Amsterdam
Jan 26-29, 2018
UA20 IAH-AMS, AC825 AMS-YYZ, UA6109 YYZ-IAH
In January, I had some free upgrades to business class that were going to expire, and found some available seats for a long weekend in Amsterdam. I was also able to get Tom a free points ticket in Business Class from Toronto as well, so the flights were a great deal. I was also able to use some free hotel nights, adding to the value. It had been a long time since our last visit to Amsterdam, and I was really impressed with the beauty and history of the old and new cities. Although it was still wintery and a little gray, it didn’t slow us down.
Jan 27
After our overnight flights, we arrived in Amsterdam on Saturday morning, checked into our hotel, and headed out to explore the city for the day, and make the most of the weekend.
Bicycles still rule Amsterdam in even in winter
Sea Palace restaurant in the waterfront area of Centraal
Revitalized waterfront has changed a lot since our last visit
Modern (1997) NEMO Science Museum
Centraal train stations
Stock Exchange (Beurs van Berlage) clock tower
Royal Palace, a former city Hall and one of four residences of the current King
Horse and carriage leave from Dam Square in the old city
De Papegaai Hidden (Catholic) Church interior
Parrot hanging from the hidden church ceiling
Civic Guards Gallery featuring David and Goliath
Quiet Begijnhof courtyard — original home of Beguines women who isolated themselves to dedicate their lives to God.
Beguines charitable sister statue in Begijnhof
Checking out the view from a roof top cafe
Mint Tower was one of the original medieval city gates with a tower added in 1620
Had forgotten how scenic the canals and row houses are
Flower markets line the Singel canal even in January
Perspective on the Singel canal with the flower booths on the right and Mint Tower ahead
The larger Singelgracht canal
Famous Amsterdam sign with skating in from of the Rijksmuseum
Unique use of chair for balance
Van Gogh Museum, as the sun sets
After a lot of walking, we made our back to the hotel for some food and to warm up and rest our feet.
Jan 28
For our long weekend, we had all day Sunday to continue to explore the city and tried to cover different parts of the city. We started the morning with Rick Steves’ Red Light District Walk.
Old Church (Oude Kerk) with 290’ Tower is in the center of the red light district
“Belle” statue honoring sex workers around the world is outside the church
Main canal cutting through the red light district with services on either side
Looking down the canal with more shops
Lift bridge outside of the red light district now
For our second day we moved to the historic (1867) Amstal Hotel and their historic lions under restoration
Back in the Centraal area and Magna Plaza
Multatuli “big head” statue on Torensluis Bridge in the Western Canals honors local writer
Intersecting Western Canals required some complicated bridges
Homomonument - memorial to homosexuals who died in the Holocaust
Posing in the open air urinal
Anne Frank statue near the Anne Frank house
Anne Frank house on the left of the canal with Westerkerk at the end
Heineken Experience
Historic building with a beer amusement park built around it
Equestrian statue of Queen Wilhelmina on pedestrian Rokin Street
A little more activity in the red light district
15th century Waag (weigh house) on Nieuwmarkt square
Jan 29
Capping off a nice long weekend, we had a morning flight to Toronto and headed out early to the airport.