My favorite things to do are visiting museums and exploring historical buildings and monuments. I just went to the Foam Museum which is a museum created by an international photography organization to showcase experimental art involving photography. I am particularly excited to attend an event in November called Museumnacht (Museum Night). With one ticket, you can visit around 50 museums and experience special workshops, concerts, tours and performances - all at night (7pm- 2am)! With regards to history, I took part in an event last month called Open Monumentendag (Open Monument Day). This is the best way to get to know Amsterdam! Special buildings, monuments and private homes are open to the public free of charge. I visited an historical house, the stock exchange building, and the Royal Waiting Room in Amsterdam Central Station. I saw breathtaking architecture and art and was immersed in the rich culture of Amsterdam.
On a larger scale, I strive to visit and explore all of the beautiful towns, cities, parks, and nature that the Netherlands has to offer! Each location has its own unique traditions and customs, so the best way to learn is to hop on a train and explore. Next on my list are Utrecht and Rotterdam. Rotterdam is Europe’s largest port! Interestingly, the city was almost completely destroyed after World War II, so much of the architecture is new. I’m interested to see how this compares with the rest of the Netherlands. If you want to integrate into a new country, you must learn as much as you can about the culture, the people and the place.
