Amsterdam

With all the madness going on in Libya today and the destruction in Japan, it almost feels wrong to write about something that makes me feel good. All the news focusing on Japan and Libya might, on the other hand, also make us forget all the bad things that are happening today in other countries and our own countries day-in, day-out (Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, human trafficking, discrimination etc.). And all the good things it inspires ...

To give a totally incomparable example (from a destruction perspective), yesterday I ran a 10K race in The Hague. I personally hated it. There were too many people and just not enough space to run (fast). But the up-side to that is that, indeed, so many people were running. For many of them it might actually be their first 10K race ever! And THAT is absolutely inspiring.

This posting is about Amsterdam because the city starts to grow on me and being there actually makes me feel good. I spent the past Saturday there with former colleagues from the World Bank.

Whenever I am asked where I am from and I say, "the Netherlands," the next question is always: "Oh, do you live in Amsterdam?" I don't, and never have. I lived in a city close to the Hague (Den Haag) and for me, Amsterdam was just far-away-land (even though the train ride was less than an hour from where I lived). Even when I studied in Leiden (half an hour train-ride from Amsterdam), I hardly ever went there. I can simply say, I really don't know Amsterdam. I am only just now getting to know it a little bit better and I like it.

The reason for that is that I have friends and former colleagues from the US flying through Amsterdam these days, wanting to meet up and explore Amsterdam, so I explore it with them. I do have friends in Amsterdam but even when I visit them, I am there to see my friends and not necessarily Amsterdam (although I do get to know more places because of these visits). I should do more wandering around with them too, so beware!

Through these visits, I am starting to really appreciate the city. The houses along the canals are amazingly beautiful. I can't stop wondering how many hands have been needed to build all of them. None of the houses are the same, another thing I really appreciate, as most of the Netherlands (especially the newer parts, built after WW II) exists of identical houses in rows or blocs.



It is a clean city, people are friendly (and that is ME saying it), it has amazing museums (Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh museum to name two), the Anne Frank House (which I only visited for the first time in my life on Saturday), a wonderful park (Vondelpark) and lots of boutique stores and restaurants that you will find nowhere else (in my country or elsewhere). In that sense, it reminds me of New York.

Because of my foreign visitors, I am also starting to see Amsterdam through their eyes. The things I find normal (all the bikes) are actually quite special and adorable if you see it from a foreigner's perspective. Everyone takes a picture of the Amsterdam Central station bike ramp (4 stories, I think). Or the bikes that are parked on the bridges over the canals. Then there is the flower market, the hotel/house boats in the canals, or the clogs in every tourist store (they now have clogs you can wear as slippers which, as I understood from my two former colleagues visiting this weekend who bought a pair each, are very comfy).

Another beautiful place is the Begijn Hof. I only discovered it about 6 months ago when on walk with some Dutch friends. I now have to show it to everyone passing through Amsterdam. It is one of those unexpected peaceful places in the middle of a busy city. It has an interesting history and present. It is also quite well hidden. You have to know where the entrance is.

Wandering through Amsterdam this past Saturday with my former colleagues was just wonderful (they also wanted to have Dutch fries with mayonaise ... my favorite!). I am planning on doing that more often, see more, explore more, enjoy more, whether with my friends from Amsterdam, or those outside Amsterdam.

You are hereby invited to join!

Have a great week!
Rose