Holland (Work) : Boat Cruise

040918 : I was in Holland for work matters, and my colleagues and I had a few hours to spare before our flight back to Sweden. 

First matter on the agenda was to find food - I had kebab wrap for lunch that costs EUR9. After lunch, 3 of us decided to go on the canal boat tour. I have never been on one before and it has always been one of my interests to be on one. 

Holland : Part 9 - Day 6 : Zaanse Schans and Zaans Museum

Day 6 of Holland Drive

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 6. 

20/7 Day 6: Zaans Museum -- Leave Holland -- Germany (sleep in a parking place) 

Must-Incur Costs

None

Optional Costs 

(1) Strawberry cream pancake (EUR11.20) and Apple cinnamon pancake (EUR9) = EUR20.20
(2) Entrance fee to Zaans Museum = EUR15 per person
(3) Parking in Zaans Museum = EUR7.50

The Story

200717 : Today, we checked out from the hotel by 11am and drove to Zaanse Schans and Zaans Museum. Zaans Museum is located next to Zaanse Schans. Initially, I thought Zaanse Schans = Zaans Museum. Turns out they are of 2 different places. You can read the definition from Wikipedia. Also read the reason why is Zaans era so famous.

The Zaans Museum locates next to the Zaanse Schans. The Zaanse Schans houses seven museums: The Weavers House, the Cooperage, the Jisper House, Zaan Time Museum, Albert Heijn Museumshop, Bakery Museum.

Zaans Museum is a museum in Zaandam, Netherlands, located at the Zaanse Schans. It opened in 1998 to preserve and protect the heritage of the Zaan area. In 2009, the museum was extended with the addition of the Verkade Experience. In 2016, the Zaans Museum opened three locations with living history at the Zaanse Schans: the Cooperage, the Jisper House, and the Weaver’s House. Another annex of the Zaans Museum is the Tsar Peter House in the centre of Zaandam.

The Zaans Museum is both physically connected with the Zaanse Schans and connected in terms of its exhibits. It sets itself the objective of offering extra depth to tourist visits to the Zaanse Schans by linking the archetypal image of 'Holland' with the factual history of the Zaan region. Source from Wikipedia.

During the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century, the Zaan district was dotted with windmills with a variety of functions and it is often considered to be one of the world's first industrialized areas. Joining an already considerable number of flour mills were, for example, from 1592 "wood mills" for sawing wood, from 1600 "hemp mills" for extracting fibers from flax and hemp, from 1601 oil mills for crushing oil-bearing seeds and "paint mills" producing dyes and paint, and shortly after paper mills for the production of paper. By the mid-17th century, approximately 900 windmills could be found along the river, some of them still preserved, particularly in the Zaanse Schans.

The Zaan district continues to be a heavily industrialized area with many factories, particularly around the city of Zaandam. A number of major Dutch companies, like Ahold and Verkade, were founded in the Zaan district. Source from Wikipedia.

Holland : Part 8 - Day 5 Evening: Flea Market and Flower Market

Day 5 of Holland Drive

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 5. 

19/7 Day 5: Rijksmuseum -- Flea Market -- Flower Market -- Museumplein: Spent 3 days in Amsterdam (from 18/7 to 20/7) 

Must-Incur Costs

None

Optional Costs 

(1) Vegetarian burger (EUR6), Cheese hamburger (EUR6.50) and Fanta (EUR3) - EUR15.50
(2) Juice from Albert Heijn Store - EUR2.09
(3) Roasted Peking Duck (1/4 portion) and rice from Chinatown - EUR13.10

The Story

190717 : After the walk in Rijksmuseum which we completed about 5pm, we walked over to the Flea Market because all flea markets are Prof Sweet Tooth favourite place. Thankfully, some of the stalls were still opened. We suspected the place closed by 5pm. In Prof Sweet Tooth opinion, this is not much of a flea market. There don't seem to be any old stuff for sale. Now, you can't doubt his area of expertise in flea market. Flea markets are like his second home. In fact, most of the stuff in his home are bought from the flea market. So, you can imagine how disappointed he was when he saw this flea market.

Holland : Part 7 - Day 5 Afternoon: Rijksmuseum

Day 5 Afternoon of Holland Drive

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 5. 

19/7 Day 5: Take train to Rijksmuseum: Spent 3 days in Amsterdam (from 18/7 to 20/7) 

Must-Incur Costs

(1) Entrance fee to Rijksmuseum - EUR17.50 per person

Optional Costs 

(1) Nutella waffle, mozarrella sandwich, fresh orange juice (EUR4) - EUR14 

The Story

190717 : We left the Inn at 11.30am because we were so exhausted the evening before having walked about 9 hours because Prof Sweet Tooth was excited to see Amsterdam. I am pretty sure he was excited walking inside Red Light District! We took the train to Centraal Station, and the tram to Rijksmuseum. The museums are located in the area called Museumplein. This is where the word - I AMSTERDAM is located. The famous word where you can see everyone climbing on top of it to snap a good shot. 

Holland : Part 6 - Day 4 Evening: Amsterdam Town

Day 4 (Evening) of Holland Drive

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 4 Evening. 

18/7 Day 4: Albert Cuyp Market -- Explore Amsterdam Town -- Rembrandtplein -- Red Light Street -- Back to Inn: Spent 3 days in Amsterdam (from 18/7 to 20/7) 

Must-Incur Costs

None

Optional Costs 

(1) Mozzarella Pizza (EUR10) and Cola (EUR3) 

(2) 3 bottles of juices (EUR7.75) at Amstel Train Station

The Story

180717 Evening : We walked around the streets of Amsterdam enjoying the sun, appreciating the architecture of well-preserved buildings, saw the happy kids in the boats in the canal with beer in their hands. It was a hot afternoon. The heat was piercing into the skin. But Europeans love their summer. This is the only time they can feel the heat.

I saw a box filled with free stuff and most of them was broken.

Check out the price of eyebrow threading in this salon. EUR30! Homaigawd. That is RM150. I do eyebrow threading in Malaysia for RM6 only...

Holland : Part 5 - Day 4 Afternoon: Albert Cuyp Market

Day 4 (Afternoon) of Holland Drive

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 4 Afternoon. 

18/7 Day 4: Tulip Inn Amsterdam Riverside -- Take train to Centraal Station -- Walk to Albert Cuyp Market : Spent 3 days in Amsterdam (from 18/7 to 20/7) 

Must-Incur Costs

None

Optional Costs 

(1) 3-day train ticket for 2 persons - EUR34
(2) 2 Waffles (Strawberry jam; and Chocolate Chip with Nutella) in Albert Cuyp Market - EUR8.50

(3) Spinach wrap in Albert Cuyp Market - EUR3

The Story

180717 Afternoon : Check-in done at Tulip Inn. Clean up done. The bath was so badly needed after 2.5 days in the car. It was a sunny day worthy of sunglasses. I would have like to wear sleeveless or shorts but I was afraid it will be cold by evening. Plus, you cannot predict if it will rain. It was a 13-minute walk to Gaasperplas train station. There were a few people walking with us too. When we walked back at night, there were people with us too, and I suspected they were all guests of the same hotel. Haha! Also, Tulip Inn = Golden Tulip.

Time to explore Amsterdam! Let's go!

This is Gaasper Camping. Here is the free parking area.

Holland : Part 4 - Day 4 Morning: Bloemendaal and Tulip Inn Amsterdam Riverside

Day 4 (Morning) of Holland Drive

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 4 Morning. 

18/7 Day 4: Bloemendaal Parking -- Tulip Inn Amsterdam Riverside : Spent 3 days in Amsterdam (from 18/7 to 20/7) 

Must-Incur Costs

(1) 18/7 to 20/7 - Accommodation at Tulip Inn Amsterdam Riverside for 2 nights for 2 persons (EUR176.24)

Optional Costs 

(1) 2-day Parking in Tulip Inn - EUR25 (EUR12.50 for 24 hours)

The Story

180717 Morning : We left the parking spot in Bloemendaal Parking at 9.30am and decided to go for a walk in the neighbourhood. We saw a lot of camp operators. I guess lots of the locals want to get away from the city life and spend some time in the nature - going for walks or play in the sand.

Prof Sweet Tooth found parking in an open area which is close to a short walking trail. Nearby was a restaurant - De Bokkedorns. Oh I just saw in Google that this is a 1-star Michelin restaurant. I have never been to a Michelin restaurant. I shall put it in my wishlist to try this sort of restaurant when I am rich enough. Haha!

This is the trail we took. We saw lots of walkers with their dogs. It was sunny and not too windy. 

Holland : Part 3 - Day 3 Evening: Amsterdam Town

Day 3 (Evening) of Holland Drive

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 3 Evening. 

17/7 Day 3: Zurich, Holland -- Amsterdam Town 

Must-Incur Costs

None

Optional Costs 

(1) 17/7 Dinner - Vegetarian pizza and cherry puff (EUR7.60) 

(2) 2 hour parking in town - EUR8

The Story

170717 Evening : From Zurich, we drove on to Amsterdam. We detoured for a while to Vijhuizen Park and continued the drive to Amsterdam Town. It was about 8pm when we arrived and it was still bright. It is summer! Days are longer. 

Prof Sweet Tooth found parking behind Quill building which is close to Marqt building. The first place to visit in our general itinerary was Marqt - a Farmers' Market. 

Holland : Part 2 - Day 3 Afternoon: Zurich Village

Day 3 (Afternoon) of Holland Drive

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 3. 

17/7 Day 3: Westerstede, Germany -- Zurich, Holland 

Must-Incur Costs

(1) Petrol in Zurich, Holland  - EUR73.89 / 46.21 liter / EUR1.599 per liter (Gosh, petrol in Holland is more expensive than Sweden. Check out the price per liter (EUR1.40 per liter) in my Day 1 post) / Distance from Malmo to Zurich, Holland = 983km

Last filled in Malmo, Stockholm on Day 2

Optional Costs 

(1) 17/7 Lunch at Restaurant De Steenen Man in Zurich Village - EUR38 

The Story

170717: The night before, we had slept in a parking lot in Westerstede. It was very close to the Holland border. We left the place at 9.30am and entered Holland at 10.10am. 

Prof Sweet Tooth wanted to see the dam that was built to protect Holland from being flooded. It was close to a little village called Zurich. I only know Zurich of Switzerland, so this is funny. Haha! Along the way (right after we pumped petrol at Zurich), we saw a vast green field, and Prof Sweet Tooth has the opinion that what lies behind the field is the sea. I just followed along. It was a lovely hot weather and I saw many cyclists and people sunbathing. 

Prof Sweet Tooth was right. There is a sea behind the elevated fields.

Holland : Part 1 - Day 1 to 2 : Drive Sweden to Holland

This is my third road trip with Prof Sweet Tooth. This time, we go to Holland. Our plan was to spend 10 days for this trip. The general itinerary = Stockholm, Sweden (drive 3 days) -- Amsterdam, Holland (4 days) -- Stockholm (drive 3 days). 

But what actually happened was:

Stockholm (drive 2 days) -- Holland (4 days) -- Border of Sweden and Denmark (drive 1.5 days) --Skane, south Sweden (1 day) -- Stockholm (drive 1 day).

Remember that Prof Sweet Tooth can drive till early morning hours and has excellent sense of direction. It is just amazing to know someone who loves driving and can read the road map. 

It was not a long drive from Stockholm to Holland, as compared to our previous road trips to Pyrenees, France and Romania in 2015 and 2016 respectively. I did attempt to drive twice on the highway in Sweden, but there was one part of the highway where works were being carried, and it became a one-way lane, which stressed me out! Cars were behind me, and I was afraid they were going to flash or honk but all Swedes keep to the speed limit, so none of my fears happened. So, we swapped places at a rest area because I cannot handle it. Haha! I am still having trouble identifying when to change gear. 

Day 1 to 2 of Holland Drive

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 1 to 2. 

15/7 Day 1: Stockholm -- Löddeköpinge, south Sweden (the drive started at 3pm)

16/7 Day 2: Löddeköpinge -- Denmark -- Germany (slept at a parking area near Westerstede)

In all the 2 nights, we slept in the car. He drives a Citroen C4.

Must-Incur Costs

(1) Petrol in Stockholm - SEK293.30 / EUR30.53 / 21.3 liter / SEK13.77 (EUR1.43) per liter 

(2) Petrol in Malmo - SEK434.97 / EUR45.28 / 32.34 liter / SEK13.45 (EUR1.40) per liter (look, petrol is cheaper in Malmo) / Distance from Stockholm to Malmo = 655km

(3) TWO Bridge Tickets in Denmark - SEK520 + DKK240 = EUR53.93 + EUR32.27 = EUR86.20 (I checked and the price of the bridge ticket from Sweden to Denmark has increased every year since we travelled in 2015. Price in 2015 was SEK425 and 2016 was SEK440 although I don't understand the significant jump from 2016 to 2017 by SEK80)

Optional Costs 

(1) 15/7 Dinner (Beef burger and waffle) at Burger King in Jonkoping, Sweden - SEK112

(2) 15/7 Coffee break (with brownie) at Burger King in Varnamo, Sweden - SEK30

(2) 16/7 Breakfast (Apple pie and passion persimmon smoothie) at McDonald, Sweden - SEK35

(3) 16/7 Lunch in Denmark - French fries and coffee EUR5.57 

The Story

During our drive, we stopped at a few places for Prof Sweet Tooth to stretch his legs and rest his eyes, and also for food.

150717 Evening: In Sweden, we stopped at Burger King in Jonkoping, Sweden. Prof Sweet Tooth took a beef burger and I tried their waffles with ice cream. It is very sweet as it is drizzled with chocolate. I have never tried it before and so I was happy to eat something different.