Amsterdam

to vogue or bust, vancouver style blog, vancouver fashion blog, vancouver fashion, vancouver style, canadian fashion blog, canadian style blog, vancouver travel blog, canadian travel blog, visiting amsterdam, what to see in amsterdam, what to do in amsterdam, amsterdam tourism, travelling to amsterdam, amsterdam travel, amsterdam canals, dutch apple pie amsterdam, hutspot in amsterdam, where to eat in amsterdam, left on houston sweater, james jeans moto skinny jeans, shoe embassy oxford shoes, rebecca minkoff bag, top fashion blog, top style blog, top travel blog, best fashion blog, best style blog, best travel blog, alexandra grantLet’s just begin by saying that I have made a firm, completely unbreakable promise to myself to live in Amsterdam at some point in my life. Now that that’s out of the way, click through to see and read about a few of the many reasons why I so fell in love with this amazing city!
to vogue or bust, vancouver style blog, vancouver fashion blog, vancouver fashion, vancouver style, canadian fashion blog, canadian style blog, vancouver travel blog, canadian travel blog, visiting amsterdam, what to see in amsterdam, what to do in amsterdam, amsterdam tourism, travelling to amsterdam, amsterdam travel, amsterdam canals, dutch apple pie amsterdam, hutspot in amsterdam, where to eat in amsterdam, left on houston sweater, james jeans moto skinny jeans, shoe embassy oxford shoes, rebecca minkoff bag, top fashion blog, top style blog, top travel blog, best fashion blog, best style blog, best travel blog, alexandra grant
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to vogue or bust, vancouver style blog, vancouver fashion blog, vancouver fashion, vancouver style, canadian fashion blog, canadian style blog, vancouver travel blog, canadian travel blog, visiting amsterdam, what to see in amsterdam, what to do in amsterdam, amsterdam tourism, travelling to amsterdam, amsterdam travel, amsterdam canals, dutch apple pie amsterdam, hutspot in amsterdam, where to eat in amsterdam, left on houston sweater, james jeans moto skinny jeans, shoe embassy oxford shoes, rebecca minkoff bag, top fashion blog, top style blog, top travel blog, best fashion blog, best style blog, best travel blog, alexandra grant
to vogue or bust, vancouver style blog, vancouver fashion blog, vancouver fashion, vancouver style, canadian fashion blog, canadian style blog, vancouver travel blog, canadian travel blog, visiting amsterdam, what to see in amsterdam, what to do in amsterdam, amsterdam tourism, travelling to amsterdam, amsterdam travel, amsterdam canals, dutch apple pie amsterdam, hutspot in amsterdam, where to eat in amsterdam, left on houston sweater, james jeans moto skinny jeans, shoe embassy oxford shoes, rebecca minkoff bag, top fashion blog, top style blog, top travel blog, best fashion blog, best style blog, best travel blog, alexandra grant
to vogue or bust, vancouver style blog, vancouver fashion blog, vancouver fashion, vancouver style, canadian fashion blog, canadian style blog, vancouver travel blog, canadian travel blog, visiting amsterdam, what to see in amsterdam, what to do in amsterdam, amsterdam tourism, travelling to amsterdam, amsterdam travel, amsterdam canals, dutch apple pie amsterdam, hutspot in amsterdam, where to eat in amsterdam, left on houston sweater, james jeans moto skinny jeans, shoe embassy oxford shoes, rebecca minkoff bag, top fashion blog, top style blog, top travel blog, best fashion blog, best style blog, best travel blog, alexandra grant
to vogue or bust, vancouver style blog, vancouver fashion blog, vancouver fashion, vancouver style, canadian fashion blog, canadian style blog, vancouver travel blog, canadian travel blog, visiting amsterdam, what to see in amsterdam, what to do in amsterdam, amsterdam tourism, travelling to amsterdam, amsterdam travel, amsterdam canals, dutch apple pie amsterdam, hutspot in amsterdam, where to eat in amsterdam, left on houston sweater, james jeans moto skinny jeans, shoe embassy oxford shoes, rebecca minkoff bag, top fashion blog, top style blog, top travel blog, best fashion blog, best style blog, best travel blog, alexandra grant

I hadn’t even planned to come to Amsterdam initially, which seems to be a recurring theme for the cities I seem to fall hopelessly in love with (see my Lisbonathon on Instagram for further proof!). Something about this city though just immediately captivated my heart. For starters, the people here are just beyond. I didn’t really have a stereotype of “the Dutch” in mind prior to coming here but if anyone asked me from this point on how to create one, I would just say they’re the nicest and most open people. And crazy beautiful. That’s not just a generalization – I really and truly think I’ve never been surrounded by so many good looking people in my entire life.

The fact that they live on their bikes probably contributes to that to a certain extent, at least health-wise. Cruising around the city by bike was honestly one of my favourite experiences of the whole trip so far – other than the few bridges over the canals, everything’s entirely flat and cars really completely yield to bikers, making it an incredibly safe place to cruise around in (just like Copenhagen!).
Carrying on to the food – many locals told us (somewhat self-deprecatingly) that you can find lots of good food in Amsterdam but not that much great food. I have to say I disagree – yes, there’s less snobbery here when it comes to gastronomy than there is in other cities, but simplicity doesn’t necessarily mean that the food isn’t great! I love how the Dutch have mastered comfort food, like that incredible hutspot (essentially potatoes, carrots and onion with some sort of protein [we opted for the double meatball-and-sausage option]) I had at Cafe Sonneveld or the amazing apple pie we had at Winkel43, I honestly dreamt about the food on the plane ride out and Matt and I even vowed to try to recreate some of the recipes at home, and anyone who knows me knows all too well, if I actually cook anything it’s a miracle so I really must’ve been moved.
But all in all, even though it’s got everything going for it (beautiful canals, beautiful people, beautiful fashion) I can’t exactly pinpoint why it is that Amsterdam is one of the few places that I just need to go back to down the road, or why I feel compelled to move there at some point or another for that matter. I just loved it – it somehow felt both exciting and familiar to me, like a place I could easily transition my life to for a bit but that would still feel like a new adventure. I just clicked with it, much like you sometimes instantly bond with a new friend with no real rhyme or reason to your friendship. And sometimes that’s reason enough to go back somewhere again and again, maybe even to live for a little bit.
Anyway, after hitting a bit of a low point in Porto (the beginnings of a cold coupled with finally hitting a bit of traveller’s exhaustion), everything has changed since coming to Paris. While Amsterdam felt like a warm and familiar relationship from day one, Paris is a full-blown infatuation. I am obsessed. I spent about 8 or 9 hours walking around today and quite literally was so overwhelmed at certain points that without realizing it, I would audibly squeal or make some other bizarre noise. It’s just all too much and I can’t even begin to describe how happy I am to be here. Also beyond amazing to be back in what was my first language – getting to speak French so much fills me with equal parts nostalgia and joy! Stay tuned for some more updates via my Instagram in the coming days before I take off to Ireland again on Thursday!
Oh and PS – loving this watch? Get 15% off using the code tovogueorbust with Daniel Wellington!

 

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9 Comments

  1. 9.23.14
    Natali said:

    Beautiful photos! You look so pretty and happy! 🙂
    I can't wait to visit Amsterdam someday soon, I still have never been there!

    http://lartoffashion.blogspot.com

  2. 9.23.14
    Michelle said:

    Love reading about all of your travel adventures!

    I'm most looking forward to hearing more about Lisbon! My fiancé and I just booked our honeymoon there for early November. Any tips and recos you have will be amazing.

    How long is the Daniel Wellington code valid for?

  3. 9.23.14
    Leesa H. said:

    Oh I am seriously moving to Amsterdam soon! Totally get you!

  4. 9.24.14

    I love your look, this shoes are divine. Greetings

  5. 9.24.14
    MizzJ said:

    The food looks so good! Maybe the pies won't be too hard to make. .. If you can convince a baker friend to recreate it lol

  6. 9.24.14

    Great photos! It looks like you are having a great time!!
    xo
    http://www.laurajaneatelier.com

  7. 9.24.14

    Amsterdam looks absolutely lovely in these photos! I hope you had an amazing time in this beautiful city!

    Love, Alena | meet me stylish

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