Going Dutch

When the first scene to fall across my visual field is a sea of bicycles lazing against each other along historic, tree-lined canals as others shoot by in ones, twos and twelves carrying passengers of every age, race, size and shape – including one to three on a single bike – naturally, Amsterdam has won an immediate spot on my A list.

The first full day of our inaugural visit to Holland was spent covering 10-plus miles on foot (not two wheels … that starts Tuesday in the ancient Dutch town of Amersfoort). We hoofed through the hip de Hallen neighborhood where we are staying (home to the delightful Foodhallen, where we have now spent two evenings sampling various international fare in the upscale warehouse of restaurant stalls and bars), skirted the Red Light District briefly (not much debauchery afoot at 10 a.m. on a Sunday) into the Nine Streets, Old Town, the Flower Market, Resistance Museum, Windmill Brewery, Anne Frank House and back home through the high-end, immaculate cobblestone streets of Jordaan.

Surprisingly affordable (we were expecting Switzerland-scale prices but they’re happily more German range), friendly and artistic …  we might just spend another day here.  

Gotta watch out for those bikes, though.