Last Day in Amsterdam
Having checked off most of my Amsterdam bucket list items, I give myself a chance to sleep in a little and catch up on some much needed rest. After a leisurely start to my day, I again head to Albert Cuyp Market to visit Rudi’s Stroopwafels. On my visit yesterday they were closed, but today I finally get to try their famous stroopwafel. Is it worth the return trip over the first stroopwafel? Probably not, but at least now I know, all stroopwafels in Amsterdam are pretty darn good!
The Pancake Bakery
After my small detour to Rudi’s, the next thing on my to eat list is Pannenkoeken. This is the Dutch version of a pancake. Instead of the fluffy bready North American version, this one is flat and can have savoury elements to it. To try this I visit the Pancake Bakery. I order a bacon and pineapple pancake. I have never seen this combination of ingredients before but it seems pretty normal here so why not? The mix of savoury and sweet is certainly interesting! It’s less like a pancake and more like a crepe/pizza. It’s certainly a surprise but a tasty one at that. I will say that they are quite large and quite filling so the only downside is there’s no way someone could sample multiple variations alone. I think going with friends and trying different versions is probably the best way to enjoy this tasty Dutch treat.
Red light district
With no real plans after my pancake meal I decide to take advantage of the beautiful weather and stroll around central Amsterdam. While not very high on my list, I did want to visit the Red Light District at some point. Call me a prude but I didn’t want to do so in the evening so I figure an afternoon walk through the area is a safer bet. Even so, there are still girls in their “red light” booths during the day (though not as much). It’s also against the rules to take photos of these areas (rightfully so). So while the district from afar looks like any other one in Amsterdam, closer inspection will give you the “red light” context of it.
Red Light Secrets
One place that does allow photos is the Red Light Secrets Museum of Prostitution. This is a repurposed Red Light District house that now talks about the world of legal prostitution in Amsterdam. It’s actually really informative. It speaks to how everything is setup, how there are protections in place for both the workers and customers. It also goes into some of the risk that comes with this sort of profession. While there are safeguards in place there have also been tragic stories that bring on new safeguards. So there is a place that speaks to some of the tragedy within this community as well. It also has an area that puts you “behind” the window so you can kind of see what it’s like as people walk by. Though I’m sure I look far less appealing than the actual workers! One other notable area within the museum is the confession wall. This allows for visitors to put notes of their own erotic confessions on the wall for others to see. Reading through a few, there are certainly a wide range of “interests” out there. There are also some very “private” confessions up there. It’s interesting to see that some are willing to anonymously have it up there for all to read as they pass through the museum.
Rembrandt Corner
After leaving the Red Light District, I continue my stroll through central Amsterdam. Nearby I happen upon a small cafe, Rembrandt Corner. They have a placard advertising snert (pea soup). Since this is fast becoming my favourite dish during my visit, I drop in for an afternoon snack. To get out of the cold and have a bowl of delicious soup is super welcome.
Beautiful Amsterdam
After recharging on soup, I head back out to enjoy the sunny Amsterdam afternoon. You would think that after three days of similar canal views it gets boring. However, I still can’t get enough. With such amazing weather, I start to wonder what summer time must be like. More people sitting outside and along the water. The vibe must be awesome. I certainly have it in me to want to revisit this city again in a different season!
House of Bols
As the sun starts to set, I begin making my way back to my hotel. About a block away from my hotel is the House of Bols. A visit is included in my Go City pass and I decide to drop in. Bols is a Dutch distillery brand famous for its range of liqueurs. While I’m not as familiar with their products as I am with whisky, they market themselves as a cocktail brand. My familiarity with them is they supply the delft houses that the airline KLM gives to their premium passengers. While I haven’t flown on a KLM premium flight yet, it is something noteworthy in the aviation world and would love to collect them at some point. Beyond that, the visit to the House of Bols goes through their history and production process before you end up in their cocktail bar. With every ticket you are entitled to a drink which I am happy to consume in a pretty cool environment!
After visiting the House of Bols, I head back to my hotel. I’d like to say I went out somewhere nice for my last evening in Amsterdam. However, fatigue and a general craving for something comfortable to eat wins out. I find a cool pasta takeout place nearby, pick up some snacks and chill out in my hotel. I also have a bit of packing to do since tomorrow morning I will be leaving early enroute to Bruges for a few days.
Amsterdam is beautiful!