The Amsterdam Edit
Tulips, picturesque canals and cobblestones -- and the one thing I always look for on European sidewalks
Yesterday was the last day of school for my kids — and for my oldest son, the very last day of elementary school. Graduations for all of those in-between years seem silly until you’re the parent and you’re teary eyed watching your child cross various literal stages remembering the smaller versions of themselves that got them to this point.
There was the baby that couldn’t fall asleep. The 2 year old who said “oit-meal” instead of oatmeal. The 6 year old that refused to read alone but then on the last day of first grade picked up a book and never put books down. The 9 year old that after needing a million daily reminders got up and left for school with a simple “bye mom! The 11 year old who, in a goodbye note to one of his teachers wrote:
“I’ll be sad, but I’ll make it”.
And when he graduated, it felt like each of those younger versions of himself was walking behind him on that stage, reminding him that it’s sad, but he’ll make it. Kids are the wisest.
And if you think about it, traveling back to places you’ve been is kind of the same situation. In the 26 years (WHAT?!) I’ve lived in New York, I’ve returned to Amsterdam more than almost anywhere else abroad.
I think back to all the times I’ve shown up on those pretty streets as different versions of myself.
There was the first trip in 2001. I met up with musician friends who were on tour and walked the beautiful streets for the very first time:
There was the time I went on tour with my own band in 2003. I played my songs at the Paradiso near the Van Gogh museum, bought a wooden marionette elephant at a flea market that I lost in one of my many moves but never forgot, and toured as a musician for six weeks around Europe with 6 guys in a van, some of whom are still close friends to this day.
20 years later (2023!) with a husband, two kids and the days of touring and sleeping on couches well in the rear view mirror, I returned.
We had a one night layover, after a trip to The Golden Triangle and fell in love with the city as a family. We vowed to make Amsterdam one of our trip destinations for 2024. By the time we got home, I’d already started planning that trip.
There are cities that are a little hard to crack — the cities where the language is hard, the food isn’t familiar, things are spread out and the charm is hard to grasp.
Amsterdam is the opposite.
The streets are quaint and beautiful, the people are friendly, most everyone speaks English, the food is straight forward and you can walk almost everywhere.
Whether you’ve never traveled abroad with kids or you regularly make your way to various European cities, Amsterdam is easy, beautiful, culturally interesting and never gets old.
For spring break 2024, with two weeks abroad on the horizon, we made Amsterdam our first stop (followed by Berlin and Paris - more on those soon!). We were there during the height of tulip season and perfect spring weather — and spent our time time daydreaming about moving there. That’s the kind of warm, welcoming city it is and I’d go back tomorrow if I could.
So, let me present to you — the long awaited Amsterdam City Edit!
AMSTERDAM
Where we stayed
Alllll the details on how we booked our business class flights for less than the price of economy (and the first class lounge deets!)
Favorite shops, restaurants, museums and out of the city destinations
The restaurants we went to each night (we found a local babysitter and had date night every night!).
Our full itinerary
The one thing I always look for in the cobblestones of European cities that I find incredibly moving and powerful
How I packed for the trip
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