Amsterdam!

Dam Square

Though Amsterdam is best known as a vice city, there's much more to see there than the red-light district. Its compact size leads to greater accessibility, as well as the feeling that you might be able to get to know it, eventually.

The view from Amsterdam Centraal.

Last week, all Belgian schools (including mine) held their annual half-term breaks, during which the family traveled to Blaricum, the Netherlands, where Jantine grew up. I was needed during the week and on the first Friday night, so I came along with them and traveled to Amsterdam each weekend.

The moors in Blaricum. Sheep roam them during the day (to limit the growth of the grasses), and come home to a sheep house at night.

Enclosed tour boats, to keep out the cold and rain.

I had been looking for a place to couchsurf or an open and inexpensive hostel, but found neither. I nearly gave up on going to Amsterdam the first weekend, but was persuaded by Jantine, who told me, "If you don't find somewhere to stay, you can always walk around all night." I'm guessing that that is not always the soundest advice, but in this situation, it worked out for the best! I lucked into a couchsurf at the last moment, and ended up having a great time with the hosts and another au pair.

The guys who let me stay at their place, zombie style.

The Begijnhof, an enclosed nunnery in central Amsterdam. There are still residents (all female), but a nunnery it is no longer.

More Begijnhof. Reminds me a lot of the stone angels from Doctor Who. Scary...

The light in the Netherlands is gorgeous... I've always admired the light depicted by Dutch painters, and now I see their depiction is true to the source.

The Paleis

The most obvious difference between Amsterdam and other cities is its choice of transportation: bicycles. Not only that, but the pace is quite fast. Trams, bicycles, motorcycles... One may be coming in your direction at any time, so all daydreaming must be done away from the street (lest you be hit by something while your mind is gone).

A busy street near Amsterdam Centraal.

Of course, there is also the red light district, full of coffeeshops and women on display. Though the country employs a laissez-faire approach to those kind of diversions, it doesn't seem that the general tone of the city revolves around that. There is much more to Amsterdam than smoking and bikini-clad ladies.

A bar in the red-light district.

I definitely intend to go back. There's a long list of museums I have yet to see, but in addition to that, I am also interested in exploring the city. I think that your experience of a city is in part determined by the people you interact with, and I was lucky enough to meet lots of good ones. Till next time, Amsterdam!