Europe The Netherlands

Exploring The Canals of Amsterdam

May 5, 2017

Amsterdam Canal

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Amsterdam Canal
Amsterdam Canal

Amsterdam

After exploring the tulip fields in the morning, we headed over to our next campsite that afternoon which was about 30 minutes south of Amsterdam, so we decided to head to Amsterdam for the afternoon before checking in.

I find it so amazing that there’s estimated to be more bikes in Amsterdam than residents, mostly because of the amount of bikes that are stolen each year, or fall into the canals. And there’s almost as many canals as in venice too – with 165 in Amsterdam (and 177 in Venice) with 1281 bridges!

I loved the canals there. They were so much quieter to wander around than in the city centre and so so pretty. I loved the wonky houses too, which were literally everywhere. I’d love to see what they’re like inside, because from the outside, they look so strange! Is it like that inside?!

Amsterdam CanalAmsterdam Canal

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Tulips in Amsterdam
Tulips in Amsterdam

We didn’t exactly have the best start to the afternoon there. We bought return tickets for the train there but I bought them to the wrong train station, so we ended up on the outskirts of Amsterdam. So then we had to get the tube in to the centre. Then we walked in the wrong direction heading out of the city for a good 20 minutes or so before I realised!

We headed over to see Bloemenmarkt, which I’d heard a lot about. It definitely wasn’t what I was expecting at all though, so we didn’t stay long. I thought it was cute little boats with flower shops on them. It’s more like rafts that are so secured you don’t even realise they’re floating, with thousands of bulbs to buy. Like, thousands! I guess I should have done a bit more research before hand!

Moped in AmsterdamWonky House in Amsterdam

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Bloemenmarkt Amsterdam
Bloemenmarkt Amsterdam

Bloemenmarkt AmsterdamCherry Blossom in Amsterdam

By this point, I think we’d both had enough and just really wanted to go back and chill at the campsite for the rest of the afternoon. We aren’t really city people anyway, but when you add an Easter bank holiday weekend where it seemed like half of the UK had headed to Amsterdam for a long weekend of partying to the mix, it kind of puts you off. We literally couldn’t walk it was that busy!

So that was pretty much our 3 hours of Amsterdam. I guess we just weren’t in the right frame of mind to experience it properly and it seems like it’s one of those places that’s like Marmite. You either love it or hate it. Turns out, we didn’t like it. But a few people on instagram that I spoke to afterwards all said that the west side of the city is much better, which we never got to visit. I’d love to go back again when it’s a bit quieter and see more of the city though and hopefully change my opinion on it.

Have you been to Amsterdam before? What did you think?

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  • Reply
    Darina
    May 5, 2017 at 8:31 am

    I am regularly in Amsterdam. I was there last Wednesday and it was SO crowd. I know, it is holiday season, but it was too much for me. Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities but there are more neighborhoods to explore the next time: de Pijp, West, Southside of Amsterdam…less crowd and even beautiful! But…. your photos are beautiful! This is the real Amsterdam!

    • Reply
      April
      May 6, 2017 at 7:36 am

      Thanks so much Darina! Yeah, I just couldn’t get over how busy it was! We could barely walk through the streets in the centre. I’ll have to note those down so that if we ever return we can check out those places!
      xo April

  • Reply
    Kasi
    May 5, 2017 at 1:06 pm

    I’ve never been to Amsterdam (just on a layover) but it’s always been one of the places that I really wanted to go. Your photos are gorgeous and they make me want to go there even more 🙂

    • Reply
      April
      May 6, 2017 at 7:37 am

      Thanks Kasi! I’d definitely try visiting out of season, because it was so busy! I hope you get to go there one day!
      xo April

  • Reply
    Nerissa
    May 6, 2017 at 9:33 pm

    I’m going to Amsterdam tomorrow and this is just like what I needed. I can’t wait to see the whole city with my own eyes! It looks so pretty!

    • Reply
      April
      May 9, 2017 at 6:41 am

      Ahh, I hope you enjoy it!
      xo April

  • Reply
    Amanda
    May 8, 2017 at 9:54 am

    I’ve only been to Amsterdam once and it was in early 2010 as I student, so I feel like I didn’t experience it properly then. I really need to go back to form a clearer opinion! x

    • Reply
      April
      May 9, 2017 at 6:43 am

      Yeah I totally get that! Hopefully you get to go back soon to properly see it. I feel like I definitely need to go back again when it’s a little warmer haha! My body just doesn’t like the cold haha!
      xo April

  • Reply
    Gemma Evans
    May 21, 2017 at 9:24 pm

    It’s a shame your afternoon wasn’t as good as you hoped, the tulip fields looked pretty amazing though. We generally go on holiday at odd times of the year so it’s not as crowded; March, then September/October. But some places are so popular they’re probably crowded all year round.

    • Reply
      April
      May 24, 2017 at 1:25 pm

      Yeah, it was amazing to see the fields of tulips since I’ve wanted to see them for years! I love going out of season, like July/August are a no go for me haha! But I guess being prime tulip season and a bank holiday, the two together was just not a good combination haha! I was just trying to use as less holiday from work as possible haha!
      xo April

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