On Tuesday, 14th April, 2015, thirty-eight Traditional Lace Makers departed from Cork Airport and arrived at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. From Schiphol Airport we travelled to stay in the heart of Amsterdam.
We stayed at the 3 star Rho hotel, which opened its doors in April 1989. The building was formerly used by a gold trading company. The beautiful reception and lobby were once a theatre, built in 1908 in Art-Deco style. The Rho Hotel is located in the heart of the old city, in a quiet side street, a few steps from the historic Dam Square, the central square of Amsterdam, the Royal Palace and the New Church. The Central Station is about 5 minutes walking distance. The hotel staff were very hospitable and welcoming.
On Tuesday afternoon, we took a terrific one-hour cruise along the canals and enjoyed the wonderful views of Amsterdam - THE only way to see Amsterdam.
Wednesday morning, April 13th, saw all 38 ladies sitting in the lobby of the Rho Hotel listening to Lia Boawneester speak about her collection of lace. We took turns to see, up close, her collection of fantastic old lace.
Wednesday afternoon, we visited the Irish Ambassador's Residence, Wassenaar, in the Hague. Ambassador John Neary and his wife, Kathleen, gave us a very warm welcome and treated us to light refreshments. It was a wonderful experience for all the members of the group. Our bus driver then took us on a scenic tour of the Hauge and through Scheveningen so we could see the fields of flowers.
Thursday, 14th, saw us take a bus journey to the fantastic Keukenhof Gardens. We toured the outdoor tulip collections, featuring different designs and landscaping ideas, ranging from traditional to innovative. There were also several large indoor pavilions where we saw magnificent displays of flowers in all their glory.
Free time on Friday gave everyone the opportunity to explore Amsterdam before returning to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol for our flight back to Cork.
Great memories from a terrific visit to Amsterdam. We would like to most sincerely thank Veronica for arranging such a wonderful trip.