Amsterdam Central: Vibrant and Unconventional

I’d like to start with a haiku that I composed:

Crowds, neon, and noise
Devil’s lettuce fills the air
Church bells ring so sweet

Well, I’ve been in Amsterdam for a few days now, and I’d best describe it as Copenhagen’s grittier, Bohemian brother.

The two cities have plenty in common: both are waterbound, threaded with beautiful canals (though Amsterdam has more), and both have a strong bicycle culture (though Copenhagen seems to have more cyclists).

But the vibes are very different. Copenhagen is calm and cozy, with its signature hygge, whereas Amsterdam is edgy and high-energy despite the sweet church bells that always seem to be chiming. Copenhagen’s architecture feels bright and modern, while Amsterdam’s is moodier, darker, and a little more mysterious.

I find Amsterdam slightly less walkable, mostly because of the crowds. The smell of jazz cabbage seems to be everywhere, and even small grocery stores have entire sections devoted to cannabis-infused snacks and other products which, thankfully, are clearly labeled.

It’s definitely a fun city if you’re looking for some revelry, but there’s plenty of culture here too, with a huge selection of museums and galleries ranging from the world-famous Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House to decidedly more niche attractions like the Hash, Marijuana & Hemp Museum.

I should stress that I’m specifically describing the city centre. Not all of Amsterdam feels this way. I’ve already found quiet, peaceful streets just a kilometre or so from here, where the city takes on a completely different character.

I’ve got some fun adventures lined up for the next few days here, so stay tuned.