Amsterdam with the family

On Memorial day we headed over for one last visit to our friends in Belgium.  We decided it would be fun to do a day trip to Amsterdam with the three families.  Since my family hadn't been there yet I was game and it would be a much shorter drive from Belgium than from Germany.  So we arrived Friday night and then headed out Saturday morning, May 23rd.

I know I posted a picture of this bridge before, but I think this is a little better photo of it.

Michael just gazing into the canal and checking it out.

We packed a lunch, so we decided to stop and eat lunch at the bridge.

Nate and Michael in the big shoes!!!

There was even a shoe shaped boat!!!

This is the oldest Rembrandt statue in Amsterdam: it dates from 1852.  When the statue was placed, the square was still called Botermarkt (Butter Market).  The square was named Rembrandtplein in 1876.  It has also become one of the centers of nightlife.  AJ is standing under Mr Rembrandt himself.

Michael decided he wanted to sit on the dog and play the drum.  :-)

Had to get a picture of the lion statue for my boys - all three of them.

Next we headed to the Heineken Brewery.  Heineken was founded in 1864 by Gerard Adriaan Heineken who was 22 at the time in Amsterdam.

They call it the Heineken Experience because the go all out on the tour, even for the younger ones.

David in front of the beer crates.  Look closely, his shirt is from the brewery in Prague.  I think it is hilarious!!!

This is a silo directly above me.  There are over 15 above me and some are over 20 meters tall.  They were used to store malted barley for crafting and brewing Heineken.

I thought this was a really cool boat made out of Heineken cans!

Boys taking a little rest on a couple of barrels.

Adriaan wanted to start a brewery and he was going to go in with another family, but they didn't want to give him much in terms of the company.  He told them "It is all or nothing."  So he went off on his own, never brewed before, and opened this company.

This was one of the first bottles that they made.

Heineken was one of the first breweries to implement using science in the brewing process.

The boys with the lion trophy Heineken won for advertising of the year!

David and AJ - two peas in a pod!

In each one of these there was a movie about different parts of the brewing process.  Michael was enjoying them!!

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It was a very hands on place, here the boys are messing with the handles.

Michael took the first turn at stirring - there was actually ingredients in there and the smell wasn't that great.  :-)

David and AJ's turn to stir!!

David even getting in on the action of turning and twisting things!!!

They have their horses living right here in the brewery.

Part of the tour was a ride, where you were the beer being brewed and bottled.  It was actually really neat and they even squirted water at you.  The kids really enjoyed it!!!

After that it was tasting time.  Here the guide is explaining how the head on the beer is keeping the carbon dioxide in and keeping it fresh!

You can never drink with out a Prost!!!!

Ready to taste fresh brewed Heineken!!!

The kids were getting a little tired, so the next room had couches and we sat down for awhile!

This was was made up of all beer bottles.  David standing next to the Heineken star!!!

They had a video game where you are the DJ.  Michael was getting into it!!!

These are special bottles for night clubs, they glow in the black light!!  Pretty cool!!!

This was a screen where you could paint with your hands.  Or if you stood in one position it would make a shape!!!

Here you get to try your hand at pouring the perfect beer!!  David was the only one out of the group to be a beer pouring hero!!!!

Different bottles they used throughout the years.

These were fun green screens where they could take pictures holding the trophy!!!

AJ's turn - like I said lots of hands on stuff to do.

David with his Heineken!!  He said it was actually really good, cold and fresh!

The table had computer coasters so whenever you put the glass down a coaster would appear!

They even had to sodas for the boys, so everybody was happy!!!!

After that we headed back towards the canal to find some lunch and go on a canal boat ride.

We stopped at a bathroom and the kids thought it would be funny to try and keep David in there.  They failed. :-)

We stopped at a DC comic store and Michael thought this was the best hat ever!!!

The boys discussing the cool socks David wants to buy!!!

AJ and his superman hat!!!!  He flew faster then the speed of light!!!

Then we headed out on the boat and Michael was having a great time and getting some fresh air while doing it!!!

Kellee and I enjoying the boat tour!  Notice the two cameras and one more was taking the picture?!?

The boys were having a great time waving at anybody and everybody!!  They were trying to see how many would wave back!!!

David and I enjoying the view!!!

The family - it was a fun day in Amsterdam and everybody enjoyed the sights that we saw!!!  After that it was getting really late so we headed back down to Belgium to rest up for our busy day tomorrow!