The American Book Center (ABC) is a special spot in downtown Amsterdam. It’s home to a huge selection of English books and a tiny cafe. This three story heaven is one of the few places that houses only English books. There are tons of bookstores in Amsterdam but this one is where I feel the most at home. It’s all about English books and always brings a crowd. I’m serious. There’s never been a time that we visit where the…
It’s a big deal when Sander and I go to Amsterdam. We early wake up, have a light breakfast, and pack our bags. See when we plan a day out in Amsterdam, there’s only one thing on our mind – ramen. Our go to place is on the outskirts of the Red Light district, at underground level, but don’t let that fool you. Ramen-ya is home to some of the most delicious hakata ramen we’ve ever had. Hataka refers to…
Our first Christmas Market was located in North Holland in the town of Heemskerk. The castle was built in the 15th century but now serves as a hostel. The castle had been a standalone, it’s a large empty field behind. Now the garden is cultivated and well groomed. It would be lovely to come back in the spring to see it in full bloom. The Dutch and the Germans are very passionate about their Christmas markets. While Sander’s sisters off…
What’s so wonderful about Amsterdam is that there are hundreds of rotating museum exhibits to visit. From now until September 1, 2019 is one particular exhibit about Japan and its world wide influences. Cool Japan showcases some of the more popular topics that places Japan at the top when it comes to cultural interest. The exhibit covers a majority of the topmost floor in the Tropenmuseum. It features a ton of historical and interesting facts that cover the most popular chapters…
The Dutch have a fascination with worldly culture and it’s safe to say that Japan is a popular topic. The Dutch/Japanese relationship goes back over 400 years. With the advances in technology, it’s no wonder that countries are forging new relationships and creating international companies. The Japan Festival is an event strengthens the bond between Japan and the Netherlands. This year the Japan Festival for 2018 took place in the Amstelveen Shopping Centre. Activities started at noon and attendance was…
We had a few things to do in Amsterdam this weekend so we decided to drop by Oosterpark to get away from the city crowds. Autumn in The Netherlands is such a beautiful time. The colors are vibrant and the scents are strong. There’s a distinct nip in the air and everything feels more mysterious. We’ve never been to Oosterpark before but it’s the same as any other large park in The Netherlands. It’s roomy, beautiful, and filled with both art…
A few weeks ago we decided to have a staycation. Sander had time off from work and we had two weeks together. We decided to choose one of those days head back to ARTIS in the heart of Amsterdam. Our goal was simple: relive the memories of our first visit and make a few more. What I love about ARTIS is that it’s a large but easy to navigate zoo. The newest feature was the improved habitat for the elephants.…
Alright I’m back from a mini break from the blog! We’ve been a bit busy over the weekend. Pair that with a few super late nights and you have the recipe for over exhaustion! We went to Amsterdam on Saturday for one of our errand runs. We usually go out when a comic I’m collecting, Snotgirl, is available. But I realized I never shared what we usually do! Eat our favorite foods We skip breakfast when we go to Amsterdam.…
We stand squished between strangers. Cheers, screams and pounding music rise up all around us. Confetti rockets out of cannons and rains down on sweaty faces. Rainbow colors soar from windows and adorn painted cheeks. This is Pride Amsterdam 2018. The theme this year was “Heroes”. The website has the following statement: “Everyone knows someone who deserves the ‘hero status’. Think of people who take the lead, stand for something and also propagate it in public. It concerns people,…