Netherlands

​Everything seems almost slightly too good to be true, but then the weather hits you and you realize that the Netherlands isn’t quite perfect. But other than that, the food, with all its chocolate galore, the architecture, infused by world renowned starchitects (it’s a term, look it up), and the people are truly a joy. The next few posts will be shorter, as they are school trips, but nonetheless, check out what we did and how we thrived in Amsterdam, Utrecht and Rotterdam.

Amsterdam

The city makes no sense. Everyone is high, women are shaking their tits at you, bikes outnumber humans, buildings tilt over canals-it’s all just absurd. Here’s a list of things to do while in Amsterdam.

1. Cross the (free) ferry and check out the Eye Museum/movie theater. It’s an architectural gem. And you can go to the building next door and swing over the edge, overlooking Amsterdam.

2. Go to Centrum and awe at the modern architecture, especially the Amsterdam Library.

3. Take a day trip out to Utrecht and see some Rem Koolhaas architecture, as well as the world famous Schroeder House.

Utrecht has some pretty cool modern architecture, both old and new

4. Walk around the red light district. I didn’t go in any of the little rooms the women were placed in, but there’s no harm in looking. It’s definitely a unique (for lack of a better word) experience. Also, if you’re weird like me, go to peep show. Two euros for a minute of live porn. Not many places you can do that in. Call me weird or gross, but hey, you only live once.

Taking photos around the red light district at night is strictly forbidden, and you can probably guess why

5. Get high. Easiest thing to do in Amsterdam. Coffee shops for days!

6. Rent a bike and roam around-the city is designed for bikers, as it is small, flat, and littered with bike paths!

7. Check out the Van Gogh museum (and enhance you experience by doing so while high). Whether or not I myself did this is up to you to assume.

Rotterdam

Destroyed by German bombs in WWII, Rotterdam has become a juxtaposed Mecca for architecture lovers, as it retains the charm of old Holland while providing a platform for new, fantastic architecture. Here’s my list of what to check out in Rotterdam.

1. Museumpark has several interesting museums and sculpture gardens, so its worth allocating a few hours to be here.

2. Museum Boymans Van Beuningen has a surprisingly fantastic collection of artwork, and is truly a must visit.

3. Markthall is a gem of architecture. A huge apartment building housing a fantastic market is an icon of the city, and is an absolute must for at the very minimum one meal.

a. The architecture around Markthall is also world-class, so don’t miss out on that either.

4. Walk across the iconic bridge of the city and take in the views. The bridge connects the main area of the city with the business center. Just make sure you walk the bridge when the weather is good, otherwise the wind will take your hat and place it directly in the river! Good times.

5. Eat at Bizarre. Bang for buck, one of the best options in the city, and the middle eastern cuisine is simply divine. Plus, the area around it is fun, especially at night.

6. Take a water taxi. These guys speed down the river and its actually pretty affordable as well as lots of fun.

7. Walk down Lijnbaan and do some shopping. There’s a Chipotle-like restaurant here that I HIGHLY recommend.

So there you have it. At the end of the day, this was an architecture based trip, so we were hopping around from building to building, sketching and discussing along the way. Regardless, the Netherlands is a great place to visit, and I hope the photos of this blog tell the story of this country better than my writing has.