Amsterdam

The warm weather continued on our holiday which made Amsterdam a lively city with many restaurants busy with alfresco diners soaking up the sun after a late cold winter.
Getting away from the tourist masses in the Kalverstraart area we were taken by the many beautiful houses and interesting shops along the canals. Everywhere we looked we would see beautiful restored houses each one different with decorative features such as gables and cornices. Some retained wall plaques that were used to identify the houses before street numbering was introduced. Also noticeable was the tilts the houses had due to the houses foundations sinking. Some houses facades also tilted forward but many were built like this for the purpose of the windows being protected when goods were winched up to the attic.
Copenhagen prepared us for the bikes and bike paths and we joined the locals by hiring bikes and riding the various streets and lanes around the canal. We also did a few laps of the large inner city park called Vondelpark which was crowded with joggers, picnickers and dog walkers.
We spent an enjoyable afternoon at the recently reopened and renovated Rijksmuseum as well as watching a free concert for Liberation Day in which members of the Royal family were in attendance.

Houses along the canal

Boats lining the canal

Tilting house

Boats on the canal

  Wall plaques

More houses ( some facades tilting forward )

Sint- Nicolaaskerk church ( Patron of Seafarers )

View of the Waag (weigh house )

Bandstand at Vondelpark

King Willem - Alexander , Princess Beatrix and Queen Máxima at the concert

Crowds at the Liberation Day concert

Concert goers listening to the concert on the canal

Rijksmuseum

 Koninklijk Paleis ( Royal Palace )

The InterContinental Amstel hotel