Since I was going to Amsterdam for 5 days to attend Amsterdam Dance Event, I used the opportunity to see family who was around, and visit a few places I hadn't seen. I had combed Amsterdam pretty well in my last 2 visits, so I went to see less common things, as well as nearby enough towns.
nice weather in SFO
After Turkish Airlines nicely cancelled my flight, I ended up with Luftanza to FRA and then AMS. Service was decent1108*
Eventually arrived in Amsterdam, despite the connection (no direct flights during covid)
The first day, after unpacking and a quick meeting in my hotel, went to AFAS Live for AMF DJ 100
The next day, I took my bike on the train and went to Den Hagg to meet my cousin Frank during his lunch break. I then used the remaining time to see other things I hadn't seen in Den Hagg yet (the car museum is world class, and so is the Eischer museum):
I kind of half randomly picked Museon, a science-ish museum which was ok-ish, but was nothing to write home about:
so happy that I got to see some of those in real life
I was done quickly enough that I had time to see the Kunstmuseum next door, and that was much better, including works from Mondrian:
Mondrian:
Then I just had time to bike back to the main train station to get back to AMS in time for my 2nd evening show, ASOT 1000 special at AFIS. Sadly I got to the train station just a bit too late for bikes to be allowed (they are not allowed during 'rush' hour), so getting back was a bit tricky. Biking through Den Hagg is always fun, it's a pretty town:
They should have a remake of 'dude, where's my car' but with 'where's my bike'
Day #3, I decided to go check out the NXT Museum which was hit and miss. Not a must do, but a fun way to spend an hour or so:
Since I had a bit of time left over, I looked around on google maps and randomly found the 'WONDR Experience', also a bit out of the way in some hangar. I only had 45mn or so, which was a bit rushed, but it was just enough for a reasonable visit:
That evening, I went to Panama for Aly and Fila OTC, which was of course well enjoyable.
The next mornign was Day #4, I had a bit less time, so I just went for a bike ride a bit outside of the city center to a street that had art outdoors, and saw a few things on the way, and accidentally bought $100 of cheese, ooops ;)
my cheese being wrapped up
weather was surprisingly good for october
found a few street markets
finally made it to the art street
didn't do the museums again, had seen them already
That evening was really the afternoon, the much longer Luminosity's This is Trance
Day #5, the last day, there weren't any compelling ADE parties (no music I was likely to really enjoy, and besides after 4 days in a row of partying, I was a bit partied out too :) ), so I looked for day trips out of Amsterdam, and Leiden won. It's a charming town about 30mn away by train:
I started with Boerhaave, a medicine/science museum:
Next, I did the Volkenkunde museum, which had an extensive collection of art from different civilizations:
I finished with the small Observatory and Botanical garden:
I had no idea that Holland had a wild population of parrots
Leiden had more museums than I was able to see in one day, so I did as many as I could fit before the day was over (18:00):
It was time to back to Amsterdam, buy some groceries (mostly stropwafels) and get ready for the early flight home the next morning (with another detour via FRA)