Today’s guest post comes from Jacque.

Hallo, from Amsterdam, Netherlands!

Holland, you see, is only a folk term because such a nation does not exist. But we had a wonderful time in a legendary, but folklore-only place.

Bicycles reign supreme in Amsterdam and rural Holland, having become a more reliable and nimble form of transportation than the automobile. The cyclists themselves ride like the wind. You watch for them or risk injury if you walk in the bike lane. Public transportation was top-notch.

People park ANYWHERE in Amsterdam, whether they are traveling via bike or car. The city itself is densely populated, housing people in townhouses and apartments. Public parks are available every few blocks, much like Minneapolis, for use by everyone. We found a delightful selection of beers, Dutch bakeries, restaurants, and Optical lens providers–one on every street corner. Do the Dutch have weak eyes?

We bought the supersaver bus tour which took us to the Windmills in Zaanse Schans by the North Sea and the Tulip Garden in Keukenhof in one tiring, yet thrifty day–ka-ching. The next day we were footsore and happy.

Informative museums featuring history (i.e. WWII, royalty, maritime) and art, were easy to access. But they were crowded with Dutch people and tourists alike. At the Vermeer and Rembrandt exhibits in the Rijksmusuem, we had to be both patient and aggressive (elbows) to get a look at the art. The Van Gogh Museum we saw on a weekday, which allowed us a more leisurely tour.

We were informed in perfect English by our Airbnb host, Otto, that no one speaks Dutch anymore–they speak English. And indeed they do. However, we were stopped repeatedly and asked for directions by other tourists who thought we were Dutch.

As to why people thought we were locals, we never did figure that out. Our host just shrugged his shoulders when we asked his opinion. Our only hypothesis is that it has to do with height. The Dutch people in general are tall (average man is 6’1″, average woman 5’6″). Lou and I are also tall – both taller than the average Dutch so maybe we look like we belong.

What helps you fit in?