🚲 Day 9: Wednesday, April 30 - Amsterdam (Day Trip)
Historical Context - Amsterdam's Golden Age
Amsterdam's spectacular rise during the 17th century Dutch Golden Age transformed it from a small fishing village into one of the world's most important cities. This era saw unprecedented prosperity as Amsterdam became the center of a trading empire spanning the globe. The city's iconic canal ring (grachtengordel), now a UNESCO World Heritage site, was built during this period as part of a deliberate urban planning project that expanded the medieval city into the distinctive half-moon shape we recognize today.
Unlike other European capitals built to showcase royal power, Amsterdam developed as a merchant city. Its architecture reflects the prosperous but relatively modest bourgeois tastes of its wealthy merchant class, who displayed their success through elegant canal houses with ornate gables rather than palaces. This period also saw Amsterdam become a center of intellectual and artistic achievement, with figures like Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Spinoza contributing to what historians call the Dutch Golden Age.
Amsterdam has long been characterized by its spirit of tolerance and liberalism. In the 17th century, it welcomed religious refugees, including Portuguese Jews and French Huguenots. This tradition carried into the modern era with the city's famous progressive policies.
Breakfast in Utrecht
Breakfast Options
- Meneer Smakers (Nobelstraat 163) - Good breakfast in relaxed setting
- Anne & Max (Steenweg 13) - Nice café with breakfast options
- Daen's (Korte Jansstraat 13) - Bakery with good coffee and pastries
Train to Amsterdam
Travel Information
- Trains run frequently between Utrecht Centraal and Amsterdam Centraal
- Journey time: approximately 30 minutes
- Cost: around €9 each way
Morning: Amsterdam Highlights Walking Tour
This walking route takes you through several distinct Amsterdam neighborhoods, offering a good introduction to the city while avoiding the most tourist-heavy areas.
Neighborhood Context: Dam Square has been the city's central square since the 13th century, though the imposing Royal Palace was originally built as a city hall in the 17th century. The Begijnhof offers a glimpse into medieval Amsterdam, while the nearby Spui has been an intellectual center with bookshops and cafés frequented by writers and academics. The Jordaan, originally a working-class district built in the 17th century to house immigrants and laborers, has transformed into one of Amsterdam's most charming neighborhoods with narrow streets, small courtyards (hofjes), and boutique shops. The 9 Streets (De 9 Straatjes) cross the main canals, offering smaller-scale shopping in historic buildings with unique specialty stores representing Amsterdam's creative spirit.
Hidden Historical Gem - Begijnhof
One of Amsterdam's most peaceful hidden spots, the Begijnhof is an enclosed courtyard dating from the 14th century that was home to the Beguines, a Catholic sisterhood who lived like nuns but took no formal vows. The Begijnhof houses Amsterdam's oldest surviving house (Het Houten Huis), dating from around 1420, one of only two wooden houses remaining in the city center after wooden buildings were banned due to fire hazards.
Despite being in the bustling center of Amsterdam, this tranquil courtyard remains a peaceful oasis largely undiscovered by casual tourists. Enter through an inconspicuous door on Spui square to step back in time.
Location: Spui
Hours: Daily 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Entrance: Free (please maintain respectful quiet as some buildings are still residential)
Lunch Options
Recommended Places
- Winkel 43 (Noordermarkt 43) - Famous for the best apple pie in Amsterdam
- Foodhallen (Bellamyplein 51) - Indoor food market with diverse options
- Café 't Papeneiland (Prinsengracht 2) - Historic brown café serving traditional Dutch food
- De Reiger (Nieuwe Leliestraat 34) - Beloved local eatery in the Jordaan neighborhood
Afternoon Options
Coffee & Traditional Dutch Treats
Sweet Stops
- Winkel 43 (Noordermarkt 43) - Keep this one for their famous apple pie
- Café 't Papeneiland (Prinsengracht 2) - Historic brown café with good apple pie, in the Jordaan
- Chocolaterie Pompadour (Huidenstraat 12) - Excellent chocolate and pastries in the 9 Streets area
- Sweetella (Haarlemmerstraat 84) - Dutch pancakes and sweet treats near the Jordaan
Pre-Dinner Drinks
Historical Context - Jenever Tasting
Jenever is the juniper-flavored traditional liquor of the Netherlands and Belgium, the predecessor to modern gin. Wynand Fockink distillery, founded in 1679, represents one of Amsterdam's oldest continuously operating businesses. In its traditional tasting room, you'll experience the authentic Dutch ritual of jenever drinking: the bartender fills a traditional tulip-shaped glass to the brim, requiring customers to lean over and take the first sip without using their hands (called "head-butting" or "kopstoot"). The distillery offers both oude (old) jenever, which is malty and has a whiskey-like quality, and jonge (young) jenever, which is lighter and more similar to modern gin.
Dinner Options
Recommended Restaurants
- Moeders (Rozengracht 251) - "Mothers" - traditional Dutch home cooking in a quirky setting
- Café de Reiger (Nieuwe Leliestraat 34) - Beloved local eatery serving Dutch-inspired cuisine
- Foodhallen (Bellamyplein 51) - Food hall with many options if you want variety
- Restaurant Greetje (Peperstraat 23-25) - Traditional Dutch cuisine with a modern twist, closer to the city center
- Bistrot des Alpes (Prinsengracht 124) - Cozy Alpine-inspired restaurant along the Prinsengracht canal
- Bar Restaurants Brasserie OCCO (Singel 303) - Stylish restaurant in the Dylan Hotel, located in the canal belt
Evening
Champions League Semi-finals (Barcelona vs Inter Milan) are tonight at 9pm