For my last trip of 2023 I will be heading to Europe along with a short stint in Abu Dhabi. Taking advantage of a flight deal earlier on in the year, I will be flying to Amsterdam and spending a few days in this vibrant city before heading onward into other parts of Europe.
YVR’s “Temporary” Plaza Premium Lounge.
I’m always happy to be at Vancouver International Airport. Aside from the fact that it’s my home airport, I think it’s a beautiful airport with large floor to ceiling windows and lots of natural light. Heading to the airport early, I intend to walk around the terminal, do some plane spotting and check out the Plaza Premium Lounge. The permanent location is currently being renovated, so they have a temporary location in an empty part of the terminal. Initially I thought it would be a bit of a let down with the lack of privacy from the rest of the terminal. However, it turns out I really enjoy this temporary location. It’s open, airy and almost feels like an outdoor patio with wonderful views of the tarmac and planes with the west coast mountains as a backdrop. So with a few snacks and beverages I settle in and avgeek out a bit!
KLM 682 Vancouver to Amsterdam
Soon, its time for me to board my flight to Amsterdam. I will be on KLM’s A330 for the next 9 hours. Taking a page out of my own book. I opt for the middle section aisle seat. It makes for a less claustrophobic flight. It also provides me easy aisle access so I can stretch my legs for the flight over the Atlantic. I’ve never flown with KLM before but wouldn’t hesitate to fly them again. The overall experience is pleasant, the food tasty and the seats are pretty comfortable. Over the years, I’ve found it harder and harder to sleep on flights (regardless of the cabin I’m in). This flight is no different. I probably slept an hour or two, but spent most of it catching up on shows and movies throughout the flight.
Amsterdam
After landing at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, clearing immigration and picking up my luggage, I make my way into the city. My first stop is my hotel where I will call home for the next few days, XO Hotels Van Gogh. This hotel is a bit outside of the central area but right across the street from Amsterdam’s museum district. So it’s still in an excellent location for a tourist like me! Thankfully even arriving a little bit before noon my room is ready. This lets me drop off my luggage, freshen up a bit before heading out to explore the city.
Exploring Amsterdam
After spending a short time at the hotel settling in, I set out with a loose goal to get some food. I researched a spot called Foodhallen which essentially is a fancy food court with lots of unique eateries. It’s actually really cool inside and has a lot of great looking spots. However, there’s an emphasis on American, Mexican and Asian cuisines which having just come from North America isn’t really what I’m looking for. It’s still worth a visit and if I did start craving something a little “closer to home” I certainly would visit this spot.
Ten Katemarkt
Right outside Food Hallen though is a cool open air market called Ten Katemarkt. There are stalls setup for all manner of things. From Fresh produce to luggage there is a shop for everything. There is also a good amount of food stalls and this is where I get to try the first of many local Amsterdam dishes on this trip. I pass by a fish store and after a bit of google translate practice I order a broodje haring. Which is raw herring served on a bun with pickles and onions. It is probably not something for everyone but I LOVED it. It’s unique, super fresh and very tasty. Can’t wait to try it a few more times on this trip!
Central Amsterdam
After getting some food in my belly, I decide to take a long stroll towards the centre of Amsterdam. It’s not a small distance but since I don’t have any concrete plans I’m very happy to simply explore, and familiarize myself with the city. And what a pretty city Amsterdam is. Before arriving you spend time looking through photos of canals and have a reasonable idea of what to expect. But I didn’t fully appreciate just how pretty it is rounding every corner, you find yourself with another beautiful canal just slightly different than the last one.
Fabel Friet
Eventually after an hour or two of strolling I happen upon a store with a long line up outside. Upon a bit more investigation I discover Fabel Friet. This is a pretty popular fry shop and had been one of the shops I had put on my list prior to travelling. However, I didn’t actually expect to stumble upon it the way I did. After taking a look at the different options I see a break in the line and decide to just hop in and place an order. Local dish #2 check! And I’m still only on day one of my trip! The fries are fresh, crunchy on the outside and mushy on the inside. They also throw on a healthy amount of mayo, ketchup and onions. You can also get it with a curry sauce which I kind of regret not getting now because I think it would add just a little “extra” to an already outstanding snack.
Stroma Canal Cruise
As I near the centre of the city, I decide to hop on a canal cruise to see Amsterdam from a different perspective (And to get off my feet after a few hours of walking). As part of a Go City pass that I purchased prior to arriving, a canal cruise with Stromma is included. I find their dock and hop onboard. With the beautiful late afternoon weather, I really enjoy this relaxed way to see the city. There is an audio component to the cruise that talks about the different parts of the city and how the canals are built and maintained. I did pick up on an interesting fact here and there, but I really just like the vibe of leisurely cruising through the city and enjoying the unique architecture.
Pompa
After my canal cruise, I head back to my hotel and spend a little time resting. I think at this point the jet lag, the “two days” of travel and a full day of walking around are starting to catch up to me. Still not super hungry after the fries, I decide to head out for a light meal before crashing early. Nearby to my hotel is a small restaurant called Pompa. I didn’t intend to have anything more than their seafood soup for dinner. However something on their menu caught my eye: Bitterballen. They are small deep fried beef croquette balls and another local dutch dish to try. So along with my soup I have an order of Bitterballen as well. I can safely say these things are super tasty and I am really looking forward to “snacking” and eating my way through Amsterdam this trip!
After dinner, I head back to my hotel for a much needed hot shower before I quickly melt into bed after a good first day in Amsterdam. Tomorrow I will be visiting a few museums and spending time exploring more of this wonderful city, fast becoming a favourite!
Great read….again!