Hallo from Amsterdam! After a restless day and night of travel, we have officially spent our first day in Amsterdam, Netherlands!
Our immersion into Dutch culture began today with a self-guided, competitive scavenger hunt around the main areas of the city center, directed by a series of clues. Each question and clue were associated with facts about the history of the city, its traditions, and its cultural practices. We saw all parts of the city, from a massive historical church, a monument honoring those who have passed, and the former house of Anne Frank, a since preserved site. We followed this up with an adventure to Keukenhof, the Dutch tulip gardens that are a staple in any traveler’s itinerary. The tulip is a long-standing symbol in Dutch culture originating in the 17th century when a single tulip bulb was valued to be worth as much as a canal house, often spotted on the waterways of Amsterdam.
Through this experience, we were also exposed to the Dutch culture’s deep appreciation for sustainable practices, such as the Keukenhod using no pesticides in their farming techniques. In addition to farming techniques, further research into the history of the tulip in the Netherlands showed how the country’s unique location in the North Sea allows for the winters to be relatively mild, despite the Netherlands’ latitude. This also means that early summer and late spring in the Netherlands are relatively cool, another benefit to the growing season of the tulip.
My personal favorite part of the day was the shaded, winding paths enclosed within the gardens. The more popular attractions, such as the windmill, were exciting, yet I held a special place for the quiet, calm nature the shaded gardens held.
Overall, it was interesting to get a first glimpse into the sustainable lifestyle of the Dutch people as well as how they use what they already have in order to be happy, instead of buying it, on demand, from anywhere in the world. Intentional living, appreciating nature and what you have been given are all cornerstones of Dutch culture. These qualities can be seen in all aspects of Dutch culture, from the way they treat their citizens to the way they grow their tulips! I look forward to seeing what tomorrow brings for us here in Amsterdam!
Biography
- “Tulips and Other Flowers in the Netherlands: The Best Places to Visit and See.” Tulips and Other Flowers in the Netherlands: The Best Places to Visit and See – Holland.Com, 24 Oct. 2024, www.holland.com/global/tourism/get-inspired/nl-in-7-stories/blooming-netherlands#:~:text=In%20the%2017th%20century%2C%20the,as%20an%20Amsterdam%20canal%20house
- “What Will Happen to Keukenhof 2024.” Holland Experience, 6 Nov. 2023, www.xalam.nl/what-will-happen-to-keukenhof-2024/.
- Beadle, Avery. “Why Do They Grow Tulips in Holland?” Colorblends®, 16 Mar. 2025, www.colorblends.com/tulips-grown-in-holland/#:~:text=Coincidentally%2C%20the%20regions%20along%20the,and%20early%20summer%20very%20cool.
