My visit to The Netherlands was perfect. The Netherlands are nothing short of spectacular, everywhere you point your camera you get postcard quality shots. I loved every minute I spent in The Netherlands. Amsterdam has always been on my list of places to visit. I spent many days in the Amsterdam with trips to enjoy other lovely cities such as Haarlem, Utrect, The Hague (a.k.a. Den Haag) and Rotterdam. Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is a magical place. As a tourist, you’ll never have enough sightseeing, canals, and beautiful adventure that will help improve your experience. You should also try walking the streets and have a taste of the wonders of Dutch architecture. I wouldn’t say I’m a massive architecture buff, but I’ve always had a fascination with old buildings and their history, and my favourite thing to photograph is interesting structures, archways, and houses. Amsterdam, unsurprisingly, lends itself very well to this little hobby of mine. You can’t walk anywhere in the city without seeing a row of gorgeous houses, often leaning slightly forward, slightly left or right. I hope you fall in love with Amsterdam like I did! I took many sepia photographs in The Netherlands and I really liked the results. The sepia tone seemed to "warm-up" the image, and change the mood for the better. Photographs can be thought of as tangible memories of the past, providing a lens to reminisce and revel in nostalgia. I’ve always felt like I’m traveling back in time whenever I see those warm, brown-tinted old pictures. I, personally, find that sepia can be a softer, more delicately muted medium than black and white, even in high contrast sepia images. I should mention that high contrast and low contrast sepia are far different from their counterparts in black and white photography. 阿姆斯特丹被称为欧洲北方的"威尼斯"。城里,是一圈一圈环绕着的运河,整个城市有一千多座大小桥梁。缺少水的城市,总是让人感觉缺少了一份灵气,而水的存在,同时也让阿姆斯特丹拥有了一种从容。这是一个平坦的没有坡度的城市,于是,河里的水总是平缓的流淌,远看,甚至感觉是静止。与威尼斯不同的也是,今天的阿姆斯特丹并没有过分沉溺于月光小夜曲的甜腻与往日时光,它的每一条街道,每一块砖瓦,无一不透露着古典与现代共生的气质。很难说清楚,阿姆斯特丹到底是岁月静好的小城,还是纸醉金迷的华丽都城,它就像一颗被精心打磨过的钻石,瑰丽,并且多面。它是一个谜一般迷人的多面体。 阿姆斯特丹就是这样一座复杂的城市,它像谜一般令人困惑。时而它是个浪漫雅致的文化中心,时而它又是一个光怪陆离的后现代都市,你可以说它自由而包容,也可以说它放纵无度。这恰恰是其魅力所在。鲜有城市能将这么多截然不同的气质融合得如此恰到好处,而阿姆斯特丹正是这样的一座。 不少人都喜欢拍摄单色 (monochrome) 的照片,而通常也是指“黑白色”,但也有人会喜欢上图这种棕褐色 / 深褐色调 (sepia tone)。我用了棕褐色拍摄这系列的照片,因为它带有一种怀旧、温暖的感觉,也有一份历史的味道。 达姆拉克大街(Damrak)是阿姆斯特丹一个非常有名的大街,大街两旁店铺林立,非常的繁华,还有很多特色餐馆。 Running from Amsterdam Central railway station to Dam Square, The Damrak is often called the "Red Carpet" of Amsterdam. For it is the first site, in all its bustling glory, that visitors see when they exit the train. The Damrak, as the center of the city, is a bustling thoroughfare, filled with souvenir shops, hotels, and restaurants. From the station, the street ends at Dam Square, site of events and demonstrations of all kinds. Lindenstraat is one of my favorite streets in the Jordaan. This beautiful street is full of beautiful houses without the hustle and bustle of other parts of the Jordaan. I love to start close to the Noorderkerk prior to slowly admiring the stately homes along this street. I love the little doorways that open directly onto the streets, the steep staircases leading up to colourful front doors, the buildings that seem to almost rise up from the water below, in some places. The Dutch and their bikes are inseparable. It's not a form of transportation. It's a way of living. You can bike everywhere all year long, everyone is friendly without being over friendly. 阿姆斯特丹是自行车上的城市,游走于的大街小巷,到处都能见到自行车的身影。 Bikes rule the streets of Amsterdam. They are everywhere. Motor vehicles are there too, but they crawl through the narrow streets in obvious disproportion to the bikes. The Netherlands is generally considered one of only a few places in the developed world where biking infrastructure is done right. There, the bicycle is viewed differently than most everywhere else. The bicycle is transportation first and foremost, not a toy, not a fitness device, and over several decades the Dutch have built paths and bike lanes in the cities, suburbs and countryside to facilitate the safe and convenient use of bikes by average people to get from point A to point B. Canals have always been an essential part of many Dutch cities. I spent many hours wondering around the canals and admiring the city. Even if you’ve never stepped foot in Amsterdam, you probably know about its famous canals. For centuries, they’ve snaked through the city, giving it a distinctive water-bound character and serving as a point of pride for Dutch people. 阿姆斯特丹王子运河的两岸,停泊了很多船屋,是三条主要环状运河中最长的一条。 As I wandered around Amsterdam, whether by bike, boat or on foot, I was bound to lose myself in the canals. The three main large canals (Herengracht, Keizersgracht, and Prinsengracht) carve out the concentric, watery horseshoes in the city and offer hours of sightseeing. But some of my favorite spots in Amsterdam exist along its "small" canals. Not quite as small as some of the other canals on the list (some sections are wide enough for houseboats on either side), the "brewers canal" is home to dozens of excellent examples of 17th-century Dutch architecture, including several former warehouses (now apartments) with huge windows and painted, arched shutters. The neighborhood, the Jordaan, evokes the laid-back feel you'll find here. 我最爱的是建筑和河流拼在一起的最独特的风景,每条街仿佛都一样,又仿佛完全不一样。你每到一条街都想拍照,每经过一段桥都想驻足。 Who wouldn't love a canal named the "flower canal"? The quiet Bloemgracht represents the reason so many people want to live in this part of the Jordaan neighborhood. Among its beautiful canal houses is the step-gabled No. 87-91, which dates back to 1642. There is always a good feeling with people listening to music, dancing and non-stop people-watching. 运河贯穿的阿姆斯特丹演绎着欧式的小桥流水人家风情。如果你愿意,阿姆斯特丹可以变成一座纵情享乐的城市。 Amsterdam is gorgeous with it’s canals and tilted houses (did you know that the houses are built on wooden foundation piles and they’re rotting, and that’s why a lot of houses look like they are melting?). And another fun fact that i discovered whether you know that parts of Amsterdam are 4 meters below sea level? 我喜欢荷兰的建筑,喜欢到我简直不敢相信作为邻居的德国怎么会把房子修成这样。荷兰的建筑颜色彩得恰到好处,风格异而不斥,即使是不同颜色、不同风格的建筑混合在一起也完全不会觉得突兀,一幢幢独立的房子并在一起,组成了最美的荷兰小镇。 Flowers, Trees and Houses along Kees de Jongenbrug canal. 水与船成就了荷兰人,融入了阿姆斯特丹这座城市的性格之中。 这座桥的设计风格独特,呈现精美细腻的工艺手法,富丽堂皇的模样为阿姆斯特丹最耀眼的一座桥梁。 This canal offers a quiet respite from the busy street one block away with a similar name (Leidsestraat). The canal houses on Leidsegracht are among Amsterdam's most beautiful, with their neck gables leaning over tree-lined streets and brick walls. I photographed across one of the canals so that I could capture the reflections of the colorful — and frequently strangely aligned — buildings running alongside. 静谧的天色和璀璨的街灯倒映在平静的运河里,幻化成一束束彩色的光,在阿姆斯特丹的运河上描绘出一幅绚丽的图景。 The world seen upside down; but still so beautiful — or maybe even more beautiful. I’ve fallen in love with Amsterdam reflections. The houses are reflected in the canal water or in the windows of houses on the opposite side. In parks, the image of trees on the water surface looks like a Van Gogh painting. A reflection becomes even more beautiful the more it differs from the real thing: either crooked, bended, stretched or lopsided — as long as there are no straight lines. The colours themselves are transformed according to the reflecting surface, creating a dreamlike reversed image of reality. 倾斜房屋是阿姆斯特丹的地标之一,暗色的老屋和映在水面上的倒影,也是许多明信片上经常出现的书面。 典型的欧式建筑与水中倒影相映成趣,庄严而不呆板。 位于阿姆斯特丹的红灯区外的雕塑描绘了荷兰诗人和剧作家Gerbrand Adriaensz Bredero的一部戏剧“西班牙布拉班德人”中的一个场景,展示了一对情侣拥抱。 This monument to the Dutch Golden Age poet and playwright, Gerbrand Adriaensz Bredero stands, appropriately enough, just outside of Amsterdam's notorious Red Light District. Bredero's work often depicted the seedier side of Dutch society and he lived all his life in and around these streets. The statue is a tribute to Bredero's work, showing a couple embracing in a scene from "The Spanish Brabander" and was created by Dutch sculptor Piet Esser in 1968 to mark the 350th anniversary of Bredero's death. The scenic views along with its docks and places to sit along the water make it one of my favorite streets to walk along. The houses here are pretty lovely. The tiniest of all the canals on this list, the short Spiegelgracht is one of my favorites because of the beautiful shops that line its streets (it quickly turns into a paved street called Nieuwe Spiegelstraat). This area is known as the Spiegelkwartier, the unofficial antique district of Amsterdam and one of its best shopping areas. Usually busy with bike traffic, this small canal is cute but not always quiet. So often I visit cities and find that the most picturesque parts are located in one stretch of the city. That’s just not the case with Amsterdam. The entire city is beautiful and well-maintained. From the canals in the city center, to the parks around the city, to the crooked houses in the south, everything looks like it belongs on a postcard. Most Dutch people who live in Amsterdam will rave about how much they love the city, and that local pride just makes it that much more amazing. 乘坐运河观光游船是领略阿姆斯特丹水上魅力的最好方式,欣赏沿途风景,感受华丽而富有历史感的城市。 这种一幢紧挨着一幢的连排公寓是荷兰的一大特色,是荷兰人为了有效利用稀有的土地空间而设计出来的。 The city’s olive-green canals and handsome gabled mansions are indeed beautiful, but perhaps above all, it’s the flavour of the city that appeals – its inhabitants a creative and imaginative bunch who quite simply bring the place alight. This short street is one of my favorite quiet spaces in Amsterdam to take in from the benches along the water. This canal looks out onto the Amstel although you also can enjoy the views of Kloveniersburgwal and Groenburgwal. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a sunset. Bicycles on Lelie Sluis bridge over a canal in Amsterdam. 阿姆斯特丹有北方威尼斯之称,纵横交错的运河水道和桥梁遍布整座城市。 无处不在的自行车是阿姆斯特丹最靓丽的一道风景,它们让这座城市变得更多彩,到处都能感受到浓浓的自行车文化。 So happy to see a restaurant name bearing my english name. It is located just opposite the row of hotels in Raadhuisstraat, namely, Croissanterie Jennifer is a no frill restaurant which provides good, basic food but in a nice atmosphere and a very friendly and helpful stuff. The sandwiches are specifically recommended, and the pancakes are also highly recommended. The Waag ("weigh house") is a 15th-century building on Nieuwmarkt square in Amsterdam. It’s something that really may not be missed. It’s part of Amsterdam’s history. It was originally a city gate and part of the walls of Amsterdam. The building has also served as a guildhall, museum, fire station and anatomical theatre, among other things. And it’s really unique that this building still stands straight. 阿姆斯特丹有不少历史悠久的教堂,例如位于王子运河旁的西教堂(Westerkerk),也是阿姆斯特丹最高的教堂。 Westerkerk is a Dutch Protestant church in the heart of Amsterdam. The Westerkerk has a long and rich history which makes it worth a visit. This 17th century church is the largest of its kind in the city and its name means “Western Church” in English. It’s located right next to the Jordaan district and along the banks of the Prinsengracht. The Westerkerk also includes a carillon with 50 bells and an impressive organ. 以荷兰著名画家伦勃朗(Rembrandtplein)的名字命名的伦勃朗广场,中央放置伦勃朗名画《夜巡》中的20个青铜人物雕像。 Rembrandtplein is one of the busiest square in the city of Amsterdam. It was a long early morning wait just to get a decent photo without tourists photobombing me. Rembrandtplein or Rembrandt Square is named after the famous painter Rembrandt van Rijn who painted The Night Watch. The statue of Rembrandt is Amsterdam’s oldest surviving statue in a public space. The rest of the statues are bronze-cast representing his famous Night Watch painting in 3D. Visit if you have a chance. Great atmosphere all day round surrounded by cafes & restaurants. 当你在寂静的街巷中漫步,有可能转角就来到了霓虹缤纷的卡尔弗尔购物街。 This is the Muntooren (a.k.a the Mint Tower), an old tower that you cannot go up but everyone knows it. It is the place where the old city was separated from the new city and this tower was the demarcation line of that separation. The Munttoren that visitors see today has something of Amsterdam Renaissance style, and features an eight-sided top half, a clock with four faces and a carillon of bells. 铸币塔位于荷兰阿姆斯特丹市中心的一座古代塔。原是护城墙的其中一部份,以瞭望塔的角色守护着阿姆斯特丹。 城墙曾遭到大火的摧残,经过重建后只残留这座新文艺复兴式的瞭望塔。因为以前战争的关系,这座高塔楼曾被用作为铸造钱币的地方,因此它亦得名为“铸币塔”。虽然现在铸币塔的内部不对外开放,但每到星期五下午的三点至四点,塔上的大钟琴便会奏出悦耳的柔和乐章,吸引不少途人驻足观赏。 Over the centuries, Amsterdam’s history and architecture have been influenced by the large number of devastating fires that the city has experienced. While the city’s two great churches, the Oude Kerk and the Nieuwe Kerk, were affected by the fires, the Gate of the Regulars, as part of the Munttoren was none less damaged. You're sure to end up on this crowded street at some point. Named after the livestock markets held here in the 17th century, Kalverstraat is now a place where shoppers work themselves up to fever pitch over the latest sales at its high-street chain stores. The Dutch Monopoly game has Kalverstraat as its most expensive street. The Tuschinski Theatre is a cinema in the centre of Amsterdam, a building that looks as though it’s been built for the very purpose of being looked at. It’s the kind of space you enter and feel like you’re walking into a strange optical illusion. Going to the cinema is all about the experience, and this one adds extra dimensions of glamour, comfort and imagination that you won’t find anywhere else. Located just off Rembrandtplein and a stone’s throw from the famous flower market, you may or may not have noticed it. Once you become aware of it, though, it’s impossible to ignore. Possessing the grandeur of an opera house, the theatre still welcomes all walks of life. If you’re curious about the theatre’s sumptuous splendour, simply go and see it for yourself. Anne Frank House is always a really important place to go to. She was one of my biggest inspirations growing up. Reading her diary has always made me value my freedom and the opportunities that come my way. The visit to the Ann Frank House was so intense. I think it makes you understand the powerful message it’s trying to convey. You don’t even need to watch the videos showing the Nazi camps and so on, spread around the exhibition. Just the feeling of going through the bookcase entrance and the tiny steps and imagining the number of people living in such a confined space for so long having to be silent every single day and night, not being able to leave at any time and then it not being worth it because they were found, makes you value your own freedom. 安妮弗兰克故居是20世纪的畅销书《安妮日记》的故事发生地。犹太姑娘安妮弗兰克当年躲藏的密室旧址。除父亲外,安妮本人及其全家都在二战中被纳粹杀害。安妮的日记中详细记录了她两年的避难生活。如今,这个避难所成为了著名的反法西斯和种族主义博物馆。《安妮日记》后来在阿姆斯特丹发表,引起轰动。 If you’re visiting the house it’s most likely because you have the freedom to do so. And it makes me appreciate, even more, that I live in one of the most safest places in the world. It’s one of my must go to. There is always a long wait to get into the museum. I waited 1 hour and the ticket cost €8, but the entire experience was so worth it and the museum collection was well-made and done with a lot of thought and respect. No photos were allowed in the house for obvious reasons, but I think I’ll remember that experience for a very long time. 故居的布置保持了书中原样。进入安妮故居,走进那扇书架后的暗门,爬上那狭窄楼梯,走进狭小的房间,窗户上贴满了厚厚的纸,是当时用来消除外人对存在暗室的怀疑,至今仍让人感受到与世隔绝的窒息感。住在里面,足不出户,白天必须蹑手蹑脚,不敢发出任何声音,终日见不到阳光,两年多的提心吊胆、暗无天日,考验着忍耐力的极限,身处其中仍能体会到隐匿生活的艰辛。所以这里成了阿姆斯特丹最受欢迎,也是参观人数最多的景点。 里还展出了安妮珍贵的日记手稿和当年的日用品,墙上日记中的段落表达了这位13岁少女的痛苦、寂寞、恐惧和期盼。“我希望我死后,仍能继续活着。“ Amsterdam Central Station is Amsterdam’s main railway station, located in the heart of the city. The station itself is one of Amsterdam’s most impressive buildings and it used by more than 250,000 passengers each day. The building is situated on three man-made islands which are supported by 8,687 wooden piles pounded deep into the sandy soil. The station is currently undergoing a major renovation project, in part due to the new North-South metro line. Despite construction, the station remains open as usual. 中央火车站(Amsterdam Centraal Station)不仅是的交通枢纽,也是重要的地标之一。 Perhaps one of the best known public spaces in the city, Amsterdam’s Dam Square is one of the most frequented and is a must-see. There is always something interesting going on, from street performances to carnivals. This is a great destination for people-watching, as Amsterdam’s Dam Square attracts visitors of all sorts. From this central spot, you can easily visit other parts of Amsterdam, or just enjoy the day eating and drinking at the square's many busy cafes, bars and restaurants. 坐落于位于阿姆斯特丹市中心的水坝广场上,是荷兰黄金时代的见证。它是阿姆斯特丹最主要的广场,无论是过去还是现在,它始终都是一个永远人来人往的喧嚣之所、一个非常活跃的城市中心。这里是一个理想的约会地点,但同时也是一个历史悠久的广场、一个商业中心。在这里,您可以与朋友轻松小聚,信步徜徉,尤其重要的是您还可以在这里欣赏荷兰王宫的美丽外景,以及令人瞩目的三角楣雕刻。 The main public square in Amsterdam grew from the first days of Holland’s capital, with the construction of a causeway (or dam as the Dutch call it) across the Amstel river. This is also how Amsterdam got its name. Just like the Amstel once cut through here, so Damrak street (the street from central station to Dam Square) now divides the square in two. Unlike a lot of other big squares in Europe, Dam Square developed in a gradual fashion and has little in the way of architectural homogeneity. Madame Tussauds offers lifelike wax figures, featuring national icons such as Dutch Queen Maxima & Dutch King Willem Alexander, Dutch speed skater Sven Kramer, Dutch kick boxer champion Rico Verhoeven & model Doutzen Kroes. The famous Dutch DJ’s Armin van Buuren (2.3 million Insta-followers) and DJ Tiesto (6.3 million followers) are in Amsterdam’s Madame Tussauds. But Amsterdam’s Madame Tussauds also has many internationals icons including Prince Harry & Meghan Markle, Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, Rafael Nadal etc. 是久负盛名的伦敦杜莎夫人蜡像馆在全世界开的第一家分店,每年都开设不同主题的蜡像展览,别具一格。 I walked past the Royal Palace (above) almost everyday when in Amsterdam. The building is quite extraordinary. The Royal Palace Amsterdam is one of the three palaces in the Netherlands used for official state visits. State visits involve the invitation of a foreign head of state to the palace, where a programme is followed including a state banquet in formal dress. Besides these visits, it is also used for official receptions and award ceremonies. The palace can be enjoyed by the public, when it is not in use by the Dutch Royal Family. However, it was never intended to house royalty, in fact, it was built to serve the purpose of being the new town hall in Amsterdam, which doesn’t sound too regal at all. 阿姆斯特丹皇宫,是路易拿破仑 (Louis Napoleon) 改建的瑰丽宫殿。水坝广场四周被建筑物围绕,只有王宫属于古典哥德式建筑,其他建筑比较属于现代欧式建筑。 The Netherlands is a beautiful country and churches, especially Gothic-styled ones are in no short supply. Almost every Dutch city has a “Nieuwe Kerk” (New Church) above, so Amsterdam is no exception. The only difference is that the one in Amsterdam has a very special meaning in the history of the country. It is the church where all Dutch princes and princesses are inaugurated. The Nieuwe Kerk contains the tombs of important figures from Dutch history. The Nieuwe Kerk is also world famous for its beautiful architecture, the spectacular exhibitions and its special bond with the Dutch royal family. The historical church which is more than six centuries old is always a must-visit for all tourists coming into the Netherlands. Don’t miss out on a chance to enjoy some of the many exhibitions that are hosted inside the church. 曾经的旧皇宫 (Magna Plaza Shopping Centre),现在已经变成百货商店了,昔日建筑的辉煌犹在。 Directly behind the Queens Palace on the Dam square you may find an elegant 19th century building, now one of the few shopping malls in Amsterdam – Magna Plaza. This is the place to shop for designer clothing and fashion accessories. Amsterdam is a beautiful city. Though I’ve visited many cities in various countries in the last few years, Amsterdam definitely stands out from all the rest with unique charm. As a friend of mine eloquently put it – every photo you take in whatever way looks like a postcard. The long canals, the historical houses, the little cafes and restaurants, the lovely people, it all comes together in a very convincing way.
Having a winter break around Christmas made me feel even more festive. Have you been to Amsterdam in winter? If yes, how was it? 阿姆斯特丹这座不夜城有着别的城市完全没有的味道,我最爱的当然是建筑和河流拼在一起的最独特的风景,每条街仿佛都一样,又仿佛完全不一样。你每到一条街都想拍照,每经过一段桥都想驻足。所有看起来不合法的东西在这里都可以合理存在,人在这里可以自由、可以疯狂,可以旁观他人、可以自我陶醉。这也许就是他为什么吸引着来自世界各地的人,我没有听谁说过讨厌阿姆斯特丹,来过的人都太喜欢这里。紧凑而不高的建筑也许不会给你巴黎那样的宏伟的感觉,但是相信我,你要的,这里都有。 Stay tune for more travel blog posts on Part 2 & 3 of Amsterdam and the other cities in The Netherlands! :-)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Author
|