The Happy Dutch

Friday was spent visiting yet another coffee equipment supplier, this time about 1 hour out of Amsterdam. The facility was impressive, organised and functional. The Dutch workplaces that we have visited are obvioulsy very productive as we can tell from the quality of their output. Interestingly the feel in the workshops and production areas is relaxed. There is always music playing, the people are freindly but at the same time professionally focussed.

Lunch was taken in a disused train station which had been converted into a nice restaurant. The Dutch know how to enjoy their food.

The Dutch also know a lot about water and the need to keep it at bay. We visited the Kinderdijk, one of the more famous windmilled spotted areas. Our host informed us as were standing 2 metres below sea level. Not surprisingly we were still dry.

Afternoon peak hour traffic in Amsterdam was busy and at a crawl. It seems that not only do all of the Dutch own a pushbike, they also like to take their cars on the road on Friday afternoon.

Friday night dinner was followed by a nice espresso at Cafe Firenze located just off Rembrandt Sqr. Being a back street Italian restaurant I don't need to tell you that the pasta and the espresso were both excellent.

Leaving Amsterdam this afternoon and back to the cut & thrust of the Australian life on MOnday morning.