Quote Originally Posted by Dedworth View Post
When I was a student we used to go on "Educational Trips" on the P & O Norland from Hull to R'Dam (famous for transporting 2 Para to the Falklands and Argie prisoners back to their place).

The trip was about 5 days with 4 nights in A'Dam (staying at the aptly named student Hotel Cok) the main educational aspect was the trip round the Heineken Brewery (now sadly closed and replaced by the Heineken Experience). We used to get totally wrecked over there and one of our girls was taken back by the matelots as a trophy to an RN Warship which was on a goodwill visit, they stuck her in a taxi later ! She now lives in Rotterdam and 2 years ago Mrs D & I went with her to Amsterdam and the former brewery - you still get a few free beers but it wasn't a patch on the old days when we had brutal size 10 hangovers from the night before.

Happy days

Have a good run ashore Arthur
Haha that was the first ever ship I sailed on, the Norland, as a passenger. My best mate used to work on it and the new ships, he has some stories to tell about the passengers on some of the crossings. I once did a 'cruise' on it when he got me a discount and had a great time. Well worth the money.

Quote Originally Posted by Trefor View Post
I agree with the above. All very safe, just watch out for pickpockets, same goes for any touristy location nowadays though. I lived in Amsterdam for 2 years in my later 20s, right on Prinsengracht, now that was a fun 2 years
Reminds me of when I got pick pocketed in Rotterdam in 2008, a group of guys bumped into me and one was 'overly' apologetic, patting me on the back etc, and I had to push him away. About ten minutes later I checked my pocket and found my phone had been stolen...

I used to go there regularly for courses when I worked for Holland America Line. Could imagine it being a good place to live.