Postcard Journeys: Amsterdam 🇳🇱

A couple of weeks ago, my sister and I decided to have a quick weekend trip to Amsterdam. The Netherlands was a very last minute choice, but one that we'd always remember. The beautiful brick buildings, majestic canals, rich history, and relaxed, easy-going attitude towards life is what captivated us the most about Amsterdam. Although we only spent a weekend here, it was the perfect two days to sightsee, make memories, and have the most delicious Stroopwafels!

For some history, Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands and was founded in the 12th century but came into prominence during the Dutch Golden Age (1588-1672). During that time, Amsterdam was the centre of the world economy and was both an economic and cultural powerhouse. Presently, Amsterdam is one of the most popular countries to visit in the world. We made the most of our two days in this city, and made sure to tick off (nearly) everything on our list of things to see.

We started the journey off by making our way to Birmingham International Airport. From there, we flew to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The journey was super quick and we arrived in an hour or so. Our first destination was Jordaan, a central district of Amsterdam known for its canals, houses and markets. The weather was spectacular and there isn't a prettier view than watching boats float along the canals of the city.

Wandering into Jordaan felt like stepping back in time and having spent a couple of hours relaxing and taking in the views, we made our way to grab Stroopwafels from the magical Van Wonderen Stroopwafels shop. Honestly, the interior of the Van Wonderen Stroopwafels shop is like a fairytale! Located in Kalverstaat, the main shopping street in the city centre of Amsterdam next to the Dam square, the shop was packed with tourists and locals. There was a very looong que as well. However, this didn't put us off from waiting patiently for our delicious dutch treat.

The Stroopwafels are freshly prepared in the bakery of the store. The stroopwafel is half decorated with a topping of your choice. You can choose from smarties, kletskop (a dutch cookie), caramel, chocolate flakes, tiny marshmallows, and other tasty sweets. Whilst I chose smarties, my sister chose chocolate flakes - and it was soo YUM. This was one of my best memories from Amsterdam and the wait was worth it.

A visit to The Netherlands isn't complete without visiting the famous tulip fields - Keukenhof, also known as the Garden of Europe. The garden opens yearly to display millions of flowers that are planted over the winter. It is estimated that every year about 40 gardeners plant about 7 million bulbs donated by 100 flower bulb companies. Indeed, tulip season in the Netherlands is on the bucket list of many, including ours, and we had the privilege of seeing the colourful tulips not only at Keukenhof but also at Bloemenmarkt! Bloemenmarkt, located on the Singel canal between Muntplein and Koiningsplein, overflows with daffodils, tulips and bulbs with all kinds, and it was a jovial place to be on that dreamy Saturday afternoon.

Our weekend getaway was a delight, and it was the perfect way to finish off a very busy April. The more I travel, the more I fall in love with every adventure, the food, the journey, attractions, sightseeing, and making memories. I love how travelling inspires us to see, taste, and try new things. It constantly challenges us to explore new surroundings, to engage with different people, and to share new and meaningful experiences with friends and loved ones, which I guess is what life is all about.