Amsterdam, the city of canals
- Mike
- Nov 6, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 18
[November 6th]
I was supposed to stay in Amsterdam, but for some reason I ended up booking in Rotterdam.
However, while thinking about how to get from Rotterdam to Amsterdam, I discovered that taking the bus was incredibly cheap and took the same amount of time, so I traveled to and from Amsterdam by bus.
If you book the day before or earlier, there are flights that cost about 10 euros round trip, and since it would be more expensive to reserve a seat, I booked a ticket with unreserved seats, which would automatically assign a seat to me.
This is also a digital ticket.
The bus was called Felx, and on the way there, when I went to my designated seat, there was already someone sitting there, so I asked to switch seats, but the people around me told me to sit wherever I wanted, so I sat in an empty seat. Although the bus was full, it was comfortable with Wi-Fi and USB charging ports.
(On the way back, the bus had no power or Wi-Fi.)
The bus stop in Amsterdam is Amsterdam Sloterdijk Station, one stop west of Central Station, and from there you can travel by train or subway, but I took the train to Central Station.
Amsterdam Sloterdijk station seems to be more convenient for getting around.
The dogs that live here are very obedient and quiet.
That's the impression I get when I see dogs walking everywhere.
In terms of race, many of the people walking were of Arab or African descent, giving the impression of a mix of various races.
Amsterdam was much more crowded than Rotterdam, and it seemed like it would be difficult to enjoy sightseeing in a relaxed atmosphere. There were many tourist attractions, but there were so many people in front of them that I didn't feel like going in.
The day before, I had come up with an idea for a walking route from the central station, so I followed that idea and walked around the downtown area.
After walking a little, you will soon come across a bridge over a canal, making it a true canal town.
My hometown of Hiroshima is in a delta region and has many bridges, and Osaka, where I live, also has bridges, but they can't compare to Amsterdam.
The city of Amsterdam is unique and old-fashioned, but to me it's neither more nor less than that. I think the suburbs are more suitable. After 3pm, the highway started to get a little congested as it was rush hour.
On the way back, the bus had no power outlets or Wi-Fi, so time seemed to pass slowly.
When I arrived in Rotterdam, I stopped by a supermarket and bought dinner and breakfast, which I ate at the hostel.
Ramen with two eggs, complimentary penne and rice, salad and yogurt.
summary
Rotterdam has a wide variety of transportation networks, so a one-day pass is very cost-effective and convenient.
The sightseeing boat includes a guide fee, but we recommend trying the water buses and barges at least once, as they are essential transportation for the local residents.
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