IT Must have looked comical as I wobbled along the streets of Amsterdam, cycling for the first time in about 18 years.

Everyone in the city seems to cycle and believe me it is the best way to see it, and I soon got the hang of it – just like riding a bike, really.

Okay, so I had been lazy and preferred having an engine, preferably of the 750cc variety, attached to my two wheels in the past, but something about the Dutch people’s laid-back approach to life made this seem right.

It really is a very relaxed way to tour the city, as long as you remember the traffic comes from the opposite direction, and it is fairly smooth until you get to the cobbles!

If you are looking for a nearby European weekend break, then Amsterdam is the ideal destination, with ferries departing from Hull daily.

But I wondered if the Dutch people were aware of what they were letting themselves in for, as I shared my coach from Rotterdam with the cream of British society.

They were boasting of how many drugs they were going to take and their planned sexual adventures, with a conversation peppered with words beginning with F and C. I have to admit I felt ashamed to be British.

There is more to the city than the famed red light district and the cafes selling exotic cakes.

Later that Saturday morning, after having checked into the sumptuous Radisson Sas hotel, I decided to explore Amsterdam. It was the ideal base, being centrally located and within walking distance of most of the attractions.

It really is the Venice of the north, being built on a network of canals, and the best way to start seeing the city is by taking a cruise on the waterways.

I found it really relaxing to just float along, seeing the city from a different angle, and looking at the development of the architecture.

The houses were built tall and narrow, because the city fathers introduced a cunning tax based on the width of the property.

The response was typical, similar to our response to window tax. We had less light and the Dutch had skinny buildings.

After a quick bite to eat at the Cafe van Dobben, at Rembrandtplein, I headed to one of Amsterdam’s diamond houses.

The precious stones are one of the reasons the city is famous, and I couldn’t help but think of the Bond film, where they were forever.

And at Gassan Diamonds we were in the capable hands of our guide, Juan. He was a real diamond geezer, and relayed the finer points of the multi-million pound trade with panache.

I even learned how to grade the stones, but there was a nervous moment when our guide dropped a stone, valued at more than £30,000. I passed at the offer of buying my own stone, being short by around £29,999!

Next, I paid a visit to Rembrandt’s house. The atmosphere was fantastic, but climbing the narrow stairs could be a little scary without a safety line.

It was good to see some of his masterpieces hanging in every room, as well as demonstrations of how they made the paints and some preliminary sketches.

Later I decided to do a traditional Amsterdam pursuit – taste gin. I visited a traditional tasting house, De Drie Fleschjes (or The Three Bottles).

Dutch Geneva Gin distilleries date back to the 1600s and this particular establishment had been in business since 1650, with flavours ranging from paintstripper to rosewater.

Nervously I held the shot glass of clear liquid filled to the brim. You cannot lift it without spilling any. Apparently etiquette is to bend over from the waist and take the first sip, without lifting the glass. Call me a traditionalist, but it tastes better with a little tonic.

The evening was nicely rounded off at the restaurant Eetkamer van de Jordaan, a traditional Amsterdam brasserie in the Jordaan area of the city.

After a hearty meal of ostrich, I wandered the city to find a quiet bar and watch the world go by.

On the Sunday, I used the time to explore the city further before catching the ferry back to Hull. It had been a truly rewarding and enjoyable trip.

From the Scunthorpe Telegraph on Wednesday, May 4, 2005.