Day 8: A trip to the seaside!
The next morning, we loaded our luggage and ourselves on the bus, said good-bye to Delft, and started the drive toward Amsterdam . . . excited for some fun detours along the way.
Our first stop of the day was the Aalsmeer Flower Auction and the Royal Flora Holland visitor center. This is the largest flower auction in the world, and the massive building is actually the fourth largest building in the world. Inside, flowers from all of the world are auctioned off in the morning and then quickly shipped out to be in the shops that very afternoon. We watched as warehouse workers filled orders by whizzing pallets of flowers from one location to another in an efficient ballet.
And then we were off to see the sea! The North Sea, to be specific. From Ellen's itinerary for today:
"All Dutch people go to the beach. Whatever the weather or the season, there will always be people there enjoying the fresh air. So will we!" And she wasn't wrong!
"All Dutch people go to the beach. Whatever the weather or the season, there will always be people there enjoying the fresh air. So will we!" And she wasn't wrong!
We arrived in the coastal resort town of Noordwijk aan Zee, which has a long connection with the Dutch royal family. As we disembarked, Ellen drew our attention to the statue of Netherlands' beloved Queen Wilhelmina. Wilhelmina sought refuge London when the Germans invaded in 1940, and from there
she broadcast messages of resistance to the Dutch people over Radio Oranje. Boats from Noordwijk would travel back and forth from London in secret.
The statue was to be our meeting point when it was time to get back on the bus.
she broadcast messages of resistance to the Dutch people over Radio Oranje. Boats from Noordwijk would travel back and forth from London in secret.
The statue was to be our meeting point when it was time to get back on the bus.
And then Ellen let us loose to go frolic in the sun and sand and grab some lunch. Luckily for us, it was
a gorgeous day!
a gorgeous day!
This is right before I waded too deep and
the water sloshed over the tops of my boots!
Groggy from the sunshine, we piled back onto the bus to head for our last stop of the day, and of
the tour: Amsterdam! As we approached the outskirts of the city, Ellen introduced us to a popular
Dutch song that celebrates the city: "Aan de Amsterdamse Grachten" ("On the Amsterdam Canals").
It is one of the most well-known and popular songs in the Netherlands. This is the version that we
sang along to, sung by Wim Sonneveld:
the tour: Amsterdam! As we approached the outskirts of the city, Ellen introduced us to a popular
Dutch song that celebrates the city: "Aan de Amsterdamse Grachten" ("On the Amsterdam Canals").
It is one of the most well-known and popular songs in the Netherlands. This is the version that we
sang along to, sung by Wim Sonneveld:
Aan de Amsterdamse grachten
heb ik heel mijn hart voor altijd verpand. Amsterdam vult mijn gedachten, als de mooiste stad in ons land. Al die Amsterdamse mensen, al die lichtjes 's avonds laat op het plein. Niemand kan zich beter wensen dan een Amsterdammer te zijn |
To the Amsterdam canals
I have given my heart for ever; Amsterdam fills my mind as the most beautiful city of our country. All those Amsterdam people, all those lights late at night on the square. No one could wish for anything better than to be an Amsterdammer |
Hello, Amsterdam!
We arrived in Amsterdam in the late afternoon, and after checking in to our hotel (and sadly, saying good-bye to Sjeng since there would be no more need for the bus), we kicked off the evening with a relaxing cruise of Amsterdam's legendary canals leading out to the IJ (Amsterdam's waterfront).
After getting to know the canals, Ellen walked us to Kantjil & De Tijger, where we were treated to
a sumptuous feast in the form of "rijsttafel" (the Dutch word for "rice table"), which is an elaborate Indonesian meal consisting of many side dishes and varieties of rice.
a sumptuous feast in the form of "rijsttafel" (the Dutch word for "rice table"), which is an elaborate Indonesian meal consisting of many side dishes and varieties of rice.
And then, our bellies full, it was back to our hotel for a good night's sleep!