My Journey to Amsterdam
The number one thing Kristina Klein waited for was attending a Maroon 5 concert. Who knew she would end up collecting the snippets of the Dutch happiness?
KK
Kristina Klein
Sat, 09 Jul 2022
Amsterdam is famous for its Red Light District, coffee shops and as a place where taboos can be broken.
However, did you know that The Ziggo Dome indoor arena in Amsterdam is the busiest concert venue in the world?
As such, the main purpose of my trip to Amsterdam was attending a Maroon 5 concert.A convenient location near multi-level traffic crossings and with Dutch clarity in organization and musical acoustics – all this attracts thousands of tourists from many different countries to see and listen to their favourite artists in The Ziggo Dome. I look forward to seeing concerts again and singing along with our favourite performers with thousands of other people.
Exploring the city itself, we followed the usual advice and rented bicycles – it was totally worth it. The book, The Secret of Danish Happiness, says that people who ride a bike are happier than others. To be honest, I doubt “The Dutch Happiness” lies only in bicycles but also in cycling through the narrow and fascinating streets of Amsterdam – you definitely feel happy.
Follow wherever the road takes you and you will be able to discover the non-tourist areas that will leave an unforgettable impression in the memory of your trip.
Be sure to visit the Van Gogh Museum for a sharp dose of inspiration and do not neglect the museum audio guide, it is amazingly well designed.
The pleasant and calm male voice of the audio guide will become your attendant through the incredible life of Vincent van Gogh and help you feel his life’s ups and downs. It may even make you cry at times but be sure to fall in love with the artwork of this artist.
As evening arrives and when the city comes to life even more, lights will turn on and bars will be filled. I suggest you look at this celebration of life from the best location – a boat! Yes, because the city’s canals are the veins of this living organism called Amsterdam.
The canals offer the best views of the houses’ facades and it seems as if you are spying on the ordinary life of the locals and the adventures of tourists. If you are travelling with a company of 6-8 people, I advise you not to go on a tourist boat but to rent a small one only for your group. With this, you can arrange a private party on the water – this is quite a popular leisure activity among the local youth.
When you get hungry, you can treat yourself to some famous French fries. In a small place called Vleminckx de Sausmeester, you will be offered more than 25 types of sauce to choose for your French fries but you will have to stand in an hour-long queue for this. Although, having tasted this potato, you will instantly forget about the time you have spent in the queue.
For dinner, I can confidently recommend the Argentinos steakhouse restaurant; however, you need to book a couple of days in advance. At the entrance, the owner of the restaurant, a real Argentinian who has been feeding residents and guests of the city with delicious meat for more than ten years, will meet you. Be sure to try the ribs – the will definitely make you want to return to Amsterdam.
Finally, when you are already going home and you remember that you need to get gifts for your family and friends, be sure to check out the De Kaaskamer store. There you will find cheeses to suit any taste: organic, goat, farm and classic Dutch.
The store has an incredible atmosphere, and you don’t know where to look first because of the abundance of cheeses. Such a souvenir will most certainly not leave your loved ones cold and will give them the opportunity to taste the joy of The Netherlands.