Amsterdam 2012

A fine tour with good friends, all photos Kristin Søvik

Amsterdam is known for her canals, we lived by Heerengracht.
View from the hotel room, and a bridge,

and bicycles, with parking in the height. There are almost 1.5 bikes per person in the Netherlands, and that adds up when there are about 18 million people in the country.

houseboats in different shapes

- Taking in the view from the Amstel River, with the Hermitage Amsterdam in the background. The museum, housed in a beautiful historic building dating back to 1682, was then one of Amsterdam’s distinctive cultural landmarks along the river.

Sint-Nicolaasbasiliek, the impressive Basilica of Saint Nicholas, stands directly opposite Amsterdam Centraal. Built between 1884 and 1887, it is dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of Amsterdam.

Amsterdam’s Red Light District is one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods. Known for its red-lit windows, narrow streets and historic canals, it is a distinctive part of Amsterdam’s nightlife and urban culture.the red light district

- Here I am on Dam Square, the historic heart of Amsterdam and one of the city’s most famous meeting places. Right in the middle of the bustling city centre, just a short walk south of Central Station, the square is always alive with locals, visitors, trams, bicycles and the constant rhythm of Amsterdam.

Rembrandt, the painter.
On Rembrandtplein, Amsterdam -  named in honour of Rembrandt van Rijn more than two centuries after his death. The square, originally known as Botermarkt (“Butter Market”), was renamed in 1876.
At its centre stands a statue of the great Dutch master, erected in 1852.

 Me to the right...