Coffee Walk

Coffee Walk: Amsterdam

March 4, 2024 · Amsterdam, Netherlands

I visited Amsterdam 36 years ago, while on a summer trip to Europe with my high school German class. My recollection is vague partly due to time, partly because our teacher let us vote on how to spend our last night in Europe. We chose to skip getting a hostel and instead stay up all night and spend the last of our money on drinks and then sleep in the van until time to fly home. Teenagers are full of good ideas. Looking back, I do wonder what our adult in charge was thinking. We did have the wisdom to visit Anne Frank's house. And I remember the canal-lined streets were beautiful.

It's still beautiful. And Anne Frank's house is now a much bigger operation, taking over the buildings next door as well for, I presume, a bigger interpretive museum experience. If I recall correctly, back in '88 we just walked in through the front door.

Also back in '88 a friend and I found ourselves accidentally in a shop selling drugs and paraphernalia. And in keeping with my talent for trying to order coffee in inappropriate places, something similar happened to me and Aaron.

After landing at 8 am and dropping our luggage off, we headed out for coffee. The streets were quiet, as is typical of Sunday mornings in Europe. We saw a place that said Coffee Shop, and it was open on a Sunday. I wasn't going to be too picky. Let's go in. The room was filled with smoke and men with glazed eyes. The "barista" greeted us with a cheerful "Ready to get high?"

"Haha, no. But can I have a cappuccino?"

Tall Amsterdam canal houses reflected in the water

A takeaway coffee cup on a counter in an Amsterdam coffee shop — Our barista/bud tender.

A canal bridge beside tall Amsterdam buildings

Narrow Amsterdam canal houses visibly leaning at different angles — I don't think there's a single level building in town. It never gets old pointing them out to Aaron, who is highly sensitive to the issue.

Two people standing beside a yellow bicycle at an Amsterdam canal

An ornate covered shopping arcade in Amsterdam with a painted ceiling and chandeliers

The Anne Frank House on an Amsterdam street, with visitors gathered outside — The Anne Frank house in the middle.

A black and white cat sitting on a table inside the KattenKabinet museum — KattenKabinet museum. Filled with cat art and a few cat residents as well.

A dark blue vintage car parked near an Amsterdam canal

A black cat sleeping on a sofa beneath a large painting at the KattenKabinet museum

A pale yellow tea set decorated with black cats at the KattenKabinet museum

A compact hotel room with a loft bed above a pull-out staircase — By 3 pm we were able to check in to our hotel. I was beyond ready for a nap, as I was not able to sleep on our red-eye. If you ever wondered if a "tiny house" is right for you, our hotel can help you figure that out. That is our bed at the top of the pull-out staircase.

Amsterdam Netherlands Coffee walk Canals