which showcases one of the best preserved 17th-century cities.

So, off on a canal tour it was to glimpse some of the 1,634 bridges and 2,500 houseboats that decorate these scenic waterways. Amsterdam is a patchwork of roughly 90 islands connected by bridges. The legacy of the Dutch Golden Age

lives on in the gilded manses and elegant gabled homes lining the canals.

Amsterdam is also admired for its charming brick canal houses with distinctive stepped gables and forward slant. The cityscape took on this unique profile after the great fires of the 15th-century. Prior to this time period houses were constructed of wood. To prevent more such tragedies, bricks were adopted for construction of all walls and facades.

Houses are traditionally narrow, but deep, and tend to tilt forward. The lean serves two purposes: 1) it provides additional living space in a house’s upper quarters; and 2) in conjunction with the hoist beam protruding from the peak of the roof, it allows heavy items to be lifted by pulley to top floors without breaking any windows.

Along the journey we were able to see the home where Anne Frank grew up and also view The Anne Frank House Museum, where she was in hiding during WWII. We smoothly coasted past the NEMO Science Museum (which is a hands-on experience), A’DAM LOOKOUT on top of the A’dam Toren building, the original Heineken factory, EYE Film Museum, Palace of Justice, and more!

Amsterdam is more than just charming canals. There are beautiful parks like Victory Square, bourgeois streets boasting luxury homes, and interesting WWII memorials such as The Ribbon dotted outside of the Old Town area.

For lunch it was off to Loetje, which was highly recommended by a local of A’dam. Loetje Centraal is right on the water and the scenery is fantastic! It boasts a view of the lively Prins Hendrikkade both from inside and from the cozy outdoor terrace. There was never a dull moment at lunch with the many tour boats and private barges passing the restaurant.

So, the food… The house salad was fresh and tasty but is large enough to share. The house dressing was mustard based and surprisingly refreshing on a warm day. For the main dishes…

I ordered Dover Sole, which is currently in season. It was a fantastic piece of fish done perfectly. Wesley our waiter recommended trying a local craft beer with my fish and he was right on the mark. The bottle of Adriaan Wit by the Jopen brewery lived up to its slogan of “Crafting Divine Beer”. It was a fresh and fruity beer with a smooth flavor. Hugely thirst-quenching and perfect for the warm day on a sunny outdoor terrace!

My traveling pal ordered the beef tenderloin steak (tournedos). This is one of the restaurant’s most famous dishes. She said it was cooked to perfection. She enjoyed her steak with a Heineken! We shared a plate of Frites with Mayonnaise. Those who know me well understand that I am not a huge potato lover but let me tell you! These large steak fries were done to perfection. Very crisp on the outside and perfectly done on the inside. I enjoyed more than my share in the Dutch style with mayo.

All in all, I give Loetje my stamp of approval. If you make it to this restaurant make sure to find a spot on the terrace, as the people watching and canal traffic will provide the perfect entertainment for your leisurely meal in this historic city.

Please stay tuned for Part 2 of my adventures in Amsterdam and further out in The Netherlands as well.

Until next time,

Your Polite Adventuress,

Kari