Lifestyle

Dutch Treat

Regardless of what you may have heard about Amsterdam, this quaint little city known as “The Venice Of The North” has a lot more to offer than wild times and all-night benders.
Text by Blue Arauz | June 8, 2018 | Lifestyle

You’d expect nothing but utter debauchery from a city that has XXX on its flag. The notorious Redlight District and the infamous “coffee houses” have given Amsterdam a reputation of all-out lawlessness. But rest assured: There’s much more to see and do. Sure, the Redlight District is worth a visit…but mainly to see the oldest building in Amsterdam: an 800-year-old church! Yes, there’s a church right smack in the middle o the Redlight District. Next, stop by Anne Frank’s house where you can push back a bookshelf to reveal and explore the secret annex where the young girl lived, slept and wrote down her thoughts as the Nazis invaded. For art and history buffs, make sure to stop at Rijksmuseum to view more than 8,000 items on display including masterpieces from Rembrandt, Van Gogh and other artists. Of course, no trip is complete without a dive into the local culinary scene. The traditional must-try dish is stamppot which has mashed potatoes with sauerkraut and a nice dose of gravy and sausage. To satisfy your sweet tooth, don’t be shy to try the street food desserts such as oliebol (fried dough spheres with powdered sugar) and stroopwafel (two thin waffles with caramel in between). And don’t forget to grab a beer, they’re kind of known for that, too!; IAmAmsterdam.com.