Talking Location With … Daniella Bernett: AMSTERDAM

28th November 2025

#TalkingLocationWith… Daniella Bernett, author of Secrets Lie In Wait: AMSTERDAM

Writers are creatures of insatiable curiosity. Travelling slakes my craving to discover new things by peeling back the layers of history and culture, leading to a glorious adventure that can coax a story to life. A vibrant corner of the globe is Amsterdam, where I have partially set Secrets Lie In Wait, the tenth novel in my mystery series about journalist Emmeline Kirby and her jewel thief/insurance investigator husband Gregory Longdon. The book revolves around a long-ago injustice that is inextricably linked by kidnapping and murder to a diamond smuggling operation and a looted 130-carat, rare yellow diamond.

The Netherlands have a reputation of welcoming everyone. Nowhere is this more evident than in Amsterdam, the capital. A renowned diamond trading hub, the city is a feast for the senses. It is steeped in art and architecture. To savor Amsterdam’s bounty of charms, wander along the pavements and canals. The city is often referred to as the “Venice of the North” because it is built on over 165 canals that are connected by 1,500 bridges, where hanging baskets with a lush profusion of purple, pink and white petunias dandle on the breeze. The Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht are the main canals that form the canal belt encircling the city center. The Herengracht, also referred to as the Gentleman’s Canal, derives its name from “heren,” or noblemen, who once owned and constructed their houses along the waterway. The city is divided into about 90 islands among the waterways. The canal system is shaped like a half-moon and supplied with fresh water from the Ijsselmeer. The canal belt was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.

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I suggest taking a relaxing boat trip to garner a different perspective. There are several companies that offer tours from various departure points. I hopped on a Blue Boat cruise at Leidse Square Pier on Stadhouderskade opposite the Hard Rock Café. As the glass-topped boat glissades down the Singel Canal, one simply has to tilt one’s head toward the sky and gaze at the intricate carvings and façades of the seventeenth-century gabled houses; churches such as the Renaissance-style Westerkerk, which was built between 1620 and 1631; the De Negen Straatjes, or Nine Streets, district that connects the Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht and bustles with boutiques, cafés and hotels; bridges, including Magere Brug, the famous skinny bridge on the Amstel River; historically significant buildings like Centraal Station, designed by Pierre Cuypers, who was the architect of the Rijksmuseum; among other sites. One unusual thing you’ll notice is that many buildings are crooked because they were constructed on wooden pilings in the 15^th century and they are sinking, making them appear as if they are leaning. These are known as the “dancing houses.”

One of my favorite places is the Bloemenmarkt, nestled on the Singel Canal between Muntplein and Koningsplein. I love gardening and it was heaven. Founded in 1862, it is the only floating flower market in the world. The stalls are set on fixed barges, supported by poles, and feature glass roofs reminiscent of greenhouses. The barges are lined up next to one another creating the impression of a shopping street. The fifteen shops are brimming with a wide range of tulip, daffodil, amaryllis, crocus and other bulbs and assorted seeds, as well as bouquets of fresh flowers. Additionally, one can purchase Delft porcelain plates, vases, figurines, gifts and souvenirs.

Before I go any further, I would be remiss if I didn’t give you a word of advice: beware of bicyclists. Bikes are the most prevalent transportation mode. In Amsterdam, bicyclists always have the right-of-way.

Meanwhile, you must prioritize an excursion to the Rijksmuseum, where you can see Rembrandt’s famous “The Night Watch,” as well as other Dutch Golden Age paintings and artistic treasures. I encourage you take a stroll around the museum’s gardens, after your visit. The Line 2 tram from Centraal Station will take you to Museumplein. The square had been a farm in the 19^th century before the Amsterdam board designated it as an area for art and culture. The World Exhibition of 1883 was held on the site. Museumplein became its official name in 1903. Aside from the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and two museums dedicated to modern and contemporary art, the Stedelijk and the Moco, surround the square. In 1999, the area was redesigned and a pond was built near the Rijksmuseum with terraces on both sides and a museum shop. A few bicycle paths traverse the lawns. In winter, it is used an ice rink. An interesting fact I learned is that during World War II, bunkers and barbed wire had been erected on the site. They were demolished from 1946 to 1953.

Amid this lively cosmopolitan melding of commerce, arts, and literature, Vondelpark stands out as a bucolic oasis. The park, which is the largest in Amsterdam, was named after Dutch poet Joost van den Vondel and designed in an English landscape style in 1865. My footfalls were muted by the thousand emerald blades of grass on the main lawn, as I took a turn around the bronze statue of van den Vondel resting on a golden stone pedestal with carved figures bordered by flowerbeds. Hidden among the leafy canopy formed by the beech, oak and chestnut trees a chorus of birds serenaded me as I meandered past the open-air theater and the pond with its fountain shamelessly flirting with passersby by flicking its dainty fan of water droplets. Interrupt your rambles along the winding paths with a stop at Blauwe Theehuis. The Modernist pavilion, constructed of concrete, steel and glass, resides in the center of a terrace tucked among the trees. The building features two circular floors stacked atop one another. It had originally been a tea house, but today it is a café and restaurant. The bar serves as a tasting room for the Brouwerij’t IJ brewery. It is the perfect spot for a light meal and snacks, coffee, or a convivial drink.

After a day of exploration, I recommend nourishing the soul with a concert at the Royal Concertgebouw in Museumplein. It is venerated for its acoustics and considered to be one of the world’s finest concert halls. I spent a blissful August evening listening to the enchanting strains of Rossini. The hall is drenched in neoclassical elegance, from its ornate tympanum crowned with a golden lyre to the pristine white column façade. The busts of Beethoven, Bach and Sweelinck stand sentinel over the building.

Imbibe in a bit of wanderlust with a day trip to Delft, the birthplace of Golden Age painter Johannes Vermeer, which is only an hour from Amsterdam by train. Delft is a jewel. You can visit the Vermeer Museum. It is in the main square, where you’ll find the city hall, the cathedral, shops and restaurants. I also went on a tour to the countryside. I roamed among the windmills in Zaanse Schans and was able to enter inside one to see how it works. Then, we ventured to the fishing village of Marken and took a boat across the IJseelmeer to Volendam. Another delight is Castle Muiderslot, an UNESCO World Heritage Site that is about forty-five minutes from Amsterdam by train and bus in the fortified town of Muiden. The creamy caramel brick castle features round corner towers and sits at the mouth of the River Vecht. It is surrounded by a moat. One crosses a drawbridge to enter the cobbled courtyard. Leave time to stroll round the berceau, the arched beech alley that forms a “green tunnel.” Cool, verdant shadows greeted me, when I turned down the alley. I peeked through the “windows” cut into the hedges that provide a view of the “garden rooms.” Then, I sauntered through the vegetable and herb plots, and the plum orchard.

Have I piqued your curiosity? Adventure beckons in Amsterdam and the nearby region. Why not indulge a little?

Daniella Bernett

Photos Daniella Bermett

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Daniella Bernett is a member of the International Thriller Writers and the Mystery Writers of America, where she currently serves as a board member of the New York chapter. She also is a member of the Crime Writers Association. She graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Journalism from St. John’s University. Lead Me Into Danger, Deadly Legacy, From Beyond The Grave, A Checkered Past, When Blood Runs Cold, Old Sins Never Die, Viper’s Nest of Lies,A Mind To Murder and Betrayed By The Truth are the other books in the Emmeline Kirby-Gregory Longdon mystery series. Additionally, she is the author of two poetry collections, Timeless Allure and Silken Reflections. Daniella is currently working on Emmeline and Gregory’s next adventure. Visit www.daniellabernett.com or follow her on Facebook and Goodreads.

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