The Dive Girl’s Guide to Amsterdam: My First Non-Dive Trip in 8 Years

Wow, this is new! I’m writing a non-dive travel blog for the first time. This was my first European city trip in 8 years—usually, my vacations are reserved for remote dive sites to experience “eat/dive/sleep/repeat” dive style. However a $550 direct flight from Portland (PDX) to Amsterdam was too good to pass up.

My plan? Three days of solo exploration in Amsterdam, followed by three days catching up with my college roommate and her family.

>> Read more: road-tripping Vancouver Island with the same non-diving energy on “Vancouver Island in 8 Nights: Dive Scouting and a Party Cave in the 60s“

First Impressions: Safety & Survival 

As a solo female traveler, I felt safe. Coming from Taiwan, the “aggressive” bikers didn’t scare me—I’m used to two-wheeled chaos! 

The Practical Stuff

• Money: I went 100% cashless. I set up Google Wallet on my Fitbit Charge 6, which was a game-changer for public transport. No fumbling for a phone or wallet at the tram doors, and no worrying about pickpockets (not that there is any..)! 
• Connectivity:  I tried Gigsky (free data via Visa Infinite), but it failed me. I swapped to Airalo, which worked in 5 minutes. I only used about 2.5GB over the week, so a 3GB plan should have been plenty. Use my code “MENGCH9589” to get USD $3 off your first Airalo eSIM purchase.
• Weather: February can be unpredictable and cold, but I was super lucky. The weather was chill only on the first day and sun was out for the following two days (40-60F).
• Luggage: I travelled carry-on only (backpack and a duffle bag). I debated with carry-on suitcase but glad I choose duffle bag because it is easier to navigate trams and trains with it.
• Transportation: So easy to navigate – Tram/bus/trains. All can be paid by tapping your credit cards/smart watch/smart phone or use apps/transit cards. Google map is accurate. I used NL train official app to plan the longer train journey to Utrecht and ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
• The “Workation” Balance: Thanks to my boss, I explored in the morning and headed back to the hotel by late afternoon to log on for work, preserving precious PTO for future dive trips.

The Solo Amsterdam Audit on the Wallet

Category	Estimated Cost (USD/EURO)	Notes
Flight (PDX to AMS)	$545	Direct, Sun-Sun. The “Unbeatable” Deal and great timing. Carry-on only.
Accommodation	$240/3-night	Hotel2Stay (inc. kitchen & gym & laundry).
Transportation	$50	100% Contactless on Trams/Trains.
Museumkaart	€75 ($87 USD)	Paid for itself by the 4th museum.
Food & Drink	$50/day	Mixed eating out with grocery-store-food, with non-alcohol beers.
Connectivity	$8	Airalo 5GB eSIM.
Others	$50	Canal tour, gifts, and other random stuff like paying for toilets..
Dive Treasure	€100 ($118 USD)	The Eyequa Magnifier & two weighted BCD pulls (Cash only!).

Where I Stayed: Hotel2Stay 

I found Hotel2Stay through 嗯嗯。莉莉嗯 Lilian and it was perfect. 

• Room: spacious with semi-full kitchen (mini-fridge, stove, microwave), which is great for travelers who don’t want to eat out every single meal. 
• Location: only steps from station sloterdijk with easy access to trams and buses..
• Bonus: A great gym (free) and a private Sauna (€20/hour, reservation needed).
• Laundry: Self-service on-site (€4 each for wash/dry). The room is very dry so my merino outfits air dried well. And I’ll share my winter packing list in another post!

Food: Hits & Misses 

Honestly? The “famous” snacks were a letdown. Fries? Meh. Bitterballen? Just okay. However, here are the things I enjoyed, look for:

• Soused Herring (Hollandse Nieuwe) – A perfect balance of tender and chewy. It’s not too fishy, especially with onions and pickles.
• Stroopwafels – The real deal.
• Kibbeling – Delicious fried fish nuggets. My friend’s two year old happily approved!

The Touristy Highlights

1. Rijksmuseum: HUGE! Start with the Gallery of Honour. I discovered a love for still-life paintings—the lighting is so real it feels surreal.
2. Anne Frank House: Having just finished The Flames of Resistance by Kit Sergeant, this was heavy but beautifully portrayed.
3. Van Gogh museum: Oh my.. The colors are vivid and he used lots of paints! I can felt the heaviness, joys, and sorrows through his paintings.
4. Our Lord in the Attic Museum: Suggested by Gemini and super unique! It’s a church hidden in the top floors of a residential building. It told the history and the lives of the people, with the original infamous blue tiles in the kitchen 
5. Museum Speelklok (Utrecht): An hour outside Amsterdam and a total hidden gem. It’s full of centuries-old mechanical music boxes. As an engineer, seeing full-size violins played mechanically was fascinating.
6. City Canal Tour: great for jet-lagging bodies to wake up and get acquainted with Amsterdam in a heated cabin on a cold day. But one time is sufficient. There are multiple operators.

The Museum Strategy 

I did more “culture” in three days than I have in eight years.

• The Museumkaart: If you plan to spend €75 on entry fees, buy this. For non-EU residents, it gives 31 days of access to 5 museums. I got it in person at Rijksmuseum. I reserved a time slot with “Museumkaart” option and told them I need to buy it on site.
• Advanced Reservation needed: It is necessary to reserve time slots for the popular museums online (for example: Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House, Van Gogh museum). You can pay for it in advance or choose Museumkaart option.
• The Tech: The Rijksmuseum app and the Anne Frank House audio guides made the experience so much richer. 
• Logistics: Backpacks must be stowed in free lockers/coat rooms. It’s a great way to shed your heavy winter coat while exploring!

The “Dive Girl” Habit (I couldn’t help it!) 

I can’t visit a city without visiting a dive shop. I stumbled upon Keesiedive and met Keesie—a 76-year-old legend who has been diving for 60 years.

• The Treasure: I found the Eyequa Underwater Magnifying Glass. It’s shop-made and with unbeatable magnifying power compared to standard dive magnifiers. And, shop-made weighted dump-valve pulls.
• The Lore: Keesie even showed me a video of his underwater wedding from 50 years ago! Watch it here.

VAT Refunds & Gear Savings

I ordered some X-Deep accessories from Germany while in the EU (the prices are significantly lower even with VAT). I got my customs stamps at the airport for a VAT refund—a nice “rebate” on my sidemount journey!!

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Having some cultural immersion was refreshing, but now… back to the diving at home! 🌊 with the Eyequa Magnifying Glass to observe some nudis and lump suckers.

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Editorial disclaimer

Please be aware that scuba diving is an inherently risky activity, even with certification and experience. The content on this blog reflects my personal opinions and experiences and should not be considered instructional. Always prioritize safety, seek guidance and certification from qualified diving professionals, and carefully consider the risks involved in any dives.