Notions Of Change

Amsterdam, Part Two

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My cousin invited me to go try a fun dance class with him in Rotterdam, which is about an hour-long car ride to the south of Amsterdam. We passed through an area known as the Green Heart of Holland, but that day it wasn’t green at all. Look at the glorious sunset!

Green Heart of Holland
Green Heart of Holland


One of my sisters lives in Delft, so later that week I hopped on the train to go visit. The town itself is really small, much smaller than the stories from my childhood had painted in my mind. We decided to bike around the seven or so blocks that comprise the center of town. It was fun! Definitely rent a bicycle to ride around the places you visit in the Netherlands. Jostling along as your tires meet the uneven cobblestones, with the sun shining on your face, as you pass colorful markets…it was a nice way to experience life. Continue Reading

Amsterdam, Part One

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I’m sitting here in the airport, waiting to board a flight delayed by a workers’ strike in France, trying to think of a way to summarize the last week spent in Amsterdam, along with trips to Delft and Rotterdam. Rather than do a blow for blow description of each day’s activities, it’s perhaps more compelling to share a general overview of impressions, not only of the city itself, but also of the differences I’ve noticed between the American way of life and that of the Dutch.

After settling in with my awesome cousin in Amstelveen, it was time to visit Amsterdam for the first time. Again, the public transportation system is very convenient for this. (My only complaint is that you cannot recharge your transportation cards at every location and their online system is also seemingly impractical.) As with the other places, you will still get a more rounded impression of a place by walking around as much as possible once there.

Amsterdam is actually a small city, certainly less than NYC and Los Angeles, and it feels OLD. Row after row of houses date back from the 1600s or earlier, and many lean in one direction or another, tired from centuries of service—even more visibly than the buildings in Leiden and Haarlem.

Cobblestones, ancient and more modern, pave the streets and the smell of pot is everywhere. Folks feel free to smoke walking outside as well as in the famed cafés. Basically, it’s not too hard to get a contact high just wandering around. 😉Continue Reading

Groet

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The next day, Uncle Jean took me to Groet, where another of my sisters lives with her family. This part of the Netherlands has a very rural feel and its charm is in the small communities that dot the landscape and wide open spaces. When blooming, the fields around Groet apparently rival Keukenhof’s tulip display. I’m sad because the timing for this trip doesn’t coincide with the tulip season. But there are crocuses and daffodils already, so there’s some comfort!

Two things were most striking about the area (didn’t take many pics here because I focused on enjoying them with my family). The Dutch have always been extraordinary engineers, especially when it comes to reclaiming land from the sea. If I understand correctly, a year ago, around a seven mile long stretch of beach and dunes was created near Camperduin using a new sand transfer technique. Very impressive!

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Haarlem

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My uncle came once again to pick me up, but this time we traveled together to the city of Haarlem. There was a fine mist or haze permeating the Dutch landscape, which gave the distant windmills an almost mystical appearance.

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Uncle Jean wanted to show me the heart of old Haarlem, which is apparently considered a miniature version of Amsterdam. We made our way on foot from his apartment to the historic areas. I really feel the best way to get to know a city is by walking around as much as possible, and Haarlem confirmed that yet again. Continue Reading

Leiden

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My uncle and one of my sisters welcomed me to the Netherlands when I flew in from Iceland. It was great to see familiar, friendly faces! Together we went to a beachside café and had an excellent meal while gazing at the North Sea. Just the sight of waves (these ones not as icy) was calming and refreshing after a relatively short flight.

Afterwards my uncle dropped me off at my cousin’s place in Oegstgeest, a residential area filled with charming homes, some of which used to be farmhouses. Apparently, the builders of this area modeled the layout after a tree trunk and branches, and you certainly notice this when traveling along the meandering streets that seem to flow into each other and away without a clear pattern.

I started working remotely again the day after I arrived and spent a good number of hours just catching up. Afterwards, with excellent instructions from my lovely cousin’s husband, I took the bus to nearby Leiden to visit the old section of the city. (Dutch transportation is great, but you pay for distance rather than for a ride, so you use a transit card to “check in” and “check out.” And you don’t want to forget to scan your card when you get off!)

Leiden
Leiden

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