Amsterdam Adventures. Rain, Waffles, and “Gluten-Free” Cafe

Our last full day in Amsterdam started with a sound of rain hammering against the windows. Nothing says rise and shine quite like gray skies and the urgent need to dig out the only vaguely waterproof jacket you packed.

Armed with our limited supply of “warm-ish” clothes, we headed toward the much-hyped MOCO Museum. The digital exhibition in the basement was an absolute highlight – walls, floors, and ceilings coming alive in color and light. It felt a bit like stepping into someone’s wildest screensaver (in the best possible way). As you can probably guess, we took a bunch photos to prove we were there.
From high culture, we wandered into De Pijp, where our first stop was the usual one: Starbucks. By the time we finished our drinks, the rain decided it had bullied us enough for the day and made room for sunshine.

The market in De Pijp offered a true Amsterdam experience: hot, fresh caramel stroopwafels. Obviously, I had to get one. Nearby, we discovered an international shop catering to expats, where we stocked up on UK and US snacks like kids unleashed in Willy Wonka’s factory.

Next came the much-anticipated stop at a “gluten-free” café. The quotation marks are very intentional. When we asked the staff which cakes were gluten-free, the answer was… two. Just two. Out of an entire showcase. A bit of a letdown, though at least the marketing department got creative with the definition of “gluten-free.”

In the afternoon, we hopped back on the metro for a quick round of shopping before returning to the hotel. By this point, Saskia had firmly decided that she was not leaving the room again. Fair enough - travel stamina runs out eventually. I did a solo run to the corner shop for dinner supplies, bringing back a picnic that was definitely less glamorous than stroopwafels but equally satisfying.

Amsterdam Adventures. A Day of Swings, Queues, and ovenfresh Croissants

 

 

The morning started with the kind of hotel breakfast that deserves a standing ovation: croissants straight out of the oven, pancakes hot off the mysterious pancake machine, and fruit being chopped right in front of our eyes like a live cooking show. According to Saskia, however, the hot dogs were a crime against food and best forgotten.

Fueled by flaky pastry and a sugar rush, we set off for A’DAM Lookout — the towering building famous for its panoramic city views. Our plan was simple: enjoy the skyline, snap a few photos, and head back down. The giant swing that launches you over the edge of the building? Absolutely not on the agenda.

But then I saw it in action. It didn’t look that terrifying… and Saskia’s eyes lit up like she’d just discovered free Wi-Fi. “Do you really want to go?” I asked. Turns out she really, really did. So up we went. Me, clinging on for dear life, and Saskia, swinging like a rollercoaster addict. I’ll admit — it was fun. Once. Saskia would have gone again immediately, but luckily the swing wasn’t free.

Before all that adrenaline, Saskia also got her first-ever subway ride — which she declared almost as thrilling as the swing. Almost.

Next stop: Stüssy, the holy grail of streetwear. Except… apparently holiness requires patience, because only 5–6 people were allowed in at a time, and the line snaked halfway toward the Red Light District. After what felt like forever, we got in — only to discover the collection was, well, underwhelming. So much for fashion enlightenment.

To balance the disappointment, we swung by TK Maxx (home of chaotic treasure hunts) before hunting down lunch.
Post-lunch, Saskia had her heart set on Hollister. We turned the corner and nearly choked: a queue stretching over 100 meters. A WTF moment. Bracing ourselves for another endless wait, we walked past — and discovered that the actual Hollister entrance was completely queue-free. Turns out the massive line was for a shop across the street selling Labubus. We wished the poor souls in line good luck and carried on with our plans.

We lightened the mood with a quick wander through the flower market, then retreated to the hotel for a well-earned siesta.

When evening rolled around, I asked Saskia what she wanted to do next. Perhaps cautious due to earlier endless walks, she chose something safe: a canal cruise. Perfect. The dock was conveniently right in front of our hotel, and arriving early got us the best seats by the window. Halfway through, Amsterdam traffic proved it isn’t limited to roads or planes — we hit a canal jam, and another boat even bumped into us from behind. Authentic local experience unlocked.

We wrapped up the day with a grocery store dash for some evening snacks, before collapsing back at the hotel.

Amsterdam Adventures. Of early Birds and wild Animals. The Lion sleeps tonight

 

 

The day started earlier than most of us would like to admit. When I woke up at 5:25 a.m., I discovered that Gerli and Saskia had already showered, gotten dressed, made their beds, and even started cooking porridge. Honestly, one has to wonder why they even bothered going to sleep in the first place.

 
By 6:00 a.m. we were on the move, and by half past, Saskia and I were already at the gate. (Gerli, meanwhile, was heading in the opposite direction toward Tartu and was probably already somewhere near Kose by then.)

 
Our flight to Amsterdam wasn’t without a twist - apparently, it’s such a popular destination that airplanes got stuck in traffic. So we sat and waited a good 50 minutes for takeoff clearance.

 
Once in Amsterdam, we dropped our bags at the hotel and made a beeline for the nearest Starbucks. Coffee first, sightseeing later, right?

 
Next stop: Amsterdam Zoo, which turned out to be an absolutely charming park where animals hide in little corners and you get the thrill of finding them. At one point, we walked into a tunnel and nearly had a semi heart attack - a jaguar casually strolled across just a few meters away. Luckily, there was a glass wall between us and the big cat.
We thought about visiting the butterfly house next, but Saskia took one look at the two and a half slugs on the stairs and decided butterflies weren’t worth the risk. Fair enough. Instead, we admired a lion family (majestic!) and some very elegant giraffes.

 
After a quick lunch, we headed back to the hotel for a much-needed rest. A little shopping followed, and we wrapped up the day by ordering dinner in.