Amsterdam, the Venice of the North

Amsterdam sometimes gets a bum wrap for being the sin city of the Europe. It is a very liberal and tolerant city where prostitution is legal and the smoking of cannabis is allowed (but not fully legal, see previous posts.) But, there is more to this city than exploring a few vices.

Amsterdam is known as the Venice of the north- a beautiful city of canals and bridges, where you walk or ride your bike anywhere and everywhere. The city is home to some of the world's greatest museums and art and is truly an international city where you can get almost any kind of cuisine from Turkish Pizza, Spanish Tapas, Argentinian Steak, German Wiener Schnitzel, Holland Split Pea Soup, chocolate and more chocolate. Did I mention Suz ate some chocolate?

Suz and I were very lucky to be in the Netherlands at a time when the national football team played in the World Cup Finals. As a sports anchor it was an eye opening experience to witness how passionate people and fans are passionate about soccer.

--Ryan

As a local news reporter, it's interesting to learn about how Amsterdam and the Netherlands handle the cannabis culture---especially in light of Proposition 19 being up for consideration by Californian voters this November. The ballot measure is about legalizing recreational marijuana use by adults. At a time when Sacramento is combatting a major budget deficit and may consider taxing marijuana dispensaries as much as 5%, it's interesting to see how Amsterdam coffeeshops are taxed 56% and to learn that coffeehouses all over the Netherlands collectively generate billions of Euros every year--46 million Euros in taxes for the country according to the Cannabis College in Amsterdam.

Taxing marijuana sales and legalizing marijuana are controversial issues in California that are sure to gain more media attention in the next couple of months.

-Suzanne

The lighter side of Amsterdam: a little overview

After so many interviews filled with facts and figures, with business owners, policy people, and visitors, I just wanted to do a light-hearted interview with Ingrid-- a lovely lady and tour guide.

Why orange? Why Hup Holland? Why so much beer flowing everywhere we go? Ingrid knows. ;)

Here's our video clip--the lighter side of Amsterdam

-Suzanne

A Hero's Homecoming

Even though they lost the World Cup to Spain on Sunday, this evening the Netherlands Football (Soccer) team returned home to a hero's homecoming in Amsterdam. The team made their way down one of the canals in a boat parade as fans dressed in orange lined the banks.

-Ryan

FEBO fast food....fried stuff from the vending machine

What to eat after a l8t nite? What else---fried food....from a vending machine. Why not?

The Dutch would probably roll their eyes at our taco trucks. ;)

-Suzanne

2AM Tuesday 7/13/10

The day after: "Not Again!" "Let the Hangover Begin" and other headlines

The day after the World Cup final game and the Netherlands is getting back to what it was before. Headlines in the Dutch local papers range from: "Not Again!" to "Let the Hangover Begin" among other things.





This is an article from the Associated Press. The headline reads "Dutch Dejection."

Here's a closer look.

-Suzanne

World Cup and Netherlands: We catch up with some Californian fans

In a crowd of thousands here in Amsterdam, I managed to find a few locals from Northern California.

In Rembrandtplein aka Rembrandt Square, we bumped into Paul and Gina Gamble and their daughters. They were visiting from Oakland. After visiting several different countries, they made a stop in Amsterdam just in time for the World Cup Finals.

"It's bringing the country together," said Paul Gamble. "It's a spirit that is beautiful. I feel lucky to have the opportunity to celebrate the true spirit of international competition--football. It's not about money. It's about national pride."

Gamble and his family have been in Amsterdam for four days.

Here's a short video clip/interview with Gina Gamble.

Meanwhile, I connected with Julie Tam of Grass Valley via the internet. She's a student of UOP and she's in Amsterdam for the summer for an internship.

"I am working as an Intern for the non-profit Aflatoun, an organization that promotes children's financial education all over the world," said Tam in an email.

Here is her take on the big game.


"I had the amazing opportunity to see the final game at Museum Plein, a park here in the city, with thousands of other people. Everyone was wearing orange, dancing, and cheering; there was so much energy. I have never seen so much national pride! At the same time, not everyone there was Dutch," said Tam. "There were people from all over the world in Amsterdam on Sunday to support the team. The collective disappointment when Holland eventually, dare I say unfairly, lost was heartbreaking. I really wanted to see the team win. Even though I am not Dutch, Amsterdam has become like home to me. I guess you could say I caught the "orange fever"!"

Abram van Eijk is a former Modesto resident, is also now in Amsterdam.

He talked about the chance to witness Netherlands in the World Cup finals.

"As for the Netherlands in the finals, that was a bit of a heartbreak! There was an electric atmosphere standing amongst the 140,000 or so people in th Museumplein in Amsterdam watching the game on Sunday and when Spain finally capitalized, the energy was just completely taken away. " said Eijk. "There weren't even cries of despair--it was more just an eerie silience and it continued that way through the city."

-Suzanne

World Cup and Netherlands: By the numbers

Here's recap of World Cup: by the numbers.

1: Total goals scored by anyone in this final game. Spain 1. Netherlands 0.

100,000: how many fans watched the World Cup final game in Museum plein or Museum Square in Amsterdam

3: How many times Netherlands went to the finals

0: the number of times Netherlands has won the World Cup

8.5 million: the number of people in the Netherlands who watched the final at home, making it one of the most-watched broadcasts in the country's history. (per A Dutch foundation that monitors television ratings)

-Suzanne