Travels with Terri

After our lovely time in Paris, we took the high-speed train to meet up with friends in Amsterdam. As the hotel in the Museum Quarter we usually book was closed for renovation, we chose the Apollo Hotel. Located on the scenic Apollolaan, which overlooks the intersection of five canals, the hotel interior is stunning. A long corridor leading to the guest rooms is filled with tropical plants and features numerous seating areas. Just off the lobby is a lounge area (The Living Room) with a fireplace and a gorgeous mosaic of stained glass. Just outside the hotel entrance is a beautiful green space with shade trees, benches, and a koi pond with a wooden bridge. The staff were all very friendly and helpful, and the front desk clerk even gave us a room upgrade to a deluxe king canal view room. Always a nice perk when traveling!

One of the many things we love about Amsterdam is the variety of dining options. You can find anything from kebabs and burgers to seafood and steak. A must try on any visit is Rijsttafel (the Dutch word for rice table). Consisting of numerous side dishes and rice, the food varies in spice levels from mild to hot. Popular dishes include egg rolls, sambals, satay, fish, fruit, vegetables, pickles, and nuts. Although the dishes served are Indonesian, the rijsttafel’s origins are colonial. Indonesia was a colony of the Netherlands from 1800 until 1945 and was called the Dutch East Indies.

Turkish food is another popular option in Amsterdam, and we had a wonderful meal at Restaurant Maydanoz including Humus, Tabouli Salad, Grilled Sea Bream, and Kofte (ground beef or lamb mixed with spices and grilled on charcoal). A must try are Dutch Cheeses which are some of the best in the world. You can find a large variety at the Albert Cuyp Market and at any grocery store. For a quick snack, try Bitterballen. Known as Dutch Meatballs, they are bite-size beef and gravy croquettes and pair well with beer.

Of course, the favorite beer in Amsterdam is Heineken. Every bar, pub, and restaurant serves it on tap. I never really cared for the bottled version in the US as it smelled and tasted “skunky” to me. In Europe and especially Amsterdam, the flavor is light and refreshing. True connoisseurs can visit the Heineken Experience which offers a variety of tours and tasting experiences. To try some of the best jenever in Amsterdam, head to Three Little Bottles (De Drie Fleschjes) behind the New Church on Dam Square. Jenever is a juniper-flavored spirit and consists of three main types: jonge (young), oude (old), and korenwijn (corn wine). Founded in 1619, Three Little Bottles also serves beer, wine, bar bites, and a selection of Bols (a Dutch distiller that produces vodkas, gins, jenevers, advocaats, and liquors in over thirty different flavors).

Here are some suggestions for things to see and do in Amsterdam on a three-day visit:

• Take a canal cruise (our favorite is the sunset cruise which includes wine and local cheeses)
• Visit a museum (we love both the Van Gogh and the Rijksmuseum)
• Try an Indonesian Rijsttafel (Ricetable) dinner
• Visit one of the many beautiful parks (our favorites are Vondelpark and Sarphatipark)
• Shop at Albert Cuyp Market (the largest street market in Europe with over 260 stalls)
• Book a street food walking tour or an in-home dining experience
• Try local foods like Bitterballen (deep fried ball filled with stew), fresh herring, stroopwafels (thin waffles with syrup), and Poffertjes (batter cakes served with butter and powdered sugar).
• Catch some cool vibes in De Pjip (the Latin Quarter of Amsterdam)

In my next series of blogs, we visit Warsaw Poland, Budapest Hungary, and Vienna Austria. Stay Tuned!

Cover: Deluxe Canal View Room (Photo courtesy of Apollo Hotel), Bitterballen and Heineken