It's become somewhat of a yearly tradition that Rob and I take a long weekend away for our wedding anniversary, combined with his birthday, in November. Starting off with our honeymoon in the Maldives, then on to Looe on our first anniversary, Bruges on our second, and this year it was Amsterdam's turn.

Amsterdam is a place I've wanted to visit for a long time. There's just something about the Netherlands that seems like a totally relaxed and carefree way of life. Not only is it a beautiful city with stunning scenery, but there are so many incredible boutiques and independent shops and cafes to nip in and out of - not to mention the friendly and welcoming locals.

Here's a round-up of some of the lovely places we visited during our stay.



Accommodation: Yays Bickersgracht

We took this trip with a couple of friends, and stayed in boutique apartments Yays Bickersgracht which was just a quick 10 minute walk away from the train station and central Amsterdam. With floor to ceiling walls, extremely comfortable beds and a nice little dining area overlooking the canals, it was the ideal accommodation for the four of us to stay in. Plus, it was in a quieter area of the city, which was much appreciated when it came to getting a quiet nights sleep!



Shopping at Magna Plaza

It took me a while to convince the boys that a shopping centre was a good idea, but as soon as they realised the Magna Plaza had a bar, they suddenly appeared up for it! One of my favourite shops, Sissy-Boy is on the bottom floor. Think Anthropologie mixed with Sostrene Grene – some fantastic fashion and homeware pieces that got me wanting to clear out my wardrobe and home and start from scratch.


Head up to the top floor for a selection of bars and restaurants, where you can have a beer, or a glass of wine and people watch. It’s particularly delightful at this time of year because of the huge Christmas tree that sits in the middle of the mall.

Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 182I, 1012 SJ Amsterdam

Drinks at Brouwerij de Prael

We fell in love with this brewery in the heart of the city. Head there for some delicious local beers and their food platters. It’s a great atmosphere in here too, but you may want to get in early if there’s a big group of you, as tables get booked up fast!

Oudezijds Armsteeg 26, 1012 JD Amsterdam



Brunch at The Breakfast Club

We very almost skipped out on breakfast here under the illusion that it was part of the UK chain of the same name. It’s a good job we didn’t! One of the best breakfasts we had during our trip. You'll find a few of these cafe's over the city, but we visited the one in Haarlemmerplein because it was close to our apartment. I opted for the Bearnaise Benny (poached eggs and roast beef on bread with mizuna bearnaise sauce) a freshly squeezed orange juice, and a flat white.

Haarlemmerplein 31, 1013 HR Amsterdam



Take a stroll around The Jordaan Area

Take a stroll over to the Jordaan area where you can walk through their market on a Saturday morning. Some delicious artisan foods, local craftsmen, and the most stunning bouquets of flowers I’ve ever seen for prices that England will never be able to match. If only I could’ve brought home the purple hydrangea’s…



Drink at Bier Fabriek

Can you sense a trend here? Yep, we drank a lot of beer in Amsterdam. Bier Fabriek is a bar and restaurant located right in the centre of the city and is famous for their monkey nut shells, which are scattered on the floors. Don’t be alarmed, apparently it’s totally normal to eat the nuts on your table and then throw the shells onto the floor afterwards… We were slightly disappointed with our main meals here, but the Bitterballen and cheese sticks were great if you’ve got the munchies… ahem.

Nes 67, 1012 KD Amsterdam


Visit The Red Light District & Sex Museum

Photographs in the Red Light District are strictly prohibited, for obvious reasons, however it’s truly worth a visit. I think most people will have a preconceived idea of what they think the Red Light District will be like, but for me, overlooking the rowdy stag parties and tourists on a space-cake come-down, I found it quite fascinating. The Sex Museum was a bit of a laugh for 6 euros, but not an absolute must visit.


Drink at Brouwerijt I’J

Another day, another brewery. This one was the infamous ‘windmill brewery’ for reasons that are probably obvious to you looking at the picture. It’s quite a walk out of the city, but completely worth it if you want nice beer, great ‘picky food’, and a fantastic atmosphere. Order yourself a flight of beer, and do the brewery tour too if you’re curious about the brewing process. It’s only 6 euros and you get a beer at the end of it. There’s also a lovely bar next to the brewery called Bar Langendijk, so you can spend a good amount of time in the Eastern Docklands area.

Funenkade 7, 1018 AL Amsterdam



Brunch at Cafe Keyser

If you’re looking for a brunch or light lunch, head over to Cafe Keyser. Their ‘pan of eggs’ dish is delicious and it's in a nice, quiet area of the city that's a little less touristy than the main streets. It's nice to have a stroll around here and check out the buildings and house boats too!

Haarlemmerplein 3, 1013 HP Amsterdam

Until next time, Amsterdam...