AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

What I Wore: I wore these black skinny jeans, a vintage Garage Bomber Jacket but I’d recommend any of their jackets, a basic striped H&M jersey top, an oversized scarf, and these Steve Madden black slip-ons. For nighttime, I wore a sundress like this one with these Eurosoft Rayelle Wedge Sandals and the aforementioned jacket and scarf. Since I was backpacking around, I did a lot of rotating the same wardrobe on my European adventure.

What I Did: Wandered the flower market, took an early evening canal tour with Lovers Cruise (it rained so we did a closed-boat cruise), walked to Dam Square for photos, saw the Anne Frank house but didn’t go inside, had ice cream on a canal bank, toured a few free local art galleries, and went out in the evening near the Red Light District.

What I Ate: I stopped for a sandwich and pie at De Koffie Schenkerij for lunch- it was a lovely find! We ate in their outdoor garden area which is near a canal and was very peaceful. I also recommend stopping in Amsterdam’s Chinatown on your next visit- dim sum at Oriental City was delicious.

Where I Stayed: XO Hotels City Centre- This was a tidy spot on the edge of the Red Light District, which is where the most activity happens in the evenings if you want to explore Amsterdam’s night scene. It was clean and small but certainly nothing special. I chose it because it is within walking distance of a lot that I wanted to see and do, but I wasn’t in the room much. It’s a short walk from the main train station, canal tours, and a lot of the city’s attractions.

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