After a four hour train trip on Wednesday, I’m in Amsterdam for 6 nights and staying in the "Museum Quarter". It's well located for the activities planned for our tour which commences with drinks this evening! So the focus has shifted from family history to opera and classical music….
My last visit was 30 years ago on a highlights tour - "today's Wednesday, so it's Amsterdam". I recall the canals and the Rejksmuseum being closed due to a strike but not much more.
Last night, I was wondering why they called this area the Museum Quarter as the entire city seems to be filled with museums of every description including a Museum of Prostitution and Hermitage Amsterdam - a branch of the St Petersburg museum.
However, the Rejksmuseum is the grandest and dominates the area. Pedestrians and bike riders are funnelled through the central passage to get from the roadway to the entrance and open parkland areas at the rear of the museum.
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| Front facade of the Rejksmuseum |
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| Rear facade of the Rijksmuseum |
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| First tulip display I've spotted |
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| Tranquil canal opposite the Rijksmuseum |
Hankering for a good coffee in the area, Trip Adviser showed "Bakers & Roasters" was nearby and well rated for it's coffee. The baker's from New Zealand and the roaster's from Brazil! It was like walking into an "on trend" cafe in the Inner West of Sydney. I was greeted with a "g'day mate" by a fellow from Marrickville! The carrot cake and coffee were delicious.
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| Bikes and Canals! |
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InterContinental's Amstel Hotel with perhaps the best address in Amsterdam - Professor Tulpplein 1, 1018 GX Amsterdam!
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A few photos from the waterways.... large and open to narrow and contained with interesting buildings and bridges along the way!
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| NEMO Science Museum! |
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| Venue for contemporary music |
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| EYE Film Museum |
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| A'DAM Lookout with 360 rotation and "Over the Edge Swing" |
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| See "the swingers" |
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| National Maritime Museum |
