Yes these 4 flights are steep. We start and end our day with more steps 🤪 but our place is cozy & the bed is perfect for zzzz

Off to explore the Old Town before the city wakes up.

Lots of beautiful plaques to celebrate during World Pride 2026

Extraordinary architecture

Tuesday we’ll tour the World Press Photography 2026 exhibit

The Kingdom of the Netherlands is made up of 12 provinces: Noord Holland, Zuid Holland, Flevoland, Gelderland, North Brabant, Overijssel, Drenthe, Province of Utrecht, Province of Groningen, Friesland, Zeeland and Limburg. Holland is a geographic region that is situated on the western coast of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Holland is made up of the two provinces of Noord (North) Holland and Zuid (South) Holland. The name Holland is often informally used to refer to the entire country of the Netherlands.

Did you say”Cheese”

And Belgium Fries

Gouda and Edam

Nothing is as famously Dutch as cheese. The association is so strong that a common nickname for the Dutch is kaaskoppen – literally ‘cheeseheads’. In this article, we explore the history behind the Dutch love for cheese. 

The history of the Amsterdam canals

The city was founded around 1250 with the building of the Dam that gave it its name. ‘Aeme Stelle Redamme’ is Medieval Dutch for: “Dam in a Watery Area”.

The Dam is still there as the heart of the city. But today this former barrier between the River Amstel and the”Southern Sea” is one of the few places in the center of town that you cannot sail a boat to. The last part of the river leading to the dam fell victim to land-traffic in 1922. The street that came in its place is still called “Damrak”, which is Dutch for: “Last section of the river, leading to the Dam.”

The day is turning out to be a perfect day for a canal cruise so we booked the Smidtje Canal Cruise for 90 minutes. The took us through the canal and out to Lake IJsselmeer to see the newer structures.

So many of the buildings in the city, especially along the canals date back to the 1600’s and just so you know your eyes are not deceiving you, often they are not straight.

The newer cityscape on the lake

Almost half of the original water in Amsterdam was lost to landfills, but a full 25 percent of the city’s surface still consists of navigable waterways. With 65 miles of ancient canals, Amsterdam is still the most watery city in the world.

Today, the water in the canals is cleaner than it has ever been in their history. Three times a week, 14 of the 16 existing waterlocks around the city close up, so clean water can be pumped in from the big lake IJsselmeer. The current that creates pushes the dirty canalwater out through the open locks on the other side of the city. Specialized cleaning boats with big scoops and nets patrol frequently to clean surface dirt. Nowadays, all the houseboats in the city are connected to the sewer system.

A happy ending to our boat tour

The cleaner water has attracted life. About 20 different species of fish and crabs live a healthy life below the surface. That bounty attracts waterbirds like herrons, ducks, coots, gulls and recently even cormorants.

More walking, more peoply and definitely more 2nd hand pot smoke. It’s ALL good 😊

Visit any Dutch market, and you’ll be led by the nose to a stand that churns out a delicious local delicacy—the stroopwafel. This thin, caramel-filled waffle cookie is an absolutely divine sweet treat and loved by locals and tourists alike.

Too busy to go in…

But a perfect window 🥰

A fun cow & collectables store, closed on Sunday

A lil street art

Fun fact there are over 900,000 bicycles in Amsterdam and only 921,468 people

And when you park your bike we hope you can find it again

We are way over due for lunch

Lots of protests as we walk to our home away from home and good reasons for it

And more of these stop you cold 😢

Then walk a little further and hear the sweet sounds of Adrian Muller playing his piano in the middle of the street filling the air with beautiful music to lighten the mood and make you stop, listen, enjoy and appreciate the good in the world

On to a lil adventure to Rotterdam tomorrow…