THE LAYOVER AMSTERDAM WINDOWS

The saddest part was hearing about their eventual discovery. I felt a kinship with Anne Frank when I read about her great desire to be a journalist, when I saw the picture of chimpanzees having a tea party that she taped on her wall, and when I saw the notebook where she copied down her favorite quotes from books. Small details like the growth chart etched on the wall and the pictures that Anne hung in an effort to make the place feel like home were the most moving part of the exhibit.

THE LAYOVER AMSTERDAM WINDOWS

Once inside the secret annex, it was sad to see the blacked out windows and realize that this family was unable to see the light of day for their entire time in hiding (two years). The part where it really hit me was stepping through the false book case, which you have to bend down to get through. Anne Frank and Anne Frank's diary were both fascinating to me as a kid and I loved that this exhibit/memorial to Anne Frank and her family and friends who hid in the secret annex of Prinsengracht 263 had so many personal touches that made you feel like you were really getting to know them. It was quite crowded, but still surreal to be in such a historical place. When you enter you receive headphones and a small remote that's activated when you get to each new room. TIP: As of April 2018 - you MUST pre-book a specific date and time for entrance to the Anne Frank Museum! This was by far the most important thing on my list of things to accomplish while in Amsterdam and I was happy to take my time walking through the museum. I continued to meander my way through Dam Square and various canals until it was time for my 12 PM ticket to the Anne Frank House. Van Stapele is open every day from 10 AM - 6 PM, but consider this your warning: they sometimes run out by 4 PM. Not only are they fresh out of the oven, but you can see the women rolling the next batch as you pay. My cookie was placed in a sleeve and sealed with a silver sticker - a nice touch, but did they really think I was planning on saving it for later?Дespite being 10 AM - a Van Stapele cookie begs to be devoured immediately upon purchase because they're STILL WARM. Walking into the small storefront, the sweet smell of chocolate was absolutely heavenly.

They hand make one kind of cookie and one cookie only - chocolate stuffed with white chocolate. My next stop was for a cookie from the famous Van Stapele Koekmakerij. Outside of the coffee shop, I noticed some stalls being set up and wandered through some absolutely gorgeous art! I'm kicking myself now that I didn't purchase anything. An added bonus was the fact that it was pretty and bright inside. Instead,В I settled in at De Koffiesalon - which satisfied my needs of WiFi, a bathroom, and caffeine. When the time comes, travel back to Amsterdam airport for your next flight.As I walked through the still sleepy streets of the Red Light District, I noticed a few places that we have in NYC including Le Pain Quotidian and Van Leeuwan's - the beloved vegan ice cream shop! I passed by De Koffieschenkerij - a gorgeous little cafe with outdoor seating but the rain made the garden a little less inviting. You can also hop around the cityвЂ™s foodie spots, sampling bitterballen (meatballs covered in breadcrumbs), poffertjes (mini buckwheat pancakes) and other Dutch snacks.

See Anne Frank House (Anne Frankhuis) or scout out the cityвЂ™s tallest windmill. Or explore the atmospheric Jordaan district, famed for its brown cafes and quirky boutiques. See the magnificent Royal Palace and Nieuwe Kerk, and learn about the Dutch Royal Family. Perhaps choose to visit Dam Square, the cityвЂ™s central hub. Learn about AmsterdamвЂ™s colorful history, majestic architecture and liberal culture as you pass pretty canals, bridges thronged with Dutch bicycles, canal houses and more.

Then, hop inside your private, climate-controlled vehicle and take in the city sights as youвЂ™re driven around the NetherlandsвЂ™ capital. Meet your driver-guide at the prearranged meeting point when your flight touches down at Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport.

The layover amsterdam