The Good, the Rad and the Hungry of Amsterdam
Five unforgettable experiences you should not miss!
I cannot emphasise enough how my short weekend trip to Amsterdam was more than transformed by these 5 experiences — each unique in their own way.
The Good:
A visit to the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens, 50 miles outside Amsterdam, is a once in a lifetime experience, that is worth the tad bit extra planning it takes, after all it is open only for 51 out of 365 days, at least in 2020 (March 21-May 10).
With 7 million bulbs of 800 tulip varieties planted each Spring, this garden is like none other. The garden welcomes art installations, flower shows and inspiration gardens — each dedicated to a specific theme every year.
The Keukenhof theme for 2017 was Dutch Design characterised by Dutch sobriety coupled with innovative solutions. Iconoic artists such as Mondriaan and Rietveld laid the foundations for Dutch Design in ideating the “flower mosaic”. The flower mosaic depicts a Mondriaan painting, planted in two layers to maximise the flowering period in the spring. Look out for 2020’s World of Colors theme coming up at the park.
A lesser known fact is the Keukenhof is also the largest statue garden of the Netherlands adorned with statues made by world famous artisans.
Sipping coffee (or wine?!) at one of the garden terrace cafes that serves freshly baked goods and hosts live music performances is surely heaven on earth! There’s really no better place for a splash of sunshine, a lot of spring & some self-love than to be tucked away amidst tulip bulbs and windmills.
2. The Heineken Experience — Het Meest Getapt!
There’s only so much that can change from one brewery tour to another. Yet, witnessing the legendary journey of a small brewery that began in 1864 and went on to accomplish global dominance with its current pinnacle of success in the beverage space is extraordinaire.
Beer geeks get to learn the nitty gritty details of the beer-making process — explained in a simplistic manner for any 21+ year old to understand, and who knows maybe even get inspired to brew their own works!
However, the highlight for me was witnessing first-hand the bottling process of a brewery — something one doesn’t always get an inside view of.
In fact, you could actually BYOBB (Brand your own beer bottle) with your name, an initial, or date — a sweet keepsake from this heritage brewing company. My sister, Ankita and I got this memoir!
I thought 18 Euros/person was totally worth a 90 minutes tour that includes 2 chilled Heineken beers in the end!!
The Rad:
3. The Student Hotel — Amsterdam City
Where can I even start about the quirky, urban, eco-loving, all-loving, globe trotter vibes this hotel exudes from the moment you set foot on the porch!? When I say eco-friendly I mean this hotel is literally located in the former printing press facilities of Het Parool and Trouw newspapers, whaaaaa!?
Everything from the warm and fuzzy light-box quotes to the welcome waffle, and not to forget, the enormous attention to detail in the room decor, shower essentials and hotel amenities, is curated with love and chic artwork mastered to perfect an ecosystem for game-changers to co-create, co-exist and thrive in.
You will feel at home, at once.
With a reasonable price point of $100/night (mid-March), you’re in for a treat with the spacious recreation lounge, fitness centre and late night/early morning bar and restaurant at this hotel. The Amsterdam City location is at Wibautstraat — also known as Knowledge Mile, the social, creative and entrepreneurial hub of the city — a sweet spot, conveniently located right next to the metro station.
What better way to energise yourself than to engage in activities with young, like-minded tourists and professionals, all on a budget-friendly holiday just like yourself.
The Hungry:
4. Rijsttafel at Blauw
Rijsttafel, essentially a Dutch word that literally translates to “rice table”, consists of an Indonesian selection of small and fine plates, in varying combinations of meat, seafood, vegetarian, prepared in sweet-spicy-tangy flavours, paired with rice. Seemingly unusual, the elaborate feast parade was developed and adapted by the Dutch during the colonial era.
The almost never-ending line-up of about 20 boat-shaped plates at Blauw come in moderate portion sizes — all packed with unique mouth-fullness ranging from coconut milk to peanut sauce and curry! Some of the classic favourites include fried banana, spicy beef, lamb curry, roasted coconut, pan-fried eggplant and tangy potatoes.
A blend of Indonesian food, sprinkled with some history, and seasoned with love, pride and culture.
Food, like music, is yet another amalgamator that always finds a way to make you feel at home no matter where you are. The rijsttafel right away reminded me of the various thalis — round platter with an assortment of dishes — served around the Indian subcontinent, that I grew up eating! From Kerala, to Rajasthani and Gujrati thalis, they’re one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the local food scene. It also brought back fresh memories of Ethiopian food — injera (sourdough-risen flatbread) rolled into a sheet with wots (veg or non veg stew) placed atop the injera that serves as a platter — that I was introduced to in college.
5. Brunch at Coffee and Coconuts!
No holiday is complete without finding the perfect brunch place — one that is also definitely ‘gram worthy! Coffee and Coconuts is that apt blend of beachy and shack vibes, one that spans across three storeys, serving fresh coconut juice and craft coffee along with a very brekkie affair.
It really feels like summer all day. Errrrday!
I think the perfect way to say goodbye to Amsterdam is a brunch at C&T (perhaps after you’ve indulged in those brownies). Barefoot vibes, cozy decor and most importantly a well-priced breakfast line up — my favourite has got to be the all-the-way breakfast that included eggs on avocado toast, fresh-cut seasonal fruit, a mini pancake with blueberry compote and a yogurt granola parfait paired with a cortado, or a smoothie!
From secret music sessions on their balcony to artist creations, C&T has the prowess to be everyones happy place. I would undoubtedly recommend adding this place to your Amsterdam bucket list. Oh, and since they’re soon in Bali, on that list too!
