What better way to spend the last weekend of an unbelievable gorgeous Dutch summer then to head over to the Uitmarkt in Amsterdam. The Uitmarkt is the national opening of the cultural season and the largest cultural festival in the Netherlands. Best of all it’s free (for now).
This year, the Uitmarkt took place at Museumplein and Leidseplein.
With it being a wonderful sunny day, albeit the occasional yet brief summer downpours here and there, we headed off to Museumplein. After all, what better way to embrace art than at the heart of it all? Museumplein is the square surrounded by Amsterdam’s three major museums-the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk Museum-as well as the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam’s premier concert hall. It’s also where the touristy, but classic IAmsterdam sign stands.
There was also an Uitmarkt Junior taking place at De Krakeling Youth Theatre. With summer basically being over and the impending gloomy Dutch fall and winter right around the corner, I opted for the fresh green and open air of Museumplein. Being a seasoned expat in the Netherlands, I’ve learned to never take a day with sunshine for granted. It’s part of my survival strategy for making it this long in the Low Countries and a positive sign that I’ve been ingeburgered (assimilated) into Dutch culture.
I also reasoned that my almost 17 month old toddler wouldn’t really know the difference anyway. I reckoned that there would be enough interesting things around to keep him in awe.
Attending the Uitmarkt was possibly one of the best things my son and I did together. We got out of our comfort zone, straying away from the standard go to places (Amersfoort zoo, Ballorig, local playground, local petting zoo) and actually started to explore more of what this country has to offer. I was actually quite impressed. I may no longer be in San Francisco, but I am living in the Netherlands, a vibrant Northern European country that has so much to offer and a short flight or train ride away to the rest of the Old World.
Being at the Uitmarkt reminded me of how much I loved Amsterdam. There’s a special energy that I get when ever I wander around. I may not be a singer, dancer, musician or performer, but I am an aspiring writer. Writing, after all, is an art. And what better way to start my blogging journey than to attend the Uitmarkt, an event that marks the beginning of another season of art appreciation, celebrating art in all forms, even from wannabe like me.
Not to forget to mention that the Uitmarkt was a great opportunity to do some people watching. There were some very stylish parents and their equally chic offspring!
How adorable was this father and son pair?
Or this chic mother-daughter duo?
I wasn’t the only one feeling alive and mesmerized from all the art around me. I loved seeing the wonder in my son’s eyes, the look of pure amusement as his eyes wandered around the organized chaos happening around him.
Not everything amused him though. Like his mother, he wears his heart on his sleeves.
Look at that expression on his face! I don’t think he’s quite fond of Dummies.
Than it hit me. My almost 17 month old was strutting around, exploring, investigating and examining all the organized chaos around him. He wasn’t really a baby anymore, at least not when he chooses not to be. He was surely, but steadily growing into a little boy.
As the day was drawing to a close, we headed over to the Rijksmuseum garden with a walkable fountain. Initially, I had planned on gently guiding Junior around the fountain, carefully keeping him entertained but securely dry. Obviously, I’m at novice at this mothering gig because in a couple of second my toddler got soaking wet. Grateful that it was one of those lucky days that I did manage to pack an extra set of clothes, I just let him be. There were also tons of laughter from bystanders as he definitely gave them a good show.
” This world is but a canvas to our imagination.” Henry David Thoreau
Inspired by the richness of art and culture all around me, I am going to start a personal quest. Once a month for the next 12 months, Junior and I will try to visit child-friendly museum/exhibition around the Netherlands. I hope you join us!
(We had an extra romper, shirt, pair of pants, jacket….but no extra pair of socks or shoes. Definite learning lesson for the future)
