Amsterdam is one of our favorite cities. So, coming in a few days early for our Tulip Time cruise was okay by us, and as we mentioned, the Hotel Jakarta Amsterdam was a great home base.
Having explored the city and many of the major attractions on previous visits, we took a very different approach this time. Chill, relax, and enjoy!
Additionally, partway through the river cruise, we circled back to Amsterdam and had a very unique experience!
Our Cover Image
We chose this cover image because one of the things we love most about Amsterdam is strolling in random residential neighborhoods. From people hanging laundry over their railings, colorful shutters, bicycles, canals, and bridges to the aromas that waft through the streets, and the incredible shops selling breads, cheeses, and sweet treats. We love getting lost and wandering our way back to wherever we are headed next.
Albert Cyup Market
On our very first visit to Amsterdam, we took a street food tour of Albery Cuyp Market with Hungry Birds Street Food Tours. Many years later, it remains one of our very favorite food tours.
This trip, we opted to take the subway to the market, something we’d never done before. It was a nice change from riding the trolleys and was only a short seven-minute ride from Amsterdam Centraal.
We were a tad lazy, tried a few old favorites, only took a few photos, and had an interesting discussion in Spanish with a South American guy at a Mexican food stall.
We bought some Aged Gouda (Mark’s favorite) to bring home with us, and some tulips for the ship.
It was a nice, relaxing stroll, and it’s always a great way to experience Amsterdam.
Lunch in the Albert Cuyp Market
Eerste van der Helststraat 50
1072 NV Amsterdam
Netherlands
Traveling has taught us that wandering a few blocks from any tourist destination usually takes you to the places locals eat.
Bar Maeve was exactly that! Outdoor seating along the sidewalk under bright pop-up tents, wonderful people watching as locals walk their dogs, bike around the sharp bend in the intersection, and deliveries of fresh bread and liquor throughout the area.
Lunch was simple: a draft Heineken and a Coke Zero. Mark opted for two appetizers, and Chuck for a Burger and Fries.
Mark ordered their Deep Fried Vegetable Gyoza, six pieces, perfectly fried and crispy, served with Chili Crisp-Soy Sauce ( 9). He also had the more traditional Bitterballen (€ 8.5), a beef snack very similar to a croquette. Served with mustard, it was the perfect light lunch pairing.
Chuck opted for a Smash Burger + Fries (€23.5). There were two delicious Black Angus patties, Cheddar Cheese, a house sauce, and incredible, crispy fries, because no one does fries like the Dutch.
The service was good, the food was delicious, and we really enjoyed not being in a tourist area and people watching.
While the name might be ‘Bar’, they have a great mix of appetizers,s and the lunch menu has vegan options, eggs, salads, and sandwiches. We’d almost call it a brunch menu, and it was a great find!
Grocery Shopping?
Check out the local supermarkets for snacks and treats to bring home.
Tourist areas and souvenir shops can get pricey. We were in Amsterdam over Easter and wanted some Easter candy as a treat and to share. Just beyond Dam Square is a HUGE Albert Heijn supermarket. We found lots of Black Licorice (Chuck’s no-so-secret obsession), plenty of Easter candy, snacks, and drinks.
Additionally, they had LOTS of Tony Chocolonely chocolate, including a great sample bag with a mix of ten flavors, including individually wrapped Belgian dark, dark milk, milk, and white chocolate with almond, hazelnut, nougat, caramel, pretzel, freeze-dried raspberry, crackling sugar, and sea salt. It beat standing in line at Tony’s Chocolonely Superstore a few blocks away.
Random Weird Stuff
While shopping at Albert Heijn, we kept seeing Easter Bunny candy, but they weren’t bunnies; they all said hamster on them. Being really confused and asking several locals, we discovered that the chain’s mascot is a hamster and the candy had the mascot dressed as the Easter Bunny. Who knew?
Amsterdam City Tour
Our group tour included an Amsterdam City Tour. We took a brief ride around the city, a short walking tour, and a canal boat tour.
While we had done a good portion of this on previous visits, it was nice to hear a different narration.
After ending our excursion near Dam Square, we had the opportunity to have lunch on our own and enjoy some free time.
Lunch Along The Canal
Torensteeg 8
1012 VK Amsterdam
Netherlands
The cafe itself is located on the street corner next to the canal; it’s a classic bar with a dark interior, filled with antiques.
However, just across the way, over the canal, is their outdoor seating. The seating is tight, a bit crowded, and you scramble for a table when someone leaves, grabbing or giving up a chair as needed.
The food was delicious! Chuck had a bowl of Tomato Soup (€8.50) and a Toasted Cheese and Ham Sandwich (€6.00). There is just something special about Tomato Soup in Amsterdam; we’ve noticed it time and time again, but we can’t pinpoint it.
Mark jumped at the chance to try one of the more unique lunch items. They call it Amsterdamse Bla Op Brood, Met Sautesaus. Translated, it’s an Amsterdam Meatball on Bread with Peanut Satay Sauce. And it MIGHT have been the most incredible thing he had the entire trip.
What you don’t realize about the hectic outdoor seating area is that this bridge used to be part of the old Amsterdam city wall, with a tower and dungeon underneath that still exists. The tower was demolished in 1829 the widest bridge in Amsterdam remained.
Off to one side, you’ll find a bronze statue called Multatuli, translated from Latin, which means “I have suffered a lot.” A nod to the prison below.
Needless to say, we found a really interesting spot for lunch.
The Rijksmuseum
It was Easter Sunday, and our group had us scheduled for a tour of the Rijksmuseum. It may have been the ideal activity for Easter Sunday, as many stores and restaurants in Amsterdam seemed to be on holiday schedules.
While we’ve been there before, there are things you don’t remember seeing and things you’re glad you saw before.
On a previous visit, we got to see the iconic Rembrandt painting ‘The Night Watch.’ It’s truly miraculous and one of the most famous paintings of the Dutch Golden Age. Unfortunately, this visit, it was being restored, a necessary evil, and was behind a huge enclosed case. Despite the large glass panels, it was hard to see.
Random Weird Stuff
While famous artists like Van Gogh and Vermeer are most often known by their last names, Rembrandt is actually his FIRST name; his full name is Rembrandt van Rijn.
Our group’s guide, Aletta, was very young (at 60+, they all seem to be), but incredibly knowledgeable. She navigated the crowds and took us to see unique, interesting pieces away from the biggest crowds.
Beyond The Crowds
Just outside the Rijksmuseum, we encountered a woman singing Ave Maria, and she blew us away.
In front of the museum, a small local market was set up. There were lots of stalls selling mostly clothes and prints of museum artwork. We were very surprised to see that the stall with the longest line was selling American-style BBQ with huge slabs of brisket and racks of pork ribs to go.
We grabbed a beer and some fries and relaxed before rejoining the group and boarding the MS Monarch Queen to begin our trip officially.
A Free Day Onboard
On the day we embarked on the MS Monarch Queen, we actually had a free day to roam Amsterdam. For many who just arrived, it was their only day in town. Even though it was a drizzly, grey, overcast day, we took a stroll through the neighborhood near the dock.
Van Stapele Cookies!
Rokin 17
1012 KK Amsterdam
Netherlands
In case you missed the bus, Van Stapele opened in 2013 and has become THE go-to place in Amsterdam. They do one thing – Chocolate cookies filled with Vanilla Cream. PERIOD.
They have one location with no intent to grow, and they don’t do pre-orders or ship. Opening time is at 10 AM they sell until they run out of cookies. They do say that if you are there before 4 PM, you are guaranteed cookies.
The cookies are €3.00 each or six cookies for €15.00, and they suggest you eat them within four days, which is really easy to do!
As we’re not fans of standing in long lines and don’t usually track down those ‘trending’ places, we planned to take a hard pass on these. Thankful, a sweet woman we met on the ship, gifted us each a cookie – and they were pretty amazing!
Circling Back To Amsterdam
Toward the end of our cruise, the riverboat circled back to Amsterdam.
It just so happened that we returned on King’s Day. King’s Day in the Netherlands is to honor King Willem-Alexander’s birthday.
The entire country turns orange, and we saw tons of boats filling the canals with people having a good time.
Interestingly, King’s Day is actually celebrated on April 27th, unless that date falls on a Sunday, which it did. In that case, it is celebrated on Saturday the 26th – just our luck!
The Journey Begins
So, that was a glimpse into our time in Amsterdam. Now we’re off on board the MS Monarch Queen for our Tulip Time Adventure.
More on our time on the ship and the incredible food in our next blog!
