Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Day 1, Thursday, June 29
Marc's Journal
Thursday was a shorter day since we were preparing to board our Viking Long Boat. After packing and sending off our luggage to the ship by 10 am, we ventured out to visit shops, the Red Light district, and then Our Lord in the Attic Catholic Church.
As we were walking through some of the shops, I told Diane that I didn't recall seeing as many sweet shops as she did the day before. Was she imagining there were more than there were?
Soon after we started counting, I realized she was right. So now I think of Amsterdam as bikes, canals, and sweet shops.
RedLight.jpegDiane's Journal
Cruise Day! Today we officially started our cruise.
We had a few hours before boarding so we did a little more sight seeing.
If you mention Amsterdam, the Red light district is often the the first place that comes up. I decided that I couldn’t visit without seeing it for myself. Done ✅
We visited Our Lord in the Attic Museum. This church was commissioned by a Catholic merchant, Jan Hartmas and dedicated in 1663 during a time it was forbidden to practice the Catholic faith in public. So Hartmas used the top three stories to make a church. It is an interesting piece of history and fascinating to visit.
The rest of the day was boarding our boat, the Vali, and getting settled. The ship has only been in operation for two and a half years so the crew still refers to it as a baby ship. Needless to say it’s beautiful.
The Red Light District
Diane and I scurried through the area trying to find the spot where Leslie Higgins took the towel boy in an episode of Ted Lasso. Prostitution is legal and near the city center one may find all sorts of curiosities and window candy. One story we heard was that citizens who are legally disabled and receiving government healthcare are given an allowance of two paid visits each year - for their health, of course.
Our Lord in the Attic Church
Is a 17th-century canal house, house church and now museum in the city center. The Catholic Church was built on the top three floors of the canal house during the 1660s. It is an important example of a "schuilkerk", or "clandestine church" in which Catholics and other religious dissenters from the seventeenth century Dutch Reformed Church, unable to worship in public, held services.
Catholics must seek alternatives and henceforth celebrate Mass in hidden house churches. This was tolerated by the city government because the principle of freedom of conscience in the Netherlands. Behind the front door everyone is allowed to think and believe as they wish. This principle created a climate of tolerance exceptional for this time, creating a culture where different religious populations could live and work together in the city.
This house was unique and well preserved. Narrow corridors and stairs lead to historically decorated living quarters, kitchens and bedsteads, ending in what is literally the highlight of the museum: a complete church in the attic.
There is a discreet confessional in the back of the house. I sometimes tease Diane that she would have been a better Catholic than me.
Despite the persecution, laws, and the secrecy, this church had an ornate organ that, by the sounds of it, belted out quite a bit of sound. It's making me question how discreet these worshippers truly needed to be.
BitterBallen
Our cousin Mairalee recommended bitterballen, a Netherlands style meat ball breaded and fried and served with mustard.
Thanks for the tip Mairalee! It tasted wonderful.