- Week Seven - Located on the north of Amsterdam is an area called Waterland (Old Holland), known for its traditional fishing villages and farmlands. We purchased a €10 bus ticket from Go Dutch that gave us all-day transportation to each village. They also list recommended routes to take on their website. We decided to take the Small Town Harbours route and visit Edam, Volendam, Marken and Monnickendam. EDAM This village is known for their local speciality, Edam cheese. There are a few cheese shops in the area where you can sample various types of cheese. Being the most aesthetic of the four villages, we enjoyed walking around the small streets and admiring the sights of cute canals and fall foliage. VOLENDAM In close proximity to Edam is a Holland's best-known fishing village. Volendam is located right next to a boat harbor and is known for their seafood. Some of their most popular food items include kibbeling, herring and smoked eel. At the harbor, you can take an express boat to Marken for €8.50 one-way. MARKEN This small village used to be an island in the Markermeer. Now, it can be visited through ferry or bus/car. The village is filled with green wooden houses and a bunch of boats docked at the harbor. We grabbed some fresh orange juice at a local cafe before exploring the quaint streets. MONNICKENDAM Being another small fishing village, Monnickendam was our last stop before heading back to Amsterdam. Although most shops were closed when we went, it was nice to walk around the ancient Gothic-style architectures. If you ever visit Amsterdam, I would highly recommend taking a day trip to Old Holland to get a taste of cheese and traditions. You can read more about what to do in Amsterdam in my previous blog here.
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- Week Seven - Amsterdam is the city of tulips, cheese, clogs and canals. Their efficient use of waterways was introduced during the Golden Age in order to create a way for merchants to easily transport goods. Known as the "Venice of the North", Amsterdam is a truly beautiful and picturesque city to visit next time you visit Europe! THE TRANSPORTATION We booked a flight flying out of Gatwick Airport with easyJet. Their check-in process is similar to Ryanair, where you can print out your boarding passes online and head directly to the departures gate. Once arriving in Amsterdam, there are a a variety of transportation cards you can purchase. We ended up getting the Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket because our Airbnb was located out of the city and wasn't included in the regular Amsterdam Travel Ticket. This ticket allowed us to have unlimited transportation on the train, metro, tram and bus. You can also look at other transportation ticket options on the Amsterdam website here. THE ACCOMMODATION We decided to stay in an Airbnb in Halfweg, since it was a bit cheaper than renting a place in the city. Halfweg is only two train stops away from Amsterdam Centraal and our Airbnb was located around a 15-minute walk away from the station. The walk to and from the station was stunning, as it passed through expensive-looking boat houses and a beautiful bridge overlooking the canal. Although it was a bit inconvenient to wake up earlier to commute into the city, it was also nice to be away from the bustling metropolitan area and enjoy some peace and quiet at night. THE ITINERARY Amsterdam is an aesthetic city filled with quirky museums, cafes and a ton of cute countryside towns. Here are some fun things to do and places to see while in Amsterdam: 1. ALBERT CUYP MARKET This popular street market is named after Albert Cuyp, a painter from the 17th century. Over 300 stalls line the street, selling a variety of things ranging from food, souvenirs, clothes and unique trinkets. Here, we tried some Dutch cuisines like kibbeling (battered chunks of fish) and stroopwafels (wafer cookie with caramel filling). 2. VAN GOGH MUSEUM This museum is dedicated to the works of Vincent van Gogh. After Vincent's death, his brother Theo took on the aspiration of selling his artwork. Theo unfortunately died only 6 months after and all of Vincent's art collection had been passed down to Theo's wife, Johanna. With the ambition of giving exposure to his artwork, she and eventually her son, began selling and donating artwork to famous establishments. The Van Gogh Museum takes you on a tour through Vincent's life, where you can being to really appreciate his brilliance. Tickets are €19 and I would suggest booking online to ensure you have a spot reserved. 3. THE CATBOAT The Catboat is the only animal sanctuary in Amsterdam that floats on water. Open from 1pm - 3pm, you can visit for free and play with some of the adorable cats. If you find one you love, you can even adopt them! It can get quite busy, so you can either make a reservation online or get a time slot ticket in person. 4. JORDAAN Located near Amsterdam Centraal, the streets of Jordaan are filled with boutiques, pubs, cafes, restaurants and shops. You can take your time walking through this area and admire the canals and narrow alleyways. 5. CANAL CRUISE A canal cruise is the best way to tour Amsterdam and experience their waterways first-hand. There are a ton of cruises, be we decided to go with a company called Flagship Amsterdam. An hour canal ride cost €16 and had a pick-up point near the Anne Frank House. Our tour guide was very friendly and made the experience super fun and interactive. He talked about the history of Amsterdam and pointed out popular landmarks, along with fun-facts about them. In all, I would 100% recommend participating in a canal cruise during your stay! 6. DE HALLEN/FOODHALLEN Foodhallen is located inside De Hallen and is an indoor food market home to a wide variety of cultural cuisines. Ranging from Vietnamese food to authentic Dutch cuisines, you can definitely find something to satisfy your palate. I ended up eating spring rolls (possibly the best I've ever had) and Dutch croquettes called bitterballen. Along with exploring the city of Amsterdam, we also took a day trip to Old Holland. You can read more about my experiences in Edam, Volendam, Marken and Monnickendam here.
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AKI'm truly grateful for this opportunity to study abroad and would like to share my experiences with all of you! Ranging from pre-departure tips to recommended travel destinations, I hope this blog will serve as a inspiration and reminder to always explore. Archives
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