Weekend in Amsterdam (ft. HSLOT!)

6/3/23- 6/4/23

This weekend was one of my favorite weekends! I stayed at my friend Anna's uncle's house in Amsterdam Zuid so we got to explore Amsterdam like locals and then last night, we went to the Harry Style's concert.

* rainbow train signs for pride month!

We took the train together to Amsterdam Zuid and stopped by Anna's uncle's house to drop off our bags. Then, we traveled to Bijlmer ArenA where there are like 3 concert venues in one area. Harry was playing in the biggest arena, Johan Cruijff ArenA, where the football team Ajax plays. There was also another concert going on the same night as Harry. This band called Ghost and they were a goth rock band I think. It was really funny to see the next day the two different concert halls across from each other with the Harries and their glitter and color and cowboy hats and sparkly dresses and then the Ghost fans who wore all black and many of them painted their faces to look like a skull. Anna and I visited the arena to find lockers and see if we wanted to camp the next day. Already there were many Harry fans camping in tents on a small field.

After we found lockers and walked around the perimeter of the stadium, we took the tram to the Dam square where all the main stores are. We did some window shopping and then we decided to watch a movie that evening. Anna found a deal where we could buy one get one free for our movie tickets at the Kruidvat (a drugstore) so we got some snacks and then bought the tickets. Then, we picked up a Too Good To Go order at this patisserie and we got such good treats. A banana cream pastry, tompouce, apple pie, and maple bar. We also picked up a slice of pizza somewhere near and then ate our dinner along the canal. Afterwards we walked to the movie theatre, Pathe Tuschinski, which is a theatre I've been wanting to go to for a while. The inside was so beautiful and intimate. We watched The Little Mermaid both of us for the second time, but the movie is so good so I loved watching it again. Halle Bailey is the perfect Ariel. Afterwards, we walked around the center and then took the tram back to Anna's uncle's house.

The next day, we went back to the stadium area and it was packed with Harry fans already waiting in line. We decided to not camp and go on a picnic instead! Before that, we walked around and explored some boutiques. Then, we went back to Amsterdam Zuid which is where a lot of the parks are and went to the Albert Heijn to get some groceries for our picnic. Then, we had our picnic at Beatrix park. It was so warm and sunny and nice. I want to go on as many picnics as I can before I leave. Everyone is also always at the park because Dutch people love the sun. The park we were at had the best vibes. There were so many dogs and people just hanging out. I had a lot of fun people watching. There were these to older men near us with their dogs, flying a drone around the park. There was also a bunch of little boys, and I think it was a birthday party. Initially, they were playing soccer, but then they got into big inflatable balls and started running around. It was so funny to watch them run around because you could only see the inflatable balls and their little legs. They kept ramming into each other and rolling around. The funniest part was when they tried to do a forward roll but they would get stuck halfway through and they'd land upside down, shaking their feet in the air. Then, the parents would have to push them forward for them to be able to run around again. Anna and I were laughing so hard at them running around.

Afterwards, we walked back to her uncle's house to get ready. We showed up at the arena at around 6 pm and since we had pit seats we were allowed special entrance to the stadium. It was crazy walking into the stadium when no one else was there, it felt so VIP. We got into our area, Hollywood, and it was practically empty! I'm so glad we decided not to camp because we had such a good view even though we showed up late. We befriended the girls next to us, and they traveled from Germany to see Harry. This was probably the biggest show I've been to that hasn't been a festival, and it was so cool to see what Harry Styles fans were like. I think they are pretty cool and chill.

Wet Leg went first. I love Wet Leg. I wanted to see them when they did a headliner tour earlier this year, but it was sold out so it was so cool that they were opening for Harry. The girls were so cute and fun. My favorites they played were Too Late Now, Your Mum, Angelica, and of course Wet Dream and Chaise Lounge. It was really fun when we all screamed during Your Mum.

Then, Harry went on. I've got to admit, his outfit was very ugly. His top was fine- it was light pink and yellow- but it didn't really suit his skin tone well. His pants.. were his skin color and leather. Very hideous. But, it's okay! He put on a great show! He was so charismatic and lively and everyone was in love with him. My favorite part was during "Adore You", he pointed for the crowd to say "Just Let Me Adore You" and then he said "okay!" and then the whole stadium went "Aww" collectively. It was so sweet. ALSO also also also also, Harry played "Medicine"!!!! Medicine is an unreleased Harry song that he only plays to audiences that he really likes. Anna kept saying he probably won't play it because we were Night 1 and he rarely plays "Medicine" for Night 1. But we kept chanting Medicine throughout the show and we thought we weren't going to get it because he was going to play Kiwi, his last song, but then last minute, he gave it to us!! He was standing at the mic and trying to get the whole stadium totally silent (which never happened). One of the girls in the back of our section actually shouted "Fuck you!" and everyone in our section whipped their heads back and gasped. That was also really funny. But anyway, Harry was trying to make us quiet but every time he turned his back to us and faced the band, the whole stadium started cheering so loudly. He did that twice before looking at the band, shrugging, and then deciding to play Medicine. And so we got Medicine!

After the show, all the trains in the Amsterdam area got cancelled. Which was, as you can imagine, a huge mess. Everyone was just swarming around the area- sitting around, walking around, getting food. There was a guy with a guitar and so many people circling around him and they were all singing Harry songs. It was so cute. Ziggo Dome, another stadium, was letting people sleep over there. Some of my exchange friends slept over there. Luckily, my host sister was also at the concert and Marcel, my host mom's boyfriend, picked us up. It felt so nice for Nikita to arrange everything for us. I've never had a big sister before and usually I'm organizing the plans, but this time she did everything and I just followed her. It was so great.

** sign saying all the trains in Amsterdam are cancelled

** discount on hair products cause Harry Styles is playing in Amsterdam!

We got home at like 1:30 and went straight to bed. Such a good weekend and concert. Currently at school and my legs hurt and I'm so tired, but don't regret a thing.

Amelia