It has come time to leave Amsterdam after 2.5 years. Undoing our life here comes with sadness, but also the realization that we have done a pretty good job of settling in here. Football We found an expat-friendly (meaning English-speaking) football club for Sam shortly after arriving in Amsterdam. Coach Morgan and the other coaches were very patient and encouraging throughout Sam’s football journey. Given the obsession with football in Europe, I was glad we found an opportunity for him to learn the game. In the end, I think he prefers watching football to playing it. Even a snowy football session during our last weeks in Amsterdam. Snow is rare here, so this was somewhat of a “treat” for us. You might be wondering how a city that doesn’t get much snow handles it. The answer is: they just don’t — everything pretty much shuts down. Except, apparently, football practice. Volleyball If you know Ryan you know he is always working on becoming the next Karch Kiraly (if you don't k...
Keri and Heidi Visit to Amsterdam - November 13 - 17 2025 My final guests in Amsterdam were KP (Keri Petrie) and Heidi. It was a welcome distraction from all of the logistics of moving countries. They were up for anything, so they joined me in doing some Amsterdam activities I had never done before but wanted to do before moving. They are the perfect friends to join me in finally going to Kattencafé Kopjes - the cat cafe in Amsterdam. Due to age restrictions at the cafe, I couldn't take Sam, so I never went. But KP and Heidi met the age requirements and are also cat-obsessed. After the cat cafe we went to Foodhallen — a big food hall that I somehow never managed to visit. Another new experience for me was going to Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder , aka Museum Our Lord in the Attic. It is a hidden Catholic church established in 1661 for the usual religious oppression reasons. I don't really remember th...