BakingBar’s Amsterdam Adventure

In May BakingBar Live Blogged from Amsterdam for 1 week. BakingBar’s Amsterdam Adventure is still very much a feature of our website and can be viewed here. We intend to turn this into a permanent feature more along the lines of an Amsterdam Foodie Guide.

We wrote a summary article for Zomppa International Food Magazine whom we have a monthly column with. This is posted here and we highly encourage you to check out the other articles on Zomppa!

After just one day home from our week long Live Blogging trip to Amsterdam the difference in Northern Irish and Dutch culture is extremely evident.

From the moment we stepped off our train to Amsterdam the number of bicycles was overwhelming. In fact as the week continued you almost felt like the odd one out without a bicycle, I was kind of thinking I should have purchased a similar older bicycle like a trek 930 so I could also fit in. These bicycles were not brand new sports or mountain bikes but were in fact mostly old Dutch bicycles which had been constantly repaired and repainted. This simply added to the atmosphere of Amsterdam. We wished we had rented a bicycle out for at least one of the days but we simply didn’t have time during this trip. But this is something we highly recommend doing and something which we most certainly will during our next visit.

The way of life in Amsterdam is so relaxed and less of a rat race compared to Belfast. The comparison between this trip and our one to London last year was even greater. The multi cultural society which makes up the community in Amsterdam is evident from arriving in Schiphol airport. The people of many nationalities all conform to the same view on life that nothing needs to be done in a hurry, always smile and always be polite. Somehow regardless of these traits which we noticed, the public transport was always perfectly on time. It sounds like the Dutch have got the perfect balance for life!

As you wonder the maze of streets of Amsterdam, which I find resembles a giant spiders web, it does get easier to navigate when you recognise key buildings but my biggest tip for any trip to Amsterdam is never leave the hotel without a map. It was not uncommon for us to get lost for a few hours most days. However we never gave in once to asking someone for directions. With no time constraints to be in a certain place by a certain time the feeling of being lost in a beautiful city was somewhat a relief.

As you continue further through the spiders web of streets away from the city centre, the canals become less busy, the buildings more traditional and the setting even more tranquil. We walked along canals and sat by the waters edge for many hours during our visit. There is nothing better for coming up with fresh ideas and clearing your mind. In fact i wrote some of this article while sitting at the waters edge by the bridge in the photo below.

The life and culture of Amsterdam is spellbinding and breaks your heart to leave. We hope to visit many many more times and perhaps there is a relocation to Amsterdam planned for the near future.