residents who actively supported the Resistance against the occupation, the Dutch Resistance Museum is well worth the visit. The personal stories included throughout the museum provide a glimpse into life in the Netherlands at the time and beg the question,“ What would you be willing to do under similar circumstances?”
If we’ d had extra time, one of the things we would have done is take a day trip to the town of Haarlem. Just 15 minutes away by train, it offers beautiful architecture, historical sights, and more than 300 restaurants and bars.
Provisions
Although the Netherlands isn’ t wellknown for its food, we found more than enough delicious options to keep us energized for all the sightseeing there was to be done. For instance, out for a stroll one morning, we wandered upon De Laatste Kruimel, which fittingly translates to“ the last crumb.” If you love pastries as much as I do, this amazing pastry and sandwich shop does not disappoint. I enjoyed an aragostine, a light, flaky pastry filled with meltin-your-mouth pistachio cream, but they also serve fresh cinnamon buns, homemade quiches, creative sandwiches made with their fresh bread, and more.
For lunch one day, we decided to go for dim sum at Sea Palace, the famous floating pagoda-style restaurant near Amsterdam Centraal station. While opting for Chinese food in Amsterdam may seem counterintuitive, the restaurant is a local landmark and holds the title of being the largest floating Chinese restaurant in Europe. The dim sum menu is offered daily from noon to 4, and our group sampled a little bit of everything, including baos, buns, dumplings, spring rolls, soups, noodles, fried rice, and various seafoods. We topped off the meal with a lau sa bao( lava custard bun) and the matcha tiramisu.
Afterward, we headed over to LuminAir for cocktails with a view. Crowned the Best Hotel Bar of 2025, this rooftop spot atop the DoubleTree by
Seasonal Sights You Won’ t Want to Miss
Below are two popular Amsterdam attractions that you can only take advantage of during certain times of the year. Since I visited in the fall, I wasn’ t able to partake, but you should definitely add them to your itinerary if the timing is right.
From late March to mid-May, the tulips are the sight to see. For expansive views of the multicolored fields, visit Keukenhof Gardens. In addition to the millions of brilliant tulips, they also have one of the most photographed windmills in the Netherlands. Note that Keukenhof Gardens limits visitors, and you have to purchase a ticket well ahead of your trip. To experience tulips with fewer restrictions and crowds, rent a bike and take a leisurely tour of the scenic Bollenstreek Region( Flower Bulb Region).
Iconically Dutch scenes like this Insta-worthy landscape can be found each spring at Keukenhof Gardens. | Photo: Cris Toala Olivares / Amsterdam & Partners
16 | NW GEORGIA LIVING NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025
If you’ re visiting mid-November through early January, you’ ll certainly want to check out one of the Christmas Markets that Europe is so well-known for. Amsterdam’ s largest is in Museum Square, where you’ ll be able to enjoy Dutch sweets, hot chocolate, and glühwein( mulled wine) as you admire the handiwork of local artists and enjoy the twinkling lights and festive surroundings. Plan on doing some holiday shopping and taking a spin around the ice rink.
If you tire of Dutch food, head to Sea Palace for some dim sum and other Chinese specialties. | Photo: Chris Handley
Hilton Amsterdam offers a panorama of the city and fabulous cocktails that range from classic to creative.
For one of our dinner outings, we hopped on the Buiksloterweg ferry for a 15-minute ride to Amsterdam Noord. The ferry terminal is close to Centraal Station, and the ferries, which are free, depart every 20 minutes. Upon arrival in Amsterdam Noord, it was a 15-minute stroll to Taqueria Bacalar. My cousin and I, who travel together regularly, have committed to celebrating Taco Tuesday in every country we visit, and we both agreed that Taqueria Bacalar was one of the most delicious experiences we’ ve had thus far. We didn’ t have a reservation, but fortune smiled on us when we arrived and found a party hadn’ t claimed their table. Everything we ordered was incredible, from the tacos de pulpo( octopus tacos) to the tacos cochinita pibil( pork in banana leaves). They also have a large selection of cocktails, tequilas, beers, and wines, along with vegetarian and vegan-friendly options.
The Results Are In
Combining old-world charm with a modern, cosmopolitan vibe, Amsterdam has much to offer, and I was struck by how friendly and welcoming the Dutch are. I plan on returning to see even more, and I may even gather the nerve to ride a bike next time.
To Learn More
If you’ re thinking about taking your own trip to this vibrant European city, contact your local travel agent or visit the Amsterdam tourism bureau’ s website( iamsterdam. com / en) for details.
Kerstin Ohlsson is a physician assistant who lives in Atlanta. Her favorite things are hiking, paddleboarding, spending time with friends and family, and traveling as much as possible. To date, she’ s visited 25 countries on three continents.