Monday started in chaos. Somehow I counted on receiving my salary that day. But I did not and at lunch time I had to face the high probability not having enough money for a ticket to Den Haag or Amsterdam. While cursing myself for every beer from the Friday before and loosing almost my mind I could arrange some euros for a ticket. Somehow, all such stuff was a lot more relaxed in Sweden.
But once I set in the train everything was alright. Because I started earlier in the morning at work I could leave earlier. And once Ward, Silvia and Maritha found the right railway at the trainstation my evening was fixed. We went for dinner at Scheveningen and drove around in Den Haag.
Tuesday started early in Amsterdam. We picked up Isa and David from Schiphol airport and traveled further to the city. Ward and Maritha showed us around and Isa, Silvia and David moved into their hostel. The hostel was more a barrack. The beds must be some Wehrmacht-relics. New furnitures are not possible to bring in anyway. The staircases were that tight, that you could hardly walk straight without bouncing with your shoulders against the wall. It seems like approximately around 1890 the house has been build around the furnitures. 
Since then no new equipment could be bought. I guess, the only inhabitant who felt comfortable was a mouse that climbed at the walls of our friends at night. During dinner we surprised Silvia with a birthday present and in the evening Silvia, Ward, Maritha and I made a boat tour through the canals of Amsterdam. The tour was very nice. The wine-flatrate somehow did not really meet anybody's taste. Afterwards we went to a party square. On the way back I fell asleep in the train at night. Den Haag was a mess that night. While Queensday is a big party in Amsterdam, the night before is Den Haag the center for all parties. Garbage everywhere.
The next morning Den Haag was clean again. But Amsterdam was a mess this time. So many people. The Germans have to imagine Queensday like a mixture between Carneval and Loe-Parade (just without the nudes). So many people that it is impossible to move or to dance. And if there are songs with lyrics, they are Dutch versions of Carneval-style songs (I even heard a cover of "Viva Colonia": compare German version [be aware of the cardinal at 2:50] vs. Dutch version). It was a lot of fun to see the people celebrating. We walked from square to square and for me the last one was the best. It was the biggest square behind the national museum. They had some live-acts and even some bands. After all day party we travelled back to Den Haag already around 9. The train was so full of people that we had to stand all way.
Thursday was the last day. We met in Utrecht, because it was supposed to be a nice city and at least for Maritha and me it was on each our way home. And although it was holiday and almost everything in Utrecht was closed, I liked it most of the three big cities I had seen these days. Amsterdam is nice for a party, but too much city. Den Haag I like for its internation flair and for its nicer atmosphere. It is not as demanding as Amsterdam. But Utrecht is like a bigger Aachen. The city is beautiful and the canals are so individual and beautiful. I can imagine how it would be in summer. In Utrecht we went for dinner into a pub that actually is located in an old church. They seemed to have a lack of party-places years before. The old library has been renovated into a restaurant/bar/disco, too.
So, after four days pure Dutchland, I can recommend everybody: go there. Visit the cities and if you have the opportunity then try Queensday in Amsterdam!
Tuesday started early in Amsterdam. We picked up Isa and David from Schiphol airport and traveled further to the city. Ward and Maritha showed us around and Isa, Silvia and David moved into their hostel. The hostel was more a barrack. The beds must be some Wehrmacht-relics. New furnitures are not possible to bring in anyway. The staircases were that tight, that you could hardly walk straight without bouncing with your shoulders against the wall. It seems like approximately around 1890 the house has been build around the furnitures. 
Since then no new equipment could be bought. I guess, the only inhabitant who felt comfortable was a mouse that climbed at the walls of our friends at night. During dinner we surprised Silvia with a birthday present and in the evening Silvia, Ward, Maritha and I made a boat tour through the canals of Amsterdam. The tour was very nice. The wine-flatrate somehow did not really meet anybody's taste. Afterwards we went to a party square. On the way back I fell asleep in the train at night. Den Haag was a mess that night. While Queensday is a big party in Amsterdam, the night before is Den Haag the center for all parties. Garbage everywhere.
The next morning Den Haag was clean again. But Amsterdam was a mess this time. So many people. The Germans have to imagine Queensday like a mixture between Carneval and Loe-Parade (just without the nudes). So many people that it is impossible to move or to dance. And if there are songs with lyrics, they are Dutch versions of Carneval-style songs (I even heard a cover of "Viva Colonia": compare German version [be aware of the cardinal at 2:50] vs. Dutch version). It was a lot of fun to see the people celebrating. We walked from square to square and for me the last one was the best. It was the biggest square behind the national museum. They had some live-acts and even some bands. After all day party we travelled back to Den Haag already around 9. The train was so full of people that we had to stand all way.
Thursday was the last day. We met in Utrecht, because it was supposed to be a nice city and at least for Maritha and me it was on each our way home. And although it was holiday and almost everything in Utrecht was closed, I liked it most of the three big cities I had seen these days. Amsterdam is nice for a party, but too much city. Den Haag I like for its internation flair and for its nicer atmosphere. It is not as demanding as Amsterdam. But Utrecht is like a bigger Aachen. The city is beautiful and the canals are so individual and beautiful. I can imagine how it would be in summer. In Utrecht we went for dinner into a pub that actually is located in an old church. They seemed to have a lack of party-places years before. The old library has been renovated into a restaurant/bar/disco, too.So, after four days pure Dutchland, I can recommend everybody: go there. Visit the cities and if you have the opportunity then try Queensday in Amsterdam!
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