Tot ziens, Nederlands!

Tot ziens, Nederlands!

I recently had the opportunity to visit the Netherlands – my first (mostly) solo trip abroad.

The first leg of my trip took place in Amsterdam, where I was able to take in the picturesque canals and the colourful canal houses aligning them. I always seemed to be on the move, whether on a canal boat, taking a guided bike tour, or simply walking, easily hitting my daily step count and then some. I also ticked off my goal of trying a hot fresh stroopwafel along with bitterballen, which are similar to croquettes. What I didn’t expect to enjoy so much were the fries with Dutch mayonnaise (I’m not sure what they put in it, but it hits the spot unlike the mayonaisse I find at home!)

I spent a day visiting museums, starting off with the Netherlands’ national museum – the Rijksmuseum. It featured an extensive collection of Dutch artworks spanning the ages, along with historical artifacts and detailed naval models, all highlighting the country’s strong nautical past. With the Van Gogh museum just down the road, it was a no-brainer to continue my art exploration there.

The trip was rounded off with a short train ride to Alkmaar, a much smaller city that retains all the rustic Dutch charm, while avoiding the overbearing tourist feel of Amsterdam. I met up with some friends to attend a festival where I then proceeded to enjoy basking in the sun. All in all, although my feet didn’t thank me for this holiday, my mind certainly did!