A window into Amsterdam

So this past weekend I went to Amsterdam. Yes, Amsterdam. Now, when I mentioned this to a couple of Americans here in London, their immediate reaction was, “OMG, you are going to have so much fun at the coffee shops”. Well, that’s when it got awkward, mainly because I’ve never done pot, so I responded, “I don’t think I’m even going to go to a coffee shop”. They were taken aback by this and asked, “Is there anything else to do in Amsterdam?”. Yup, it’s sad how we Americans sometimes think about places. Amsterdam is more than just pot (marijuana) and prostitutes (although there are a lot of these). Amsterdam is actually a very beautiful city, full of canals and cute little streets, tons of museums, like the Van Gogh Museum, the Rembrandt, Amsterdam History Museum, Anne Franke’s House, Sex Museum, and many more. Yes, it is a little too liberal, but its a fun place, with lots of things to do.

While in Amsterdam I met up with an old friend from GW. He is studying abroad in Paris and by coincidence we both were in Amsterdam at the same time and in the same Hostel (a christian one, with evening prayers and bible study sessions, my grandmother would be proud). Anyways, so I spend a lot of time with him and his friends around the city, going to museums, and seeing the sights. I had a lot of fun and enjoyed Amsterdam a lot. One of the days I was there I met a local who taught me about Dutch culture and the everyday life of the Dutch. I recommend this to everyone who travels, make sure to meet a local so you can actually learn about the country, rather than just seeing the sights and leaving without actually knowing what goes on in the country you were just in. Anyways, talking with him really gave me an insight into Dutch life and had a big impact on my trip.

One of the most shocking things in Amsterdam is the Red Light District and its many windows. While walking around this area you see all the windows lighted by neon lights. The windows serve as displays for all the girls (prostitutes), they are dressed in bikinis, and come in all sizes, ages, and ethnic origins. Some of them are smiling and dancing so as to motivate you into buying their service, while others literally look like they are about to start crying. The windows are really a sad view; all these girls dancing around trying to get you to buy their service while men stare and make indecent gestures. At the same time you can see some men going from window to window, as if they were shopping for the best one. It was really eye-opening, and very sad. A lot of these girls are illegal immigrants in the Netherlands, they come from all over the world, they are promised a good job, like at a restaurant or bar, and then are forced to be prostitutes. Legalizing prostitution just makes it easier for human trafficking to take place within the country.

In conclusion it was a really fun and learning experience. I would definitely go back and explore other parts of the Netherlands like The Hague and Utrecht. It was a beautiful country and if you ever find yourself in Europe I recommend you stop by and visit it.

Next trip: Rome, Florence, Milan and Geneva. Any suggestions on what to see and do in each city?

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