Cute little pink bikes need serious protection from prospective thieves.

At least they are here in Amsterdam! Bikes are the main mode of transportation here. Everyone outfits their bike with baskets, bags and extra seats so they can carry groceries, flowers, dogs or kids. While there is some personalization, most bikes seem to be altered more for utility. It’s great exercise and wonderful for the environment! I other cities around the world were so biker friendly.

A little personalization helps you find your bike in the sea of bikes.

Many bikes are equipped to carry an adult and two kids.

Or you could carry up to three kids if you had a seat in front, and two in back!

This cart can tow children and groceries.

This bike has hand warmers, very practical for the colder months.

If you need to transport lots of stuff, this is your solution.

This one has Amsterdam written all over it.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam has the coolest public library I’ve ever seen. Gorgeous architecture inside and out, plus beautiful modern furnishings, and amazing interior design, including signage. It’s also the largest public library in Europe. As Matthew said, this place makes you want to go to the library to study all the time!

View of the city from the restaurant at the top of the library.

Study pod

Matthew took Friday off and we were able to go to the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gough Museum. Both are located in the Museum Quarter. There’s also a war memorial in the adjacent Museumplein.

The Rijksmuseum has a collection of Dutch art, representing some important parts of Dutch history.

Behind the Rijksmuseum is the Museumplein, which is a large, open-space park.

Just down the park is the the Van Gough Museum, which an impressive collection of works by the famous artist, as well as a display of art which influenced his style, and some of the influences he had on the art world. We both really enjoyed this museum.

The war memorial honors the women of wartime concentration camps, particularly those who died at Ravensbruck. It reads “For those women who defied fascism until the bitter end.”