Our last day in Amsterdam was May 29th, so once again we packed it full to attempt to see as much as we could.
Amsterdam is such a great City and so much to do. What I love the best is just walking – walking along the canals and enjoying all the old buildings, the old canal houses, people watching, and then stoppiing on a patio to sit, enjoy, have a drink, have a bite to eat!!
The girls wanted to go in the Swing Over the Edge at the A’dam Lookout. I was there once a few years ago, and said I don’t need to go back, as I know another place to get a great view of the City (and for free!), but here I am – going back up the toe A’dam Lookout, and of course I would as I look forward to seeing them on that crazy swing up above the City!!
There they are. The ride only lasts a few minutes. Wow you are up high. I shared a video here so make sure to watch to see the view they get! (tip – you can’t see videos in email view – you have to click into the blog post)
This is a big harbour here where all the cruise boats come into.
Pretty fun!! It takes you on a roller coaster all through Amsterdam. it starts with King Kong coming to the top window and grabbing you out and pulling you onto the roller coaster!! That reminded me of my Mom as we would watch King Kong movies with her when I was young – she loved them! I screamed and laughed so much on this ride as it seemed so real – we were flying under canal bridges, through the Rijks museum, around the churches and along the canals……Madeline took a video of me (yeah not sharing!) – I must have looked so ridiculous to people walking by that couldn’t see/hear what I could. Sucks to be them I think!! haha. It was only 7 or 8 Euros on top of our tower entrance, so I say worth the money as I liked it! It was fun!
The Eye Filmmuseum is one of Amsterdam’s most striking modern landmarks. Its futuristic white design appears different from every viewpoint, making it feel almost like a sculpture on the waterfront. Opened in 2012, it celebrates the magic of cinema while offering stunning views across the IJ River.
I have been to Amsterdam 6 times in the last 12 years and I have never been to the Pijp District. We took the metro from Amsterdam Central and got off at the Albert Cuyp Market in de Pijp. Wow!! 250+ market vendors. It was massive. 6 days a week (closed on Sundays). I can’t belive I have never gone here before.
De Pijp is one of Amsterdam’s most vibrant and multicultural neighborhoods, known for its lively cafés, independent shops, and relaxed local atmosphere. Once a working-class district, it has evolved into a trendy area while retaining its diverse character and historic charm. A stroll through De Pijp isn’t complete without visiting the famous Albert Cuyp Market, where locals and visitors gather to enjoy food and culture from around the world.
It is Dutch herring, a lightly salted and pickled delicacy often served with onions and pickles. Its tangy, slightly sour flavor makes it a unique Amsterdam experience. I have never tried it. Not sure I ever will but if I did, I think I would have to close my eyes. It would be glibberig (definition – slippery, goeey, slimy in an unpleasant way).
Fresh stroopwafels are a must-try treat in Netherlands, especially when they are made right before your eyes at the local markets. The warm, thin waffles are pressed together with a gooey caramel syrup filling, creating a combination of crisp and soft textures. Enjoying a homemade stroopwafel straight from the griddle is a delicious way to experience Dutch culture.
While we were at the market, Phil and Adam did this brand new VR museum. They were some of the first to go through, as it just opened this day for the first time. They went back in time. Haha…..they look really good.
At the museum, with the help of some VR glasses, you enter the Amsterdam of 1652 and can experience what life was like in the Dutch capital 374 years ago. They said it was pretty cool!
At 6 p.m. we met up with my cousins Jasper and Leon who both live in Amsterdam.
What a fabulous time we had on the canals. They rented 2 boats – 5 in each, adn we spent 3 amazing hours cruising through the city!
This was the highlight of our 3 days in Amsterdam. In our opiniont, there is no better way to experience the city than from its canals. We have taken canal tours every tiem we have visited AMsterdam, but those were larger boats with many more passengers, shorter one-hour trips, and tour guides who often didn’t know much beyond the basics. This private three-hour canal adventure was an A++ experience!
The boats were rented from Mokumboot – definetly worth checking out if you are visiting Amsterdam!
With 8 of us snapping photos all evening, we ended up wtih nearly 400 pictures. So yes, I will be sharing quite a few ot them. …..afterwards we had about 400 pics. So I will share quite a few!! Enjoy! 😊
Pizzeria San Marco – Check it out! If you are renting the boats, you need to order the pizza!! and BYOB!
I looked it up and it is actually called a Pee Curl. It is quite an interesting read on the history of them. I always wondered about – hey what about us women – where do we go pee, since they don’t have that many public washrooms in Amsterdam. I found out that in 1969/70 there was a Dutch feminist group that had some protests, that sounded kind of fun…..in 1970 they installed a towering papier-mache penis in Dam Square, with a sign that read damestoilet (ladies room).
The Pee Curls are kept there by the goverment to stop people from publicly urinating in the canals, for fear of falling in. It is an attempt to cut down on the number of people falling into the canal. On average 15 people drown each year falling in canals, and some of them becuase of public urination.
They are phasing them out. They only have 37 left. When one gets damaged they are removing them. They are planning to replace them with an MVG-toilet, that can be used by men, women and disabled people.
So I had to look up – what is MVG stand for. “Man-Vrouw-Gehandicapt” (Man-Woman-Disabled). It is a public toilet designed to be accesible to everyone, with self-cleaning features after use. I used one of these in Germany once, and it was pretty cool – as soon as you left the building, a sprinkler system went on inside to clean it. I think the entire bathroom, inside and out was stainless steel.
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