Amsterdam

The charm of Amsterdam! Her canals, her artists, her history…so much to see and do in this amazing city. Ride a bike, take a cruise or simply saunter down her streets and take in all of Amsterdam. Come with us as we discover her secrets!

“Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.”
~ Jack Kerouac

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Changing Our Perspective on Art – Rijksmuseum with Context Travel Amsterdam
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Amsterdam’s Artis Royal Zoo – Faces Photo Gallery
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Amsterdam Artist Sees Hard Times – The Rembrandt House Museum

Changing Our Perspective on Art – Rijksmuseum with Context Travel Amsterdam

Seeing Rembrandt’s Night Watch masterpiece up close and in person is a big deal. For an art lover, gazing at this 12 x 14 ft visual spectacle is a life-changing experience. Even if this is your first exposure to Rembrandt, you will still be moved by the magnificent work. Now […]

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Amsterdam’s Artis Royal Zoo – Faces Photo Gallery

 

Let’s go explore the FACES of the Artis Royal Zoo in Amsterdam!

Just a quick 10 minute tram ride from Dam Square, take a right at the enormous bronze eagle – and you’re in the middle of a enormous garden of fascinating animals. There is so much to see and do…or you can choose to do nothing at all as there are so many quiet places to just sit and be one with your surroundings. The full name of the zoo is Natura Artis Magistra, which means: nature is the teacher of art and science.

Of course for me it was all about taking pictures of the animals…capturing their awesome faces to share. And I wasn’t spoiled for choice. There are over 900 species of animals to see (and 36,000 plants and 200 species of trees!).

Lemurs, lions, meerkats, and wild dogs all play under the vast canopy of woods. Artis has been the Royal Zoo of Amsterdam for over 175 years. The park-like setting began as mere saplings, but now these huge trees are majestic reminders of the green heart of Amsterdam.

The Aquarium was my favorite part! It was as if I’d stepped back in time…the Main Hall soars high while the muted colors showcase the Amazonian rainforest and coral reef exhibits so well.

If you love butterflies – this is your heaven. The Butterfly Pavilion is the largest of its kind in the Netherlands, covering a thousand square meters and housing thousands of butterflies. Butterflies flitter through the air, settling briefly on flowers in the colorful borders along the walkways, where you can move freely. Twice a day, butterflies that have just crawled out of their cocoons are released into the pavilion.

The entrance fee of 19.95 EURO is covered by the I amsterdam card (we were comped two of these cards by Amsterdam Marketing Press & Media). If you’re planning for time, please give yourself at least 4 hours as there is SO much to see. To visit the planetarium, insectarium, historic aquarium, and butterfly pavilion could take all day and there are plenty of places to stop for a rest or to let the children play. If I lived in Amsterdam, I would have a year pass just so I could explore every inch of this magnificent haven. 🙂 Hope you enjoy the faces of the Artis Royal Zoo…

 

Amsterdam Artist Sees Hard Times – The Rembrandt House Museum

What a thrill it is to be standing in the same studio where Rembrandt van Rijn painted his masterworks! You smell the linseed oil-based paints and notice how the room’s natural light was determined by the placement of canvases against the giant windows. The great artist lived in this house, […]

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