Amsterdam and King’s Day celebrations

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We left Lisse for Amsterdam (the Netherlands’ capital, known for its artistic heritage, elaborate canal system and narrow houses with gabled facades) to be there in time for the King’s Day celebrations (26/27 April). On the way we had a stop over in Haarlem (a city outside of Amsterdam in the northwest Netherlands and is the center of a major flower-bulb-growing district, also famous for its outlying tulip fields, art museums and hofjes (almshouses built around leafy courtyards). ) but I think we loaded up with some contaminated water because I got a bit sick; when we arrived in Amsterdam I was still not feeling great so we had a day doing nothing and thankfully the next day I was well enough for us to explore Amsterdam a bit and take in a guided walking tour.

We had moored up in Amsterdam Marina (NSDM Wharf) and had to catch the waterbus into town, a quick 14 minute crossing into the central station. The walk around town was quite exhausting but because King’s Day celebrations would start that evening, we returned back to the boat for a quick bite to eat and drop off the dogs, before heading out again in the evening to see what was going on. So glad we did because the atmosphere was great and everyone seemed to be in a very festive mood – lots of drink, bands playing at various corners, food, etc.

We woke on Kings Day to find that Nicki was now also feeling sick so we left it till the afternoon before venturing out – we really wanted to see what was going on and were keen to be involved even if only for a short time, and we’re so glad we made it.

Just getting onto the ferries was quite a struggle with so many revellers, even though the ferries seemed to be arriving every ten minutes. The waterway over to Amsterdam is a very busy commercial one but today, adding to the mayhem were a huge number of small boats filled with revellers not necessarily able to steer in a straight line by that time! There was a police boat racing around trying to keep them under control, as well as the strategically positioned port authority vessels .

Once in the city, it was just a mass of parties and shows across the whole of Amsterdam. Bands were playing on virtually every corner, DJ music was blasting out everywhere with people dancing and singing, food stalls and pop up pavement sales in every street, and canals chock a block with boats jam packed with party-goers. There seemed to be no end to it all, and everyone was having fun and enjoying themselves. In some areas the crowds were so dense that progress was almost zero.

About Post Author

Andrew

ahphillips@talk21.com

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