Rainy Day Reads

This winter I got restless and decided to go somewhere for the Easter holidays. I decided on Amsterdam, because it is a convenient distance from me, there were direct flights, it’s an easy city to navigate on foot and there is lots to see and do. It’s not the cheapest place, but it is definitely possible to enjoy yourself, even on a tight budget.   Trains to and from the airport It is super easy to get from the airport to the city center of Amsterdam. Once you’re off the plane just follow the signs that lead to the train station. You buy a ticket in the yellow and blue ticket machines, that literally have a button that says “I want to go to Amsterdam”. And it is preset to English, so it couldn’t be any easier. Once you buy your ticket you need to check in at one of the poles that are placed by the tracks. You just scan your ticket and you are good to go. Finding the next train to the city is also quite easy, you just look at the screens placed in the hall and find your...

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, but the parliament and government is actually situated in the third largest city, The Haag. The city of Amsterdam is amongst other things known for The Van Gogh Museum, The Rijksmuseum, Anna Frank’s House, canals, flowers and bicycles.   This post will deal with the canals and tulips, and a general introduction to the city.  History Amsterdam can trace its history back to the 13th century, when it was a small fishing community along the banks of the river Amstel. It slowly grew and in 1275 it was awarded privileges to trade. The traders worked in the Baltic Sea, trading with the cities of the Hanseatic League. The city prospered and in the late 16th century it grew rapidly, almost doubling its population. This was the beginning of the Golden Age of Amsterdam. In the late 18th and early 19th century there was a decline, but in 1815 The Netherlands was established as an independent state and the second golden age of A...