Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
How lucky a human can be?? I have no words, probably I cannot even imagine how lucky I am. Anyway, let me give you a little bit of background story. I have been suffering from some neurological problems and was having severe chronic headaches so my neurologist suggested an MRI option for headaches. To do an MRI, I had to go to Amsterdam. Many told me that I could have taken the option of doing the MRI in Almere (the city where I am currently in) but my trusted option was in Amsterdam. Amsterdam has good hospitals and I was suggested to visit a private clinic. I have never done an MRI before besides that machine looks scary to me. Anyway, I was nervous on the day I was having an MRI and the day I mentioned in this post was yesterday.
I took the train directly to Amsterdam Zuid (south) and from there I took the bus to reach Leidseplein, Amsterdam where my clinic was located. Yesterday was a beautiful spring sunny weather and everything looked so bright in Amsterdam because of the sunshine. Such kind of spring weather is perfect for walking around, not too cold, not too hot. I was enjoying the beautiful view of Amsterdam city from the window of the bus. This part of Amsterdam is known as South Amsterdam, a very busy and touristic area.
Leidseplein, Amsterdam
Leidseplein is a hub for buzzing nightlife near Leidseplein Square. When I saw the atmosphere of the location, I instantly decided to take a walk after my MRI. MRI and other medical procedures took around 1 hour so after leaving the clinic, I started walking. The best was the location of the clinic, it was near the square and really perfect location to take a walk. Even though I was feeling dizzy after having an MRI, but I didn't hesitate to take the opportunity of exploring such a beautiful location.
After leaving the canal area, the first thing I saw was the canal. Few people were sitting near the canal while enjoying the view. This area is not so touristy compared to old Amsterdam Central. But bicyclists people are crazy here, their speed is scary and they don't stop. What made me annoyed was the walking lane and bicycle lane, were the same, and no matter how much I was cautious, I ended up finding myself on the bicycle lane. It was annoying and I was hopping from here and there. Near the canal area, a lot of restaurants, and bars are located but due to the weekday, the area was not so crowded.
I was basically following the tram and canal route while admiring the beautiful architecture of this part of Amsterdam. Some high-end branded shops also caught my eye...
I heard that many theatres are located here as well as many concert venues. But I didn't have any place or spot on my mind so I was just following the tram line and exploring the surroundings.
Museumplein, Amsterdam
I didn't know that Museumplein was so close to Leidseplein. I walked for around 30 minutes in Leidseplein and then I saw the back of a huge beautiful architectural building. I thought that this building might be a palace or something but when I went close to it, I saw it was Rijksmuseum. A famous historical museum that is popular among the tourists. Actually, at first, I couldn't believe that I was in front of the museum because I hadn't visited this museum before. So, I didn't know the location.
Rijksmuseum
Rijksmuseum is a National Dutch museum in the Netherlands dedicated to Dutch arts located near Van Gogh Museum. The museum was founded in 1798 in Dan Haag and later in 1808, the museum shifted to Amsterdam and officially opened for the public in 1885. The current building was designed by the Dutch architect called Pierre Cuypers and it is one of the most visited museums in the Netherlands. So you can understand how ancient collections of art and history can be found in this museum. source
This museum is the housing of an extensive collection of Dutch art and history spanning from the Middle Ages to the present day. Aside from paintings, the Rijksmuseum also accommodates an expansive collection of decorative arts, including Delftware, silverware, and sculptures, providing visitors with a comprehensive insight into Dutch cultural heritage.
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The entrance of this part of the museum is closed even though there is a gate. It's a back entrance and is completely restricted to the public. A little bit of information was written near the entrance that actually gave me the information that this is Rijksmuseum. There was a beautiful, well-organized garden with fountains behind the museum building and I was looking at the building like a curious passerby.
The Rijksmuseum's architecture is a testament to the richness of Dutch heritage and a symbol of national pride and I can't deny that. I didn't visit the museum, I saw the exterior only, and all I can say this museum building is a striking blend of Gothic and Renaissance Revival styles. Its intricate facade, pointed arches, and ornate details are exquisite and attractive to look at. The museum's exterior features red brickwork, sandstone decorations, and a prominent clock tower, evoking a sense of grandeur and historical significance. I was so mesmerized just by seeing the exterior.
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Even though I had a wish to visit this museum but unfortunately I didn't have much time to go inside of the museum. Besides the museum was about to close for the day when I was in front of the main entrance. There was a large waterbody and square in front of this museum. I am sure when the proper spring season will arrive, there will be flowers in the pots that were in the water body.
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Infront of the Diamond Museum, the diamond museum is not so big and looks like a house...
Moco Museum
The Moco Museum, short for Modern Contemporary Museum Amsterdam, is an independent, vibrant art institution located in the heart of Amsterdam, Netherlands. Established in 2016, it quickly gained recognition for its focus on showcasing contemporary and street art to a diverse audience.
Moco Museum offers an intimate and immersive experience for visitors and tourists. Its exhibitions feature works by renowned contemporary artists, including Banksy, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, and Salvador Dalí, among others. Many curious people love to visit this museum to get the idea and knowledge of modern contemporary art.
This museum provides a platform for Banksy's pieces to be appreciated by a wider range of audience, sparking dialogue and contemplation about contemporary issues. A girl was standing infront of the museum sharing brochures and I instantly collected one from her. I didn't know Banksy's pieces can be found here. So, next time definitely gonna visit this museum...source
Some artworks were displayed outside of the museum building courtyard. Paaserby from the outside can easily take a peak at those artworks.
Van Gogh Museum
The most awaited and popular museum Van Gogh Museum was waiting for me from the far away. I am a fan of the artwork of Vincent van Gogh. I came to know about Van Gogh when I was a student of architecture in, fourth year, and when I learned about some of his historical paintings for example The Sower, Rain, Wheat Field with Cypresses, Still Life: Vase with Fourteen Sunflowers and, last but not least the historical The Starry Night.
The art that actually influenced me psychologically as a student was The Starry Night. Obviously, I read about his, his sad life story, and his mental issues and somehow I was able to relate myself to the artist at that time. As a result, his artwork also influenced my building designs as well. So, when I saw this museum in person, I was excited, emotional, and overwhelmed. The museum was closed already for the tourists but the beautiful circle-shaped dynamic structure in the middle of the big field inspired me somehow.
I am also a fan of "The Scream" Art by Edvard Munch. But The Starry Night by Van Gogh really influenced my design work. Architecture is all about art. I am proud to be an architect because I see things differently. This museum has the largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and is also famous for a scandal "Van Gogh art thefts". Art theft happened here twice and a few artworks had been severely damaged due to this theft.
I am definitely gonna return to see this museum...
My walk finished in front of the Stedelijk Museum, a museum for modern art, and contemporary art.
The design of this building is interesting, a mixture of traditional and contemporary architecture, never seen such a kind of fusion design before. The museum is located right next to the Van Gogh Museum.
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When I was leaving my place for the MRI, I had no idea how my day gonna end. This entire walk was unexpected and I would say this was the most relaxing and meaningful walk I have had in the Netherlands. The weather was nice and the location was astounding filled with history and architecture. The tram station was not far from Stedelijk Museum so I had headed to the tram station to reach the train station leaving behind all the history saying I would come back again...
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Priyan...
I am @priyanarc.... An architect, a dreamer, and a passionate writer who loves to write about life. I try to present my own perspective and experiences. Please leave your feedback and criticism because it's the only way I can know and reach your mind and thoughts easily...
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