Amsterdam
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It has taken me a while to get around to posting all these beautiful photos from our trip to Europe because I took well over 1000! I loved going through them all and trying to pick and choose which ones to share but man does it take a ton of time! We first spent the first few days of our visit at Disneyland Paris, followed by Versailles and Paris and then took a quick train ride to Amsterdam for a few days. While we spent the least amount of time in Amsterdam, we found some of the nicest people and the most delicious food.
I felt the most uncomfortable there because it was my first time visiting and the language was completely foreign. I speak a little french and can get by just fine in Paris, but Amsterdam was a completely different story. None of the signs or any parts of the language were remotely close to English (or French!). Of course there are plenty of English speakers there, but they start off in Dutch and look at you like you’re going to respond and then we look sad and confused and say “English?” and they respond back in English. Nearly everyone spoke English with the exception of a few older ladies at a bakery, but we got by 🙂
We stayed at the Max Brown Museum Square Hotel which was a great location because we wanted to get pictures at the IAmsterdam sign which was nearby. We showed up that evening to scout it out and there were SO many people there that we decided to come back early the next morning. Well, funny story: we showed up the next morning and the sign was gone. There were people with “IAmsterdam” coats and clipboards who looked official, so we asked them where the sign went and they said the city moved it to an undisclosed location because the current location was getting too busy! Can you believe that? Like, no warning or anything. We were so shocked and weren’t expecting that in the least. So we were a little bummed about that.
But we did find lots of outdoor markets with inexpensive produce and the Original Stroopwafels Stand which had fresh and warm Stroopwafels which were just as delicious as we had hoped. The other noteworthy restaurant was called Corner Bakery. Worth every calorie!
We only ended up spending one full day there before flying home, but we certainly made it count!
Have you been to Amsterdam before? I dream of going back when the weather is a little warmer 🙂
I love travel and I loved reading about your trip to Amsterdam and now I want to go there, too! You take beautiful pictures and make everything look so inviting!
This is on my bucket list! One day 🙂
We are taking our two school aged daughters to Paris and Amsterdam this coming Spring break so I am looking back on your posts from that trip to help me plan! We can’t wait and thanks for all the recommendations!
Your travel post for Amsterdam and Paris couldn’t have come at a better time. We traveled to both shortly after your post and found them so helpful! Traveling with kiddos is not joke. Thanks for inspo!
Amsterdam is THE greatest place! I had one of the best breakfasts of my life at a cute little place called The Breakfast Club
I would LOVE to go to Amsterdam. It’s definitely in the top three on my travel bucket list. We managed to have an unplanned layover in the airport and so went nuts over the fresh tulips and peonies in the terminal. I could only imagine how lovely it would be to bike around the city and flower fields. Also, those pastries look so delightful 🤗
I need that Oreo donut milkshake heavenly thing! And those cheetah placemats!
Still one of my favorite posts. I regret not being able to leave the airport when I was there. Thanks for sharing the city I missed. ❤
Y’all packed so much into one day!
Looks like you and the kids had a great time, I love Europe and had a little time in Amsterdam on my first trip and I gotta say you are one brave woman for taking 3 kids to Europe by yourself! Kudos!!!
My husband and I are leaving on April 6th for a Viking ocean cruise to Copenhagen, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands. We will spend 2 days in Amsterdam. I’m looking so forward to it. Last fall we were to have had a day there but thanks to a late flight we made it just in time for the ship’s departure. Thank you so much for sharing your photos of both Amsterdam and your beautiful family. I’m curious to know a little about the sign that you were not able to see. Perhaps the crowds during April won’t be an issue and we will be lucky enough to catch a glimpse. I noticed from your pictures that it was rainy there. Fingers crossed that we will have lots of sun during our visit.
I love your coat Lauren! Would you share the info on it?!? Looks like perfect length, right about of puff and a great shape 😊
How beautiful..thanks for sharing looks like a wonderful trip. What a great experience for your family.
Wonderful pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Lauren, you have a good eye for perspective in you photos. Looks like you all had a fun time!
Love the pic of your son running toward you. That’s a frameable memory for certain. Well done, mom/photog.
Thank you for sharing. Love your pics. Would love to go to Amsterdam some day.