They say when you visit a new city or country, you should really make the most of your experience because who knows when you will be back. That was exactly my mindset 2 weekends ago, when 2 of my friends and I left London for the first time since we've been here and embarked on a new journey: Amsterdam.
This small pretty city is located in the Netherlands, and despite its beauty, it still consistently has a bad stigma around it. When I first told people I would be going on a weekend trip to Amsterdam, the first thing they asked about was weed, which is legal there. While it was present on the trip and sold in stores, it is a shame that that's what Amsterdam is basically boiled down to. I made it my mission to learn more about the city as a result and see what it really has to offer, below the surface.
That is exactly what I did thanks especially to a free walking tour that went with our hostel. Our tour guide at the beginning of the tour asked us about the stereotypes of Amsterdam and what people "thought they knew". His mission was then to debunk all of these ideas and explain Amsterdam's mystic from a new angle. I was all for it and more.
The tour taught me me many new facts. The fact that Amsterdam was the center point for trading and international capitalism at one point. The fact that its houses are slanted in a unique way. The fact that three Xs are the symbol of the Amsterdam flag. Getting to really know the culture made for a more engaging experience, where knowing stranger facts like the church and the prostitutes of the Red Light District being in cahoots with each other worth it.
Besides that, we also went to explore more of Amsterdam's culture on our own. We saw the Van Gogh museum, which is one of the big centers of art. We went to the EYE film museum, which gave us insight in a Dutch filmmaker's way of portraying stories. We even went to the Anne Frank House, which was an emotional ride of the tragedy that happened and how people have grown since then. We also tried new cuisine, like authentic Dutch pancakes, which were delicious. There was so much to explore!
All in all, this trip to Amsterdam taught me to rid of all the stereotypes of a place beforehand, as there is much more than meets the eye. Each city has its own culture, and it's important to experience yourself and not let anyone tell you anything otherwise.
