ich bin ein auslander

[the_siobhan]

First impression of the Netherlands: It's very green. It's also very clean.

First impression of the Dutch: They all look disturbingly healthy. Very tall and and fresh-faced and wholesome. It's kind of freaky.

The impression that will stay with me the longest: I have never seen so many bicycles in one place in my life before. In fact, I think if I added up all the bicycles I have seen in my life before there are still more of them here.

Comments

[kylmak.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a great place. :)

[megiddo-lj.livejournal.com]

The bicycle parking garage next to Centraal Station always amused me. It's larger than many car parking garages I've known. I have no clue how one would actually FIND one's bicycle in there, though.


I love Amsterdam and hope to get back soon. Enjoy.

[the_axel]

Hope you're having a good time.

[ashbet]

I hope you have a wonderful time on your trip, sugar! I asked Axel to give you my love when I saw him :)

**hugs**

-- A <3

[girfan.livejournal.com]

Hooray for bicycles!

I look forward to seeing you soon!

[nemesis-to-go.livejournal.com]

I think the Dutch do bicycles better than anyone.

The thing I always notice is that they're all normal bicycles - whereas in the UK the standard default-bike which everyone seems to ride is some sort of hefty mountain bike contraption. I've got one myself - I remember when I bought it that it seemed absurdly difficult to get a bicycle that wasn't all chunky and macho and generally built like it was intended for expeditions in the Himalayas.

I had a plan to go to Amsterdam, buy a nice traditional bicycle with mudguards and a dynamo and all the trimmings, and take it home on the ferry. Didn't do it in the end, which I rather regret.

Another great thing about The Netherlands is watching huge cargo ships sailing by above the level of your head. Plays merry hell with your perceptions, that...

[minwee.livejournal.com]

I wonder if there is some sort of connection between those things.

Either that or they ship unhealthy people off to Belgium. I wouldn't know.