Page 9 - AAA Northampton County – AAA Now! – Summer 2018

TRAVEL WITH SOMEONE YOU TRUST®
TRAVEL
TM
Now!
HISTORY AND CANALS AWAIT IN AMSTERDAM
By John T. Garcia
With more canals than Venice, Italy, the oldest stock exchange in the world and more than 175 nationalities represented, there are plenty of things to see and do in Amsterdam. The capital city of the Netherlands is home to the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House as well as many other museums.
The city has more than 60 miles of canals, which were created to serve three purposes for the residents: defense, water distribution and transportation. Today, visitors use the canals to explore the city’s rich architecture, attend one of the many festivals or seek out a restaurant to please their palate.
The restaurant scene in Amsterdam reflects the cosmopolitan population with menus from Indonesia, the Mediterranean and Japan as well as modern Dutch, being served from street-carts to Michelin-rated restaurants. And of course, if you’re visiting the Netherlands, you must visit a cheese shop, as the Netherlands is one of the top exporters of cheese in the world, known for its maasdammer, edam and especially its gouda.
With some buildings more than 800 years old, history is definitely on display in Amsterdam. The Oude Kerk is the city’s oldest building, built around 1213, and has been renovated by
15 generations of Amsterdam natives. Artists Vincent Van Gogh and Rembrandt both lived in Amsterdam during their lives and some of their art is featured at museums around the city, including the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.
Founded in 1602 by the
Dutch East India Company, the
Amsterdam Stock Exchange is
generally considered to be the
first securities market in the world.
In 2000, it merged with the Brussels
and Paris stock exchanges to form Euronext Amsterdam.
Besides the museums and churches, many of the homes have survived the elements, with some dating back to the 1400s, leading to the diverse architecture of Amsterdam. And with all the canals, there tend to be bridges, more than 1,200 throughout the city, and there are many that are not the same. Some of the bridges are large, some are small and some are simply breathtaking feats of engineering.
AMSTERDAM EXPLORER • DAY 5
Gouda, The Netherlands
The powerful aroma of delicious dutch cheese invades your senses during your dining experience at a local cheese farm
5% OFF EUROPE TRIPS
PLUS $300 OFF EUROPE FLIGHTS* AND EXCLUSIVE AAA MEMBER BENEFITS
226 TRIPS. 7 CONTINENTS. MOMENTS LIKE THESE ON EVERY ONE.
610.258.2371 | AAANC.COM
Visit AAA Northampton County, 3914 Hecktown Road, Easton
*Save 5% with Early Payment Discount (EPD) (land only) on new 2018 worldwide vacations when booked and paid in full by 04/26/18. Save $300 per couple ($150 per person) on flights booked with Europe guided vacations. Must be booked and paid in full by 04/26/18; valid for travel departing 04/01/18 through 10/31/18. All offers: Savings vary by departure, are not valid on all itineraries and/or departure dates, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Not combinable with all promotional offers, but may be combined with other brochure discounts. Conditions apply. CST#2077132-30
SUMMER 2018 3914 Hecktown Rd., Easton, PA • (610) 258-2371 • northampton.aaa.com 9 15125 TT 18 Europe Ad AAA Northampton County May Club Pub QP.indd 1 2/20/18 11:24 AM