Marco and I visited the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. It is sometimes used by Queen Beatrix during state affairs.
Prior to my visit, they had been renovating the interior of the palace, from 2005 to 2009. When I visited, they were working on the outside of the palace. They have since finished (last month).
Royal palace of Amsterdam, the facade hidden from view during renovations
During the first summer that I spent in the Netherlands, we did the expected canal ride in Amsterdam. It’s sort of like being a first time tourist in NYC and visiting the Statue of Liberty. I’ve managed to avoid going up to the top of Rockefeller and the Empire State building… somehow.
But I was definitely looking forward to the 1 hour canal ride. I went with Marco, his mother, and our friend Roger (the die hard NY Rangers fan… Let’s go Rangers!). Luckily we managed to be one of the first ones on the boat, so we had the pick of what seats we wanted.
The public library of Amsterdam is useful for more than just library related activities (or for borrowing a computer to let someone know your phone is currently dead). It also provides a great view of the city from the 6th floor.
Construction around Amsterdam public library
My short time in Amsterdam was accentuated by the sheer amount of tourists that clustered in the streets. Of course, being a tourist myself, this meant that my friends and I were mostly doing touristy things as well, from taking a canal boat ride to visiting the Rijksmuseum.
The comparison (in my mind) between Amsterdam and the Hague is striking. By my third trip to the Netherlands, I began to feel more at home in the Hague for many reasons, not the least of which because I found myself with some time alone during the day when my fiancé had to work the first week. Thankfully I was able to maneuver around without too much trouble thanks to a phone with Google Maps, though I did find myself glancing at the screen a lot – Must not get lost, must not get lost . . .
Near the Restaurant de Roode Leeuw (Restaurant of the Red Lion), Amsterdam street
Imagine the scene: dining out in Amsterdam, when all the sudden a bunch of tourists run in from outside, scrambling to the back to get away from something unknown. And all the sudden, shouting can be heard outside . . .
Eek! It’s voetbal fans from another country! July 28, 2010
Turns out Ajax was hosting a team from Greece – PAOK Salonika.
Below lies a random picture, taken at a random moment. It is easily one of my favorites — I lagged behind the group long enough to steady my aim and take the shot.
A bridge in Amsterdam (Summer 2010)
My eyes are torn between the purplish-blue flowers at the bottom and the too-neat, Photoshop-esque clouds at the top. I do not quite remember what part of Amsterdam it is in, only that it was on the way to the Rijksmuseum. But to me, it symbolizes a lot, reminders of why I want to move to the Netherlands in the first place. It is not the beauty of the scene, per se, but more the calmness that peeks out from behind the image.
Like many, my fiancé and I have struggled with the time difference, though thankfully it is 6 hours now instead of 7 hours when we first met. I am lucky as I can see him for a bit after I come home for work, before he goes to sleep. I have been asked the question time and time again of how we do it, but when you don’t know anything else, you don’t really understand what you’re missing. Except at Schiphol Airport, when the air duct system mysteriously makes his eyes tear up a bit when you have to separate, again.
The picture above represents the peacefulness of when we finally live together, of not needing to book airline tickets or make a countdown clock for the next trip. But it also represents adventure – what is on the other side? You must walk across to find out. Take the leap, see what it is like, and be richer for the experience.
Now is the time to make a lists, plural. Beyond the lists of what must be done: forms to fill out, governments to inform. The list of furniture to buy, to make an apartment for two rather than one. The lists of where to go – the Keukenhof looks like a fun possibility — of places to visit. Things to experience, to embrace wholeheartedly simply for what they are. Now is the time.
What warm summer’s day would not be complete without a trip to the Rijkmuseum? Featuring art from Rembrandt, Vermeer, Jan Steen and more, the museum also has an online component allowing you to see much of the work. For example, see The Masterpieces Special.
Banner on the outside of the Rijksmuseum, with sponsors (Phillips, ING) below
Although I visited during renovations, there was still a lot to take in, including The Night Watch by Rembrandt, which had the most crowds admiring its size – almost 12 feet by 14 feet. Interestingly, it used to be even larger, but it was cut down on all four sides to allow for its fitting between two columns. The staff were even passing out pamphlets which described the various items within the painting.
Although the Rijksmuseum also houses the well-known Het melkmeisje (The Milkmaid) by Vermeer, my favorite is actually housed within the Mauritshuis in The Hague: Het meisje met de parel (The Girl with a Pearl Earring). My work coffee cup is even a souvenir of it!
Renaissance and Baroque gardens of the Rijksmuseum (free beauty!)
With the current entrance of the Rijksmuseum near the Philips Wing, you will pass through the Rijksmuseum gardens – very pretty to behold. Have a seat at the stone bench above, and get your picture taken for a lasting memory. You’ll appreciate it later, trust me.
Everywhere you turn, there’s a library to be found. And that’s not such a bad thing.
I presume this used to be the entrance to the Rijksmuseum Research Library, which has since moved to a separate building. But more importantly, it’s a reminder of the lasting influence of libraries on society as a whole, even as we move into this digital age.
One thing that struck me was how many fietsen (bikes) there are in the Netherlands. The Dutch boast almost one bike per person. In the Hague, bike paths seem to take precedence over even the roads themselves. Generally the transportation is as follows: roads (for cars, buses, and the occasional tram), bike paths, and pedestrian paths. Bikes also have their own traffic lights at most stops. Interestingly, mopeds also seem to ride on the bike paths, which can make crossing them a bit dangerous at times…
Picturesque Delft canal bordered by homes, and a few bikes to complete the scene
The Netherlands is, as a whole, very flat. I found one “hill” in the Hague — which turned out to be a man-made bridge that was only a few feet high. In the country itself, the highest hill (the Vaalserberg) is just over 1000 feet tall.
A parking lot for bikes in Amsterdam
One of the first places I visited in the Netherlands was Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam (lit: Public Library Amsterdam), which is a name of all public libraries in Amsterdam. Specifically, I went to Centrale Bibliotheek, or the central library of Amsterdam. With almost 2 million books, it is the largest public library in Europe.
Subject areas in Dutch… with helpful English below!
My first library job was as a children’s services assistant in a small public library. So I did take special interest in the children’s area. Interestingly, I had already showcased Amsterdam Public Library in a library website I made for my Information Technology class, so I was familiar with the library. But it was cool to see it in person. Before I left, I read one picture book: Tien Kleine Heksjes, or, Ten Little Witches. With help of course.
Overlooking the children’s area
Some facts and figures:
over 1,000 seats, 600 of which have PCs
28,000 square meters of space
2,000 bike racks
50 multimedia workplaces
26 automated lending machines
Gaming in the library… Note the Guitar Hero logo, although they are playing a different game.
Life in the Hague 