#27 Netherlands

I was born for dancing houses and bicycling through canals. The city is known for its well-preserved 17th-century canals, picturesque streets, and unique Dutch architecture. Michael and I went to the Anne Frank House and The van Gogh Museum to get out of the cold and warm up. The Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House in Amsterdam are two of the city's most significant cultural and historical sites. The Van Gogh Museum contains the largest collection of Van Gogh's artwork worldwide, with over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and 700 letters.

We learned much about Van Gogh's artistic development and personal life. We gained a deeper understanding of his enduring legacy as one of the most influential artists of the 19th century. The Anne Frank House provides a powerful and moving glimpse into her life. The museum is located in the building where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis for two years. We saw the Secret Annex where they lived and personal belongings and documents that shed light on their experiences. Both brought up so many different emotions. There is so much to learn about people and their actions. The sobering reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.

This is a city that you could explore every year during every season. Stereotypes aside, The Netherlands isn’t all cannabis smoke and red lights – and there's much more to see beyond Amsterdam. From historical towns to fields of blooming color, this tiny country holds a significant amount of tradition, culture, and unrivaled charm.

Until next time…

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