Amsterdam

Jan 26-29

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.