What a year it has been! After a bumpy ride preparing for our move abroad, we finally landed in Amsterdam one year ago, on a sunny but bitingly cold February morning. At the time, Tom and I were both scared and excited — and we still are. We wondered: What would the next few years hold for us? What would our new home be like? How would we adjust?
Moving can be difficult (physically and emotionally) whether the destination is just across town, across the country, or across an ocean. Our first year living in Amsterdam has been incredibly challenging, and our day-to-day life has been draining and lonely.
BUT. The past year has also been full of so many adventures and so much love. We’re so fortunate to have this experience together. We’ve traveled much more than we have in the past to see more of Europe; we’ve booked most weekends full with plans to explore our city and country; and, we got married over the summer and also met our new baby niece last month. It truly has been quite the year.
Here are some of the highlights of our first year abroad, if you’d like to see.
We set up a new home.
Just the essentials. The rest can come from IKEA. Learning how to install light fixtures. And to move items via transit. Mijn fiets! Discovering our new neighborhood. Tiny fridge = daily trips to the grocery store. Rachel joined us in April. She loves the sunny garden… … and the cozy couch. New holiday traditions. Our first married Christmas. Tom’s enjoying this much more than it looks like he is.
We explored the city of Amsterdam.
Sun = picnics. Cherry trees in the Bos Plenty of museums to see. And new holidays to celebrate. And days to remember. We love the boats, and the beers. Picking berries at the farm. Celebrating pride and freedom. Football! The upside to the rainy days. Absinthe and poetry during a night at the museums The Portuguese synagogue, lit with candles Beautiful music in beautiful buildings The first snow of the season Winter lights And winter fun.
We tasted new favorite foods.
Appeltaart at Winkel 43 Which beer is best? Genevers, liquers, and cheese Poffertjes Haggelslag Muisjes for our new niece Gouda Pannenkoeken Sinterklaas treats Drop licorice Oliebollen (and New Years fireworks) And of course, stroopwafels
We discovered beautiful areas in the Netherlands.
Zaanse Schans The tulip fields on a cold day Keukenhof on a hot day Beaches Biking to Haarlem Biking in Waterland Delft on market day Delft Baby animals in Waterland/Marken Kasteel de Haar, outside Utrecht Utrecht Hiking in the Bos Biking to Zaandvort an Zee (to a beach club called Zan Diego) Finding more (wild) berries to pick More hikes, on the train station walking paths Highland cattle in the dunes Windy beaches Naarden The island of Texel Wadlopen (walking through mud) Christmas markets in Leiden Christmas market in Den Haag
We celebrated love.
Mini honeymoon on the James River Best girls at the best bachelorette party We’re so excited to meet you, Abby!
And, we traveled to many cities and countries in Europe.
Barcelona in February:
Calcots, a grilled Spanish spring onion
Vienna, Austria, for a quick work trip for me in March:
Dinant, a tiny town in Belgium, for Easter weekend:

Stockholm, Sweden, in May:
Fika! The Vassa Picnic in the apple orchard
Sicily in August:
Sal’s figs Traffic jam Homemade sfiuncini
Stuttgart, Germany, in September for the Canstatter Volksfest:
Mercedes Benz Museum A little town called Esslingen Coolest parade we’ve ever seen
Paris in October:
Tom visited Portugal in November for work:
England, in November:
Thanksgiving at Borough Market Thanksgiving dinner at Ottolenghi’s A day in Oxford And a day walking in the Chiltern Hills
And finally, three cities for three Christmas markets: Metz, France; Luxembourg City; Trier, Germany:
Wow, what a year it has been!
On to the next!