They say “Paris is always a good idea” and I agree, but I think the same applies to Amsterdam. I decided to wear my new wide green trench coat from kpa.haarlem, when I went to Amsterdam two weeks ago with my friend Helena. The trench coat is part of my husband’s birthday present. Remember he gave me a coat hanger with a note saying “pick an outfit at kpa.haarlem“? It didn’t take me long to find some good stuff: 1) this coat, 2) black suede slippers and 3) a pair of copper coloured summer trousers. I was able to buy so many items as they were all in the King’s Day sale (half price or even less).
There will be many photos in this post. I hope you like it.
Helena picked me up from Amsterdam central station (below). Such a gorgeous building. The clock is correct; I took these photos on my way back. With so few tourists about, it is sooo much quieter.
Below: We made our way through Damrak to the Dam. I saw this magnificent building. It must have been a bank or so in the old days.
Below: Here is a detail photo of the top of the building. An old man pointed out the monkeys at the top. And I saw owls too. The lions you see in the above photo, are hidden behind the ledge.
Below: No idea what this is, but it is near the Exchange.
Below: The beautiful passage which I have shown you before in detail in this post (scroll down).
Below: Hundreds of little streets like this.
Below: There were enough nice backgrounds for a photo.
Below: This gentleman walked by and commented, so I invited him to have his photo taken with me. Which he gladly did. We had a bit of fun.
Below: The back of the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church).
Below: Helena is walking towards the church. We were contemplating on sitting there for our coffee or continue to the Dam square.
Below: We decided to go to Dam square to a terrace where there was sunshine. Looking out onto the Royal Palace.
Below: Helena. I met her through work; she was a journalist for an advertising trade magazine when I was working in the advertising industry. Gorgeous coat. It is a good thing I wasn’t wearing my pink spring coat or we would have been ‘The Terrible Twins’ haha.
Below: Something must have been going on a bit further down the street by the look on my face. The thing behind me in the window is indeed a water pipe (also known as a hookah or a bong).
Wearing a white shirt by Anne Fontaine, a blue leather croc print ‘camera bag’ by L.K, Bennett, a brown vegan tote from many moons ago, sneakers by Vic Matié, boyfriend jeans by G-Star-Raw and the brand of the wide green trench coat is Just (they are sold out at kpa.haarlem).
Below: Close-up of the green earring by Lara Design.
The weather had changed to cold and grey by noon, so we decided to have lunch on a terrace where they had heating.
Below: Cute restaurant but no heating.
Below: Restaurant De Brakke Grond in the Nes, provided heating and their food and coffee were great. Helena snug in the corner underneath the sun shield (to keep the warmth down). We had a heater in front of our table.
After lunch we walked the streets of the red light district. No tourists, so it was really quiet. Very unusual. As we passed a couple of ladies of the night in their window, we just looked straight ahead to avoid looking at them.
Below: Beautiful houses in the Nes.
Below: De Waag where cheese was weighed and traded in the old days.
Below: Zeedijk. As in most old towns, the buildings were high and the streets narrow. Although in warm climates this is necessary to keep the sun and heat out, it is not something we have to worry about in our country. I had no idea why they built like that. Lack of space?
When I looked it up, I read that when building houses, they followed existing paths and ditches, which is why the streets are so narrow. From 1902 onwards, the architects changed the landscaping of the city.
Below: I pinched a photo from the Amsterdam city archives. This is what an alley in Amsterdam in 1850 looked like. And Covid? How about contagious diseases in those days? Tuberculosis, typhus and cholera. Workers did not live long in 1850.
Below: The house Leeuwenburg on Oudezijds Voorburgwal, is the Goodwill center of the Salvation Army.
Below: In front of the house is a bronze bench with the statue of the late Major Bosshardt. She was really a Lieutenant Colonel of the Salvation Army in Amsterdam but everybody in Amsterdam knew her as Major and respected her. She was almost like Mother Theresa, always there for people who needed help. I sat myself down beside her.
Below: Helena on the bridge across the Salvation Army house.
Below: It was time for cappuccino again. Attached to the Oude Kerk (Old Church) is this adorable little place, called De Koffie Schenkerij.
Below: I am a sucker for places like this.
Below: This cake was too much for me after a big lunch. I packed 3/4 of it in a napkin and took it home in a plastic bag for Ron. Delicious cake.
Below: We left Amsterdam through this narrow street.
Although cold, it was a lovely day and great to catch up. Helena and I hadn’t seen each other for nearly a year.
What happened in my life this week
Saturday Ron and I visited mum. No photos of her this time but you get to see my outfit below. The top has been in my wardrobe for years and never worn. I knew it would come in handy one day. As I wasn’t going to do much walking I opted for very high heels this time. You have seen this jacket with blue trousers and sneakers in this post.
Below: These earrings (yes, from Lara Design), are perfect with the jacket.
Below: As it was still very chilly, I needed something warm outdoors. The sequinned sleeves are a bit of a problem for a coat. The kimono shaped coat solved this issue.
Had a nice Facetime conversation with Anja in Spain as well that day. It seems that everything is working out as she has planned it. So nice.
Sunday: Did nothing but reading and blogging.
Monday: Loes from across the road came to tea in the afternoon. We are looking forward to the day we both will have had our second vaccination. Then Loes can do photo shoots as well, relieving Ron of his duties. I was full of energy that day and did so many chores.
On Tuesday I still had the energy and in the morning I carried on doing stuff I normally procrastinate on. In the afternoon Marjolein and I had agreed to meet each other at the mall of Amstelveen as the weather was going to be bad again. Fortunately it was OK at lunch time.
Below: Marjolein in Amstelveen. She isn’t smiling brightly as she is in the process of getting her teeth fixed. It wasn’t raining, we even saw some sunshine, but it wasn’t warm.
Below: Marjolein fell in love with this broderie dress from Costes.
I came home with three items which was totally unexpected. We went to an outlet and they had very friendly prices. As my purchases aren’t really worthy of a separate blog post, you get to see them now.
Below: I bought a polka dot jumper which was great to wear last week. It wasn’t until Friday that the temperatures went up. The jumper is totally polyester and/or acrylic which means it doesn’t itch and I can bung it in the washing machine. Yay.
Below: This white denim jacket is something I have never had. Everybody has a denim jacket and often one in white too. I never had. This is my first one.
Below: As I tried the denim jacket in the fitting room, I grabbed the nearest top from the rack to wear underneath it. Turned out to be my size, it is light and silky, it is wide enough to hide my tummy and it has the right neckline. I have been searching for this top for years. What a happy occasion.
Thursday was a quiet day. Lots of reading and such. In the evening I visited our friends Maurits and Marcel together with my friend Helga to show her their apartment. Helga wanted to know how you decorate an apartment with just windows on two sides as she is moving into such an apartment.
Friday was a glorious day. Lots of sunshine, hot temperatures and a visit to the hairdresser. A good day.
Summer is finally here and I am going to enjoy it next week.
Greetje
Amsterdam has such interesting architecture – I would love to visit one day. I have already been to Paris, and yes, it is always a good idea 😉
I really like the green trench coat and the white denim jacket – excellent outerwear purchases.
I would so welcome you in Amsterdam Shelley. Mind you, the Netherlands has very fickle weather. It is very green, so there is a lot of rain. Of course I never show you photos of the city when it is pouring with rain haha.
I love the architecture in Amsterdam, and the little narow streets and tall buildings really appeal to me! I hope we’ll get the chance to visit in the not too distant future.
I love your green coat, it’s exactly to my taste! And how lovely that you found three gems in the outlet shopping centre! I really like all three.
Hugs
Suzy xx
I bet there are plenty of narrow streets in Portugal too with all that sunshine.
Thanks for the compliments, I am very pleased with all my purchases too.
Have been too busy to go round to your blog. I am so sorry. Perhaps tomorrow.
Thank you, Greetje for the lovely post on Amsterdam. I fell in love with your country the first time I visited in the ’60s when I was 13. The next time I was there I was close to 60! Since then I have managed to get back 2 more times. It has never failed to disappoint.
I always look forward to your post…I don’t care how long they get!
Thank you for the feedback and the compliments Ann. I am amazed that the Netherlands never failed to disappoint. As the weather can be pretty bad here. lots of rain. This country is green for a reason.
Thanks for sharing the photos of Amsterdam. It felt like a mini vacation. In 1972, my Mom and I changed planes at Schipol and that is as close as I’ve been to Amsterdam! I remember shopping the duty free shops. I hope I get to really visit your country one day. Thanks again.
The difference between Schiphol and Amsterdam couldn’t be bigger if the airport had been on the moon.
I do hope you will be able to come. I list all my Amsterdam post in the top navigation of my blog, under the button Amsterdam (to keep it simple haha).
I really like the trench! And Helena’s pink coat. And i can’t wait to be a tourist in Amsterdam again! Thank you for sharing all the lovely details.
Thanks for the compliments. I will pass it on to Helena too.
I think a lot of businesses in Amsterdam cannot wait for all the tourists to arrive again.
Lovely pictures, Greetje. Helena looks like a badass!
I really love your new purchases – Ron has the right idea, just giving you the gift of shopping.
I loved this nice long post – they are never too long for me! 🙂
Helena might look a badass but she is far more a sweet person. Wouldn’t hurt a fly.
Ron knows what his woman desires haha.
I am very pleased with your feedback on the length. As a working woman I would have thought you didn’t have the time to read all. As a retired person I even have difficulty to keep up with your posts.
I loved seeing so many interesting buildings in Amsterdam. I was there once over 25 years ago. I mostly remember the canals and the bikes everywhere. Also how no one closed their curtains at night. One day I will return. Your pictures are an incentive. Thanks so much
You will find a button at the top navigation of my blog, named Amsterdam. All blog posts which were situated in Amsterdam are listed in there.
And you are right, hardly anyone closes their curtains at night haha.
How lovely to see Amsterdam again. I almost didn’t recognise the train station without the usual number of tourists standing outside. It certainly did not look this way when I was last there 2 years ago. I think the white denim jacket looks great on you. What a great find, along with the top and jumper. I hope the weather is sunny with you this week.
Yes, Amsterdam is like it was 20 years ago. So nice and quiet. I will enjoy it while it lasts, as we are bound to get our truckloads of tourists again after Covid.
The three items I found in the outlet are true treasures. Very unexpectedly. And yes, it is sunny and warm now. YAY.
CommI love the report on Amsterdam, it is a very interesting city. And I always like to see you with your casual outfits, with your jeans, your white shirts, your sneakers and today with that beautiful green trench coat. After this post I still want to visit Amsterdam even more. I really like the rest of the looks with your jeans!
It is difficult not to wear jeans these days. The boyfriend jeans are sooo comfortable. But I have some nice, more elegant clothes in stock as well. You will be pleased next week.
I did not find your post lengthy at all! Love all the photos of Amsterdam. And I agree that you have an amazing shoe collection!
I suppose most of my readers have enough time to go through a lengthy post. Or they treat my posts like a weekly magazine as I do with the blog of Midlifechic.
The shoe collection… well, I think there is room for improvement in the shoes-with-dresses department.
Every time I see your Amsterdam photos I REALLY want to come back again! Maybe next year….
I like the green trench/blue bag combo. They really work well together. And of course I still love those sneakers! The white denim jacket is *chef’s kiss* fantastic on you! I’ve been wearing my blue one to death and have been trying to find a similar one in off-white.
It is such a lovely city and I would love to welcome you again. But you know the weather is fickle here.
The green trench/blue bag combo was more or less by accident. Usually I will go matchy matchy, and I want to stay away from that if I can.
“Chef’s kiss” fantastic eh? That is very high praise. Thank you.
In the US, we sometimes call a denim jacket a trucker jacket. I like them for a casual look. They go well with dresses, too.
You are so right, they do go well with dresses. Makes them less formal (and hides old arms at the same time).
We call it a jeans jacket, which I kept typing, but my editor changed it into denim. Hurray for her.
Even though I know Amsterdam pretty well, you always discover new spots and the beautiful streets never tire. Indeed very quiet. I’ve never seen central station so clean, quiet and uncluttered. It’s beautiful that way!|
I do miss strolling around Amsterdam from time to time and look forward to visiting it again with you when I’m in the Netherlands again. First vaccination planned in for the 8th of June. Yay!
It is because I am going through Amsterdam with the specific goal of finding interesting places. Usually we just walk and shop and don’t look up. As Anja often says: you have to look up in a city to see beautiful things.
Congratulations with your first vaccination planned. I will get my second one this Friday. As it is Pfizer, I will be fully protected a week later. (Probably will be hit by a bus then haha.)
What a lovely tour of the city. i will keep this issue as a reminder to visit these sites when in Amsterdam next!!
Wow, a lot of cake, cappuccinos. Etc… fortunately you are walking it off!
Marjolein looks chic in her white dress.
Can’t beat polka dots and white denim jacket. good buys.
Enjoy the summer start. We are already there.
At the top navigation of my blog you will find the button Amsterdam. All posts which took place in Amsterdam are listed there.
I always compensate my coffee and cake behaviour with days of water and strictly three meals with low calories. There are clothes in the wardrobe that need my figure to remain the same.
It is beautifully sunny weather now and I am thoroughly enjoying it.
You didn’t over do it at all!
Oh good. Thanks for letting me know.
Thanks for showing the very nice photos. I love your white blouse with the sequin stripes on the sleeves. So chic and unexpected. Your white shoes are adorable. You have the greatest shoe collection in the blogosphere.
I never know whether it is a blouse or a jacket, that thing with the sequin stripes on the sleeves. I always wear it as a jacket.
Yes, the white sneakers are pretty awesome, which is why I bought them in black too haha. You cannot have too much of a good thing.
Greetje – Thank you for the beautiful Amsterdam tour. I love all of the gorgeous buildings. And you and Helena look so chic in your green and pink coats.
Have a good week!
Thanks Anne. My mother said it was quite a lengthy post but she liked it. Hope I didn’t over do it.