Bicycles, a bridge, canals, old houses…that’s Amsterdam for you. The outfit of the week is a long green linen coat, which I am wearing as a jacket. Apparently I am going through a phase of wearing coats and dresses as a jacket. (It might not look green to you but the coat is pale green, honestly).
This coat was the one I wore at the photo shoot for a Dutch women’s magazine Margriet. As I never seemed to wear it, I decided to give it another styling-go. The white trousers from Essentiel Antwerp don’t get much wear either, so killing two birds with one stone here.
Husband Ron had to go to Amsterdam for an errand and offered to take photos. We chose the area of Prinsengracht and Noordermarkt.
Below: Prinsengracht.
Below: It is a lovely area with beautiful houses and lots of big trees. A city without trees is a city I never want to live in. The objects at the bottom of this photo are houseboats in the canal. The word gracht means canal.
Below: Every house should have blinds. They are so pretty.
Below: Great background too and…it was in the shade. Taking photos in strong sunshine is very difficult and it was a very bright day. The pewter bag is from Midlifechic.
Below: Amsterdam face bricks collage.
Below: Sunbathing lady on her balcony.
Below: This lady’s balcony is a lot more expensive. To actually live in such a house, open those big doors and look out on the canal…how rich.
Below: As we walked on, we saw this man on the jetty of his houseboat, doing some maintenance work on one of his chairs.
Below: Next to the entrance to this man’s boat was a spot in the shade of the big trees.
I needed a top to go with the trousers which was just the right colour, the right length (slightly over the waistband) and not too tight. I found it at the back of my pile of white tops. This one is 30 years old. Never throw out a well-fitting basic top.
Below: If there is an opportunity to sit on stairs, I will use it. Somebody passing shouted a remark which made me laugh.
Below: Oh, another sitting opportunity! There was a sign on the bench saying ‘Private’ but I only sat on it for 10 seconds and very carefully as it looked like a death trap. I love how so many people put plants outside their house. Makes a city so much prettier.
Below: We were approaching the Noordermarkt with its lovely church.
Below: The big square in front of the church was unusually empty. On Saturdays there is a big farmer’s market with a small brocante part and on Mondays the square is occupied with stalls selling fabrics (quite a famous market too).
By the way, the man on the bike didn’t travel very far as you will see in the next photo.
Below: Half an hour later we found the cyclist in the above photo, resting against the church.
Below: At the back of the church there are café terraces. Just as it should be: cain chairs, a big tree and a statue. My kind of place. You can see the back of Ron with the big camera rucksack.
Below: At the square is a bric-a-brac store, or a brocante or a charity shop? No idea what it is but I am sure you can get some quaint stuff there.
Below: We had a cappuccino and a relaxed time watching people.
Below: Like watching these two men.
Now that I see this photo I know the waiter didn’t take the mickey out of me. When I wanted to pay, he said no pin, no cards and sent me to an ATM. I really thought he was pulling my leg. There weren’t any warnings on the terrace. No pins, no cards? In 2021? WTF.
Below: I seem to be wearing these yellow earrings by Lara Design a lot.
Below: I piled on the bracelets that day.
Below: Pretty street photo by Ron.
Below: One last photo with houses.
What’s not to love about Amsterdam? Oh I know, crowds of tourists, clogging the place up. (Sorry dear readers, I know we need the tourists but I am enjoying this ‘just-after-Covid-restrictions-period’, having the city all to ourselves.)
What happened in my life this week
Saturday was a tiring day. Ron spent his day at the Antique Market in Haarlem, selling some brocante stuff we have had for years. That meant we had to load up both cars, drive to the market at 7.45 a.m. and unload. I parked one of our cars somewhere else, went home in the other one and took Watson for a long walk at the beach. Vice versa at the end of the day, after another walk with Watson. I was knackered. Totally forgot to take photos of Ron in his stall, together with Marla who joined him that day. Such a shame. You should have heard the nonsense he is telling the potential buyers: “Yes, this used to belong to a noble family…bla, bla, bla.” And many more stories. He doesn’t do this for the money, he just enjoys the banter, the interaction and the fun he has with Marla.
Sunday I spent at my mum’s. I now visit her every week, so you get to see her a lot. Here she is again (below). We have only had about 4 or 5 days which were really hot but mum doesn’t need to worry, she has good working aircon in the living room. In the autumn she hides it behind the desk. We both are great in hiding things. You should see how much stuff I hide behind the long curtains. When you have a small house, you have to be inventive.
Below: I was wearing this floral dress that day, with white/pink Lara Design earrings. (Link to the original post where I was wearing the dress with a belt.) I tend to wear high heels to my mums as I don’t have to walk very much at her place.
Monday I collected my Max Mara outlet sweater from my niece Annelot. Remember, there were stains on it which I couldn’t get out? Annelot and her husband run a 100% sustainable design and printing business. They design and print mainly T-shirts (for wholesalers). They got a new machine which was able to copy part of the rose on my sweater and print those copies over the stains. I now have a rose with 4 dropped leaves on my sweater and you would think the leaves have always been there.
Tuesday Ron took me to Amsterdam for another photo shoot. It is still not his hobby, to say the least, but he does it for me, sweet man. It was a very windy day; my hair was all over the place. I needed a particular photo taken but we did a whole other shoot. It is nice to have photos in stock as Kitty is going on holiday this week. There is light at the end of the tunnel for Ron. Loes will be coming back from holiday, being fully vaccinated. This means Loes and I can go on photo shoots again.
This is going to get funny
Wednesday started all lovely. I was wearing this outfit with high heels as I was not going to walk a lot. (Link to original post.)
I cycled to town where I met Yvonne for lunch. See below. It was mightily cosy (‘gezellig‘ as we say in Dutch). Yvonne is a beauty and besides my friend, also my supplier of Beyuna vitamin supplements. Their products are really good, Clean Label, no additives like artificial flavour enhancers, preservatives and dyes. That’s what we want as consumers, right? (link to her website). Usually I just collect the vitamins and once in a while we take the time to lunch and chat.
During lunch I got a phone call with a fantastic message. Bonus daughter Nicky and her husband got the newly-built house they had set their hearts on. As there were more buyers than houses in the project, they drew a house by lot. So happy.
This was cause for celebration, so Ron and I went out to dinner, to restaurant Borski. Below a terrible selfie.
Here comes the fun part, although it wasn’t such fun when it happened.
Ron knocked over his glass of red wine into my lap (and a splash on my jumper). The staff (very friendly staff by the way), hastily brought me salt but that only helps when you can lay the item flat and pour a huge amount of salt on top of the spot. And I think that works with wool, not with cotton. I know another trick and that is to pour white wine over the red wine straight away. I got two glasses of white wine (compliments of the house), went outside and poured it over my lap.
There were many people enjoying their meal on the terrace. Can you imagine their fun when they saw me do that?? They all had a good laugh but tried not to laugh out loud.
I didn’t mind, I just got very wet.
Below: Me, trying to soak up some liquid, after the white wine treatment.
We had dessert and when I got home I put both garments into the wash basin with more white wine and after that, washed them normally. I am very happy to say, I got it all out and with red wine that is a miracle.
Thursday was a ‘spoil-yourself-rotten‘ day. In the morning my hair was dyed and cut at the hairdressers and in the afternoon my tootsies were treated and polished by the pedicure.
Friday I met Marita for coffee in town. Oh what a rotten life I live haha. YAY for retirement. The writing on the wall behind us (below) says: Hi honey. It is the last part of a sentence that read: What a beautiful day, honey. And it certainly was.
Below: I did not forget to take a head-to-toe photo of Marita. She likes clothes as much as I do. I think she looks gorgeous.
That concludes this wonderful and sunny week.
PS A special hello and thank you to Fenna from Middelburg. Thanks for reading my blog.
Greetje
What a great idea to have the rose printed on that top to cover the stains – it is very cool looking now. I like the long green coat – it will work well over many colours.
Very quick thinking on your part to pour white wine over the red wine but it’s too bad you had to do it while you were wearing the pants. I’m sure some of the other diners thought that perhaps you had too much wine 😉
The rose was already on the top; my niece only added the petals on the stains. The green coat is still a mystery to me, so the next styling will be a challenge again.
The white wine trick wasn’t as much quick thinking as it was a good memory. I had done it before in my late twenties. The other diners had a few mighty funny moments.
Hey Greetje, loved reading your blog and thnx for placing the picture from our nice lunch @Vooges. XX Von (don’t forget to give Ron a hug 😉
I said Hi to Ron from you, but didn’t hug him. Will do so this afternoon (grin).
I’m a fan of dusters, and this one looks fantastic over your all-white ensemble, Greetje. Wonderful pics of Amsterdam – one day, I’ll make it out there!
That is strange that the shop didn’t take debit or credit cards – they are ubiquitous these days! They should make their sign bigger!
Great to see your mum – I’m also trying to see my mom as much as I can right now, before I go back to work full-time. Living in a small apartment is tricky with storage! Our condo is 1350 sq ft and we maximize every bit of it.
I also do that with heels – if I don’t have to walk far, I’m good with them! What a great job on that top – the falling petals look fantastic.
Oh no on the red wine! I use Folex for my wine stains, although there are far fewer since I stopped drinking. I’m so glad you got it all out. Marita’s dress is lovely.
Take care and have a good week, Greetje!
I so hope to welcome you one day in Amsterdam.
Thank you for the word “ubiquitous”. I had to look it up and hope I will remember it.
It might take a long time before you will go back to work full-time dear. I think one of my favourite sayings might be applicable here: “Hand on to your nuts”, as the hurricane said to the palmtree. “This ain’t no ordinairy blowjob”. Hahaha.
Never heard of Folex.
Very nice photos. The green linen coat is mucho attractive over the white. And the white heels with the pants and top are beautiful. It’s always fun to see you at a sidewalk cafe or alfresco. Our weather is not very conducive for outdoor dining but I think it looks wonderful. I would like it. Have a good week.
Oh I like that: mucho attractive haha. Thanks. The white boots are the ones that are perfect for these trousers, but I am thinking of taking them up and use diffent shoes. Haven’t decided yet.
Our weather is very strange, very humid. Lots of cloudy but warm days and lots of rain in the east and south of the country. Likily I live in the west part. By the end of this week it should become sunnier and warmer. Hopefully at your place too.
I didn’t know the red wine/white wine trick, so another lesson learned! But I did laugh at the image of you pouring the wine over yourself in view of other (startled, no doubt) diners.😉 You are wholly yourself, and that’s a lovely way to be!
Wonderful that your niece could salvage that beautiful sweater!
Love the green coat/sweater, and all the large statement earrings. North Vancouver, Canada
Glad I was able to let you enjoy my blog post. I aim to please (wink). The earrings have now become an addiction.
I will admit, I don’t care much about what other people think of me. I am trying not to upset anybody, but if I can make them laugh (the wine pouring) or amuse them (photo shoots in public), I love it. If it was me on a terrace watching somebody do that, I would so appreciate that. Entertaining is my game. And yes, my niece is a star.
Loved your blog this week, one thing has struck me, you sure suit that yellow top. I also love you in that dress. Love all the pictures of Amsterdam makes me wish I was there again. Keep up the good work.
Not all shades of yellow look good on me, but the bright ones…perfectly. Which is why I have many yellow and lime items haha.
I should really wear dresses much more. They are so feminine. Only my lifestyle is different now that I am retired. Still, I do try.
Oh my goodness! I have the same cabi dress as you have and I absolutely love it! Now that Covid restrictions have finally been lifted here in my part of Canada, perhaps I’ll have occasion to wear it again soon. I hope so!
It is a good dress. I like this brand. I got the dress from a blogger friend, who prefers a different style of clothes. I am advising you to wear it as soon as possible when the restrictions are lifted.
With us the restrictions are back three weeks later because the contaminations went sky high.
I love the yellow earrings with the green & soft white outfit. Good combo!
Oh, red wine stains can be impossible…I’m so glad you were able to get them out. So weird about the cash-only place. You’d think they’d have warned you ahead of time!
I felt I needed something bright near my face with thes subdued colours.
It was a lucky stroke that I remembered the white wine trick. All the stains are gone.
The cash only is probably from a café in need because of Covid, trying to avoid tax.
Hi Greetje, so lovely to catch up with your news. I loved the long jacket and white ensemble – very classy! The dress with high heels was terribly stylish too – not often we see you in high heels, but man, you look fab. The antics with the wine looked terrible and I’m really was pleased to see that it was contained to your clothes and not those fabulous shoes.
Ah, classy, that’s my middle name.. (not haha). I am trying to be in high heels as much as possible and actually I think 40% of the outfits I post, are with high heels. The wine incident ended perfectly with all the stains gone.
Cash?? What’s that? 😆 Places in UK are trying to get you to pay contact less or at least with a card. They aren’t happy with cash atm.
Love the outfit with the white pants. I have some similar clothes, I might try it if we are allowed out to socialise any time soon
I just adore the buildings. Fabulous
Everywhere in the Netherlands contactless and pin or credit card is the preferred method. I think those places asking cash, are trying to dodge the tax. Perhaps they are in need because they have had to close for so long.
Try out different outfits before you are allowed to socialise. It is fun and you’ll be prepared.
What a pretty outfit. And the earrings! Nice work.
Thanks Ally. I am not very good in styling a garment in different ways, so I was quite pleased with myself for coming up with this one.
The earrings have become an addiction now.
Oh! You are so wrong with that! I truly look forward to you style each and every week!
I am a New York transplant to North Carolina and use your inspiration daily!
No Lily Pulitzer here my friend! It’s very popular in the south but ugh – I prefer to do my own boho thing!
Cheers!
Monica
I am getting better at styling but it doesn’t come naturally. Blood, sweat but no tears. I just have a lot of friends and stylists in shops to help me haha. Nevertheless, as I say, I am getting better.
Glad I can inspire you. I feel honoured.
Hi! I usually read your posts and soak up the atmosphere via your wonderful photos from wherever you are visiting. Today I finally realized it was time to post.
Thoroughly enjoyed your entire post and all your outfits. Also liked visiting the link to the photo shoot. I am a big fan of your earrings by https://www.laradesign.nl/ (I have swooned over just about every pair by her that you have worn!)
How perfect that your niece was able to resurrect your sweater. It is now truly one of a kind. And what a grand solution to red wine on clothing. I will remember that for the future.
Oh hi Laurie, thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed my post that much. As you know, I aim to entertain and to make people smile or even laugh. When I read that back in the comments, I am very pleased.
Lara Design turned out to be a terrible addiction for me. I now have my eye on a pair of gold plated ones. Just so you know, she does ship abroad and you can video call with her. For instance if you want a particular colour combination.
I remembered the white wine trick from when I was 30 and had a similar accident in a crowded bar. Very funny to go up to the bartender, order a large glass of white wine and then pour it all over yourself haha.
Thanks for another wonderful week in your life. We are just starting to open up and I am still pretty much at home, so it is such fun to follow you around in your beautiful area. Thanks to Ron for taking all the great pictures for you while Kitty and Loes are not available. I don’t know if my husband would handle that as well. Have another great week.
I am most grateful to Ron as I know he really does not enjoy this task. All the nicer for doing it anyway. Loes is back from holiday and I she will come round for coffee on Tuesday. I will ask her servives again.
Our country had little Covid restrictions anymore but that has changed rapidly. Friday new restrictions were announced and today (Sunday) the government has returned from recess to discuss what more should be done as the contamination figures are going through the roof.
How lovely! Flowers, friends, architecture, great outfits, a funny story, and a photo of your beautiful mom. I so enjoy “visiting” with you each Sunday, Greetje.
I aim to entertain Cynthia and your comments are dear to me as they give me the insight that I am not doing so badly haha.
Hello, You
Just LOVE that first outfit. It looks so good on you, or should that be you look good in it? Either way, an excellent outfit.
What can I say about Amsterdam that I’ve not said already? It really is my kind of town (thanks, Frank) and I am so looking forward to being there again. We used to stay in a hotel on Kaizersgracht, not far from where you and Ron were, if I remember rightly. We always had the tiny room right at the top. Oh, those stairs! One time, the owner’s wife gave me a Delft-like tile showing the building, in blue, of course, so that we always had the address and phone number handy whenever we wanted to book our room. Happy days!
Oh, your Mum looks so well. So pleased. x
Don’t ask me anything about English grammar. I have a London editor to see to such things and I am very grateful that she does it.
Yes, although Keizersgracht is a very long quay (road), part of it is very near where we were with the photo shoot. Nice touch to give you that tile.
Who knows, we might meet in the future.
We might indeed, it would be nice.
Incidentally, that blue tile is still hanging in our kitchen. See, I have my own little piece of the Netherlands over here across the Channel!
I am not sure my replies by email are reaching you as one of them came back saying it was the wrong address.
Nice to hang on to the tile. Memories of holidays are to be treasured.