Amsterdam

Amsterdam, The Netherlands · February 2023

I take a short day trip to a cold Amsterdam.

My first overseas trip of 2023, was a short flight across to Amsterdam for a quick days visit. Being February, the weather really wasn’t that great, but the sun did make an appearance for the last few hours I was there.

Tall brick canal houses seen past a bare tree, with bicycles parked along the water's edge and sunlight flaring at the top right.

A cream bicycle leaning against a red brick wall beneath a blue Les Misérables poster, beside two graffitied post boxes.

A shop window packed with souvenirs, including soft toy rabbits and Amsterdam sweatshirts, above a pair of bright orange clogs on the pavement. — Tourists shops were plentiful.

When the sun did make an appearance, everyone was keen to feel the light on their faces, even if it wasn’t warm. As with many European cities, coffee and canals seemed to be big component of Amsterdam.

Three people seen from behind sit on café chairs on a sunlit street, their faces turned towards the light.

Two people in winter coats sit on a bench outside a glowing café window with a sign reading 'kaldi koffie & thee'.

Looking down into a small open boat crowded with passengers, moving along a narrow canal between brick walls.

Brown cafes in Holland are possibly the closest thing we have to pubs in the UK. So for my last stop for the day, I’d thought I’d check one out. The photo below is from the outside of Proeflokaal de Ooievaar with Amsterdam’s flag outside.