It’s my last couple of day’s in Holland so I’m trying to cram in as much sight-seeing as I can. Yesterday I went to Amsterdam. Although it was only about a 30 minute ride, I didn’t fancy unfamiliar cobbled streets, the busy traffic, the tramlines and the kamikaze cyclists, so I rode to nearby Amersfoort and caught the train into Amsterdam. It was 20eu return and there was a train every 30 minutes. Getting a ticket was super-easy, unlike Germany where the ticket machines are not user-friendly at all. Just my luck, there was a bull-nosed yellow train just about to depart, and 20 minutes later I was in Amsterdam. I must confess, I have never seen Amsterdam in daylight, as every time I’ve visited before on HM. Ships, it was always in the evening, and always to places that sell sparking beer to sailors…
I must admit, its a shoppers paradise, but as I wasn’t there to shop I just ambled about the centre bit looking at all the buildings. Its a very big and busy place, but personally, I think I prefer smaller towns than a heaving city. It rained for part of the afternoon and I had to buy an umbrella, but a couple of hours before I was due to come back the sun came out and transformed a dull metropolis into a vibrant and colourful hum of multicultural excitement. About six I caught the train back to Amersfoort with weary feet but happy at the experience of seeing Amsterdam in daylight.
Today I was on the bike and first I visited nearby Arnhem. After a short ride through countryside then forest I arrived at Arnhem and headed for the Airborne Museum. This is small but excellent museum all about Operation Market Garden, which took place in September 1944 and saw some bitter and brave fighting by British, Polish and Dutch Airborne troops against the German Army. After that I rode down to the waterfront and enjoyed some food and a cool drink in the glorious October sunshine.
Replenished I headed over to Nijmegen, which is a few miles south of Arnhem. It’s a lovely small town alongside the Rhine River. Unfortunately, there is little of the old town left due to Allied bombing in 1945 but the shopping street leading up to the main square does have some original buildings and many of the newer additions have been made to look old. The Cathedral was heavily damaged, but during the 1950’s it was re-built, with the most beautiful spire – exactly like the original. There are also a few buildings next to the cathedral dating back to the 1600’s. After an afternoon spent walking and window shopping in all the lovely shops it was time to head back to the campsite for food and tea – and then to start rounding my stuff together because tomorrow it’s a lift-and-shift day.
Tomorrow night I’m catching the ferry back to the UK, but as I don’t have to be at the Ferry port until 1900, I’m going to head over to The Hague and the Hook of Holland – for my last dose of sightseeing.
Amsterdam
The Airborne Memorial at Arnhem
Nijmegen
