#HelloHighlights: Amsterdam In 10 Photos

Over two and a half years ago, I first visited Amsterdam to learn about the city's explosive growth in entrepreneurship. At the time, the region was home to over 2,500 international businesses, accounting for approximately 15 percent of total employment. This year, I returned to the highly innovative city to find that Old Amsterdam beguiles me as much as as much as my beloved New Amsterdam, aka New York City. Both cities are global hubs of delights for every sense! My highlights below:

Hallo! Hi! :)

Lisa Chau / Via Private Collection

Start your day with a stroll through Zoku's greenhouse, as seen behind me here, on your way to their lekker breakfast buffet. With a full belly on your way out, be sure to take in the great aerial views from their two rooftop terraces. FYI: As explained in the book, Stuff Dutch People Like: "Lekker in its original form refers to food and can be roughly translated as tasty or yummy. The Germans and Belgians still use lekker in this form, however, over time Dutch people have taken incredible liberties with the word and now essentially use it to describe, well, just about everything! A warm meal on a cold fall day can of course be lekker, but so can a feeling, an experience, a place and even a person!"

Lisa Chau / Via Private Collection

Managed by the Dutch foundation Stichting Hermitage aan de Amstel, the Hermitage Amsterdam exhibits art from the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg's collection. "The Hermitage Amsterdam aims to use art and history to inspire, enrich and above all offer opportunity for reflection. With our diverse exhibition and supplementary programming, the Hermitage Amsterdam presents the world heritage of one of the greatest museums – the State Hermitage in St Petersburg – to Dutch and international visitors. We take inspiration from the historical ties between Amsterdam and St Petersburg and between the House of Orange-Nassau and the Romanovs."

Lisa Chau / Via Private Collection

The exhibit is a result of collaboration between the Amsterdam Museum, the Hermitage Amsterdam, and the Rijksmuseum. Approximately 40 enormous group portraits of prominent citizens provide a glimpse into Dutch history from 1529 through 1705. Notice all the expressive hands in the paintings -- Can anyone provide insight into this particular aspect?? I'm intrigued!

Lisa Chau / Via Private Collection

Go Places! Create Memories! Trains, trams, taxis, bikes, boats and buses -- Oh my! FInd all of these modes of transportation at or around Central Station. Consider purchasing an I amsterdam City Card for unlimited access within Amsterdam's public transportation system for 24, 48, 72 or 96 hours. It's also a super convenient way to experience many highlights of the city for free or with significant discounts!

Lisa Chau / Via Private Collection

That's what I'm talking about. Pick a good weather day, and unless it's dreadfully cold, make sure your boat is open to the air! Food & drink are a plus! :) The canal tour was one of my favorite activities. Here, I am sailing with the Founders of Barqo, Floris van Hoogenhuyze and Klaas Vermeulen (both in white).

Lisa Chau / Via Private Collection

I know you were looking into people's homes during your boat tour. Everyone does, particularly because "Dutch people like living a curtain-less existence, thereby showing the world they have nothing to hide. Take a leisurely stroll down any Dutch street and you are sure to notice one starting similarity: a persistent lack of curtains, and hence personal privacy." Don't just peek from the outside, explore the lavish canal house AND garden of Willet-Holthuysen.

Lisa Chau / Via Private Collection

An initiative by ACE Venture Lab, Amsterdam Science Park and UvA Holding, Startup Village is a new co-working space for science-based startups. Inspired by Pop Brixton and London's Container House Project, Julius Taminiau Architects designed the container offices at Startup Village to provide 150 individual work spaces with a sense of community for innovators, researchers, students, and companies. Before you leave the area, I recommend Polder's duck salad for lunch. Lekker!!

Lisa Chau / Via Private Collection

Amsterdam enjoys being at the forefront of innovation and unsurprisingly hosted the World Summit AI, "The World's Tech Summit for the Entire AI Ecosystem. We're bringing together over 100 of the brightest brains in artificial intelligence with 2,000 of the world’s most active AI explorers from over 55 countries. ...World Summit AI exists to service the 3 pillars of AI System; Enterprise, Startups & Investors and Deep Tech through two-days of knowledge-sharing, networking and keynote presentations. We will help guarantee fast-paced innovation and safe progress in machine and deep learning while sparking new partnerships, investment projects and tech collaborations." Artificial intelligence contrarian and NYU Professor of Psychology, Gary Marcus offered thought-provoking remarks.

Lisa Chau / Via Private Collection

C is for celsius at Chef-owner and Dutch MasterChef Judge Michiel van der Eerde's restaurant, where "instead of the expected three-course structure, the menu is organised by temperature zones, with ‘raw and cold’ (0-20°C) tartares and salads, fish and meats cooked at a ‘low temperature’ (40-80°C), ‘steamed and cooked’ (100°C) soups and pastas, and ‘grilled and roasted’ (200 °C) burgers and steaks."

Lisa Chau / Via Private Collection

Amsterdam is a dynamic, thriving and beautiful international hub that offers the best of culture, education and innovation. I look forward to my next trip, with the aim of wandering through the Museum District's Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, and the Stedelijk. I highly recommend visiting, with at least a week explore -- The city has so much to offer! I took approximately 800 photos over 6 days. If you'd like to see more of my images, please express your interest in the comments section. Or suggest other destinations that you would like to see me cover. Thank you for sharing in my adventures! :) #HelloHighlights