InTouch Magazine Articles Archive

Issue 19, June 2008

City of Surprises

By Janet Wright.

The poster in the travel agent's window said "Surprising Amsterdam," and how true it turned out to be. Arriving at Schiphol, Amsterdam's busy international airport, is an experience in itself. It is a huge complex of buildings, built on land reclaimed from the sea, and once the scene of a great naval battle - hence the name Schipol, which means "Ships of Hell."

In Amsterdam one is immediately struck by the varying types of architecture and the Dutch connection with the East Indies is easily recognisable in the numerous churches with minaret-type towers.
The main Post Office building would not look out of place in Moscow, having four "onion" type domes at each corner. This building stands directly behind the Royal Palace in the famous Dam Square. Unlike Buckingham Palace, this Royal residence has no guards or railings - you can stand on the steps to the main entrance and no one will bother you.

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