The Netherlands 5 - Amsterdam 4
Day 5 was our last chance to stroll along the massive canal network of Amsterdam. We were getting use to paying attention to cyclists buzzing in the city by then.
We had breakfast at Bakkerij Wolf. It was supposed to be a bakery but the setting and menu were more like a brunch restaurant. Their pancakes or french toasts were tempting, but I wasn't really hungry that morning. I ordered a plain croissant and green tea. The croissant was super flaky and incredibly buttery! Jam and butter were served with it, but I wasn't brave enough to put more butter on it. J had Wolf Plateau - sourdough, croissant, boiled egg, farmers cheese, yogurt, granola, jam and butter. He liked the yogurt, which surprised me because he hasn't been a fan as far as I know.
The LEGO store in the city center skillfully recreated iconic Dutch objects and figures using LEGO bricks, showcasing them both inside the shop and in the windows. Although we didn't buy anything, we visited there twice that day.
After wandering around for a couple of hours, it was already time for lunch. The Pantry is a family-run, Dutch restaurant that serves traditional, home-made Dutch dishes traditional. The indoor dining space was small but cozy.
I tried fillet of sea bass steamed with fresh green herbs, served with mashed potatoes and vegetables. It was light and satisfying. J got "Over Dish" - cauliflower, ground beef, aged cheese, onions, and mashed potatoes, which looked like a cousin of shepherd's pie.
I wrapped up my lunch with a glass of Vlaflip, a classic Dutch dessert consisting of vanilla custard, yoghurt, and fruit syrup. My first Vlaflip experience was lovely.
We continued wandering through the city center, sometimes just window-shopping. It was a relaxing afternoon without any specific plan.
We took a peak on the Begijnhof, an enclosed courtyard dating from the early 14th century. The Begijnhof was originally created as a safe retreat for the Beguines, a Catholic community of women who performed charitable work and lived semi-monastic lives without formal vows. To this day, the historic houses are exclusively occupied by single women. Even though it was located in the busy city center, being one of the city's tourist attractions, the Begijnhof was calm, as if time flowed slower.
The corner building with a black facade is Amsterdam's oldest surviving house, 'Het Houten Huis' (No. 34), which dates back to around 1420. Because timber construction was banned in 1521 following a series of devastating fires, this is one of only two wooden-fronted houses remaining in the city. Consequently, the majority of homes in the Begijnhof were built after the 16th century.
The display case was lined with various kinds of lovely cakes. Among them, the one that captured my heart was the Princess Cake. The last time I saw a princess cake was during our visit to Stockholm, where I first encountered this cake and fell in love with it. It was a wonderful surprise for me to come across one again in Amsterdam. Another surprise was finding not only traditional raspberries but also strawberries in the cake, and I loved it! I had no idea I would enjoy the best princess cake I had ever had in Amsterdam.
To be continued…
