I love traveling - and probably travel more than anyone I know - so it makes sense that I write about it. Get Lost is a series of short, snappy travel guides (250 words or under) where I write about the places I visit.
FROM PICTURE-PERFECT TOWNHOUSES CLUSTERED ALONG CANALS TO FORMER DOCKYARDS BRIMMING WITH START-UP CREATIVITY, AMSTERDAM IS A CITY THAT REVELS IN THE MOMENT, WHERE GRATIFICATION - WHATEVER YOUR TASTES- IS ONLY A BIKE RIDE AWAY.
Arriving at the city’s Gothic-inspired Centraal Station, historic Amsterdam fans out into an intricate maze of narrow lanes and tree-lined canals that urge you to get lost. And from the heady throng of Kalverstraat’s department stores to the reflective calm of nearby Begijnhof, the city surprises you at every cobbled turn. To the east, the infamous red-light district attracts revellers of all ages to its rowdy, rouged pavements, while design outlets and sleek cafes jostle for position along the Jordaan’s upmarket terraces to the west. Or head south and take in Vondelpark and Amsterdam’s impressive clutch of iconic art galleries around Museumplein.
Venture out of the centre and you’ll soon discover an Amsterdam brimming with the Dutch spirit of innovation. Once-tired neighbourhoods have seen their post-industrial legacy revitalised by young, creative forces. Here, you’ll find local breweries spilling out of windmills, fashion rails filling out warehouses, and abandoned docks transformed into hip bars with waterfronts that thicken with locals when the sun finally appears.
There are more bicycles than people in Amsterdam, and you’ll quickly discover that cycling is a way of life for the locals. Two wheels are by far the easiest way to explore this captivating city so for the ultimate Amsterdam experience, do as the Amsterdammers do and get on your bike.