MUSINGS FROM AMSTERDAM 2025 EDITION
I’m back. This time for 25 days determined by the best days and rates for airfare and the apartment. It’s usually a little over a 3 week visit which allows for more quality days without jet lag effects. Although, this time I finally relented and took No Jet Lag and other than the usual sleep issues, I’ve not had any other problems. We’ll see how the return trip back goes.
See many previous musings for more information especially for visiting purposes: Musings from Amsterdam November 2024 Edition Musings from Amsterdam 2024 Edition part 1 of 2
Musings from Amsterdam May/June 2023 Edition
MUSINGS FROM AMSTERDAM UPDATED VERSION WITH A SPRING 2021 UPDATE - #68 by Blake_Brown
Some musngs while in Amsterdam- 2011/ 2012 updated see post #8
And there’s more
And, I’m back in November which is not usually thought of as being the best time to visit Amsterdam due to greater inclement weather potential, but you never know. I was here at this time last year and wore shorts and a t-shirt the first week of a 23 day stay. That changed and rain gear and ski clothing became necessary thereafter.
The first week this time saw temperatures in the 40s-50s F with wind chills taking it a few notches lower. The 2nd week was much better with mostly sunny days in the mid ti high 50s.
What is consistently good about this time is the Christmas decorations are up and the city goes full out in making it a classy, sparkling presentation. I’ve noticed the decorations are very different each year and one of my local buds just told me they move them around each year so in fact, they are the same, but just in different locations and always on a street that features shopping/ tourists.
This is on one of the main arteries that leads into Dam Square, Dam Straat
This is the main street in all of the centrum, Dam Rak. It starts at Centraal Station and ends at Dam Square where the palace is located
The Zeedijk is a short 2 block long street that is near Central Station and has a storied history and still is a focal point for tourists
Beyond the entrance on the Zeedijk
This is on Rokin, a street that continues on from Dam Rak and Dam Square
I’m a bit late this year for the fall color change as most trees have dropped their leaves and those remaining have a lot of brown with a little color.
Also, I arrived on Halloween and the Centrum was crazy funny with wild and creative outfits, wigs, face paint and all. The Dutch go all out on Halloween as they do just for just about everything.
Being 6’6” tall, I discovered a long time ago, it is prudent for me to fly Business Class and stretch the long legs out for the 10 hour+ flight if I want to be any good in the first few days after arriving. The best routing for me is from LAX to Amsterdam non-stop on KLM, the Royal Dutch Airline.
KLM is the consummate airline IMHO. First of all, they are all Dutch and along with that comes dedicated service, healthy food, amenities and accommodations. Plus, I get my first opportunity to practice the language outside of home with Roelanda, a native of the country.
The major reason I even mention all of this is upon arrival, KLM offers the Business Class passengers a miniature numbered Delft house which is a replica of one of the many different types of buildings built over the last few hundred years in the Netherlands, the oldest being built in 1542. KLM Miniatures history
When offered on the first few flights, I passed not knowing what they were about other than they contained Dutch Jenever {Genever in English}, 35% alcohol, with a cork and seal on top. Jenever, a classic spirit made by distilling grains and malt wine first made in the 16th century, is a bit too hot for my taste and I’m not a big fan.
Once I got a clue about the significance of the houses and having flown numerous times since 2000, I’ve become a collector and on this recent flight, I got out my list of already collected numbered houses and preferences for additional ones and selected one which unknowingly happened to be near my apartment. On the 3rd day, I walked to it and took a photo of this magnificent 4 story building, built in 1670.
I’ve already visited my stam cafe {neighborhood bar/ restaurant}, de Engelbewaarder {which means the guardian angel and which is affectively called de Engel}, and connected with some long time friends including the owners and staff {de engeltjes, the angels, my name} who frequent and work at this wonderful brown bar. I highly recommend this as a place to visit as it is not only a good place to eat authentic Dutch food and drink the best beers made in Belgium and the Netherlands on tap, but a classic example of a locals bar. Everyone speaks English here; so, it’s easy to order and ask questions.
The engeltjes behind the bar at de Engel
My Dutch has progressed where I can form a lot of short complete sentences and ask questions, but if I’m answered in Dutch, I don’t understand it and usually they just use English anyway. I do believe I could survive in a Dutch only speaking environment, but it would entail asking questions that require a yes of no answer or at least a short answer. All my Dutch friends, most of whom speak many languages, say it’s super tough to learn and especially to the extent of being able to carry on a “local’s” conversation.
Another noticeable change over the past 25 years is the lessoning of graffiti. It still exists and occasionally I see some new stuff, but overall it seems to be lessening. In some instances, the locals actually use a form of graffiti as art form and the side of this bulling is covered from the ground up to the 4th floor.
I’m walking at least 1 to 3 miles every day exploring and visiting various kinds of shops including wine and museums and restaurants. It’s such a good way to see Amsterdam, but I remind as stated over and over in past musings, a canal trip is highly recommended as you see many things not available or visible from the streets AND you get to sit back leisurely and observe and not be confronted with speeding bikes, cars, motorcycles and tourists.
Roelanda and I have found the sunset canal cruse that offers wines and cheeses is a great, romantic way to go.
One of my walking journeys was to visit the industrial shop of 2 of my close friends from de Engel who are both skilled wood, iron and metal craftsmen. It takes about an hour and includes taking a short ferry ride behind Centraal Station across the waters of the Ij {pronounced I} to Amsterdam Noord {North}. Every late afternoon Friday, all of the craftsman gather together and prepare some form of a traditional Dutch meal along with beers and spirits {yes, including Jenever} and I was invited to join. It was a fun occasion and I was welcomed by all who spoke English most of the time to communicate with me which I appreciated, but left feeling even more motivated to become fluent in the language.
Two years ago, a local who frequents Wine Berserker, my favorite wine website and where I post wine notes, reached out and suggested meeting during one of my visits to Amsterdam. We enjoyed a fine evening out at a very special restaurant and shared some wines over dinner. An exceptional one of a kind dinner in Amsterdam with wines from Croatia, Germany and Champagne
A table next to us was occupied by 8 wine shop owners and wine reps/ importers and invited us over to finish off the evening with them. One of those folks gave me his contact info to connect when I return and when I did last year, the 3 of us had a wonderful dinner at another wine savvy restaurant where we took our own wines. An exceptional one of a kind dinner in Amsterdam with wines from Croatia, Germany and Champagne
A few weeks prior to this visit, I let both of the guys know I was returning and they set up another wine dinner for us to share which occurred about 2 weeks in to the stay. Another wine savvy restaurant, Mauritius, was chosen and we coordinated wines that each of us would bring plus having the option to order off of their fabulous wine list. https://cafemaurits.nl/wp-content/uploads/Maurits-Kelderkaart-af-18-10-2025-kopie-3.pdf
One asked me to bring an “older” Californian Cabernet and I gave him some choices and he selected 1992 Stags Leap Wine Cellars Cask 23. So, for the first time ever, I brought wine with me.
Here’s a writeup on the dinner and wines: Another fine wine dinner in Amsterdam with 2010 Fournois Cote Extra Brut, 2014 Morgat Savennieres, 2 Spatburgunder, 1957 Clos Labarde, 1992 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cask 23, 2005 Lynch Bages
A major tourist attraction is Rembrandtpleine named after the Dutch artist, Rembrandt van Rijn, who owned a house nearby from 1639 to 1656. A cask iron statue was placed in the middle of the square in 1852. Currently, there is also a make shift ice skating rink that really brings the winter season into reality. It is open from November 15, 2025 to January 4, 2026. The square is surrounded by outdoor cafes that are bustling day and night.
In the last week or so, I continued to walk and explore. The weather has taken a big turn and with the chill factor, it was -1C and going down. And a few days later, it rained like crazy and continuously which is not usual at least in all of my visits at this time of the year. And then, I woke up to snow covered cars and buildings which was pretty, but also indicative of how drastic the weather has gotten. I’ve often dreamed of ice skating on one of the canals and it will take a lot more to make that a possibility and I’ll be gone by then. Nonetheless, I’m prepared with layered ski clothing and will be warm and dry and keep moving.
One word of advice to those who come. Bring a quality, wind resistant umbrella. Every time I come here I see remnants of umbrellas scattered all over the streets, sidewalks and trash cans and usually witness the inside out reversal that so often happens when the wind changes directions. I just saw 2 before writing this.
Well, unless something significant comes up before I leave in less than 2 days, this will be it for the 2025 musings.
Mogen deze overpeinzingen nuttig zijn voor iedereen die Amsterdam, de stad van de vrijheid, bezoekt.
May these musings be of help to any and all who visit Amsterdam, the city of freedom.
Proost