Laninga's Travel Blog

​Amsterdam is the capital of Holland, my birth country.  The city originates back to the 12th century, and was the seat of the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century.  It is built on wooden pillings in the many canals, which contain many gabled houses of the rich of that era.  Most buildings lean one way or the other because of the settling soils and water table.  Now, Amsterdam still houses international corporations, and wealthy individuals along the many canals.  

Famous Amsterdam residents include Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Spinoza and diarist Anne Frank. The city houses the world’s oldest stock market, has significant museums and cultural attractions, and a world famous concert hall.  It is also well known for its red light district and cannabis coffee shops.  It draws some 5 million visitors annualy.

We visited the the newly rebuilt Rijksmuseum, home of many famous paintings and artworks.  We toured the streets in a hop on hop off bus, and the canals via boat.   It’s a great place to visit, everything is accessible.  But be prepared to share everything with huge crowds… the city is very popular.