From Amsterdam, With Love!

Tulips a reminder that Spring has arrived! 🌷🌷

Greetings once again from HumSafars! After our adventure in Albania in July 2021, we were eagerly awaiting our next holiday. To make up for the dry spell, we decided to embark on our first-ever trip to Europe (with Schengen Visa and the works!), exploring the beautiful country of the Netherlands during the Eid holidays in April 2022. We were drawn to the Netherlands not only for its vibrant party scene but also for the pleasant weather, providing a refreshing escape from the scorching Dubai heat. Additionally, visiting at the end of the spring season meant we had the opportunity to witness the world-famous Tulips in full bloom.

From the Christmassy lanes of Amsterdam!⛪

One aspect that made this trip particularly memorable and exciting was that we took charge of planning everything ourselves. It was our first experience of traveling without the assistance of a travel agent or prebooking any tours. The level of planning that went into hotel selection, building an itinerary including the transportation was exciting, and we were pleasantly surprised by the convenience and efficiency of the Netherlands’ public transportation network, making it a breeze to navigate the country independently.

Our Favorite city to pedal around in!🚵‍♀️

Day 1: Our arrival in Amsterdam was met with anticipation and excitement. After a brief layover in Cairo, we finally landed in the vibrant city. Despite the lengthy immigration process, we made our way to the hotel, freshened up, and set out to explore the area near Amsterdam Central station. With no specific plans in mind, we allowed ourselves to wander and get a feel for the city. Tranquil parks, enchanting canals, and peaceful pathways allowed us to reconnect with nature and find solace amidst the bustling city. We stumbled upon a cozy Italian restaurant where we savored mouthwatering pasta and pizza (hot Italian food tastes even better with the chilly winds outside!) . Energized and ready for more, we ventured into the infamous Red Light District, observing the unique atmosphere and vibrant nightlife. We haven’t been to Thailand yet, but can surely say this was much more sophisticated and cleaner than the red-light area there (from what we have heard). The day concluded with a short train ride back to our hotel, filled with anticipation for the adventures to come.

Happiness comes in canals!💙🧿

Day 2: Our second day was dedicated to exploring the captivating towns of Volendam and Marken. While we had planned everything on our own, we did buy tours online to help with the transportation for far off locations. A short 1-station train ride later, we met the group at the Amsterdam central station, and boarded the bus to Volendam, a charming fishing village renowned for its scenic beauty. The colorful houses, bustling harbor, and lively atmosphere painted a picture-perfect scene. We were kind of envious of the people sitting outside their homes enjoying the beautiful weather with beverages in hand. We visited a traditional Dutch cheese factory, where they gave us a small demonstration and explanation of the cheese making process, after which you can walk around, tasting multiple varieties of cheese and buy to carry back with you. Do try the aged cheese when you visit, the crunch and flavour is unmatched! We then relished the opportunity to wander through the cobblestone streets, savoring local delicacies like the stroopwaffles and hot chocolate (with tiny marshmallows obviously!).

From there, a scenic yacht ride took us through the picturesque landscapes, immersing us in the beauty of the Dutch countryside with the famous windmills in the background. In Marken, we had the opportunity to visit a traditional wooden shoe (clogs) factory, witnessing the intricate craftsmanship behind these iconic Dutch symbols. 

Then we also got a chance to see the same windmills up close, as the next stop for today was Zaanse Schans, the town filled with majestic windmills. We wandered around with a group, also got into one of the windmills for a demonstration on how they use the structure to chop up logs of wood. Walked around, and enjoyed another hot chocolate (the weather was perfect for it!) before heading back to Amsterdam. Continuing our journey, we booked ourselves onto the very famous Amsterdam canal cruise, where you are given individual headsets which have over 20 languages inbuilt, and a kind of a personal guide to the history, and story behind the beautiful and different architecture for an hour or so. The experience left us with a deeper appreciation for the country’s rich cultural heritage. Picked up some pizza to eat while sitting near the canal, to conclude the tiring and eventful day.

The city of windmills has our heart!🍃

Day 3: Our exploration continued as we embarked on a day filled with iconic attractions and cultural delights. Our first stop was the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens, a paradise of vibrant tulips and blossoming flowers. Walking through the meticulously designed gardens, we were awe-struck by the kaleidoscope of colors and fragrant scents that surrounded us. The beauty of nature in full bloom was truly mesmerizing. Eager to delve into the rich history and art of the Netherlands, we made our way to the renowned Rijksmuseum. The museum’s vast collection showcased masterpieces from Dutch masters, giving us a glimpse into the country’s artistic heritage. We could have planned our timing better, as the place closes around 5, so we didn’t get sufficient time to appreciate all the sections. Although we missed the Van Gogh Museum this time, it only fueled our desire to return and explore further. As the day progressed, we found ourselves meandering through the charming streets of Amsterdam’s city center. The picturesque canals, stunning architecture, and lively atmosphere provided an enchanting backdrop as we immersed ourselves in the vibrant culture of the city (with some beautiful insta-worthy photos obviously).

Bring on the flip flops, green grass, sunshine and the tulip flowers!🌷☀

Day 4: Today, we ventured beyond Amsterdam to the captivating city of Haarlem. Known for its rich cultural heritage, Haarlem offered a different perspective of the Netherlands. The city church was majestic, and we took the opportunity to take a stroll inside and appreciate the historic beauty, before walking around the narrow streets with cute little cafes around. We soaked in the lively ambiance, mingling with locals and immersing ourselves in the vibrant energy of the market. Seeking a peaceful respite, we discovered the serene natural landscapes surrounding Haarlem. We then made our way back to Amsterdam central and explored the vibrant Flower Market, indulging in the beauty and fragrance of the stunning blooms. The longest street market (Albert Cuyp Market) in the country nearby was a treasure trove of local delights, from fresh produce to unique souvenirs. As the day drew to a close, we couldn’t resist exploring some of the unconventional aspects of Amsterdam. We visited a live sex show at the famous Casa Rosso, adding an element of curiosity and adventure to our trip. To satisfy our culinary cravings, we indulged again in the iconic stroopwaffles and sampled delectable Belgian fries with an array of mouthwatering sauces.

We ❤ Amsterdam!

Day 5: We were scheduled to fly out early evening, so didn’t want to do much today. Ended up exploring a national park within walking distance from our hotel, and taking in some more of the lush greenery (and fresh oxygen) before catching our flight back to Dubai.

Our journey through the Netherlands was a whirlwind of captivating experiences, cultural immersion, and unforgettable moments. Coming from Dubai, where footpaths are scarce and walking can be challenging, the Netherlands provided a welcome change with its pedestrian-friendly streets and extensive network of sidewalks. From strolling along the enchanting canals of Amsterdam to exploring the charming towns and immersing ourselves in the vibrant culture, we savored every step of our journey. The Netherlands truly captured our hearts and left an indelible mark on our travel memories. Until we meet again, tot ziens!

We left our heart in Amsterdam! ❤

Few Pointers-

• Plan the trip in advance, especially if you need the Schengen visa, it takes significant time (and a painful amount of documents). In the peak season, passport control may take a lot of time in Schiphol airport, so don’t plan too many activities shortly after the planned arrival time.
• Check the weather properly before you travel, and don’t underestimate the cold! Not just the temperature, it’s quite windy too!
• If you like to enjoy some recreational natural drugs, this is the place for it. It’s called the party capital of Europe, and is very easily available in any of the “Coffee Shops.” (Café is for Coffee, Coffee shop has all kinds of products to get high). That still doesn’t mean you can smoke/drink anywhere you want in public, be careful so as to not invite any fines.
• While you are taking a walk down the red-light area, or visiting a sex-show, make sure NO pictures are taken, your phone/camera will be snatched, and apparently you could also get urine thrown on you. We had done our research, so didn’t experience any such bad incident, now you have been warned too.
• Vegetarian, infact even Vegan food is very easily available. The Veganism trend is growing in the region, so no issue on that front. However, if you enjoy fish, do try the local delicacy of Herring, a famous street food.
• On the topic of food, do not miss the Stroopwaffles, and Fries. While it was good almost everywhere, would personally recommend the Fries at Manneken Pis.
• Credit card is accepted almost everywhere, but carry some Euros for emergencies. Be careful if you spend cash while you are drinking/smoking up, have heard a lot of cases of people giving you incorrect change seeing you intoxicated.
• Try and stay as close as possible to Amsterdam central, or any other train station. Will be very important if you wish to explore other places, and make full use of your time there.
• Approx. costs of trip (prices for 2)
  • Flight from Dubai (via Cairo), Visa and Hotel- USD 2750
  • Tours (via Klook, GetyourGuide etc.)- USD 350
  • Overheads (Food, Transportation, Souvenirs, Cheese etc.)- USD 500
• Hotel we stayed at- XO Hotels Park West, Amsterdam

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