AMSTERDAM:
What an amazingly beautiful city and what an impactful trip!

Once you’re traveling overseas on the way to Israel or back, a quick stop over in Europe is the best way to maximize the time spent traveling! We were en route to Israel for Passover, making it the perfect time to visit Amsterdam’s world-famous Keukenhof- Tulip Festival, which takes place annually over 2 months in the spring (ranging between March - May, so take note for next spring!) But more on that later… 

The last time I came to Amsterdam I was 10 years old, and my mom was pregnant with my brother (who just turned 29!). I remember the Anne Frank House being so impactful- it was after I had done a school project on Anne Frank. My daughter was preparing for an in depth project on Anne Frank, and one of my older daughters had also done this project about her (These two books do a great job opening the conversation with kids about Anne Frank and the Holocaust). Being in the same place Anne had been would hold so much meaning. So, I knew that given the chance to bring them to Anne Frank House, the timing could not be better.

Bringing them to this place made it so much more realistic and relatable. Each of us can understand the story and the museum at our own level. It's strong, it's tough, it's impactful- but it's so important. We walked through the places we all learned about in school, we saw the actual diary, we entered the rooms where she wrote the diary and lived. She was a girl who had hopes, dreams, and a strong love of life. Now more than ever, we must learn from Anne’s life and experiences to make our world better and raise stronger leaders. 

We came for the tulips and to learn more about Anne Frank together, but left Amsterdam with so much more.

THE BICYCLES

The Netherlands is the most bike-friendly country in the world! The city of Amsterdam is all set among canals, rivers, and a particular architecture- the bike culture here is incredibly unique. It accounts for the most bikes in the world! 881,000 bikes in the city and only 800,000 people. We rented bucket bikes for our kids- which are commonly used to get around with kids, groceries, and more in the city. 

While riding around the city was such a great way to immerse ourselves in the culture and see more, the weather wasn’t consistent. Within 10 minutes it goes from cloudy to pouring to sunny to freezing to warm- but it doesn't take away from the beauty of the city.

THE JEWISH COMMUNITY

The Portuguese Synagogue of Amsterdam dates back to the 1700s and remains intact, providing a unique opportunity to experience and explore the history of the Jewish community in Amsterdam. It was established by Sephardic Jews who fled the Iberian Peninsula due to religious persecution. In the 17th century, many Sephardic Jews settled in Amsterdam, seeking religious freedom and tolerance. Additionally, the Etz Chaim Library, located within the synagogue, is the oldest functioning Jewish library in the world and holds a significant collection of Jewish books from the 1700s. It’s always a surreal feeling, to be surrounded by history, preserved culture, and literature like this.

AMSTERDAM THROUGH THE CANALS

We took a river cruise with Leemstar, weaving our way through canals and under so many bridges. I always try to experience a city from its waterways as a unique view of its architecture and vibe. This is a definite must-do for Amsterdam. Many of the buildings here were constructed on wooden piles in soft, marshy ground, which can lead to some settling and sinking over the years. As a result, some of the houses appear crooked or leaning. This leaning characteristic adds to the charm and character of the city's architecture. We also saw many houseboats, each so unique!

MUSEUMPLEIN

Amsterdam has over 100 museums, so choosing which to explore is very personal. As a family, we always like to explore the local art museums, so we visited the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Moco. All three are located in the area called Museumplein, with many museums within walking distance of each other. The Rijksmuseum is home to so many Rembrandts, notably The Night Watch. Being here reminded me of Paris’Musee d’Orsay-It is immense in size and importance of the collection, especially Impressionist work. It looks like a palace, surrounded by manicured gardens. 

The Van Gogh Museum's architecture is a feast for the eyes, and the interior boasts the largest collection by artists worldwide--200 paintings and about 1,000 of his drawings. The museum also does a wonderful survey of his life, organized chronologically. 

The Moco Museum is set in a smaller contemporary building, with beautiful gardens dotted with sculptures surrounding it. Entry to the garden is free and the photo ops are great!

THE TULIPS

As I mentioned earlier, the best time to visit Amsterdam, and the Netherlands, is in the spring just for the opportunity to enjoy Keukenhof. Located in the city of Lisse, about 40 minutes outside of Amsterdam. The garden's name, "Keukenhof," translates to "kitchen garden" in English and originally served as the herb garden for Countess Jacoba van Beieren's castle in the 15th century. This exhibition has been ongoing for 75 years, but dates back earlier than that! Over 7 million different flowers such as daffodils, hyacinths, muscari, and fritillaria, and primarily 800 different tulips all planted by hand, covering about 79 acres. The largest flower garden in the world opens for 9 weeks every year, from late March to mid-May, attracting over 1 million visitors annually.

THE DUTCH EXPERIENCE:
CLOGS, FOOD, AND WINDMILLS

A trip to the Netherlands wouldn’t be complete without a visit to a windmill- - there are still over 100 windmills located within this country, and they are used mostly to make flour. A visit to the Zaans Museum allowed us to visit a cheese shop and taste a variety of Dutch cheeses. We also were able to go inside a windmill and truly understand how it works. The museum showcases a wooden shoe workshop- where they make clogs in under 6 minutes in front of your eyes--so different from anything I’ve ever seen and the kids got such a kick out of it.

The food in Amsterdam is worth a mention--insane french fries or, “patatjes.” Taste around town and join the debate of who does it best. Then try the stroopwafles, 2 thin cookies held together by a delicious syrup for dessert. Go all out with a wide variety of toppings or stick to the original for a delicious local treat.

If a trip to Amsterdam needs to be added to your list, make sure to add it now- and try to time it for the Keukenhof. I love city vacations and this one is a MUST! This trip was memorable, beautiful, and just so unique- I cannot recommend it enough. Although next spring seems far away, remember time flies when you’re planning your next trip of a lifetime!