Day 1
Our first full day in Amsterdam! So exciting! One of my best friends traveled with me and it was definitely the trip of a lifetime! First up we wanted to try and get tickets to see the Anne Frank House as these sell out quick! It is recommended that you buy the tickets 2 months in advance but since we flew standby I was not able to purchase in advance. However, the friendly staff at Hotel Die Port Van Cleve assisted us and we were able to get tickets for the same day! They also assisted us in purchasing tickets for the Rijksmuseum so we did not have to wait in line.
First up was the Rijksmuseum. Getting there was very easy; we purchased tram tickets through the hotel staff and hopped on the tram right outside the hotel near Dam Square. The Rijksmuseum was very impressive yet a little difficult to navigate due to the fact there were so many different floors and wings. We managed to see all the highlights in under 3 hours. We admired the works of Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals, Van Gogh, and many other Dutch masters. Make sure you visit the library for a cool photo opportunity!
Next up we headed to the Albert Cuyp Market. This is an absolutely beautiful walk even on an overcast day. Many canal photo opportunities. We had to ask for directions during the short 10 minute walk but the Dutch are very friendly and seemed happy to assist us. On our way to the market we stumbled across this adorable shop/cafe called Blond Amsterdam. Great instagrammable drinks! I ordered hot chocolate with candy and whipped cream! The outdoor market was right around the corner and was almost a mile long! Tons of vendors from clothing to accessories, oils, flowers, and food! Good place to buy affordable souvenirs.
We got lost trying to find a tram station to get to the Anne Frank House. So, we ended up paying for a taxi to take us directly there as we couldn’t miss our time slot! You will want to allow several hours at the Anne Frank House as this is a self guided audio tour. Definitely worth it as the tour provides excellent detailed information on the family and historical era. You are not allowed to take photos inside but you can take a picture of the outside of the house. We had to come back the next day for an outside photo as it was already dark outside at 6pm after we finished the tour.
After our busy day we were starving! We definitely wanted to try the traditional Dutch cuisine and ate at The Pantry which I had discovered online when I was planning our trip. This adorable little restaurant had limited seating but we lucked out since it was a weeknight. The decor is in the traditional Dutch fashion with little dishes and paintings on every inch of the walls. They had all the traditional Dutch dishes including: Hutspot (sausage/meatball & potatoes), Ovendish (beef, cheese, onions, mashed potatoes), and Boerenkoolstamppot (sausage, potatoes, kale), just to name a few. I ordered a three course meal as I wanted to sample different food items. My meal consisted of goat cheese croquettes, ovendish, and mini pancakes for dessert! Everything was delicious! Would definitely recommend this place if you are looking for traditional Dutch food. And as is typical in a European dining experience, the chairs and tables are very small and extremely close together, but adds to a nice and cozy vibe!
To end our night we came across a cool beer garden in the Prisengracht district right around the corner from The Pantry. I ordered a delicious fruit beer with cherry flavor. There were lots of beers to choose from and the vibe was very hip, not too noisy. Nice place for conversation and a chill ending to our night!
Hope these highlights of Amsterdam will help you in planning your trip! Stay tuned for Day 2!
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