A Fun Day in Amsterdam

Our Dutch friend Maarten invited us to visit him in Amsterdam so we took the early train and met him at the mailboxes in front of Central Station.  We hopped onto a canal boat that took us to the NEMO science museum.

The Magic of Pulleys

   There were so many interesting things to do in the museum that we had to have a break on the sundeck with a game of giant chess.  Then we toured the replica of the 18th century VOC (Dutch East India Company) merchant ship.  The docents on board showed us the navigational instruments, such as the long rope with a wooden board on the end and knots every few inches to measure speed.  We noticed that the officers had much better food than the men, and more privacy, but the ceiling on their quarters was so low that the grown-ups had to bend in half to walk into the captain’s stateroom.

Sailor Boys

We got back onto the tour barge and rode through the canals under several bridges to  Rembrantplein, where we had lunch.  It was the first warmish, sunny day all year, so of course we ate outside.  After that we walked for a bit, with a stop at the beautiful Beguinage for a moment of quiet and at the traditional Cafe Hoppe for an ice cold genever (for Daddies only).

William on the canal

Henry and Our Dutch Friend Maarten

We finished off our tour with what must be the national meal: pancakes.  Henry had pancake with apples and bananas, William had apples and raisins, Mommy had bananas and bacon, Maarten had a bacon pancake and Daddy had a wheat-free, dairy-free omlette.  It goes without saying that everyone who had a pancake had it with “stroop”, a Dutch syrup.  Every table in the restaurant had it’s own ceramic “bucket of stroop” with a big wooden spoon in it. 

Henry Puts Stroop on his Pannekoek

It was a great day.  Bedankt Maarten!