Happy New Year!

After a busy couple of days in Bruges, we decided to stay in for a quiet evening. We soon learned that a quiet New Year’s Eve is not possible in Amsterdam!

It was a madhouse in our normally quiet neighbourhood. Amsterdammers started celebrating the New Year with their own personal nightly fireworks that started nearly two weeks ago. There were usually just one or two a night. On New Year’s Eve, however, the fireworks started during the day. Around 11pm they were firing in earnest.

At midnight, the city erupted to welcome in the New Year and the real celebrating began! Fireworks lit up the sky in all directions – they were coming from the rooftops, the streets, the sidewalks – non stop – everywhere! Little children were awake for the occasion – who could sleep? Some were even lighting the fireworks. What a celebration!!!

I finally went to bed around 3am. By then, the apartment was filled with smoke and the smell of gunpowder. My white jacket was covered in soot, just from going outside on the terrace to watch. This photo was taken from the terrace during a momentary lull in the action.

On New Year’s Day, we visited the spectacular Rijksmuseum. There is so much to see that I will enjoy returning many times. It was a fun way to bring in the New Year.

Happy New Year! All the best in 2014!