Groeten uit Amsterdam!

That means ‘Greetings from Amsterdam’ in Dutch – I’ve been practicing all day!

I’ve been having lots more fun here in Amsterdam. Anna and I have been for more trips round the city. We found a big shop full of cheese! The cheeses were huuuuge and in big round wheels, orange and yellow and very heavy.

 I asked Anna who made the cheese, and she took me to a lush green field to meet the cows. They were munching grass and saying MOO a lot. I wanted to ask them whether they were saying MOO in Dutch but one of them gave me a funny look so I thought I’d better not.

Guess what we had for tea that afternoon!

The next day Anna said she had arranged a surprise trip for me. We cycled alongside the canals again, stopping to look at all the different boats on the way.

We reached a beautiful big boat and Anna said we were going to go for a ride on it! I was so excited as we climbed down the steps and into the boat. The Captain started up the engine and we floated along the canal, passing ducks and swans and lots of little boats. I was a bit scared of pirates but Anna assured me there weren’t any. I climbed onto the bows so that I could have the best view in all directions. We chugged all around the city and it looked even more special from the water.

Today is my last day in Amsterdam. Anna said she had found a shop where I could get the perfect souvenir to take home with me. It was full of funny wooden shoes called clogs! There were great big ones which looked like they’d been made for giants, and others which were nearer to my size. Anna explained that people in the Netherlands used to wear clogs hundreds of years ago, but that now they were more for fun – and for clog dancing! They all had different patterns painted on them and I spent ages choosing a big pair to take home with me. I settled on this one because it had a windmill painted on it, which will remind me of my most exciting day here!

Anna helped me pack it into my suitcase, and soon she’s going to take me to the airport. I’m sad my holiday’s about to end but I can’t wait to tell Sarah and Percy all about my adventures!

With clogs and spots

Dottie