Took some courage to decide that we were going to take our bikes with a 4 and 7 year olds into the Dutch capital. I'm glad we did because it was a great way to experience the city.
We stayed at Hotel Isis - which has no relation to I.S. as far as we can tell - in IJplein which offers residential calmness and parking yet remarkably close to the city and has a convenient free ferry connection that runs every 13-15 minutes that the kids absolutely love. What a unique way to commute alla traghetti in Venice. There's something unique and welcoming about taking your bike onto ferries.
Upon arriving at the Central Station ferry terminal, we just followed the cycle paths out through the side of the station and under the bridge straight onto the heart of the city at Nieuwendijk, the same spot we were the night before.
A breakfast pit stop at L-Amour Bakery on Spuistraat before a quick stop at the Koninklijik Palace and a shopping trip at imposing
Magna Plaza housing the Bershka Nederland and some picture taking in the square outside De Nieuwe Kirk.
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| Our bikes being checked out |
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| People actually obeyed this sign... odd. |
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| Iamsterdam outside Rijkmuseum |
Trying to find parking at the multi-storey bike park at Central Station.... Actually the old town is way too crowded to cycle. The red light district near the old church isn't one for cyclists:)
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| Red Light District | |
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| Waiting for the ferry after missing one by seconds! |
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| IJplein ferry to Amsterdam Central Station - free and convenient |
