Netherlands
Everything you need to know about tulip season
in Amsterdam
y second trip to Amsterdam had one goal: the tulips. When I first visited the city on December of 2016, I discovered the tulip madness that follows every spring, and was determined to return one day. Nearly ten years later I was back and this whole trip became so much more than a tulip-centered visit.
We stayed at Hoofddorp, at Florian, a great and sustainable hotel near the airport because it was the cheapest we could find but it turned out to be a really great stay. Transportation happened with a short bus-ride to the airport and a train ride to the city center (not as much of a hassle as you’d think, it was quick, easy and cheap).
Netherlands in mid-April is tricky: one day can be hot and sunny and the next day you’ll get showers and it was fun to guess which weather we’ll get every day – when we visited Lisse we had clouds and quick rains. If you book a tour to the tulips you will most likely end up at Keukenhof which is comprised of stunning gardens full of tulips but it’s the most crowded with tourists. We took a taxi to Tulip Experience, a garden with over 700 varieties of tulips with Instagrammable installations between them, a café, a museum, small shops and a museum with everything about the tulips and their history (and a chance to pick some, included in the €12 entry fee.
Nearly ten years later I was back and this whole trip became so much more than a tulip-centered visit.
Beyond the tulips though, I’ve always loved the vibes of this city. Even when you walk a bit further from the city center to reach the Dancing Houses, the window mantels with pots full of flowers, the houses, the channel work like a tranquilizer. It was, in fact, the first time seeing the Dancing Houses and the setting is beautiful even under a cloudy sky. Those canal houses are nicknamed ‘’Dancing Houses’’ because over time they settled and sunk from their foundation, eventually looking like they are wobbling.
If you want to try something local, that’s Stroopwafel, a thin, round cookie made from two layers of sweet baked dough held together by syrup filling. You can find them pretty much everywhere around the city center and they’re quite cheap. Mind you, I fell for a tourist-scam and ended up paying €18 for one. They are usually around €5.
I should also tell you that, for brunch you have to go to Omelegg. It’s near Amsterdam Centraal and its probably the only time I waited in line for a place like this… and I’d do it again. Everything was delicious, with crispy, freshly made croissants and various options for eggs in great portions.
As for museums, you should definitely keep an open mind when you visit the Sex Museum (entrance fee is €9). It’s a very uniquely interesting – through X-rated – museum visit. The museum features an extensive collection of pictures, recordings, photos, paintings and artifacts which allow visitors to explore the evolution of human sexuality throughout the ages. If you prefer something more like a typical museum / gallery, Moco is up there with my favorites, though the entrance fee is pricey at €22. When we visited, the museum had works from Yayoi Kusama and Robbie Williams’s Pride and Self-Prejudice exhibition, as well as their permanent galleries of Banksy and Andy Warhol.
A few things to keep in mind:
1. Walk, but always mind the road
If you don’t want to rent a bike you can enjoy the city on foot but you must always mind the road. People move around by cars, the tram or with a bicycle so make sure you double check before you cross a street. We walked around and it was a great choice.
2. The difference between cafés and coffee shops
You may want a cup of coffee or a special brownie, the former is at a café and the latter at a coffee shop. However, weed and pot are only sold for personal use and, contrary to what you may think, it’s not allowed everywhere. There are various coffee shops around, but Bulldog is probably the most prominent. You should also never mix it with alcohol.
3. The rules of Red light district
The famous Red Light District has moved from De Wallen and landed in a narrow street near Oudekerksplein with the same concept. Women are behind windows on your left and on your right, you are still forbidden from taking pictures and the whole thing looks more surreal than ever.
In general, Amsterdam can not let you down – unless you were expecting a cheap destination, in that case you will be severely disappointed. It’s a city for everyone, for whatever you want to do on your travel, be it partying in bars and clubs, relaxing at coffee shops, unwind with casual walks around or sightseeing.