I hit a wall on Thursday the 29th. I was getting only a little sleep while trying to stay awake enough to get on Amsterdam time, failing miserably. I stayed in the hotel napping and hoping for a clearer mind for Friday March 1st.

One of the things I want to to on this trip is to visit notable libraries. Yeah, I am fully aware of how nerdy that sounds. I’ve always loved books and libraries so seeing some of the most beautiful libraries in the world on this trip has more meaning to me than viewing yet another tourist attraction. I returned to the Rijksmuseum on Friday. Yes, I had to pay another entry fee. My pet peeve with museums of this size and scope is that if you’re going to charge a fee for entry, have a multi-day option available. After a few hours, my mind and eyes become tired and insensitive from seeing so much of interest and beauty. There is no way to see, really see, the art in this museum in one visit. I had not had the energy to see the painting, The Night Watch, on my previous visit and there was plenty more to see. The Cuypers Library at the Rijksmuseum is the largest and oldest art history library in the Netherlands. (https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cuypers-library) Designed by the same fellow who designed the museum itself, this library was on my must see list.

“You have two eyes and but one mouth, let this be a signal and take heed…not to talk here, but to read!” – Pierre Cuypers

Take a right from the Night Watch gallery, walk straight through to the Dutch Masters in Italy collection then turn left through the door to see the Cuypers from an observation balcony. It’s a beautiful open well lit space. The wrought iron spiral stairway in the corner was a marvel in its time and is still lovely. If I had made a reservation, I could have walked in the library itself and seen Cuypers admonition on the wall.

After a couple hours in the museum, I took a tour of the city by canal boat. It’s a very different perspective from walking and the tour gave me more of a historical perspective on how the Dam in the river Amstel grew into the city we know as Amsterdam.