In July 2023, I visited Amsterdam on a solo trip. Yes, I still go solo sometimes though I am married. That is the advantage of having an open-minded husband. Indian but liberal. Not so uncommon these days, if you don’t know.

The Joy

So, Amsterdam. I found Amsterdam stimulating. That’s the first word that comes to mind. The food, the shops, the crowd and the bikes were all very stimulating. Cycles are everywhere. If you are in love with biking, you may feel that you died and open your eyes in heaven. You see all kinds of bikes, all kinds of riders and a variety of weird ways of parking the bike.

The canals of Amsterdam were vintage. The bridges were low and the canal banks showed the several bikes there were dumped into it. The boat guide I got was full of sarcasm. He was of course a local from Amsterdam and I appreciated his anecdotes more than the city history he shared. A Dutch Chandler Bing, that’s how I shall remember him.

This trip was me being completely myself. I hunted for things I like and don’t think about doing when I am with company. I was reminded how much I love walking all around and sitting rarely if only for food. Spending on a barista workshop at Rotterdam and learning a new thing was a piece of itinerary unique to me. I wouldn’t have come across the unique Cube houses in Rotterdam if I hadn’t gone there for the workshop.

How much I love chatting with new people and asking about their experiences. The three Italian girls I shared a dorm with, gave me warmth as if I had known them for years. It was so sweet when the girls from the room ran to give me the keys I missed.
Even the names, Emma Rosa and Margarita were super fragrant and memorable.

I shopped at the flea market on the day I reached because I realised I wasn’t prepared for the windy days here at all. The skirts I brought were not ideal for cycling either. A warm pair of jeans from the flea market was my saviour.

The last day of my 3-day trip was in Zaanse Schans. I visited colourful working windmills. Tasted some cheese tasting and of course, tried some Dutch Pancake. Touristy stuff I know. But then you don’t get those elsewhere. No colourful windmill was going to spin over my head when I was back in the busy city of Stuttgart.

The Melancholy

The red-light streets were not discrete at all. They were almost in your face, right in the city centre. The girls standing in the display windows like mannequins looked sad and artificial to me. Tourists flock to these streets hoping to see semi-nude women for free. The interested ones enter the buildings with red lamps on the entrance at all times of the day and night.

I had the fortune of witnessing the pride parade. To say that I felt emotionally affected is an understatement. What tough lives do this community have? Surely, I got more respect for my freedom. Some posters had pictures of abuse and discrimination that they face day to day. It was quite violent in some cases. It was quite a contrast to the joy that the rest of the city exuberates.

I had to accept that the average expense could be 60 to 80 euros a day though I am travelling solo. Nobody tells you this. Between Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Zaanse Schans, I struggled to find budget food consistently. I was so used to travelling frugally and managing to spend 30 euros a day(not counting the stay). But Amsterdam is not cheap at all.

I missed Shreyas, my husband every step of the way. I did not enjoy eating dinners alone knowing what a foody he is. This shows how much I needed a solo trip. A break from the routine faces I see. These kinds of trips will finally give us stories that we do not share. Experiences that we can bring up in conversations to surprise each other. A mystery, even in the early years of marriage is a great thing to have.

I was thinking of giving up on solo trips during this trip but then I remembered I am in Amsterdam. I rented a super cute bike on the morning of the last day and there, the joy had to be back.

Do share your favourite things from Amsterdam. I know experiences are mine and may not ring a bell with everyone. Now come on, not everyone goes there for just the cannabis. Why seek a high from smoking when you fly on beautiful bikes through the city? Now that is “I Am Sterdam” for me.