Amsterdam: Viking Grand European River Cruise Finale

Canals, Windmills, Bicycles, and Dutch Charm

As our river cruise aboard Viking Mimir drew toward its finale, we arrived in Amsterdam — a city unlike any other we’d visited. Amsterdam’s charm isn’t in grand monuments or solitary views, but in its rhythm: bicycles everywhere, flowers spilling into the streets, and canals that feel like living history.

After an incredible 18 days of riverside towns, palaces, castles, market halls, and historic cathedrals, Amsterdam was the perfect vibrant crescendo to our European adventure.

🌬️🌿 Kinderdijk — Dutch Windmills and Waterways

Our first stop in the Netherlands was Kinderdijk — the quintessential Dutch landscape.

Here, windmills are more than picturesque icons; they’re testaments to ingenuity.

Living below sea level has shaped Dutch history for centuries. At Kinderdijk, a system of dikes and windmills was designed to push water out to river channels and prevent flooding — an engineering feat that’s both historic and beautiful.

We opted for the included walking tour — a relaxed way to explore this unique area without worrying about the wind (which can pick up briskly here!).

It’s quiet, wide open, and totally different from the urban energy of Amsterdam itself — but the perfect prelude to it.

🚲🇳🇱 Bicycles, Flowers & Canals — Welcome to Amsterdam

Amsterdam greeted us with classic scenery:

Bicycles everywhere — weaving through streets, sidewalks, and bridges; over 600,00 strong
Flowers in every color imaginable (especially at the Bloemenmarkt)
Canals lined with historic houses and shimmering water reflections
Pedestrian bridges and cobblestone lanes calling for exploration

With so much to see, it was immediately clear that the 2 1/2 days of our Amsterdam river cruise finale would be a wonderful adventure.

🌷 Exploring the Canals & Streets

We began by simply stepping off the ship and walking — because Amsterdam is made for discovery on foot.

Some of our favorite moments included:

Wandering narrow canals and bridges
Popping into canal-side cafés
Watching locals move about by bike and boat
Taking photos of houses that seem to defy gravity with their leaning facades

These scenes felt timeless — a place where every turn reveals a postcard view or unexpected delight.

🚤 Canal Cruise — See Amsterdam from the Water

If you only do one thing in Amsterdam, a canal cruise is it. Seeing this city from the water brings it to life.

As we drifted under low bridges and past houseboats, we heard stories about:

Dutch Golden Age architecture
Merchant history and trade routes
Unique canal regulations and traditions
Modern life woven into centuries-old streets

The gentle swaying of the boat and the reflective water made this one of our most peaceful and memorable excursions of the trip.

🌸 Museums and other Highlights Not to Miss

On the second day, we visited the Rijksmuseum of Art and History. Spending several hours at the museum was an excellent way to stay out of the cold, windy morning. In addition to some wonderful historical exhibits, don’t miss the opportunity to view the “Dutch Masters”.

🌼 Bloemenmarkt (Flower Market)

A floating market where flowers, bulbs, and tulips seem to grow from the canals themselves. We enjoyed a relaxing stroll through the market, picking up a few packets of bulbs to bring home. Make sure what you purchase here will be allowed through customs.

🚲 Bicycle Culture

Watch your step — bikes have the right of way here! Watching the flow of cyclists is like watching a perfectly orchestrated dance. We were amazed by the number of bicycles that swarmed the city streets. Unfortunately, we also learned that bicycle theft is a real problem which is why most locals don’t spend much in fancy bikes.

🏠 Historic Houses

Each canal street tells its own story in bricks, gables, and narrow staircases.

However, none are as popular as the famed Anne Frank House, which is a writer’s house and biographical museum dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank. Be sure to book your tickets several months before arriving in Amsterdam.

🍽️ Dining in Amsterdam

One of the highlights of our time in Amsterdam was discovering a few outstanding restaurants—each offering a very different but equally memorable experience.

De Vijf Vlieghen (The Five Flies)

Our first unforgettable dinner was at The Five Flies, a historic restaurant housed in a building that dates back to the 16th century and is considered something of a living museum. The setting alone is worth the visit, with its old-world charm and intimate atmosphere.

The restaurant offers a multi-course tasting menu of up to six courses, paired with thoughtfully selected wines. Because our reservation was later in the evening and each course is carefully timed, we opted for five courses—along with five perfectly matched wines. It was more than enough to leave us completely satisfied and a little buzzed.

From start to finish, the food and service were exceptional. Every dish was beautifully presented and full of flavor, making the entire evening feel like a true culinary experience. If you’re planning to dine here, be sure to make a reservation well in advance—it’s worth it.

Ristorante Assaggi

Our second great dining experience came about entirely by accident.

On our last night in Amsterdam, we were craving Italian food. I thought I had secured a reservation at a small bistro in the old town, but when we arrived, the restaurant was packed—and our reservation wasn’t in their system. With restaurants everywhere, we assumed finding another spot would be easy.

It wasn’t.

For nearly half an hour, we wandered from place to place, only to be turned away each time. Eventually, we paused for a glass of wine and a beer while waiting for something to open up. After being turned down at three more restaurants and just before giving up for fast food, we decided to try Assagi.

The restaurant was small—typical of Amsterdam’s narrow buildings—and completely full. But the maître d’ smiled and told us he had one table left upstairs in the loft. At that point, we were thrilled to take anything.

We climbed a dark, small, winding, impossibly narrow staircase, and Bob promptly hit his head on the low ceiling at the top. Three women were already seated up there, so we squeezed into the last tiny table against the wall. It wasn’t glamorous—but we couldn’t have been happier.

What followed was one of the best meals we’ve ever had.

We started with a flawless burrata and tomato salad, followed by what may have been the best calamari we’ve ever tasted. For our main courses, we both chose pasta. Marilyn had fresh scallops over homemade pasta, while I ordered a carbonara made with guanciale. Both dishes were absolutely sublime.

To this day, I’ve been trying—unsuccessfully—to recreate them at home.

Sometimes the best travel experiences are the ones you never plan, and our evening at Assagi was the perfect reminder of that.