Funny to be away from the normal Scottish weather forecasts of “Sunshine & Showers” & “Unsettled.” Weather looks good for today. This morning we made our way through the locks and up the canal to Amsterdam where we are docked for the day. No old windmills to be seen today but several of the modern ones. Amsterdam is known as the Venice of the north because of all its canals. It has nearly 100 islands and 60 miles of canals which are crossed by 400 stone bridges. Distinctive narrow side-by-side homes line the canals and have hooks on top that were used to hoist goods to and from the waterways.
One of the interesting areas of the city is the Red Light District. This is where on our last visit here, Ray was surprised to find that a mannequin that was VERY scantily dressed in a store window was actually a real person. “Workers” wait in glowing red windows for clients and even pay taxes. The Dutch are very pragmatic about the sex industry and doctor visits stem the spread of STDs. Bicycles are very prominent on the streets of the city. You are more likely to be hit by a bike than a car.
Geographically the ancient Netherlands was a difficult area in which to live. Its inhabitants (Celtic and German tribes) had one very important feature - safety. Its rivers, lakes, wetlands, and woods were impossible to cross for the invaders.
Only in the 1st century BC did the ancient Roman Empire conquered the southern part of these lands establishing an important military post in Nijmegen. The northern Netherlands remained unconquered and uninvaded. Under the Roman administration, prosperity grew for almost three hundred years.
The origins of the city of Amsterdam lie in the 13th century, when fisherman living along the banks of the River Amstel built a bridge across the waterway near the IJ, then a large saltwater inlet. Wooden doors on the bridge served as a dam; these protected the town from the IJ, which often flooded the early settlement. The mouth of the river Amstel, where the Damrak now is, formed a natural harbor, which became important for trade.
The oldest document that refers to the settlement of Aemstelledamme 'dam on the Amstel', as it was then known, is dated 1204 AD.
This morning we chose to just walk through the city and along the canals. Basically we headed for the Anne Frank Huis then back through the shopping area.
Anne Frank was one of the Jewish victims of Nazi persecution during World War II. After Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands in 1940, increasingly severe anti-Jewish measures began here as well. The Frank family tried to escape by going into hiding. On July 1942, Otto Frank, Edith Frank-Hollander and their daughters Margot and Anne hid in this building on the Prinsengracht. They were later joined by Mr. and Mrs Daan, their son Peter, and Mr. Dussel. The building consists of two parts: a front house and a back annex. Otto Frank's business was located in the front house. The uppermost floors of the back annex became the hiding place. After more than two years the group was betrayed and deported. Anne and Margot died of typhus in Bergen-Belsen in March 1945, only a few weeks before this concentration camp was liberated. Otto Frank, the only member of the group to survive, returned after the war.
During the hiding period Anne Frank kept a diary. In it she described daily life in the back annex, the isolation, and the fear of discovery. Anne's diary survived the war. After the betrayal it was found by Miep Gies, one of the helpers. When it was confirmed that Anne would not be returning, Miep gave the manuscripts to Otto Frank. In 1947 the first Dutch edition appeared. Since then the diary has been published in more then 55 languages.
We had been here before. Saw the statue to Anne near the house. Almost mowed down by an old man on a bicycle. Saw one of the coffee shops with bongs in the window—wonder if they still have marijuana since the no smoking law passed here? Wore ourselves out walking and walking. Very nice city but kind of warm today, especially since I am used to cold Scotland. You have to applaud a place that can get this many people riding bicycles. I dare say they outnumber the cars 100 to 1. But maybe the cars are just hidden in garages. There was a garage that we saw where you drive the car in and a moveable floor slides the car over into an elevator that takes the car up. Ray says it’s probably more like 8 bicycles for every 1 car.
This evening as we sail out of Amsterdam, our cruise director will provide scenic narration. Then we 'll go for dinner in the Lido.
Pictures from top: two views of the canals; Anne Frank statue; car I’ve never heard of before—Weismann Roadster; tulip purses for sale.
