...for the first time in my life actually. My trip was totally unplanned. If you're one of my faithful readers (or crazy stalkers) you probably know that I've been living in Istanbul for the past few months. The last weeks in Turkey became quite ... let's call it unstable. However, due to the recent events in Turkey, I was more than happy to escape spontaneously from the violent clashes in Istanbul.

So I said bye bye Turkey for now... And hello Holland... or Netherlands? What's the correct name by the way? I never got that.

© Stephen Lioy | MonkBoughtLunch.com

Amsterdam is a lovely cute little city with less than one million people. But more than 1 million bikes. Seriously, I have never seen so many bikes in my life. How many bikes does one person need? I wonder if they have bike traffic jams? For sure, they do.

Of course my host in Amsterdam had a whole bike shop in her garage and lent me a bike for the week. I had not ridden a bike for quite some time but it was actually the perfect way to see the city. Thank God I didn't hit anyone! By getting lost in the city, the first thing I noticed were the museums. So many museums...

There is the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum, the Vincent Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House... I saw them all from the outside. OK, I have to confess, I don't like museums too much. Unless it's a beer museum. Wait, I'm sure Amsterdam has even one of those, too.

Before I arrived in Amsterdam, I heard some rumors that there are coffee shops everywhere. And by coffee shops, I don't mean the ones where you can order a Caramel Frappuccino*. Do I sound like an idiot right now? It's the language barrier... Alright, I'm talking about weed. Eventually, when I was standing in the center of Amsterdam, smelling weed everywhere (nice change after smelling the tear gas in Istanbul) I realized that weed is legal in this country. Wow. That was definitely an awkward moment.

Let's get to the point; did I smoke any weed in Amsterdam? No. Why? Because... I don't know, maybe I'm boring. It was just not as exciting anymore as when I was a teenager. Oh gosh, now I really sound boring.
Anyway, there is still one question: Why are these "weed shops" called coffee shops? However, I neither got my Caramel Frappuccino* in there nor got baked.

(* Dutch people love their coffee, asking for a Starbucks might insult them!!)

© Stephen Lioy | MonkBoughtLunch.com

The other day I got lost and found myself yet again in the red light district. What a surprise. After living almost a year in a Muslim country I was quite shocked... OK, now I'm exaggerating. I was more like WTF. Like a surprised WTF. Everywhere brothels and countless sex shops with big windows. 

The sex shops were presenting their collection of sex toys and porn magazines. Yes, everybody could look at it. For free! And really, there were things I could have never imagined. I felt like I lived under a rock. Or in Istanbul, which is kinda the same thing. Now I understand that Amsterdam's red light district is probably one of the top reasons why people visit the Netherlands. Without a doubt.

And if that's not enough, there is even more to see. Two words: Window Prostitution. Apparently, there are nearly 500 of these windows in Amsterdam and they all look like this: Ladies in skimpy dresses, looking bored, playing with their phones while waiting for their customers. Behind a window. A big window. Hm. It's a little bit weird. They like to show themselves but they didn't like me to take photos of them. I heard some people got their cameras thrown in the canal. So no photo for you here, sorry buddy.

A few days later I received an invitation for a Unique Dinner Cruise in Amsterdam. I gladly took it, because I love boat cruises. And I love to eat. What a great combination! When they mentioned drinks were unlimited, I was totally sold.

© Stephen Lioy | MonkBoughtLunch.com

They welcomed me and my friend into their glass-domed boat with a glass of sparkling wine. The atmosphere was great, the tables were intimate. The cruise itself was picturesque, watching the world go by from the canals was simply magical. It was raining when we started the trip, but that made the whole experience even more romantic. Too bad I wasn't on a date. I'm pretty sure all the guests on the boat were couples who either celebrating their anniversary or proposing that night.

© Stephen Lioy | MonkBoughtLunch.com

It was wonderful to see the historical city center with its enchanting canals, the countless illuminated vaulted bridges, the Skinny Bridge, Westerkerk, Anne Frank House... and all those beautiful old houses from the 17th century. 

© Stephen Lioy | MonkBoughtLunch.com

During the cruise of 2,5 hours we enjoyed a four course gourmet dinner, served by their cheerful staff.

So let's talk about the food.

We started with fresh panzanella, which was salad with herbs, capers and perfectly cooked chicken. Obviously I would have liked a lot more of that, it was very very tasty.

Right after they served a pepper soup in a cup. They called it 'Red Pepper Cappuccino'. I'm not used to drinking my soup from a glass, but in the end it was delightful. 

The main course was a Fricassee with tender pieces of veal and stir fried vegetables. It was superb. 

I was already full when the staff came back with Chocolate Truffle, paired with forest fruits and covered in rich vanilla creme. How could I resist? The dessert was insanely delicious.

After the dessert, they came again (!!) and served coffee and tea, which I had to refuse. I was simply too full to move from the table. The food was absolutely top class.

Floating down the canals, eating an excellent gourmet dinner and sipping on a glass of wine was without a doubt the highlight of my visit to Amsterdam. The crew was fabulous and the food was fantastic. It was such a unique dining experience, and a perfect evening in Amsterdam!

(Please note that this is a Dinner Cruise, not a guided tour.)

What a wonderful week. Amsterdam was fun, a beautiful place with a lively atmosphere.

It was very easy to get around by bike or public transportation. The Dutch people are so lovely. Everybody speaks English. Did I mention that they're tall? I'm sure Dutch people are the tallest people on earth! 

Holland I will come back! Dank u wel!

Thanks to Stephen Lioy of Monk Bought Lunch. Stephen is a fellow travel blogger I've met in Holland. He contributed some of his great photos to my blog post here. Obviously he had a better lens. 

Travel Tips for the Netherlands

Are you ready to travel to the Netherlands? Here are some quick booking links and resources that I use myself for travel planning. These websites will help you to get started with your Holland itinerary!

Cheap Flights to the Netherlands

Skyscanner is my favorite search engine for finding cheap flights to the Netherlands, from anywhere in the world. I always start my flight search here! 

Transport within the Netherlands

Bus, boat, and trains: Omio is one of the most reliable websites in when it comes to booking buses, ferries and railway. Get an instant seat confirmation and start your overland travel worry-free.

Find a Place to stay in the Netherlands

Hostels, hotels and resorts: Agoda is excellent if you're looking for hotels from budget to luxury! It's one of the largest hotel booking websites in the world. Plenty of options to book now and pay later, or even pay at the hotel. Risk-free booking, many with free cancellation. My other go to is Booking.com.

Homestays and Housesits: For a more authentic and local experience I recommend Homestay.com, a website where you can find places to stay with locals for such a great price. Personally, I'm obsessed with Trusted Housesitters, where you get to stay completely for free in exchange for pet care. Find out more in my article on How to Become a House Sitter and Never Pay for Accommodation.

Fun Tours and Activities in the Netherlands

Get your Guide has plenty of fun activities in the Netherlands and around, such as hiking tours and city sightseeing trips. There is plenty of choices to keep yourself entertained!

Klook is similar than the one above, but offers additional options such as airport transfers, SIM cards, and food & dining experiences. It' a great way to meet other travelers while exploring a new place!

eSIM - Stay connected with Internet

Get an eSIM before you go and have Internet available from the second you arrive! I highly recommend Roamless or JetPac -  they're both highly ranked, inexpensive and reliable. 

Travel Insurance

Never go adventuring without travel insurance! I recommend Genki or SafetyWing - they're both very affordable and will cover you in an emergency. 

Do I need a Visa for the Netherlands?

The Netherlands are part of the Schengen area, so likely you need a visa if you're not an EU citizen. You can check on iVisa whether you need a visa and how long you are permitted to stay.

More Blog Posts from Europe

• What to see and do in the Netherlands in one week
• How to Travel Italy by Train - A First Timer's Guide incl. Things to do and Places to Stay
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• Best Things to do in Berlin
• Top Places to go cycling in Croatia
• Five Amazing Cities You Must Visit In Spain
• 10 Absolutely Awesome Things to do in Barcelona and Around
• 20 Photos that will make you want to visit Turkey
• 10 Places You Must Visit In Lesvos Island, Greece

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