I adore Amsterdam and the Netherlands. It has this magical feel to it. You can’t help but feel completely at peace with the world while strolling past the canals – and no, it has nothing to do with the mary jane floating through the streets.
We spent just under a week in Amsterdam and were able to see and do most of the famous tourist attractions. The I am Amsterdam sign, the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh museum, the Amsterdam Dungeon, the Ice Bar, those canal cruises on the Lovers Boat, the Vondelpark, coffeeshops and the Red Light district, the torture museum and the guys in our group did the Heineken Experience (I do regret not going to that, to be honest). My gappy later joined us and we set off to try some of the countries’ famous delicacies – stroop waffles and Bitterbalen.
It was truly special being in a country that speaks a language so similar to your own. Dutch and Afrikaans is basically the same. The South Africans in the group had a lot of fun speaking to the locals in Afrikaans and watching their response as they recognized the language. Although it did mean that we could no longer gossip without anyone understanding what we were saying. It was also refreshing to understand the locals and be able to read signs after having just been in France for so long without understanding much French. The culture is also a lot more inviting and extroverted – much more like our own, compared to the other European cultures I’ve experienced thus far.
I travelled with two fellow South Africans, two Aussies and a Kiwi. We are all gaps working in England and I met majority of them during our Gap Orientation in London. I really enjoyed traveling with them and getting to know everyone better while experiencing this crazy place alongside them.
Despite having to dodge cyclists on the reg, it was an amazing place to travel to and I would definitely return. Amsterdam has so much energy to it and it was impossible not to enjoy yourself. Nights were always festive and days were always beautiful and filled with new opportunities to explore. I firmly believe that it’s the small things that make a trip special. Because of that, I liked to set out and walk around the city without having a specific destination in mind, just allowing the city to come to you and show you what it has to offer. We were able to find the funniest little shops, cute art shows in random squares and rad roller bladers showing off in the park.
We also stayed in a small village outside Haarlem for a few nights which was not according to plan, but quite special nonetheless. Our days were filled with naps, chasing cows, wandering around food markets and a dinner party consisting of a mountain of chips and oven baked pizza (and people wonder why gap fat is a thing). I genuinely loved my time in Amsterdam and I will always look back to this trip with fond memories.
Zahn Does Film 