Monday’s plan was simple, head towards the Amsterdam Maritime Museum or het Scheepvaartmuseum and see what there is to see. I saw what there was to see.

The museum reopened last year after a 10 year renovation, the building’s systems had been modernized and a roof put over the courtyard, giving the museum more open space. They have done a great job.

The most interesting exhibition for me was the Golden Age. Aside from the artifacts there were short videos introducing “people” from the time and telling their stories. These videos used famous artworks to help tell the stories; Vermeer’s The Kitchen Maid was used to tell the story of slavery. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Johannes_Vermeer_-_Het_melkmeisje_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg Using famous art connects the maritime history to Dutch art and to the Netherlands broader history.

Other galleries in the museum contain a huge collection of artifacts; navigational aids, globes and a nice collection of maritime art.

The museum has a tall ship the Amsterdam an East Indiaman, a copy of a ship used by the VOC or the Dutch East India Company
Pictures to come

My hunt for food brought me to the heart of deepest darkest residential Amsterdam. Two subway rides and 25 minutes later I was at an Albert Hijen, an Albert Hijen that was supposed to have a huge kosher section.

This HUGE kosher section consisted of 4 shelves in a fridge with Israeli salad; not what I had hoped for. I bought a bottle of water then headed home.

There`s more excitement onTuesday!