Nachricht

On the first morning after the exhibition, sunlight spilled unexpectedly over Amsterdam's canals. Our group slept in naturally, then ambled down to the small café below the hotel—the exhaustion from three busy days at the show finally melting away in that moment.

## Slow Hours in the Windmill Village

After a simple Dutch breakfast (cheese, ham, and fresh bread), we boarded the pre-booked coach. The bus followed the canals out of the city, the view outside gradually opening into wide fields. Twenty minutes later, **Zaanse Schans Windmill Village** came into sight.

"Look, this transmission mechanism is quite interesting," our Technical Director said, pointing at the wooden gears inside a windmill. A few engineers immediately gathered around, like children discovering a new toy. But most people preferred the scenery outside—the green meadows, the quietly flowing streams, and those slowly turning windmill sails. We took many photos by the river, the wind tousling everyone's hair, but the smiles were especially genuine. (Image suggestion: by the river in the windmill village, someone leaning on a wooden bridge railing with typical Dutch countryside in the background)

Before leaving, we watched a wooden shoe carving demonstration in the village workshop. The master craftsman skillfully shaped the wood, and a pair of clogs took form in no time. Next door, the cheese shop wafted with a rich, milky aroma. We sampled several varieties, and in the end, everyone bought some to take home.

## Afternoon of Diamonds and Dam Square

It was already 2 PM by the time we returned to the city. We visited Amsterdam's famous **Diamond Factory**. Peering through the glass windows, we watched the technicians intently polishing those small stones, every cut precise down to the micron. The colleague beside me whispered, "The precision requirement isn't lower than the tolerances for our pump bodies." Everyone chuckled.

A thirty minutes bus from the diamond factory brought us to **Dam Square**. Pigeons fluttered about, a street musician strummed a guitar, and the sunlight was just right. We scattered for our own activities—some sat on the steps basking in the sun, some went shopping in the nearby department store, while others simply gazed at the passersby.

A few colleagues and I turned into a nearby alleyway and accidentally found a very old café. Dark wooden tables and chairs, yellowed maps hanging on the walls. We ordered coffee and apple pie, sitting by the window, watching the tour boats glide slowly down the canal outside.

## A Joyful Evening at Lion's Head

At 6 PM, we met our German friends at Lion's Head Restaurant. Tucked away along a quiet canal, the inside was bustling with energy. Giant roasted pork knuckles, golden-brown and crispy on the outside, juicy and tender inside, were already laid out on the long wooden tables.

"To the successful exhibition, and to friendship!" everyone raised their beer steins. Our German friends shared their experience testing our 42-series diaphragm pump last time, and our Sales Manager immediately pulled out his phone to show more technical documentation. But soon the conversation shifted back to travel—they insisted we must visit the Heineken Experience, saying it was particularly fun.

The knuckle lived up to its reputation, perfectly complemented by sauerkraut and mashed potatoes, leaving everyone thoroughly satisfied. By the time we left, night had fully fallen. The lights along the canal reflected on the water's surface, breaking into shimmering fragments of gold. (Image suggestion: inside the warm-lit restaurant, a close-up of the knuckle and beer steins on the table)

The next day, we decided not to rush. We gathered in the hotel lobby only after 9 AM. The weather was even better than the day before—the sky a clear, transparent blue with almost no clouds.

## A Refreshing Morning at the Heineken Museum

The **Heineken Experience** turned out to be housed in an old brewery, its red-brick building full of character. Entering the lobby, you could catch a faint scent of malt. The tour route was cleverly designed. We saw ancient brewing equipment, stables (they really used to deliver beer by horse!), and modern production lines.

The most fun part was in the interactive area—we sat on motion-simulator seats that mimicked the "brewing process," following barley as it "became" beer. From malt to fermentation to bottling, the whole process felt like a little adventure. At the end, each person received a fresh draft beer. We stood in the courtyard under the sunlight, slowly sipping the cool, refreshing brew. (Image suggestion: in the museum courtyard, everyone chatting and laughing with beer glasses, red-brick buildings and blue sky in the background)

## A Free-Flow Afternoon

After Heineken, the group had different ideas. The art lovers headed to the **Van Gogh Museum**—they later said they were surprisingly moved seeing the real *Sunflowers*. Another group visited the **Oude Kerk** (Old Church), sitting for half an hour in the quiet of that ancient building, listening to organ practice notes reverberate under the dome.

Our General Manager mysteriously said he had an errand to run. We found out later he went to pick out a gift for his wife. In the LV store on the luxury shopping street, he deliberated for a long time before finally choosing a classic Speedy bag. "She's wanted this for a while," he said with a smile. "This business trip was a good chance to surprise her."

Three other colleagues and I opted for aimless wandering. The **Negen Straatjes** (Nine Little Streets) area was perfect for strolling—narrow lanes, tiny shops, each with its own character. We spent a long time in a second-hand bookstore, flipping through old nautical maps; then bought handcrafted ceramic mugs from another small shop, painted with simple windmill designs.

## Twilight on the Canals

At 4 PM, we regrouped at the pier near Central Station and boarded our reserved sightseeing boat. The glass roof provided excellent views. The guide narrated the history of the buildings along the banks, but more often, we just watched quietly.

The canal water was as calm as a mirror, reflecting the colorful houses on both sides. Occasionally, a cyclist crossed a bridge, or a resident had tea on their houseboat deck. As a pump company, our conversation naturally turned to the city's water system—how these canals manage water levels, control floods, and stay clear.

"Actually, our pumps do similar things," one engineer remarked, "just in different application scenarios." Everyone nodded, watching the passing scenery outside the window. No one spoke further, only the occasional click of a camera breaking the silence. (Image suggestion: the moment the boat passes under a bridge, typical Amsterdam architecture on both sides, clear reflections on the water)

The boat returned to the pier an hour later at twilight. The sunset dyed the sky a rosy gold, and lights along the canals began to twinkle on. We found a restaurant by the water for dinner, simply sharing salads and pan-fried fish, watching as night slowly enveloped the city.

## A Final Small Episode

Before heading back to the hotel, we decided to take the tram one more time—purely for the experience. The red tram clanged along its tracks, the carriage warm and cozy. Sitting by the window, we watched nighttime Amsterdam glide past: lit-up cafés, people cycling home, enticing dessert displays in shop windows…

As we reached our stop, a colleague from Sales suddenly said, "You know, what made me happiest today wasn't visiting any particular sight."

"What was it then?"

"It was near the Old Church, seeing that elderly gentleman feeding the pigeons. He was doing it so earnestly, the pigeons gathered around him, and he didn't shoo them away, just slowly scattered breadcrumbs." The colleague smiled. "That kind of leisure made me feel this trip was truly worthwhile."

There was a moment of quiet, then everyone laughed. Yes, these two days of unhurried time would likely become our warmest memory of Amsterdam for a long time to come.

Back at the hotel, some were already discussing tomorrow's flights in the lobby. But tonight, we could still enjoy another glass of the complimentary hotel wine, still chat a little more about the past two days' adventures. Outside the window, Amsterdam's canals continued to flow silently, like the steady breath of the city itself. (Image suggestion: nighttime canal view from the hotel room window, a few streetlamps drawing long trails of light on the water's surface)