My sister, daughter and I are just days away from departing PDX for our non-stop trip to Amsterdam. We have been packing and planning for months, and it’s hard to believe the trip is almost here. We are all bursting with excitement.

We will be in Amsterdam for four nights, staying at a unique bed and breakfast just a few minutes from Central Station.

From there, we will bike to small towns surrounding the city – from Amersfoort to Utrecht to see the farmland and forests, and then to Haarlem to see the beach. My daughter and I are relying on my sister to be our tour guide, as she has been to Amsterdam several times and knows the area well.

After our stay in Amsterdam, we will take the Thalys speed train to Paris for two days of exploration. We are staying near Rue Cler Street, which is full of little shops and street vendors where we can buy flowers, pastries, fish, meat, clothes – you name it. My sister has planned a 4-hour bikeabout tour on the first morning we are there. After that we will explore shops, cafes and museums, hoping to soak up all we can in two days before heading back to Leiden in the Dutch province of South Holland for the final night of our trip.

Photo Credits: Amsterdam Central Station (B&W), jelleprins; Utrecht, Daniele Faieta; Haarlem, anafreitas

After arriving in Amsterdam, there are definitely certain places Keri and I are going to visit. From Bloemenmarkt – the floating flower market on the Singel Canal – to Vondelpark, we are hoping to immerse ourselves into the Dutch culture.

As bikes and boats are common means of transportation in Amsterdam, we thought it would be fun to fuse the best of both worlds and tour the city by paddleboat. It will be nice to go at our own pace and experience a unique perspective of the local architecture and neighborhoods.

With the array of museums that Amsterdam offers, it will be difficult to see all of them, but we definitely think we will visit the Van Gogh Museum, which is home to works by not just Van Gogh but also Paul Gauguin, Edouard Manet, and Claude Monet.

The one other thing Keri and I are looking the most forward to is the food and drink. We have heard a lot about Dutch pancakes and cannot wait to try them. Apparently, they are similar to a French crepe, but are slightly thicker and are filled with an array of fresh ingredients. Combine that with the locally made and world-renowned beer, Heineken, and you have the perfect Honeymoon breakfast.

After Amsterdam, we will be making our way to Paris by high-speed train. Getting to Europe in one flight from PDX makes traveling to other European cities, like Paris, much easier. In Paris, we plan on exploring Versailles for a day and relax at authentic Parisian cafes.

We can’t wait for our trip, and we are excited to share our experience with you.

See Mike’s winning haiku here.

Photo credits: Amsterdam canal, Lyn Gateley; Bloemenmarkt, Jim Derda; Van Gogh Museum, Jan Tito; stroopwafels, Or Hiltch; Versailles gardens, Panoramas

One of the things most people don’t realize about nonstop service from Portland direct to Tokyo or Amsterdam is the precious cargo that is carried underneath.  Farmers in Oregon use this service to transport perishable fresh goods such as cherries and blueberries to these markets.  The nonstop service makes this possible and allows others around the world to enjoy our wonderful food as much as we do.

When visiting Amsterdam or Tokyo, the two sites I highly recommend are the Aalsmeer Flower Auction outside of Amsterdam and the world’s largest fish market, Tsukiji market in Tokyo.  Both can boast being the largest in the world, and the sights and sounds are absolutely amazing.  Yes, you do have to get up early in the morning to see these incredible auctions, but the experience is well worth it.

I would encourage any traveler planning a trip to Tokyo or Amsterdam to make sure you use the Delta nonstop service.  Maintaining this gateway in Portland is critical to all of Oregon’s economy including agriculture.

Katy Coba
Director
Oregon Department of Agriculture

Photo credits: Aalsmeer Flower Market, Jeaneeem; Tsujiki Fish Market, Gin_e; Katy Coba, Courtesy of Oregon Department of Agriculture

Jordaan

From old fashioned to quirky and trendy, the Jordaan neighborhood has reclassified itself as a shopping and local mingling hot spot. The area’s quaint streets along the canals sets the scene for an wandering-friendly neighborhood and is the perfect location to people watch from one of its many trendy eateries. Jordaan shares its reputation as a trend-setting space with neighboring ‘hoods including the adjacent Herenstraat and Prinsenstraat Streets, which was recently recognized for its revitalization by The New York Times.

Museumplein (Museum Quarter)

This area is where the old residential streets meet the artistic epicenter of Amsterdam. Surrounded by the three major museums–the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum–the Museumplein is the perfect location to stroll through halls of artistic expressions and then continue the cultural experience outside the museum walls.

After oohing and awing over the works of impressionist painter, Vincent van Gogh and Rembrandt van Rijn, you might feel the need for some auditory stimulation. Satisfy your ears with music from the local concert building, Concertgebouw. If music is not what will satisfy your palate, there are many well renowned restaurants close by, or perhaps a walk through, Amsterdam’s best-known park, Vondelpark.

Markets

One of the most popular destinations in Amsterdam is any one of the many markets. From flowers to antiques, books, organic food and art, Amsterdam has a market geared toward one of your interests. For the antique lover, stroll through Waterlooplein Flea Market and see what treasures you can bring home as souvenirs. The book lover will find many literary works at the Spui Book Market, and for anything and everything food related, who could forget the Albert Cuyp Market?

Photo credits: Canal-side Market, Meanest Indian; Jordaan storefront, Michell Zappa; IAmsterdam, Frenkieb; Picnic in Vondelpark, Will Hybrid; Escape, Tyler Durden1; Book Market, Robby Van Moor

Photo credits: Portland Farmers’ Market, Phillie Casablanca; Amsterdam’s Noordermarkt, scalleja; Octopus at Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market, blprnt_van

If you only have a few days, or even a few hours to enjoy Amsterdam while you’re meeting with clients, here are a few suggestions to enhance your travel experience.

Good Morning, Amsterdam!

Set the proper tone to your day by treating yourself to a Dutch delicacy and artisan coffee. Stroopwafels—a traditional Dutch pastry served with cinnamon syrup—can often be found at various vendor stalls at Amsterdam’s largest and most famous outdoor market, Albert Cuyp Market. With breakfast in hand and a little time to spare, take a leisurely walk through Bloemenmarkt—the only floating flower market of its size in the world. It’s essential to remember your allergy medicine before exploring these diverse flower species as they rest comfortably on houseboats. Bloemenmarkt is open year round and boasts beautiful flowers from every genus, offering a refreshing perspective before a long day of meetings.

Drinks with the Colleagues

Impress your colleagues with your knowledge of Amsterdam’s cocktail bars and suggest a debriefing session over drinks at House of Bols Cocktail and Genever Experience–the world’s oldest distilled brand. The House of Bols offers a uniquely full sensory experience, allowing you to taste, see, touch, smell and feel Amsterdam’s cocktail and bartending culture. Try your hand at cocktail mixing or sit back, relax, and leave the creativity to the bartender professionals.

Now for the Cool Down

Still going strong after a day of meetings and client bonding? Wind down the evening and appeal to your visual and auditory senses at Rain Restaurant Bar & Club. Known for its stunning modern interior design and up and coming musical talent, Rain is the perfect destination to relax after a successful day of business. Request the bartender’s specialty and let the sounds of contemporary jazz and global music reward you for your hard work.

Congratulations, you have now successfully blended some of Amsterdam’s rich culture into your meeting schedule. Check in with us next time when we infuse Tokyo must sees into your next business trip. We’ll see you soon!

Photo credits: Bloemenmarkt, Mak mz; Stroopwafels, Sindy; House of Bols, Cyril Plapied