European Architecture Tour | Haarlem & Amsterdam

Oct 29

It’s been pretty quiet around here these past few months. I took some time away from the blog this summer to focus on a few things closer to home — yard projects, organizing a charity run, and planning a long-awaited trip to Europe.

Back in our apartment days, Matt and I were frequent flyers. We made a point of taking one major trip a year — often to Europe, though Japan once made the list — but like many, our travel habits shifted after Covid. Life took a different turn as we bought our home and, a few years later, welcomed our son, Theo. Travel looks a little different these days, but after shaking off the jet lag, I was reminded just how much I still love exploring new cities and discovering their architectural treasures.

To ease back into blogging, I thought it would be fun to continue my architectural tour series — this time featuring some of the incredible homes and buildings we came across on our travels. First up: Haarlem and Amsterdam.

Haarlem

Haarlem was actually the final stop on our trip — a last-minute addition I made while planning, since it’s just a short train ride from Amsterdam, where we were flying in and out of. As it turned out, Haarlem was an absolute gem. Its charming streets, historic facades, and early fall colours made it one of the most memorable stops of our journey.

The city’s history stretches back centuries, with architecture that beautifully layers medieval, Golden Age, and 19th–20th century influences — some buildings even dating as far back as the 13th century. Seeing them up close felt surreal after years of only reading about them in my long-since-donated interior design textbooks.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam was the first stop on our trip — a city Matt and I have visited before, and one we thought would be perfect for easing into vacation mode (and shaking off the jet lag). One of my favourite things about Amsterdam is how effortlessly photogenic it is. The canals, bikes, and boats — all set against a backdrop of tall, narrow townhomes, each one with its own distinct character — make it an easy city to lose yourself in.

Built on what was once a swamp, Amsterdam’s foundations are constantly shifting, and as the buildings slowly settle over time, the streets only seem to grow even more charming.