Noah and I figured ten years of marriage, 3 kids and 3 moves in the past 18 months warranted a trip to Europe! We were lucky enough to convince Didi and Bapa to babysit and spent five glorious days in Amsterdam. We left last Friday and arrived Saturday morning at 7am. We couldn't check in to our hotel until 11am so we explored the cute neighborhood around our hotel - Jordaan - for a few hours. There was an enormous farmers market happening, called the Noordemarket. They sold absolutely everything and it was packed with people. We walked 7 miles our first day there and at least 5 or 6 every day after that. The weather was chilly and rainy on and off the last couple of days, so we figured out the tram which was a lifesaver.
Our hotel - Room Mate Aitana.
Just one of the many pics I took at the market. The flowers and fresh produce and cheese were unbelievable.
This little shop, called Stach, was on a corner that we passed every day. They have windows and windows full of croissants and every other type of baked good you could imagine.
The bikes! I'd heard about the bikes, but nothing could have prepared me for how many bikes are in that city. I really wanted to rent them and cruise around but I was terrified. There are SO many people everywhere, and the people on bikes are not just leisurely cruising, they are hauling ass. We saw lots of parents with bikes like this one, with kids loaded up in the front. And no one wears helmets!
A rooftop on one of the houseboats. What a cool life.
Good reminder.
The famous Amsterdam sign in the Museum district.
We packed all of our sight seeing into Day 3. We went to the Van Gogh museum, did the Heineken Experience, took a canal cruise and walked through the Red Light District. The canal cruise was very touristy but was maybe my favorite thing we did. It was so cool to see all of the different neighborhoods. It was called the Lovers Cruise :) We ate an early dinner at Kitchen House in Jordaan, then had drinks and these to-die-for nachos at Harlem Soulfood and Drinks. Apparently they're famous. Everyone there was ordering them. We went back for them the next day.
Heineken Experience was ok. I would skip it next time. There was a long line and it was super commercialized.
Beers and fries at noon at O'Donnell's in the Leidesplein neighborhood. We never really adjusted to the time change. We just stayed up late every night and slept til 10 or 11 every day. It was great.
On our last day we visited the Kuekenhof flower fields. They're only open for 6 weeks of the year and it's the biggest garden in the world. We took a bus to the airport, then another bus from the airport to the fields. It was quite an adventure. But totally worth it - the flowers were beautiful. The inside displays, like this orchid one, were amazing.
We went to the top of that windmill.
An amazing 5 days! Love my kiddos but it is always good to get away and have some quality time together.
THANK YOU for all of your help mom and dad. The kids barely noticed we were gone which is as good as it gets.
That picture of mom and Finn! Framer! 😘
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