City living, Amsterdam

Amsterdam Centraal Station

The weather has been unseasonably good during my stay, with temperatures in the 20's, and I've spent almost a week just checking out Amsterdam and its surrounds on foot and by bicycle. For a city of 750,000 people it feels very laid back, despite the often chaotic sound of cars, scooters, bicycles and trams whipping through the small streets. I love the fact that you can dive off the main roads to a quiet canal and tree lined street to escape the crowds.

Gabled buildings lining the canal along Rokin Street, Amsterdam

A beautiful scene near the blue bridge, Amstel River, Amsterdam

The tranquil central city canals offer the perfect contrast to the brisk pace of the cobbled streets running alongside them. It is almost hard to imagine a way to make the city more beautiful or more diverse - the history, the architecture, the green spaces and of course the people compliment each other perfectly and give the visitor so many sights, sounds, smells and tastes to choose from.

Hustling along Warmoesstraat in the early evening, Amsterdam

I love Amsterdam for so many different reasons. I really enjoyed people watching in Rembrandtplein, cruising the markets for a bargain at Waterlooplein and sampling the cafes and bars in the Red Light District. For me though, Dutch food (and cheap beer) is probably what I will miss most about The Netherlands. The Dutch love sweets like stroopwafel and boterkoek, but it is a breakfast of chocolade vlokken that prepares them for the day.

Dutch takeaway food looks a bit weird but tastes lekker!

Takeaway food like kaassouflé, berenhap, frikandel, gehaktbal, kroket and bamischijf might seem a little odd at first but are truly delicious (and I'm guessing very very bad for you for more than one reason). The kaas, not surprisingly, is my favourite thing to eat in The Netherlands. Old Amsterdam (or its close relative oude koggerlander) is super tasty - good on its own, in a sango or liberally sprinkled on top of any other food item. I was also lucky enough to be invited to Linda's parents house for dinner during my stay. We had stampot boerenkool met worst - or mashed potatoes and kale (literally farmer’s cabbage) with beef sausage.

Step by step guide to the correct plating of stampot boerenkool met worst

There is a very specific way to plate this dish in order to truly eat it Dutch style. You must make a canyon with your potatoes, pour the gravy in it, and then top with the sausage. A delicious meal in anybody's language! Dank u voor een geweldige avond en een mooie traditionele Nederlandse maaltijd, en aan Linda voor het tonen van me (en Jen) een grote tijd in Amsterdam.