A Sobering Morning

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For our last day in Amsterdam, the men decided to visit the Rijksmuseum while I chose something quite different. I went to the National Holocaust Museum.

I knew before I went that it would be a difficult visit, but I also felt that it was something I wanted to do while we were in Amsterdam. The museum tells the story of the persecution of Jewish people in the Netherlands during the Second World War, beginning with what life was like before the war and following the gradual process of discrimination, persecution, deportation and murder.



What struck me most was how much it helped me put a picture in my mind of what actually happened here in Amsterdam.

We had spent our days wandering through beautiful streets, along canals and across bridges. We had admired the old buildings, enjoyed the cafés and watched people going about their everyday lives. Then, inside the museum, I was reminded that these same streets had once been the backdrop to something unimaginable.



The museum is located in a former school building on Plantage Middenlaan, directly across from the Hollandsche Schouwburg. During the war, the Nazis used the theatre as a place to gather Jewish people before they were deported. The school across the street was involved in helping hundreds of Jewish children escape from the nearby nursery where they were being held.

There were photographs, personal belongings, documents and stories of people whose lives were changed forever. Seeing those individual stories made the history feel much more personal. It wasn't just something that happened many years ago in a history book. These were people who had lived, worked, raised families and walked the same streets we had been walking.




It was a very sobering experience, but I'm glad I went.

Sometimes travel isn't just about seeing beautiful places or having wonderful experiences. Sometimes it's about taking the time to understand what happened in the places we visit. For me, this was one of those times.


A Few Final Amsterdam Memories

We’ve been here for several days, and there are so many little moments that don't really fit into a particular post. So rather than trying to add another story to the end of our Amsterdam visit, I thought I'd share a few of my favourite photos from our time here.

They are the little pieces of Amsterdam that I know I'll remember.


The view from our hotel room

The Dancing Ladies - each house going in a different direction.  There are so many crooked buildings in Amsterdam.

The Royal Palace




As we leave Amsterdam and move onto the next part of our trip, I’ll be taking so many memories with me of our time in this beautiful city.





Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 2, 2026 at 2:33 AM

    Thanks for the beautiful photos of Amsterdam. Makes me want to go there again. Curious where you're off to next 😃

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ruby Rose and the Big Little Angels 3October 2, 2026 at 2:53 AM

    It is too powerful to put into words

    ReplyDelete
  3. TamaraOctober 2, 2026 at 2:58 AM

    Thank you for looking behind the scenic part of Amsterdam. I wish certain people in charge of world politics would care to do so.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jeanine ByersOctober 2, 2026 at 2:58 AM

    Oh gosh! Yes, that is sobering. I don't know how you could bear it.

    ReplyDelete

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