Amsterdam Photo Diary

It has been nine months since I saw my mum (in Prague, in February) and fifteen since I saw my dad (in Quito, last August). They live out in California and so, with me being based in Europe and traveling much of the time, getting to all be in the same place at the same time is a pretty rare and special occasion - the last time it was all three of us was in the Galápagos off the coast of Ecuador...!

My parents were in the Netherlands and Germany for a few weeks to visit family and dear friends (I'm half-Dutch, half-German) and so we jumped at the occasion to take the long overnight journey by night train from Munich to Amsterdam (direct, but with delays both ways, of course).

We spent three days together in the surprisingly sunny Dutch capital, where the final bursts of autumnal colour were on full display, the coffee was excellent and the first signs of Christmas could be felt in the air. The last time I was in Amsterdam was nearly a decade ago, when I was spending a university summer living and working in Europe.

We spent our weekend wandering the idyllic streets spotting the instantly-recognizable homes of Amsterdam, indulging in delicious brunch and cafes, and boarded an afternoon cruise through the iconic canals of the city. Here's our long weekend in Amsterdam in photos: