Day 3

Going on an Adventure


We all sleep in a bit the next morning to wear off the purchases from The Old Sailor. We eat breakfast in the hotel and then head back out on the town. Diane tells us that she booked a tour with Heineken Brewery. It's on the other side of the city center, and we head out for the day.


I snap a few photos of pedestrians and buildings as we make our way to a place to board a water taxi. We walk to the Dam Square, and I get a look at the palace. We board a water taxi here, and start our journey on the water.

Narrow Amsterdam street lined with traditional buildings and shops.
Ornate decorative stone window frame with detailed architectural carvings on a historic building facade.
Distinctive domed historic building on an Amsterdam corner with tram lines and parked scooters.
Historic white buildings with traditional Dutch architecture and outdoor cafe seating.
Grand historic department store building with baroque architecture and flags in Amsterdam city center.
Tree-lined Amsterdam street with cobblestones and classic architecture.
Cyclists crossing a busy intersection in Amsterdam city center.
Vintage turquoise Fiat 500 parked on cobblestone street by Amsterdam canal bridge.
Historic Saint Nicholas Church reflects in Amsterdam harbor waters under dramatic sky.
Busy Dam Square in Amsterdam with Royal Palace and historic architecture under blue skies.
Tall white monument obelisk against blue sky with people sitting around its base in Amsterdam.
Pale pink hollyhock flower blooming against dark background.
Amsterdam Central Station's grand Victorian facade on a sunny day with tourists in the square.

Cruising on the Canal


We load into the water taxi. The one we are on is relatively empty, though we do see several other full ones on the journey to Heineken, even one with a bride and groom! I continue to take photographs from the boat. I notice that we start cruising back toward the direction we just walked from, but Dianne says it's fine, that we have plenty of time. We end up boating by a cruise ship with giant lips on it. There's also a pirate looking ship, but that one is for tourism. We then pass by this building that I think is another palace, but upon closer inspection, it's a hotel. Ope.


Eventually we make the loop around, and get off the boat and head into the Heineken Experience.

Large cruise ship with distinctive bow art docked at port while small boat passes in foreground.
Grand Victorian-style hotel building with red brick facade and white trim against blue sky.
Historic tall ship with three masts and green hull displayed against bright blue sky with white clouds.
Traditional wooden tour boat cruising through Amsterdam canal with historic buildings in background.
Ornate green and gold stern gallery of historic sailing vessel with detailed window panels.
Stone arch bridge with colorful banners spanning canal in Amsterdam with boats below.
Yellow vintage Volkswagen Beetle parked along Amsterdam canal with traditional architecture.
Modern green NEMO Science Museum building with distinctive architecture along Amsterdam waterfront.
Tourist boats navigate Amsterdam's scenic canal lined with traditional Dutch townhouses.

The Heineken Experience


We approach the Heineken Experience building and we are given bracelets and brochures. The bracelets have three buttons plugged into tiny holes on the rubber material. The buttons are so that we can have three drinks during the tour. I think you can pay for more, but I don't even like beer, so I'm content with my three. I'd be content with zero to be honest.


We tour through several rooms, starting in one that shows the ingredients to make Heineken. I appreciate the "Heineken 'A' Yeast" container, like we are in some sort of secret lab. I mean, I guess in a way we are? A brewing lab? I don't know. Anyway.


I enjoy seeing the logos through the years. They even have their different bottles from over the years. We go through the room where the copper kettles are brewing the beer, and end up in this room where we will get "brewed" ourselves! We all stand on a platform, and we get "heated up" and "stirred" and water is added (little sprinklers). It's a lot of fun, actually. Then we end up in this bar area where we can use our buttons to get a glass of Heineken or a glass of Pepsi. Why those are the two options, I'm not sure. I just want water, but I use a button to get a Pepsi because I am parched by the time we make it to the end of the tour. I did take a photo of Diane's beer though.

Large copper brewing kettle or distilling vessel with riveted construction in dim lighting.
Illuminated green star shape made of LED lights against a dark background.
Stained glass windows and copper brewing tank in historic brewery building.
Glass of beer on red bar counter with blurred background in pub setting.
Display case showing vintage beer labels and brewery logos in traditional designs.
Metal dispensers containing different brewing ingredients in industrial setting.
Row of copper beer taps lined up on bar counter with dramatic lighting.

Heading back to Hillegom


We leave Heineken and get a taxi back to the hotel where we check out, get back into the rental car, and head back to Hillegom. At some point along the drive, I snap a photo of a bridge that is being raised to allow a sailboat through. It's charming!


We end the day just relaxing in Rob's home. We are exhausted from the Amsterdam adventures.

Sailboat moored next to a drawbridge in a canal under cloudy skies.