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When most people think Holland, they think AMSTERDAM and whilst Amsterdam is absolutely a highlight when visiting this beautiful Country, Holland also has many beautiful small towns waiting to be discovered, such as Broek in Waterland! After arriving in Amsterdam around 11pm last night, we were met by Ellen’s friend, Cees, who kindly transferred us to our accommodations for the next 5 nights – a Houseboat perfectly located in the center of the City. We couldn’t get enough of our little home on the water and the cameras were in full action for the first 5 minutes of us being onboard. Cees presented us with a wonderful itinerary for the next few days as well as some “clog slippers” for us to wear onboard.

Up early we were ready to explore. Our first stop was the neighborhood market where we stocked up on Dutch cheese, bread and meats (…oh and cookies) for our houseboat and lets not forget Ellen’s favorite, kwark. Our friends picked us up soon after and our afternoon excursion began. Our first stop was the Zaanse Schans in Zaandam, north of Amsterdam. The Zaanse Schans consists of many working windmills and authentic Dutch Houses and is laid out in such a way that the visitor gets a good idea of the Dutch way of life in the 17th and 18th Century although the interior of the homes have been renovated for modern living. There is a museum there, a cheese shop and a clog store where one can watch clog-making demonstrations and view a collection of the most amazing clogs, old and new.

From here we drove to the town of Volendam. The route was breathtaking as we took in the greenery, livestock, birdlife and Dutch architecture around us. A fishing village that has maintained its Dutch characteristics, Volendam gives one a sense of tranquility and can really be described as picture postcard perfect. We enjoyed dinner in one of the local restaurants before heading back to our houseboat in Amsterdam. Tomorrow we explore the City of Amsterdam, with visits planned to the Van Gogh Museum, a boat ride through the canal and a visit to the Jordaan neighborhood.