After Rotterdam, Our European Summer Adventure continued with five days in Amsterdam. We had pictured beautiful canals lined with tall, narrow homes. Amsterdam certainly had those views, but the city also surprised us in ways we did not expect. We will admit that Amsterdam was a bit of a letdown for us at first. We noticed litter on many streets and sidewalks during our visit. We also knew bicycles were a major part of Amsterdam life, but nothing prepared us for just how many. Bikes seemed to rule the roads, and we quickly learned to watch where we walked.

Even with that first impression, we still enjoyed our five days in Amsterdam. The city gave us memorable meals, museums, a canal tour, and a wonderful day in the Dutch countryside.

We stayed at The Toren Amsterdam, a beautiful boutique hotel along the Keizersgracht canal. The hotel occupies two restored 17th-century canal houses. Our room overlooked the canal and gave us exactly the Amsterdam view I had imagined.

We arrived around 10:30 a.m., well before the 3:00 p.m. check-in time. The staff held our luggage, so we headed out to explore the neighborhood. About an hour later, the hotel called to tell us our room was ready. When we returned, we took the elevator upstairs and found wine and chocolates waiting for us. The room was not large, but we had enough space for ourselves and our luggage. The beautiful décor gave the hotel plenty of character.

The staff was amazing and always willing to help. Breakfast offered plenty of choices each morning. The hotel also had a lovely bar. We enjoyed drinks there on evenings when we still had some energy left. The location worked well for us too. The Anne Frank House was only about a five-minute walk away. I gave that visit its own blog post because the experience deserved its own space.

We also visited the Heineken Experience, which was definitely more for Raun than me. I do not drink beer, but I still had fun sharing the experience with him. The Heineken Experience sits inside the company’s historic former brewery. Visitors learn about Heineken’s history and brewing process through interactive exhibits.

Raun enjoyed the beer tastings while we both had fun with the interactive activities. We made a video and stopped at the photo booth. The rooftop had pub-style tables, sofas, photo spots, and a wonderful view across Amsterdam.

We had several memorable dinners during our stay. Tacos & Tequila was one of them. The tacos were full of flavor, and my Mango Caliente cocktail had plenty of heat. It was spicy, delicious, and I may have enjoyed more than one. Reservations are recommended.

Secret Garden gave us a completely different experience. The décor made us feel like we had stepped into a garden. We enjoyed the appetizers and the duck breast I ordered. A singer also performed during dinner and surprised us by coming to our table. She had a beautiful voice and made the evening even more memorable. Reservations are recommended. 

Another favorite was Restaurant De Kas, which sits inside a park. Vegetables take center stage on its seasonal menu. The restaurant grows many vegetables, herbs, fruits, and edible flowers on the property.

At first, Raun questioned my restaurant choice. That changed quickly as each course arrived. We ate vegetables, edible flowers, and combinations we would not normally order. The flavors surprised both of us. By the end of dinner, Raun admitted he felt full and really enjoyed the food. I may have enjoyed hearing that almost as much as the meal. Reservations are required. 

One of the best ways we explored Amsterdam was from the water. We took a Captain Jack canal tour with snacks, beer, soda, and wine. Our guide shared stories about Amsterdam’s canal houses and their unusual architecture. We learned about the tall, narrow homes and the hooks near many rooftops. Residents used those hooks to move furniture and goods upstairs.

Our guide also told us about bicycles that end up in the canals. Crews remove bicycles and other objects during canal maintenance. After seeing the number of bicycles around Amsterdam, that story did not surprise us.

We learned another useful Amsterdam lesson during the tour. A “coffeeshop” is not where you go for a regular cup of coffee. In Amsterdam, coffeeshops sell cannabis. If you want coffee, look for a café instead.

The canal tour also took us through the Red Light District. Our guide pointed out some of the older architecture in that area. We passed houseboats, traveled beneath bridges, and saw Amsterdam from a completely different view.

The Rijksmuseum became one of our favorite museums. We arrived in time for a private tour, which gave us a wonderful introduction. Our guide encouraged us to really look at the paintings. She asked us to notice details and think about the meaning behind different symbols. That made us appreciate the artwork in a completely different way.

One highlight was seeing Rembrandt’s The Night Watch during its major restoration project. The Rijksmuseum team works on the painting inside a glass chamber. Visitors can watch the restoration while they explore the museum. After our private tour, we wandered through the galleries on our own. We took our time and appreciated much more because of what our guide had shared.

Amsterdam did not match the picture we had created in our minds before our trip. That happens sometimes when you travel. Still, our five days in Amsterdam gave us many experiences we truly enjoyed. We found wonderful food, fascinating museums, beautiful canal views, and plenty of memorable moments. We also discovered that some of our favorite experiences happened outside the city.

One of those days took us into the Dutch countryside. We visited windmills, watched clog making, sampled local food, and explored the storybook village of Giethoorn. That adventure deserves its own story, and I will be sharing it next.

Before we move on, if you missed our previous stop, we shared our time in Rotterdam and three unforgettable festival days.

You can read Our European Summer Adventure: Rotterdam and the North Sea Jazz Festival HERE.