Amsterdam snapshots

I always think you can tell a lot about a city from how it looks in the rain. I was in Amsterdam for a few days last week and although it poured down pretty much all the time (and we got caught up in the mahoosive power cut that affected the whole of north Holland on the way home), the Dutch capital was as charming as ever.

I’ve always had a soft spot for Amsterdam – partly because my favourite aunt is Dutch, but also because I love strolling along by the canals, the houses with their big windows, the culture (I think warming a stroopwafel on the top of a cup of coffee so the caramel melts into sticky deliciousness must be one of the most yummy inventions ever), the fact that there’s art everywhere you look, and, of course, the flowers; the exquisite, vivid orange of these ranunculus was so beautiful I couldn’t resist buying some bulbs to grow at home. A little piece of Amsterdam for the window sill.

If you get the chance to visit, I’d definitely recommend going in the spring, when there are flowers everywhere you look, or just before Christmas, when there’s ice-skating in Dam Square. Amsterdam is also a very family-friendly city, so ideal for a family city break and a great way to get the kids interested in art. And you can always hire bikes to get around (here’s a whole family of bikes).

Here are some more Amsterdam snapshots – enjoy 🙂