Amsterdam by Night

Like all cities, Amsterdam changes and becomes something entirely different in the light of street lamps, neon and canal boats. Come along.

One also gets a glimpse into the show-place apartments and condos which line the canals.

You can see why the great painters were inspired by this city.

The canal boats operate for the tourists in the early night hours. Each bridge is lit in different ways, lending a holiday atmosphere to the area. And the night doesn't seem to slow down the mopeds or the cyclists as they approach intersections with as much reckless abandon as in the daylight.

A night walk along the canals is as breathtaking as the daylight...the lights define the boundaries of the water...and unfortunately the lights do not allow one to see the potholes on the street. Walking is a tad more difficult.

Park benches await their daytime friends.

One of the best things about the night is that you can walk with fewer crowds and observe the interior of the restaurants which were in the shadows during the daylight.

The morning and afternoon hours are for the serious coffee drinkers...the cafe society.

5-7 in the evening is when the hipsters hang out for a beer on their way home from work.

After 7 or so...the serious dinner crowd is out in their favorite dining establishments which line the small streets. I ate last night on a backstreet at a small Italian restaurant which set up tables in the street and on the sidewalk...... with cyclists and delivery trucks inching past. Very quaint. Very dangerous. Very European.

Peace,  Bob