Many of us travel far away to explore the most exotic places on our little planet. We go through the hassle of flying to other continents and packing huge bags. It would be so much easier if we did not have to travel that far to gain new experiences. What if I told you that it is possible? Simply stepping into a train and travelling to our capital is enough to meet great new people and see interesting new sights. Here is a day in the life of Amsterdam, to show you how amazing the country you live in can be!
First things first, finding a delicious breakfast is essential to avoid grumpiness and utter annoyance with other tourists browsing the small streets of the centre. To avoid the masses, go to Bagels ‘n’ Beans at Waterloo square to get a terrific breakfast, consisting of a freshly baked bagel and a warm cappuccino. If you are having an especially lousy morning, you can top it off with their infamous cheesecake.
While you digest your meal, you can stroll around the Waterloo district to find the second-hand market on every day except Sunday. It is surrounded by many thrift shops where you can pop some tags or buy clothes by the kilo. Looking closely around allows you to see some creative street art, much like the Wynwood district in Miami.
When your wallet is empty, you walk on towards Nieuwmarkt, passing the beautiful Zuiderkerk. At the Nieuwmarkt you will find many Eastern shops and cosy cafés that can offer you a nice lunch. Avoid the shops that offer cheap munchies to cravings of the tourist that visited one of the many coffeeshops in the area, the cafes have fresh food instead of the distasteful pizzas and sweets presented by the munch shops.
Next destination is the Central Station, which is an attraction by itself because of its design drawn up by the same architect as the Rijksmuseum. By walking through it to the north side of the station you will find ferry boats leaving every five minutes, taking you to the the different parts of the IJ, the NDSM wharf and the A’dam Lookout.
The NDSM wharf has a lot to offer, many artists and chefs set up show among the many warehouses, old cranes and old ship slipways. You will also find the IJ-Hallen, home of the biggest flea market of Europe once a month. It harbours around 500 stalls, selling everything ranging from records to vintage household items. Anyone can book a stand to sell their stuff to the market’s visitors. Go here to experience the raw side of Amsterdam where everyone can freely express themselves in any creative way.
If the restaurants at the wharf are too creative for your taste, check out the IJ right across from the Central Station. It has many tasteful restaurants from all price ranges. The A’dam Lookout tower offers a panorama view on the whole city, where you can dine on the top floor of the giant building. while the restaurant spins around 360 degrees so you can gaze in every direction.
For the real hardcore party people, Amsterdam offers some exciting clubs and bars, underground hip-hop clubs to pool bars are among the exciting nightlife of the inner city. If you want to rest after a long day, visiting a shisha bar or coffeeshop is an excellent place to finish your visit. Even if you do not smoke yourself, going to these places allows you to say “I AMsterdam” and mean it!
Bram Medelli, Class of 2018, is an Arts & Humanities major, from Groesbeek, the Netherlands.
