As a college senior, I was fortunate enough to participate in a semester abroad program that brought me to Europe. While my semester was officially spent in London, we were given ample opportunity to travel and travel we did. I spent time in 8 different countries that semester going everywhere from Ireland to France to the Czech Republic. However, despite all my journeys, perhaps the most interesting was Amsterdam in Holland. In a word, what a weird place and crazy city. Best described as a split between New York and Gotham City – but without the protection of Batman – Amsterdam is as strange as it is beautiful and it’s probably the only city where you will find both art and marijuana held in such high esteem. However, Amsterdam is more than just a famous stop for those looking to skip out on harsher drug laws in their native countries; it is also truly a cultural mecca featuring no shortage of art, museums, amazing architecture, and culinary options.
When I visited Holland’s most favorite city I was sure to visit the Van Gough museum, featuring (obviously) the art of Vincent Van Gough as well as several other impressionist and European artists. Also of cultural note in the city is the Anne Frank House – the house where the infamous Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis. For just about anyone who went through the American public school system the Anne Frank diary was a mandatory read in school and so you can only imagine how moving it was to see if this famous place. Add to that the fact that I am Jewish and, well, you can get a picture of how emotional it was to visit this landmark.
Also of note was the city’s Jewish museum, built in honor and in memory of those who passed away during the Nazi’s reign in the Netherlands. As the Anne Frank story attests to, the Dutch were not willing participants in the Nazi’s xenophobic goals and plans and, as this museum takes pains to show, the Dutch did all that they could to resist the Nazi’s advances: for sure, there were exceptions, but this museum is helpful in repairing any burnt bridges.
All in all, Amsterdam is an awesome city and definitely worth seeing. While it is not for everyone it still very much worth checking out and should be in on your Europe to do list.
Many of my friends ahve been to Amsterdamn and absolutely loved it and I am dying to go. I loved you description of it as ” Best described as a split between New York and Gotham City – but without the protection of Batman ” very funny they said pretty much the same thing accept not in those words
Cheers Conor
Amsterdam is definitly a must see even if the drug culture there has kept you at bay till now. I agree that the van gogh museum is excellent and the city celebrates diversity of all types. There’s even a “homo-monument” jutting out into one of the canals. I’ve never been luck enough to be there at the right time but I hear Queens day is a festival not to be missed.