One of those destinations I was visiting most often during my childhood and youth was Amsterdam, the Netherlands. That is because of a very good train connection leading there and my father being an employee of the German railway company (“Deutsche Bundesbahn“, later “Deutsche Bahn“). It was very cheap for us to travel by train, even internationally. Continue reading “Amsterdam again”
Het Anne-Frank-Huis
The story of Anne Frank, her hiding, deportation and of course her diary are well-known to the world. That is why everybody visiting Amsterdam, the Netherlands wants to visit that special place at the Prinsengracht where here family managed to hide for a longer time.
Continue reading “Het Anne-Frank-Huis”Canal cruising
There are approximately 200 canals with a length of 80 kilometers in Amsterdam, the Netherlands shaping the image of the city. Most important is the Grachtengordel – a system of four canals (Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht) surrounding the city core in rings. They are typically 27 meters wide and 2,4 meters in depth. Continue reading “Canal cruising”
Vondelpark
The Vondelpark is an urban park in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and the Dutch equivalent to New Yorks Central Park – even though it is much smaller and less moulded. It covers 47 hectares and is named after the Dutch poet Joost van den Vondel (whose statue is visible within the park). You can access the green lung of Amsterdam easily close to the Leidseplan, but there are also many other gates along the stretched park. Continue reading “Vondelpark”
Reopened Rijksmuseum
I’ve been to Amsterdam, the Netherlands many times during the last ten years but I never got the opportunity to explore the Rijksmuseum in its full beauty. On my last trip is was at least partly opened, since April 2013 the renovation works were finished. And that is why we could finally see every part of it – including “De Nachtwacht” (“The Night Watch“) of Rembrandt van Rijn. Continue reading “Reopened Rijksmuseum”
The College
Good hotels aren’t cheap in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. A reasonable compromise is the College Hotel in Roelof Hartstraat, not far away from Museumsplein. It is a place where professionals and trainees work abreast – and it is a very nice 19th century building with high ceilings and an aesthetic decoration. Continue reading “The College”
Amsterdam Centraal
The main railway station of Amsterdam, the Netherlands – and a special one: on both sides accompanied by water; in the north the big canels leading to the Markermeer and the North Sea; in the south the town canals leading through the city. It is a magnificient building made from red brick and inspired by the Dutch Renaissance. Continue reading “Amsterdam Centraal”
Luchthaven Schiphol (AMS)
The airport Schiphol (AMS) is the main airport of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It is located 10 kilometers afar and transports 63 million passengers each year. It was already opened in 1916 and has only one giant terminal for six runways. Continue reading “Luchthaven Schiphol (AMS)”
Where the tulips grow
I went to Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands to present a scientific poster about a project at a conference held in no-man’s-land. A good location to concentrate on science – a bad one for additional exploration tours. But in fact there was a bus route from Amsterdam to Den Haag crossing this place and I tried different stops. Continue reading “Where the tulips grow”
Leidseplein
Amsterdam, The Netherlands is well known to be a good place for a party – and I did this several times in the past. If you need a starting place for warm-up, consider the Leidseplein – a major square in the east of the city center. Here you will find plenty of bars and restaurants and you can sit outside. Continue reading “Leidseplein”