My fiftieth birthday celebrations in Amsterdam

My fiftieth birthday celebrations in Amsterdam

Turning 50 is a fairly large deal within the Netherlands. I’ve ceaselessly observed indicators of it in Amsterdam and across the nation – friends and family adorn the home of the only celebrating with festive bunting, banners and balloons emblazoned with “50”, and now and again distinguished, inflated figures at the entrance garden! The birthday particular person is known as ‘Abraham’ or ‘Sarah’, a customized that celebrates the knowledge won over fifty years, and is predicted to throw a celebration (and foot the invoice). That is how I celebrated my fiftieth birthday in Amsterdam.

50th birthday celebrations
No approach I used to be having one thing like that during my entrance backyard! (symbol courtesy of FaceMePLS/Flickr)

Once I ushered in 2022, I consider my ideas drifting to the ‘milestone’ forward and the drive of making plans one thing particular. I had 9 months to plot my fiftieth birthday. Within the months that adopted, numerous concepts and plans have been formulated and scrapped. Would I favor a large celebration or a small, intimate birthday party? Must I organise a unmarried tournament or a couple of occasions over the process a couple of days? Plan one thing in Amsterdam or in other places? I couldn’t make up my thoughts. I knew something needless to say: I didn’t need any bunting and without a doubt no inflatable figures!

Then in the future, about two months ahead of my birthday, it hit me! What I in reality sought after and knew I’d revel in, used to be to have a good time my fiftieth birthday in Amsterdam with my family members, doing issues I like. I created a birthday itinerary that just about had ‘me’ written all over the place it! Haha! And you already know what? It grew to become out to be an unforgettable day full of laughter, love and fabulous meals, and a hurricane, sunshine and a couple of rainbows thrown in!

how to spend a 50th birthday in amsterdam
I used to be all smiles the entire day!

A personal birthday cruise

We began out within the afternoon via boarding a ‘notary boat’, a 100-year-old boat that used to be previously used for industry dealings. I’d organized a 1.5 hour non-public cruise round Amsterdam whole with prime tea and wine. It used to be chilly and wet once we boarded – excellent factor I employed a ship with a roof! – and located the prime tea fantastically laid out at the desk. There used to be a mixture of sandwiches, wraps, desserts, candies, macarons and scones. Within the little bar, there used to be a number of wines and fizz. The pleasant skipper welcomed us on board and promptly served us a sizzling cup of tea.

It used to be pouring once we were given to the boat!
fiftieth birthday celebrations in amsterdam
Prime tea on board

A number of mins after leaving the pier, the darkish clouds made approach for vibrant sunshine, permitting us to open the home windows and benefit from the view. I decided on a bottle of wine ahead of tucking into the scrumptious prime tea. We ate, drank and listened to the skipper as he informed us tales in regards to the landmarks we handed. Amsterdam seemed completely wonderful within the sunshine.

Being attentive to the skipper’s remark
Blue skies and sunshine as we cruised round Amsterdam.
amsterdam private birthday canal cruise
We cruised within the Elisabeth, a 100-year-old ‘notary boat’.

I’d been on a large number of non-public cruises ahead of however this one, with its scrumptious prime tea served on porcelain, and a personal bar with top-notch wines and fizz, felt extra becoming for the instance. Everybody had a marvelous time, and I couldn’t prevent grinning from ear to ear!

 

Fabrique des Lumières

After the cruise, we made our strategy to the Fabrique des Lumières within the Westergasfabriek. I attended the outlet of this virtual artwork centre a couple of months previous. The exhibition of the works of Klimt and Hundertwasser used to be completely magical and I knew my buddies would adore it too.

art attraction amsterdam
The Fabrique des Lumières within the Westergasfabriek.
The primary exhibition at Fabrique des Lumières options the works of Gustav Klimt.

We spent greater than an hour there gazing the multimedia display in overall amazement. Learn my submit about Fabrique des Lumières, which additionally features a video of the revel in.

An structure stroll

From the Westergasfabriek, we walked throughout the leafy Westerpark to the Spaarndammerbuurt, a district recognized for its Amsterdam Faculty of Expressionism structure. I’m a large fan of this architectural taste so it used to be a pleasure to excursion the neighbourhood, which additionally has some cool wine bars and eating places.

amsterdam school architecture
Het Schip museum, a first-rate instance of the Amsterdam Faculty architectural taste
Spaarndammerbuurt has many examples of the Amsterdam Faculty of Expressionism.
The Amsterdam Faculty of Expressionism taste even extends to the fonts used for area numbers.

Our structure stroll persisted within the adjoining Houthavens district. This house was once a part of the Amsterdam port, which used to be as soon as one of the crucial global’s maximum necessary service provider ports. This new neighbourhood, constructed on a number of islands and piers, is designed to be local weather impartial. I like the combination of architectural types, from vibrant cubes to a contemporary take at the ancient canal homes.

Houthavens houses
A contemporary tackle ancient canal homes.

We stopped on the Karaat bar/eating place for a drink and a snack ahead of making our strategy to our dinner spot.

Karaat cafe and eating place in Houthavens.

Dinner at REM

For my fiftieth birthday dinner, I sought after a cafe at a singular location, ideally with a view and that served superb meals and wines. For me, this used to be a very powerful a part of my birthday itinerary. It needed to be spot on! I took my time researching eating places in Amsterdam and determined on REM. Housed in a former communications platform that used to be moored within the North Sea, REM indubitably ticked the field in relation to a singular location. I requested for a desk with a view; every other field ticked! I additionally learn many opinions in regards to the meals and nearly they all have been certain.

REM eating place

REM is moored on the finish of a protracted pier on the Houthavens. As we have been midway alongside the pier, a hurricane handed and immediately, we have been fighting sheets of rain and the howling wind. The rain miraculously stopped and blue skies returned simply as we approached the eating place! We have been soaking wet however my best possible good friend confident me that this used to be an indication of fine issues to come back. Haha!

We took the raise to the highest and stepped instantly into the eating place. The huge home windows presented panoramic perspectives of the Amsterdam Ij-Harbour and town skyline. We have been resulted in a desk in a nook so we had improbable perspectives on two facets. The view of the harbour, blended with menacing rain clouds and patches of blue, used to be merely impressive!

cool restaurant amsterdam
Throughout the REM eating place
Feeling more than happy!
Impressive clouds
At one level, we have been handled to the sight of a double rainbow!

4-course Chef’s menu at REM

We opted for the chef’s four-course dinner and it used to be very good! Every route used to be a deal with in itself, that includes recent components, creative flavour mixtures and wonderful plating.

The pretty starter
The meals used to be top-notch!
And dessert used to be an indulgent finale!
One final take a look at REM ahead of we left.

It used to be a in reality unforgettable day filled with superb, ceaselessly hilarious moments with my family members. For me, it used to be the easiest strategy to have a good time my fiftieth birthday in Amsterdam. It certain used to be essentially the most relaxing birthday I’ve ever had!

Do you want to prepare a identical day for a special day in Amsterdam?

Apply those 3 steps:

  1. Guide the Elisabeth and prime tea association right here. Then again, e-book this non-public cruise with beverages, or this romantic cruise with bubbly
  2. Acquire your tickets right here for Fabrique des Lumières
  3. Guide a desk at REM.

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