Thailand Contrasts (2022): Day 2: A full day in Amsterdam

Breakfast, which was included in my hotel deal, consisted of typical continental fare, with the occasional nod to UK tastes that I largely avoided! After eating and showering, I caught a local train to Amsterdam Centraal. This was almost empty on leaving Hoofddorp, but got filled to capacity at the next stop, Schiphol Airport. On arrival at the capital’s main station, I knew that my main focus today was going to be the city’s Museum Quarter, so I started out by making the 3km walk. As you might expect, I made numerous stops for photos!

With all that done, I felt fairly peckish on arrival at Museumplein, so quickly tracked down a suitable lunch venue in the form of Blushing, an attractive local coffee shop specialising in healthy choices for breakfast, brunch or lunch. The next main event of the day was my second visit to the excellent Van Gogh Museum, the first having taken place in December 2013. I had pre-purchased a timed ticket and had borne this constraint in mind throughout the earlier part of the day. The museum was just as enjoyable second time around.

In due course I returned to the main station, again on foot and trying to introduce some variety into my route where reasonably possible. I returned to Hoofddorp by train and picked up a pack of sandwiches for evening sustenance back at the hotel.