We got a good feel for the Netherlands capital as we walked the endless cobbled streets and canals. We joined a walking tour of the city as well as visiting Ann Franks house and the Heinekin Brewery.
We even stopped at the highest point of Amsterdam at 1.5m above sea level. Yes thats right most of the Netherlands is underwater at 6.5 metres??? at its lowest point.
This is why it is one of the flattest countries in the world and the reason why there are so many bikes. We got out off the train yesterday and almost got knocked over bike after bike after bike. The bikes rule in this town, they are everywhere. Before you cross the street you have to look left, right then everywhere else. There is no such thing as a red light they just go when and where they want. It made sense when the guy on our walking tour told us that they pull over 20,000 bikes out of Amsterdams canals each year.
Ann Franks House where she and her family hide from the Nazi's during the war. We had a look through the house.
The bookcase which concealed the door where she and her family hid
This is a church in the Red Light District which the sailors used to confess their sins in advance when they came into Amsterdam after being at sea.
This is a Dutch croquet - really tasty sort of deep fried meat. They had all these little windows and you put your money in and could choose to open a window.
This is the widest canal in Amsterdam. Also notice all the bikes all along the canal edges. They line the streets.
This is the narrowest house in Amsterdam. You get taxed on how wide your property is, thus all of the buildings are very narrow and tall. In our hostel the stairs were the steepest I have ever seen, but thats the norm here.
This is the main church in the city. It is mainly built of wood as concrete is too heavy and it would have toppled over.
This is the town hall in Dam Square where all sorts of busking were going on.
Notice all the houses leaning all different ways. All the buidings were built on stilts into the mud below and some have become unstable.
They lean forward on purpose as because the stairs are too steep to take things up they have a big hook on the top to slide things up on a pulley outside.
We visited the Heineken experience
The big brewing tanks
They had all sorts of things like old Heineken adverts, and a simulator where you got brewed in the brew process. It was quite well done.
After they taught us about how to taste a beer properly we enjoyed a few pints at the end in the bar
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