Amsterdam: A City Meant to Be Shared
- Nichole Daylinn
- Jul 6
- 3 min read
"There are places that ask you to slow down, look a little closer, and remember how beautiful it is to simply be present."
Hello lover,
I've always been drawn to old European cities.
Maybe it's because everything feels just a little more romantic. The buildings have stories to tell, flowers spill from windowsills, and every winding street seems to invite you to slow down rather than hurry to your next destination.
When the opportunity arose to finally visit the Netherlands, I couldn't say no.
For nearly a decade, Defqon.1 had been sitting quietly on my bucket list. It became the perfect excuse to dust off my brand-new passport and cross the Atlantic. I even arrived a few days early so I could explore Amsterdam on my own before the festival began.
As fate would have it, the festival itself was ultimately cancelled due to an unprecedented heatwave and a Code Red weather warning.
Strangely enough...
I wasn't nearly as disappointed as I expected to be.
Because somewhere between the canals, the bicycles, and centuries-old buildings reflecting across the water, Amsterdam quietly became the highlight of my journey.
Time Moves Differently Here
One of the first things I noticed wasn't the canals...
It was the pace.
Back home, restaurants often feel like they're gently encouraging you to finish your meal so the next guests can be seated.
Amsterdam couldn't have felt more different.
Dinner isn't rushed.
Coffee isn't hurried.
Even a simple glass of wine somehow lasts longer.
I found myself constantly reminding my American brain that there was nowhere to be except exactly where I already was.
It was...refreshing.
My Favorite Evening
One evening after a canal cruise, I found myself sitting with a crisp glass of white wine, watching boats drift past while people laughed from café patios along the water.
No schedule.
No notifications.
No urgency.
Just beautiful conversations happening all around me.
It made me realize how rarely we allow ourselves to simply exist inside a moment.
The Meal I'll Never Forget
One dinner in particular still lingers in my memory. Moeders.
A restaurant devoted to Dutch family cooking.
The walls tell stories.
The food feels like home.
Even as someone visiting from thousands of miles away, I somehow felt welcomed into it.
Between authentic Dutch cuisine, warm hospitality, and perhaps one of the best slices of Dutch apple pie I've ever tasted...
I understood why people return again and again.
(Although I have to confess...Fresh stroopwafels are still competing for first place.)
Seeing Through a Different Lens
Photography has always been my way of slowing down.
I'm rarely drawn toward the obvious postcard view.
Instead, I found myself fascinated by reflections dancing across canal water...
The texture of centuries-old brick...
Bridges connecting one tiny neighborhood to another...
And the endless stream of bicycles quietly weaving through the city.
I wasn't trying to prove I'd been somewhere.
I wanted to understand how it felt to live there.
Some Places Feel More Romantic Than Others
My favorite hours weren't planned.
They happened while wandering without a destination.
Crossing little bridges.
Stopping for another drink simply because the patio looked inviting.
Turning down quiet side streets simply to see where they might lead.
Amsterdam seems built for lingering.
And perhaps that's what makes it feel so romantic.
One Empty Chair
Although I genuinely enjoyed traveling on my own...
There were moments I found myself wishing someone had been sitting across from me.
Someone to taste a bite of Dutch cheese and tell me whether they preferred it to mine.
Someone to compare notes with after wandering through a museum.
Someone whose hand I could squeeze while discovering something unexpectedly beautiful.
Even wandering through the Red Light District, eventually finding my way into SamePlace out of pure curiosity, I couldn't help but imagine how different the experience would have felt with someone adventurous enough to share it beside me.
Travel has a funny way of reminding us that experiences become richer when they're shared.
Until Next Time...
When my plane finally lifted off the runway, I wasn't thinking about everything I'd managed to see.
I was thinking about everything still waiting for me.
The windmills.
The tulip fields.
Another canal at sunset.
Another neighborhood waiting to be discovered.
Another quiet conversation over good food and wine.
Amsterdam gave me every reason to return.
And next time...
I think I'd enjoy sharing those quiet moments with someone beside me.
Because sometimes the most beautiful memories aren't made by seeing something extraordinary.
They're made by turning to someone you care about and quietly saying...
"Would you look at that?"
Until next time, Amsterdam.
Comments