Reading Around the World: Amsterdam

~ Beth (Reading Every Night)

Reading Around the World is a feature that combines my love of travelling with my love of reading. Each month I plan to spotlight either a city I have visited, or a city I plan to visit in the near future, and recommend some of my favourite books set there. After all even if you can’t visit these cities yourself the next best thing has to be reading about them and living the experience through the eyes of the characters.

Amsterdam (1)

Amsterdam is one of my favourite places in the world. When I travelled there with my family five years I had no expectations, I hadn’t heard anything about the city but I ended up falling in love. Everything about Amsterdam was beautiful; the canals where you would expect to see roads and the bikes where you would expect to see cars, the flower markets selling the tulips that the Netherlands are famous for and the culture the city plays host to. While there I visited Anne Frank’s House, saw Van Gogh’s Museum and the Rijksmuseum; basically I tried to take in all Amsterdam had to offer.

Amsterdam (2)

Amsterdam (3)

Amsterdam (4)

Amsterdam (5)

Amsterdam (6)

Amsterdam (7)

Amsterdam (8)

Amsterdam (9)

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green follows Hazel and Gus as they travel to Amsterdam, and John Green explores the city incredibly well in the story. I read this book for the first time after I’d already been to Amsterdam but following Hazel and Gus through Amsterdam and through Anne Frank’s house made me want to go back.

The Fault in Our Stars

I haven’t read Wanderlost by Jen Malone, but I know this book is at least partially set in Amsterdam so of course it’s been added to my to-read list. There are some good reviews out there so I’m sure this book will have more to offer than just incredible descriptions of one of my favourite places.

Wanderlost

Have you ever been to Amsterdam before; what was your favourite part of the city to see and explore? Also what are some of the amazing books you’ve read set in Amsterdam, or the Netherlands, that you’d recommend? Let me know in the comments.

53 thoughts on “Reading Around the World: Amsterdam”

  4. AMSTERDAM IS BEAUTIFUL 😍 I have visited the city maybe 3 years ago and it was a lovely trip! We visited the Anne Frank Museum, Vincent Van Gogh Museum and took a tour of the canals! We had really good weather as well so it was extra lovely! I had read The Fault in Our Stars beforehand, so it was definitely motivating me to visit Amsterdam 😀

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    1. Your trip sounds similar to mine; Anne Frank, Van Gogh, canals, and lovely weather. I was in Amsterdam over five years ago now (wow, hadn’t realised it had been that long actually) so it’s definitely time for a trip back there.
      Oh see I read TFIOS after and it just made me want to go back again. 😀

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  8. Amsterdam is lovely! I was there for two days a few years ago, and the canal system running through the city was so awesome. I do wish I could’ve stayed longer to explore more of its delights as I unfortunately went there when it was raining haha. 🙂

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    1. I remember being so surprised when I realised the canal system ran through the city the way it did (I didn’t do much research before my trip there so I was surprised by a lot about the city). Yeah I could have stayed in Amsterdam longer too, but I’ll content myself with going back again one day soon. 😀

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  10. I go to Amsterdam every single day, because I study there. Amsterdam is an amazing city and one of the best places for a tourist to be. However, Amsterdam is not necessarily the most beautiful place for a tourist to visit. There are places that are more beautiful than Amsterdam. At least, that’s my opinion. I only know about TFIOS taking place in Amsterdam, so I am afraid I can’t add a new book to your list.

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    1. Oh that’s is amazing, I wish I could do that but unfortunately Amsterdam is not close enough for me to visit every day. 🙂 I guess it’s a case of the grass is always greener right? For me Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to, but I haven’t been everywhere yet so who knows?
      TFIOS is one of the obvious ones, but there aren’t many are there? 🙂

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      1. Not that I am aware of. TFIOS is literally the only book I know takes place (partly) in Amsterdam. There are some more beautiful places here in the Netherlands for sure. But Amsterdam really is unique!

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      2. The only other book I’m aware of I featured in this post, and someone else mentioned The Miniaturist as well but that’s only three. In that case I guess I need to explore more of the Netherlands then. 😀

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  11. Wonderful photos Beth! 😀 I have not been to Amsterdam, but a co-worker of mine is going at the end of the month so we’ve been a lot about it!
    It’s funny before I saw you mention the Fault in our Stars, I was like TFIOS takes place in Amsterdam, and there it was! 🙂

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    1. Thanks so much Meghan! 😀 Oh I’m a little jealous of your co-worker right now, I really want to go back there one day soon myself. 🙂 I hope your co-worker loves it there, and yeah when it comes to books set in Amsterdam I couldn’t not include TFIOS. 🙂

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  12. I love your pictures, Beth, they make me want to go back to Amsterdam right now haha 🙂 This city is so pretty and I loved walking around on the streets and… well, let’s face it, sitting on the TFIOS bench as well, since I couldn’t resist doing that, haha. Lovely post! 🙂 ❤

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    1. Thanks so much Marie! 🙂 Oh I pretty much always want to go back to Amsterdam, in fact I’m hoping to go back next year one day. It really is, and oh I didn’t see the TFIOS bench, but that’s something I’ll have to look out for next time I’m there for sure. Thanks so much! 🙂 ❤

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  14. Amsterdam seems like such a beautiful place and I definitely want to visit it one day. My cousin lives there so I would even have someone to show me around! 😀 I wondered which books you would pick for this one, as I didn’t know any that take place in Amsterdam – yes, I completely forgot about The Fault In Our Stars until you mentioned it! It’s been a while since I read that book, I guess? 😂
    Amazing post Beth! ❤

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    1. Oh it really is. I want to try and go back there next year because I loved my time there so much. 🙂 That’s great, in fact if I had a cousin who lived in Amsterdam I’d never want to leave! 😀
      I can’t think of any that completely take place in Amsterdam but there are a few that visit the city. The Fault in Our Stars is a good one and I’m sure Wanderlost is a decent read as well, I haven’t heard much about it though.
      Thanks so much Anna! 😀 ❤

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  18. Hello Beth!
    Love your photos ❤ Amsterdam sounds like an amazing place. I've never been but it's up there on my list of cities to visit. I am reading The Diary of Anne Frank right now and loving it very much 🙂

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    1. Hi Sophie. 🙂
      Thanks so much. Amsterdam is one of my favourite cities in the world, I love it so much there, I’d definitely recommend going there one day if you get a chance. I’d say it’s a must if you’re reading The Diary of Anne Frank at the moment! 😀

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