Term III in Amsterdam: Museums!

Saturday we spent about 12 hours walking around Amsterdam. It was a beautiful day- about 75 degrees, sunny and humid. Today was our museum day. We first got into the city in the early afternoon and headed to the Hard Rock Cafe for some lunch. Normally I would have pushed for a less American choice, however we sat and ate our lunch on their dock, literally over the water of one of the canals. It was wonderful, sitting in the sun with the breeze watching the boats go by. After that we headed over to one of the I AMsterdam signs, although it was crowded so we didn't get pictures on it.

The first museum we went to was the Rikes Museum, which is their national museum and holds many paintings and artifacts from the Dutch Golden Age (1600s-1800s). It was very interesting because they had many amazing things from their ships and colonies, their major source of wealth that the time. The Dutch countries are also known for their painters (Van Gogh, Rembrandt, etc) so it was absolutely amazing to stand 12 inches from original paintings anywhere from 500-300 years old. Not to mention that the building the museum is in, is a artistic masterpiece within itself.

After that we went to the Dam Square, where the Royal Palace is, to visit a church that we had seen but hadn't really paid much attention to. One of the teachers had told us we should go inside but wouldn't tell us anything else. Im very glad we did. The New Church was built in 1408 after the old church for Amsterdam had become too small to house the growing population. It was built in the Gothic style and is extraordinarily beautiful and ornate. While it is not in use anymore, it is open as a museum and houses the tomb and monument of Michiel de Ruyter, a famous Dutch Navy commander in the 17th century. This was particularly amazing because the Rikes Museum had a model of the monument and I was amazed by it, but then to see it in person, to be able to touch it was unbelievable.

After than we headed over to the Anne Frank House. The experience was beyond words. The entire house of where her and her family were in hiding was transformed into a museum with the actual rooms they lived in kept bare ( all the furniture was taken during the Nazi raid) except for a few things she had hung on the wall. The entire museum was decorated with quotes from her diary and you really got a sense of how smart and beyond her years she really was. As we made our way through the secret door hidden by the bookshelf, into the rooms and back down the stairs there were exhibits on what happened after they were taken. Otto, Anne's father the only one who survived Auschwitz, came back to the house to find Anne's diary and published it in 1947. They had videos of women who knew Anne in the camp and each of the family's identification card from when they entered the camp. Finally, on a plain table in the middle of the room was a small worn book- her original diary. It was one of the most amazing, historically enriching, yet emotionally draining experiences Ive ever had, and I hope everyone gets a chance to see it. We plan on going back before we leave. Again, I get the feeling that we are just missing so much of history in the US simply because there is nothing like that back home. On a regular street surrounded by houses and shops, is a part of history, a building where a little girl wrote a book that would change the world. It gave me chills. For a history class to go and see the rooms she lived in rather than simply reading the room would be invaluable!

All in all, a very rewarding second week. Im having a blast and learning so much- about the students, teaching, history, and myself. I love it and can't wait to see what the next week has in store for me. \