During the morning you will sail on Dutch Waterways to Amsterdam. You will sail through two locks which bring you to sea level. You will be docked near the Central Train Station. We were docked beside the Avalon and Viking River Cruise ships. Nearby in the the harbor the Holland America Rotterdam was moored.
Amsterdam is the capital of Holland but The Hague is the Seat of the King. The population is 850,000. This city started as a small fishing village in the late 12th Century. During the Golden Age it became a world port which is important today. Today it is also a commercial capital and a top financial center in Europe.
It might be interesting to re-take the canal tour at night to see all the lights on the canals. It is recommended to take a stroll down the Red-Light District. The storefronts with naked dancing girls in the windows is a sight to behold. No cameras are allowed in the Red-Light District.
In the Jewish Quarter where the Anne Frank Hais is located is the Nazi Hall for Jewish Deport Station processing station. Today it is a museum with the Resistance Museum nearby.
The East India Company Corporate Office was in Amsterdam and was one of the reasons Amsterdam has so many exotic spices available. Indonesian food is popular in Amsterdam.
Coffee Shops are not Coffee Shops but Weed Shops. Weed is legal in Amsterdam but hard drugs are not.
The Diamond Factory has tours daily. Cheese Tasting Shops abound so try the local Dutch cheeses. Harbor Cruises are available near the train station. Horse-drawn carriages are also an option. The canal boats offer dining cruises as well.
Ama Waterways offers two tours in Amsterdam:
- “Amsterdam Canal Cruise” with 30 minutes of walking and hour on the canal boat ride. A scenic canal cruise through Amsterdam will allow you to understand why it is referred to as the “Venice of the North”. Amsterdam’s unique canal system offers one of the best vantage points to explore the city’s most famous sights. Admire the architecture of the homes lining the water, see some of the canals 1,500 bridges, including the fabled Skinny Bridge. Be sure to look at how close the cars and bikes are parked to the canals and the houseboats that line the canals which are homes to many.
- “ATaste of Amsterdam” is 2 hours and 15 minutes with walking of one hour. This afternoon guests may also choose a walking tour finished with a tasting of local specialties at one of the grand cafes of Amsterdam. Your guided walk will take you through a very typical Amsterdam district, passing traditional canals, gabled houses, narrow bridges and house boats. After, enjoy a sampling of the local Genever spirit or other refreshment coupled with some Dutch cheese and the local “bitterbal” snacks as you learn about local food and drink. You will visit a local cafe.
