A beautiful blue Spring sky greeted us this morning bright and early for an 8am canal boat tour on a wooden boat built in 1928, the jonckvrouw.  We boarded with seven others to share a 90 minute early morning cruise through the canals with our guide Jan (fantastic guide and guy by the way) through Captain Dave’s Canal Cruises Amsterdam.  

After that relaxing ride along the peaceful canals as the city started to come to life, we met up with Rudolph from Amsterdam Food Tours for our Grand Dutch Food & History Tour in the Jordaan neighborhood.  We began at The Papeneiland, a historic brown cafe for coffee and apple pie.

Strolling…

Next was a stop at a 130 year old butcher shop for a tasting of oosenworst, grillworst and zeeuws spek.  Excellent.

Strolling…

Followed by a tasting of Dutch cheese and Wine with cheeses we picked up at a local shop to have with the wine at Design & Wijn.  We are familiar with Dutch cheese but Dutch wine?  Who knew?

Around the corner we stopped at a take away fishmonger for very traditional herring and kibbeling.  The herring was surprisingly good and the fried cod was fantastic.

Further on brought us to a new establishment for Indonesian street food.  Chicken satay with peanut sauce, cassava chips and pickled salad.  This all was stunning and the two young fellows who opened and run this restaurant deserve all the best.  They make everything themselves and serve it with care and pride!!  A shout out to The Satay Club!!

A final stroll to our last destination for a drink of jenever and some bitterballen.  Tasty treat to end a fantastic tour.

A truly great morning and afternoon in the Canal Ring of Amsterdam.