When you read “Part 1”, you just kind of know it’s going to portend multiple posts. Yes, frankly, it will. Amsterdam is just utter door heaven.
Instead of substance ecstasy, I was maybe unique in having door ecstasy during my weekend in town.
So, when you are called Victoria, where else do you stay but The Victoria Hotel! Ideally and centrally located, just opposite the train station (Airport to town via a Metro ride and a walk across the river, easy and little hassle, a great starting point).
Having been to Amsterdam years ago when I was young and foolish, this time around, being much older and a little less foolish I wanted to enjoy the city, not the sins.
So first off was a canal boat tour to get my bearings of the old centre of Amsterdam. Lucky with the weather, it was an ideal way to view the canals and the wonderful houses that line them and decide the walking routes for the next day.
A little history of the city courtesy of Wiki:
Amsterdam’s name derives from Amstelredamme, indicative of the city’s origin around a dam in the river Amstel. Originating as a small fishing village in the late 12th century, Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the Dutch Golden Age (17th century), a result of its innovative developments in trade. During that time, the city was the leading centre for finance and diamonds. In the 19th and 20th centuries the city expanded, and many new neighborhoods and suburbs were planned and built. The 17th-century canals of Amsterdam and the 19–20th century Defence Line of Amsterdam are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Amsterdam’s main attractions, including its historic canals, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, Hermitage Amsterdam, Anne Frank House, Amsterdam Museum, its red-light district, and its many cannabis coffee shops draw more than 5 million international visitors annually.
Amsterdam is the capital of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the seat of government though is based in the The Hague (Den Haag).
Interestingly, today, the media are reporting that the King of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander, has for the last 21 years been flying for KLM as guest co-pilot. It says something about the laid back approach of the Dutch that this is only just reported. I can’t imagine any Royal being able to do that for 21 years in the Uk without any press reporting!
Along every canal, these views are stunning…
So, 5 million visitors annually, means it’s going to be a busy city. The main canal streets are fairly full of tourists and locals alike and of course the inevitable hen and stag parties. For those of you who don’t know Amsterdam, the centre of the old town revolves around the canals, narrow streets (not a good idea to drink too much as there are no health and safety barriers to stop a canal plunge, however there were plenty who weren’t bothered by that worry!) and slim, old, towering buildings that really aren’t straight at all. Editing the shots was quite difficult!
A link about the canal houses, the canal area is designated a Unesco World Heritage site. It is unique and even though the city is full of visitors, off the beaten track there are always quiet streets and canals to admire and of course, doors!
Door heaven (Part 1 photos) from my iPhone6 camera.( It could be titled Dark Door day too)
Linking with Thursday Doors, hosted by Norm Frampton. Pop on over to admire today’s doors…
Travels in the Middle East and beyond 
Oh yeah! Style ecstasy over substance ecstasy any day! These are lovely pics
LikeLike
Thanks, PB, Agreed! I must be old now to go with that…
LikeLike
Lovely doors, especially the long narrow ones. Such a beautiful city 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Luccia, a wonderful city and door heaven!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely door heaven, unless you’re trying to move something in. I know they winch large things up and go through the windows, but still… 🙂 I haven’t been to Amsterdam since the mid-seventies, so I enjoyed the return trip. I’ll pass on the cannabis chocolate or cannabis in any form, but I did have some marvelous Indonesian food there as well as those little sandwiches. Outdoor urinals? I remember those from Paris, I believe. And pay toilets. Not a fan.
janet
LikeLike
Yes, those hook winches feature heavily.You wouldn’t want to cart your furniture up all those steep stairs! Ah, Amsterdam is such fun, anything goes really. It was such fun to photograph, I expect my red light district photos may not be well received! I managed to get some very intimate night street shots, I’m toying with how I will post those! No wish to offend, but Amsterdam is Amsterdam… I didn’t expect the urinals, therefore I had to snap them, apropos the cannabis chox. It’s just a record of how life is there!
LikeLiked by 2 people
You have a nice piece of history of Amsterdam, where I did my first year of psychology training. Love the brown doors, after the bike locks:). Yes, the canals are an excellent place for doors. Hope that you also went, where you can see the Lean Bridge (the Magere Brug) – a spectacular view!
LikeLike
Thanks, Jesh, I loved Amsterdam this time. I went to see the architecture and the hub of the old city and it is just spectacular. You must have had a wonderful experience, living there, it’s just so completely different from anywhere, it is a unique city! I loved it even though it’s so packed with tourists, that’s just ok, you expect that. The Lean Bridge was amongst the impressive views…
LikeLike
When I studied, I didn’t live in Amsterdam, but in the East of the country (that’s how small Holland is, lol). But I have friends we visited on and off. The people living in Amsterdam, although hospitable and very socially minded , are like the New Yorkers, there is no other city beside their own::):)
Thanks for the pleasant memories!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a treasure trove! I see what you mean about the buildings not all being quite straight. Mr.Monk would have a fit! lol! I think #17 is my favorite, so crisp-looking. Cannabis chocolate? Did you bring me some? Of course, chocolate without cannabis is pretty hard to beat, if it’s good chocolate. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hah! Well, I did purchase a bar for a little joke, but I forgot I was travelling to Uk, then Portugal, then Cyprus, so darling daughter in UK decided to remove it from my luggage as I suspect she didn’t want the embarrassment of her mother hauled up mid-Europe with a dodgy chocolate substance..! God knows who has enjoyed it !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reminds of our few days there; nice collection!
LikeLike
Wonderful post! A very different lifestyle from what we’re used to here but for the history and architecture alone, I’m sure I’d love it there . I’m already looking forward to part 2 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Norm. Amsterdam was so unique, such fun, extremely naughty in areas, but such a historic and unique city., anything goes really! I hope my further posts can give some more atmosphere…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great selection, really like the shot with the 3 doors and the bikes. :>)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, the bikes are just part of the city, you can’t avoid them when trying to shoot pics… so, you just have to make the best of them! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Monday Window: Amsterdam windows (2), 29/5/17 | Travels in the Middle East and beyond