Spoiler: it’s pretty ‘dam’ easy.
First thing; wake up in one of your best friend’s house in Königswinter, Germany at 4am, have a little cry out of tiredness, and jump on a four hour train to Amsterdam. Travel is definitely not for the weak. Luckily enough, the train stations in Germany have little bakeries that open at 5am for breakfast.
Weather at this time of year is very wet, so we skedaddled under the cover of our umbrellas to the museum district where we had booked two tickets to some popular museums. The area is called Museumplein, just off the Oud-Zuid district, one of the most prestigious neighborhoods, home to high end branded shops, various restaurants, and the biggest park in the city. (We spied an old man playing catch with his sausage dog and fell in love.) The area is host to the Van Gogh museum, the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk museum, the Moco museum, and a famous concert hall, The Concertgebouw, considered to be one of the finest concert halls in the world. A perfect location where each building is a mere stones throw away from each other!
The Rijksmuseum
Tickets to the museum can be bought on the official website for €22.50, with extra cost if you wish to join a guided tour. The museum houses many paintings by artists such as Frans Hal, Rembrandt, Jan Steen, Johannes Vermeer and many many more. Guests are also privy to visiting the largest and oldest historical art library in the Netherlands, the Cuypers Library. Students and art historians are welcome to use the library and study desks while visitors are only allowed to see the overhead view. The museum has numerous floors, so be warned you may have to take rest breaks at the various seats placed around the building.
The Van Gogh Museum
Now onto a museum that requires no resting breaks; the Van Gogh Museum. Costing €18, the ticket allows you to follow Van Gogh’s journey from childhood to early death, his relationships, and how both Paris and the countryside influenced his work. While the gift shop is expansive and the layout of the museum is clean and aesthetic, with some interactive tools, it is small and lackluster especially following a walk around the Rijksmuseum. Still, a great place to visit for art enthusiasts and to see the ‘Sunflowers’ painting up close.
Make your own jewelery – Beadazzled
After being heavily influenced by a TikTok (I’m only human), I was determined to visit one of the many stores where you can make your own jewelry. Upon entering the shop you are given a small silver bowl to place your selected charms and a sheet of paper to total up the cost. Rows upon rows of charms are available, separated into silver, gold, bronze, stone, and colors. And it is not just charms that are available to be made, the shop also provides a wide array of assorted beads. However, when the store is busy, customers are unable to make the pieces in the workshop but they have miniature pliers to make your necklace or bracelet in your own home. The pliers are airport safe, from personal experience. The first photo above is the end result and cost around €35 in materials.
Albert Cuyp Market
The market was established in 1905 and still retains its vibrant atmosphere until today. Spanning 260 stands and opening six days a week, you can find souvenirs, delicious food, and accessories. A favourite place for locals and a must visit for tourists!
Vegan Junk Food Restaurant
Not just for vegan lovers, this quirky restaurant has a diverse menu with matching outrageous names. But here’s a hint: if you order two mini burgers you can taste two different sauces for a cheaper cost than buying one burger. But you did not hear it from us…
Finishing off the day before the last train from Zurich, a nighttime walk was just what the doctor ordered. Beautiful sights, nearly getting run over by a bike brigade, and a cheeky trip to the waffle house before we said our goodbyes to the city.
Cue a train ride home with some drama a few rows down in our carriage, but unfortunately one of my translators was asleep and the other one was focused on watching Sanremo, the Italian music festival competition, so I have no gossip to relay. For more information on the festival, check out our episode on Spotify:
Hope this helps with planning your next trip!
VAPID MAGAZINE 