We also learned about the history of the church across the alley, the Westerkerk church. The reformed Protestant Calvinist church was a symbolic haven for Protestants from all around seeking to escape Spanish Catholic rule, and remains an active Protestant church to this day. We learned how the wealthy of the city, including names like Rembrant, were buried under this church, despite it being surrounded by lower-income housing. The decorations that adorn the bell tower, as well, show many regal symbols such as the jewels and precious stones, and the crown of Austria. The bells, which we heard play often during our time there, we also mentioned in Anne Frank’s diary as she lived across from them for a time. It was a unique and chiling situation to experience the same thing as someone living in a whole other time and circumstance from when we were visiting. 

After we concluded our tour and discussed, we were left to explore any last parts of Amsterdam before we leave for Rotterdam tomorrow. We walked through the outdoor Albert Cuypmarkt market, where fruit, food, clothing and souvenir vendors alike were bustling around, and continued closer to city central where we stopped into a traditional delftware shop, the classic blue and white pottery of the Netherlands. 

We will conclude our final day in Amsterdam with a formal dinner with some University of Pittsburgh alumni living near Amsterdam who were kind enough to speak with us about their experiences both at Pitt and in the Netherlands. It will be an incredible experience to be able to speak with those who took similar educational paths as us and see the directions they went with their Pitt education after graduation. I am truly grateful for the time we’ve been able to spend here in Amsterdam and am beyond excited to further explore the sustainable and innovative lifestyle of Rotterdam later this week.