After our awesome time in Bruges we traveled via trail to the infamous city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands (aka Holland). We booked an awesome little hotel next to a canal (on the South end of the Amsterdam central canal ring), close to the popular Vondelpark and within 50m of Leidseplein.
Leidseplein (aka Leiden Square) gave us the first taste of the Amsterdam vibe. This historic square is always upbeat, has a great night life and is also the arena for many awesome street performers.
As you might have guessed if you read my blog, we normally see how much of city we can cover by foot on our first day there. Amsterdam was no exception and we walked most of the inner city and, of course, went to see the Red Light district during the night. I found the disctrict/streets very sad and depressing - it is definitely my least favourite part of Amsterdam.
You don't have to be in Amsterdam long to realize that they have two things in abundance: bicycles and Marijuana. Although I'm not a smoker, you cannot walk the streets of Amsterdam without knowing the smell of Marijuana, Cannabis, Dagga, or whatever you want to call it. You even get green Cannibis lollypops in fresh fruit stores... what a crazy place!
Tell me what you think and stay tuned for more?!
Camera: Canon EOS 400D
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
More in this series on our travels to Belgium and the Netherlands:
[1] https://steemit.com/streetphotography/@extremejogging/travel-belgium-bruges-part-1-exploring-by-foot
[2] https://steemit.com/streetphotography/@extremejogging/travel-belgium-bruges-part-2-canal-tour-and-sleepy-dogs
[3] https://steemit.com/streetphotography/@extremejogging/travel-belgium-bruges-part-3-architecture-exploration
[4] https://steemit.com/streetphotography/@extremejogging/travel-belgium-bruges-part-4-chocolates-and-churches
Keep exploring...
!steemitworldmap 52.363375 lat 4.882243 long Amsterdam D3SCR
the best haven for weed smokers .. Someday I wish to visit there and smoke openly in public places
You'll definitely be able to do that. They actually have weed menus at these "coffee shops".
I heard a lot about Amsterdam.. hopefully someday I can experience it in real 😁 I'm poor so I can't afford it but let's see what cryptocurrency and steemit has to offer me for my finance
beautiful hotel next to canal wow 😍
Great pictures! We also usually walk everywhere in a new city and discover the place on foot.
We were in Amsterdam last year and had a marijuana cookie there, it was my worst experience ever with weed...
But Amsterdam is still my favourite European city :)
Thanks for sharing your experience. ;)
It is a great city, but it is very tough for me to choose between great cities like Paris, Lisbon, Barcelona and Rome in Western Europe. My favourites in Eastern Europe are definitely Budapest and Prague. ;)
Wow what a beautiful country it is. Always wish to go magical places like this. I am from he 3rd world and always get attracted to western countries like this. The lights, streets and cleanliness everything is so great up there.
Everything is perfectly arranged and the atmosphere is bit cold and can be felt with the photos that you have uploaded up there.
Thanks for sharing, nice pics and keep traveling!
Agreed, South Africa, where I'm from is also classified as a 3rd world country. I love travelling in Europe experiencing new cultures, meeting new people and admiring the rich history and epic architecture. I mean, many of the building are much older than South Africa itself. ;)
That being said, I can only travel for a month or two before I want to go back home. Even though Europe is ok, South Africa is amazing from a diversity perspective - people and landscapes. Not even to talk about our awesome weather. ;)
Amsterdam is a beautiful city - nice pictures btw :)
The first time we traveled to Amsterdam we also slept in a small hotel near Leidseplein and Vondelpark. One of the best memories was when we laid down in the park when the sun came out and a guy played on his guitar and sang to it for hours.
I understand your opinion about the Red Light District, can't understand the hype for it...
Greetings and write on! :)
Thanks for sharing your experience... sounds amazing. Keep exploring... Jaco
@extremejogging
Brings back many great memories when I traveled there as a student. Just make sure you pay attention to which bridges you cross as it can get very confusing, lol especially in my young days of having a toke, that did not help. lol
safe travels, enjoy :-)
Haha, thanks for sharing. Very true.
I've heard a few scary (and fascinating) stories from friends of mine in Amsterdam. It is best to go out with a few reliable friends. ;)
Your picts waking my memory up about my experience in The Netherlands. I miss Amsterdam and other city there so much :')
I also just post a pict in s'-Hertogenbosch
Nice one... ;)
:)
I think good travel for you. And thank you this post.
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a view of a very beautiful and peaceful city, I so want to go on vacation to Amsterdam. really you are showing a very beautiful travel photos
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Wow.. Amazing photography.. Travel is very beautiful.. i appreciate your content. Thanks for sharing this post. Carry on.
Thanks, glad you like it.
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I have always wondered if the thing about Marijuana is true. The city looks pretty beautiful tho! :)
100% true. ;)
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Seems like a place you just have to experience at least once in your life.
Question....How expensive was the trip? Hotel stay, food, drinks..etc.
Awesome post!
Absolutely! This was about 10 years ago, but we traveled cheaply. The South African Rand vs Euro exchange was around 10 Euro's back then.
We stayed in Amsterdam for 3 nights and paid only 29 Euros a night for our single room within the inner circle of city. We could not afford to eat out, so bought food from local & super markets and went to pubs for beers to meet the locals. ;)
Oh wow....that's really good. And not too expensive . You guys did it right. I'm sure your experience was much better than if you just did....the touristy things. Is it true that in the "Red Light District" they have sex workers in store front windows? lol
My best friend and I were thinking of planning a trip there maybe in the fall. What about crime? Is it somewhere I should be worried about going with just another female?
Yes, absolutely true re the Red Light District. Workers flaunting themselves to potential customers... very sad.
Amsterdam is very chilled and I don't think it would be an issue to go together. It purely depends on where (and when) you plan to hang out. All cities have their dangerous areas that you should avoid.
I can't really comment re crime. All cities have their crime and coming from South Africa we are taught to be very aware of these things... so I have never had any issues before. ;)
nice:-)
Marijuana lollipops, eh? You can really say ‘only i Amsterdam!’ Must have been a fun trip. The city looks vibrant and teeming with life. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed your photos.
Thanks, glad you like them. ;)
awesome shots * drooling *
Haha, watch out for your keyboard. ;)
nice)
We have also been there in 2017. It was so cool!
Cool... ;)
Beautiful. The colors look stunning.
Thanks
Hey! great photos, i love that place. i took some of Berlin and are kind of similar check them:)
https://steemit.com/berlin/@berlinorepublik/berlino-republik-part-1
Thanks. Check them out, I think Amsterdam is more beautiful in this case. ;)
Nice to see different blogs on different places. Through your picture I am able to see places that I still didnt visit
Thanks, glad you like it.
Wow.. awesome trip! I would love to visit Amsterdam.. Photos were great!
Thanks, go for it, you will not be disappointed.
Great photos, the canals at night are particularly cozy and idyllic. I can't wait to go there!
Thanks for the descriptions as well ;)
Thanks, glad you like it.
Bro, if your in the streets which has nice road pavings and close by close fancy places.
Try walking or jogging, and dont take marijuana while having fun cause its more fun in a natural-way.
Great photos! It's beautiful Amsterdam, I hope to visit soon!
Ahh this looks fun
Laughed at "in Bruges" in the first line. The movie of the same name is really dark and very funny.
Yup, I also saw the movie. What was really cool is that I saw the same Labrador you see in one of the scenes of the movie. Here is my post on it if you want to check it out: https://steemit.com/streetphotography/@extremejogging/travel-belgium-bruges-part-2-canal-tour-and-sleepy-dogs