Amsterdam must be one of the coolest cities in the world, at least by reputation - which is generally fueled by the smell of weed that hangs in the air, just about everywhere. I have been in Amsterdam twice and haven't partaken in any smokey activities - and definitely not what is a short walk on the other side of these buildings, the red light district. I take the approach of, "if I have to pay for sex - I shouldn't be having sex." I am yet to hear a compelling justification for prostitution.
The buildings that line the Damrak are iconic for a reason - they are bloody excellent. The reason the houses in the city are so narrow, is that the properties were taxed on their frontage to the water, which meant people were incentivized to build narrow homes with height and depth instead. It is interesting how rules dictate design decisions, as people will generally find ways to "bend them" if they can. Bending rules is a part of the creative process - color outside the lines.
As said, I have been in Amsterdam twice, once in 2013 with my wife, once at the end of 2019 on a work trip, where I stayed in the city overnight only - which was nowhere long enough for my liking - but better than nothing. I also got to meet and have dinner with @soyrosa, which was awesome.
The first time however was great up to a point. Amsterdam was the second leg after Copenhagen and before Brussels, before heading on to a romantic week in Paris. We had a great time walking the canals and drinking plenty of mint tea, visiting the Van Gogh museum and a sobering walk through the Anne Frank house - but on the last day, we were robbed. My wife's pink suitcase was stolen from the hotel security room, where staff literally held the door open for someone to walk in off the street and walk away with it. All on camera.
The problem was not only were we on a budget and couldn't really afford to buy new clothes - my wife is very petite and her "adult" shoes have to be tailor made for her, as she wears kid sizes. Bummer. But, we didn't let it ruin the rest of our holiday, although it did cause some changes to plans and budget considerations, since my wife insisted she needed to wear clothes - while I was less concerned about it.
But, as far as Amsterdam was as a city holiday destination, it was cool and the people we did get to interact with were pretty cool also. As said, we did go to the Anne Frank house and for anyone who likes history, I do recommend it. It is incredible to think that a child could do what she and her family did for so long, and I am sure that they weren't the only ones doing similar for survival. History should warn us against certain behaviors, yet we never seem to learn a lesson for long.
We bought a couple books from the bookstore which were stamped as gifts, but they were stolen in the robbery. One of the reasons I wanted to have a night in Amsterdam was so I could go back to the house and buy them again and surprise my wife, as she was upset at losing the books, it was like another nail in the coffin at the time. The problem was, they moved the bookstore inside completely so it required lining up, but the reason I couldn't was due to a rule that there could be no bags - and I had my carry-on luggage in-tow. I tried my best to convince the security, to no avail.
While I don't think this is the point of travel, the shopping in Amsterdam is pretty good with a few long streets lined with shops. "Good shopping" is a relative term, as I live in Finland where not only is the range poor, the prices are exorbitant - but Amsterdam is unlikely to be the cheapest place around. It is kind of weird to have the shops selling weed though, another thing that in Finland is very much illegal - they banned CBD oil here too...
But I think that the highlight of Amsterdam is definitely NOT the insane people on bikes - but just walking through the canals hand-in-hand, eating great pastries and drinking mint tea. For a busy city during the day, most of it is strangely quiet at night, which I think is probably the best time (or early morning before the shops open) to walk around and get photos, even when it is a bit cool, although it is good to note that the lights at Damrak (and the inner city) go off at around midnight.
I love travelling with my wife, miss travelling for work and we are yet to travel with our daughter - but spending some time looking back at where I have been, I count myself very lucky to have seen some of the world, even if it is far less than I would like. While I don't know when or where I will travel next, every place has its pros and cons and even the negative experiences bring value.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities in the world. I’ve been there twice also, the first time was for Steemfest in 2016. We visited for the second time in September of 2019 and stayed ten days in an Airbnb right around the corner from the Anne Frank house. We went to the market almost every day, bought groceries and made meals in our home base, it really began to feel like home after a week. It’s a magical place and we plan to go back as soon as we can. The city is facing a lot of challenges right now varying from widespread crumbling infrastructure to a quite serious housing shortage. I hope the Dutch government can solve these challenges and preserve the essence of this gem. You took some amazing photos! We captured a lot of pictures last year, you can find the montages on my YouTube channel.
Damn it. You are reminding me that I should remember to take video too - I never do....
Yeah, there are issues there with housing for sure, but I it is one of those challenges where if they do much, it can change the feel of the place - plus it is expensive. Has to be done at some point though.
The montages are great!
Thanks! This is actually a pretty cool feature of the iPhone. It takes "live pictures" which is about 2-3 seconds of video whenever you take a still photo. You can compile these together and make montages like this pretty easily.
The Amsterdam locals and city government are working to outlaw Airbnbs in the historic districts and have succeeded in doing so in the red light district. They considered this a pretty big win. Some of the residents want to push the prostitution and cannabis industry out away from the city center. It's the classic tourism paradox.
That is a cool feature. I wonder if my phone does it - I am pretty basic when it comes to using tech :)
Everyone wants the money, they just don't want to do the work.
!ENGAGE 20
ENGAGEtokens.Those photographs are just stunning. Beautiful scenery.
That's funny in it's way that the staff helped the theft. I'm sure it wasn't funny to you guys.
I've heard lots of stories of Amsterdam going back to the early 70s. A really good friend's sister had a bad marriage and moved herself and her medical practice to Amsterdam and stayed.
I saw this today on one of my newsletters, specific to Amsterdam and the street on the other side of those buildings :)
https://electrek.co/2020/08/31/urban-senses-greenpee-urinal-hemp-amsterdam/
Leave it to the Dutch. Street urinals that are eco friendly.
Yeah id be furious to find out the staff helped in the theft. Question is were the staff complicant or just inept.
My mom had her stuff stollen from her room in Cairo back in the day. Even though security guards were hired to guard the doors to the rooms.
Inept :D
Egypt is a whole other kettle of fish - trust no one there. Nice place and so much history - but if not on a constant lookout for scam, you are going to get scammed.
I do have a pretty cool story from there though - perhaps next time :)
I look forward to the Egypt story when youve got the time!
I think they were pretty "non-committal" at first, but their insurance covered the loss - which is another story completely :)
Amsterdam seems like a nice place to live and I have some friends that spent a couple years there - with their kids too! :)
the red light district is a strange place - weirdly normal/ not normal.
!ENGAGE 20
ENGAGEtokens.If you haven't bought the books yet, I think you can always order copies of them online ...
Thanks for the wonderful graphical tour.
Yeah, I can get them online - but it isn't the same - there is no story or history of the book, if that makes sense.
You can always come up with a story ... For example, someone from your acquaintances gave you books. This can lead to a very touching gift for some family holiday.
Been in Amsterdam and I musy say the place is really beautiful tho a crowded one as a lot of tourists flock in the city. For a change we visited the Red District too and I admire how the ladies are protected.
Seeing your photos, it made me reminisce the night where I just stood on the ground, watching the lights and the building reflects its glory on the canals’ surface.
Your photos are very real 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
The redlight district is a weird place in my opinion - there is something "bladerunner-ish" about it.
I love walking the canals :)
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Fantastic photos of a stunningly beautiful city. I am so glad you were able to go there.
It is a beautiful city - I hope one day to see more of it.
Damn, it was only a few months ago when we were still able to just travel to that amazing city called Amsterdam for a casual meet-up. How the world has changed!
I normally run from Amsterdam after I have visited it as it's too crowded for my taste, but now the tourists are mostly gone I'm planning to make use of it: I want to visit the Rijksmuseum, The Anne Frank House, and a few more places, and just walk along the canals. It will take a few visits but I'm going to enjoy the Capital for a bit now I can :-) Even when I worked in Amsterdam for 1,5 years I never got to enjoy it as I probably am able to do now.
You can't travel there even?
Is this the area at the "back" of Amsterdam?
It is strange how we take what we have close for granted.
Well, I can travel there but overall travel is not advised, only for 'necessary' meetings (work, hospital). Not that there's strict checking, so that's why I can, but I try to limit travel overall. I think visiting the Rijksmuseum without many people around is very much a necessary reason for travel :D In all of Europe people are enjoying their own attractions a little more than normally.
I like not having people crowding around, though it is mostly quiet in the offices here. The attractions seem to be relatively well visited still.
(Rijksmuseum is where you can see the Night Watch/Nachtwacht :D)
https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en
Amsterdam is just one of the places I want to see. I think I want to see many places. :) When I was at university, my housemates studied in different countries with the erasmus exchange program. Unfortunately, I did not dare and did not take the exams. I remember a friend of mine telling how they got rid of a thief in Amsterdam. I am sorry that such an incident happened to you. Events like this always scare me.
I want to see every place, but there is only so much life and money available :D
It is part of the experience in some places, though Amsterdam is pretty safe in general I think.
I have to get rich urgently :p
Man sorry youn couldn't rebut those books and present them yo your wife.
I've always wanted to go yo Amsterdam so i especially appreciate this post. I found myself studying the pictures one at a time like they were art. In someways almost themed art due to the colours of hold and black inherent through them.
Did you have a slow shutter speed because themwarmth of the lights really soften and give the pics an enchanting character to them. Or does Amsterdam at night always have this glow?
I agree with the pay for sex thing. I pity those that do and respect them less.
Also, i learned a neat fact about why the houses are all so narrow. I love posts that are full of factoids.
Thanks again for posting this
These are mostly unedited other than crop - as I only had my camera and phone with me and not a lot of time to do much. I would like to revisit them now for an edit.
Slow shutter and no tripod, so had to find things to rest on.
I can understand the women doing it (and in those windows are some very, very beautiful women), but I do not think they would do it if they could do something else for a decent salary. I don't think many women would choose drunk, sweaty strangers on buck's night parties, several times a night and would likely reject all of those men under normal social conditions.
Yeah i agree those poor women. Its really a shame they have to debase themselves that way. Everyone deserves dignity.
I like your shots with the slow shutter speed gives the photos a warm inviting feeling
I guess they do it by choice for the money, but I am not sure how "by choice" it is when there is economic repression.
Lovely pictures, sorry to hear about the stolen stuff. It's good that you managed to enjoy the experience despite the adversities
Sometimes, it is the adversities that make the experience more valuable. I like a bit of excitement and a story to tell :)
Hehhe me too!
I was there loooooong ago. I was 16!
I will have to get on the plane or the train and go for a weekend.
Those photos are incredible
It must have been an eyeopener at 16!
Talking about DeFi.
I started looking at Defibox, running in EOS blockchain three days ago. I wanted to put $100 in the BOX token so I am unstacking some of my EOS, need to wait for three days
Meanwhile, the price has gone from $7 to $21!!!
I feel a bubble coming on
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I lived in Leiden a few years ago - just 30 mins train ride from Amsterdam, a lively, pretty university city.
Amsterdam is a great place with interesting museums. Along with all the other elements. You're right about the crazy cyclists (I was one of them🤣) in my city Leiden. I surely took advantage of the flat landform and the fact that cyclists have priority on the roads...I'm older and wiser now, so maybe I'll join the slow lane if I ever return!