While we were in Amsterdam last month we checked out what is billed as ‘the most beautiful market of Amsterdam‘, the Albert Cuyp Markt.

I can’t really vouch for whether or not it is the most beautiful in Amsterdam because we didn’t go to any other markets.  But I can definitely say that some of the booths were very pretty.

Especially the ones filled with flowers.

I thought their prices were a bit better than ours.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen two bunches of sunflowers for only $5.30 (or 5€) at my local farmer’s market, have you?

Or bunches of zinnias for just over $4.

They had a lot more than just flowers though.

They also had produce …

And cheese.

There were some seafood/fish booths as well, but I had to walk past those quickly wihtout snapping a photo because the smell is a bit much for me!

There were quite a number of food booths too.  We tried a few of the local specialties including the famous stroopwafel, which was delicious.  I’m not a fish eater, but Mr. Q also enjoyed an amazing fish and chips.

My sister and I had to try the poffertjes …

These were little tiny pancakes with powdered sugar on them.  A bit messy, but quite yummy.

There was all kinds of other merchandise for sale as well; clothing, fabric, art, handmade soaps, all the usual suspects at a market like this.

I even found one booth selling vintage items.

And you’ll never guess what they had!

A Dutch toolbox!  Can you believe it?

I seriously considered purchasing it.  It was 45€, or about $48, and I would have splurged for it.  However, it was rather heavy and I knew I was already close to the weight limit on my suitcase.

Plus, we were on foot and we still had a bit more walking to do that day.  I didn’t want to lug a toolbox around with me.

After we left the market, we ended up walking to the Holocaust Memorial.

Each of those bricks has the name of one of the more than 102,000 Dutch victims of the holocaust.  The brick is engraved with the victims name, date of birth and date of death (if known).  We saw everything from victims in their 90’s to small babies.  How terribly sad.

After that somber experience, we headed to a brewery, Brouwerij ‘t IJ.   The tasting room is located in an old windmill.

Unfortunately, I’m not a beer drinker, and the beer here did not change my mind about that.

But it was fun to stop in and check the place out.

Before I let you go today, I just have to share a fun little side story.  The woman who snapped that group photo above for us was there by herself.  Shortly after taking the photo for us, another woman walked around the corner and saw her and her jaw dropped.  That was followed by a bunch of ‘oh my god’s!’ from both of them.  Turned out that they knew each other from the U.S. from years ago, both were on vacation in Amsterdam, and neither knew the other was there too.

What are the chances you would run into someone you know at a brewery in Amsterdam?  The world really is a small place sometimes.

Have you ever run into someone you know while on vacation?  Leave a comment and tell me all about it.