The intricacy of the canal system is beyond comprehension. There is over 100 km of canals and 1500 bridges connecting 90 islands. And what makes the system unique, besides its concentric ring design, is the attention to keeping the city green. Throughout the city, you can see how the planners (and the residents) have valued their green spaces. We enjoyed touring the city and spying the various facades adorned the row house, including the bell, neck, and step gables. As we walked through the canal district, I was reminded that taxes were once levied based on the width one the owner’s house. So, predictably, homes in Amsterdam are narrow, deep, and relatively tall. We passed by several homes we were convinced were the narrowest in Amsterdam. Only to stumble by more narrow houses as we continued our tour.

One of my favorite places in Amsterdam is Damrak. Damrak is a street in Amsterdam with a long history. The Damrak was originally called “De Walvisbaai” which means “Whale Bay”. It was a bay where fishermen would load their boats with fish they had caught. In the 18th century, the Damrak became a shopping street. The area became popular because of its proximity to the harbor, and many warehouses were built there. It is the most famous street for nightlife and has some of the best clubs and bars in the city. It also has a lot of shops for tourists to explore. Guarding the entrance to Damrak, are the “Dancing Houses” on the Amstel river. They were coined “stilt houses” because the canal was so muddy; homes had to be built on stilts. Over time, the homes sunk into the mud, so now many of the canal houses in Amsterdam are tilted and leaning forward!

When we weren’t admiring the canal construction and the fabulous architecture, we, of course, were searching for authentic, local cuisine. To that end, we were treated to excellent seafood at John Dory, a quaint restaurant in the canal district. We also met some friends for a tasty multi-course Indonesian feast at the Blue Pepper, but our real goal was to find the best Dutch Pancakes (‘Pannenkoeken’). During my previous visits to Amsterdam, I remembered how much I enjoyed these thin, crispy, and delectable pancakes. So, we were on a mission to find the best Pannenkoeken in the city. Of course, in such a short visit, this is an impossible task, but that didn’t stop us from trying.