European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 26, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Rom America s heartland of Amsterdam s heart by Norm Zeigler travel outdoor writer Ted Boddy is a Long Way from his native Colgate okla. But despite living most of the last 44 years in Amsterdam he says Quot i m just As much a redneck As i Ever Boddy and his wife Nicky Boddy Wiechmann operate the Amsterdam Wiechmann hotel a Small beautifully furnished hotel on Prinsen Racht. Like millions of americans of his generation Boddy came to Europe with the military. He facetiously says he arrived on a troop ship and stayed because Quot they stopped sendin pm and i could t get Boddy arrived with the 42nd army inf in 2nd army div in 1948 As part of . Occupation forces in Germany. Quot we were the first unit into the French zone when the French were leaving a he says. In 1952, while stationed in Mainz he went to Amsterdam on a three Day pass. While there he fell in love twice with a dutch girl and the City. Later that year he married his dutch sweetheart Nicky Wiechmann. Boddy stayed in the army two More years before deciding it was time to move on. He and his wife moved to Amsterdam with their baby son and he made plans to attend the University of utrecht in october. But family tragedy intervened. In August his father in Law died of a stroke brought on by Hodgkin s disease a form of Lymphatic cancer. Since his Mother in Law could not run the hotel alone he and his wife stayed to help out. Except for four years when they lived in Washington state they have been there Ever since. They returned to Amsterdam in 1963 to take Over the business. Boddy says Amsterdam is a special City. Quot it used to be a greater place but it s still when he first saw it he says it was one of the few Western european cities with no major scars from the War. Quot Amsterdam was the nearest in the 50s to an american City. They did t have any bomb damage a he says. In the 50s the City was Shabber less Well kept than now but it had More character. Quot it looked like an old broken Down town a Boddy says but it was also smaller and friendlier. And safer. Quot it was like a Village. I did t lock my car in those Days a he reminisces. The Wiechmann family had lived on Prinsen Racht since the 1930s. But it was not until after world War ii that their Home became a hotel. Quot my wife s dad and her brother rebuilt it and started a Little hotel in 47,�?� Boddy says. The conversion was fortuitously timed to take advantage of the postwar travel Boom that soon followed. Originally the hotel occupied a single narrow building. Over the years Boddy and his wife have expanded it so that it now includes buildings on either Side. He says they could have borrowed Money to make it even bigger but they decided against it. Quot that s where my okie tradition comes in. We never wanted to work with other people s Money a he says. But they have no regrets about not expanding further. Quot we be had about everything we wanted anyhow a he says. They own a vacation apartment in Ben dorm Spain and visit his parents in Riverside calif., two or three times a year. Of their four Ted Boddy a a transplanted oklahoman operate in Amsterdam. Children two boys and two girl two live in California and two in Amsterdam. All Are american citizens. Boddy does not feel like an expatriate. Part of the reason is that his family has been the focus of his life. Quot you have your Little Island a he says. A. Home is where Momma and the kids today the Amsterdam Wiechmann hotel is an elegant old world style facility with modern amenities. It is also located in one of the most attractive areas of the City Only a 15-minute walk from the a amps Jim Cert Elm a stands outside the hotel he and his wife dam. Prices for the 38 rooms Are moderate for Amsterdam 100 to 150 guilders for singles about $55-$801 50225 for doubles and 250-300 for Quot family rooms for three to four people. The hotel has no restaurant but it serves a huge delicious Buffet breakfast. For a touch of midwestern hospitality in Europe Stop and stay with Ted and Nicky at Prinsen Racht 328-332. The Telephone number is 020-6263321. If calling from outside the Netherlands dial the country code first and drop the first 0.�?� traveler s tips ass map Amsterdam is located in the West Central Netherlands at the South end of the Ijssel Meer the old Guider Zee. The River amstel flows through the City to empty into Amsterdam s Harbor. Several major highways Lead to the City. The a Are train connections from All parts of Europe. The train station is at the Northern Edge of the City along the Harbor. The tourist office a the we a is across the Street from the station at 10 stations Plein. There you can get maps and brochures As Well As Purchase tickets for events performances and exhibits. Lines can be Long so be prepared to wait. Outside the tourist office Are Many hawkers handing out fliers for Quot budget hotels. Inside the we continuously plays a taped disclaimer in four languages. A lot of the Low priced hotels Are in the red Light District. Visitors should not agree to take a room without seeing it first no matter How Low the Price or How Friendly and enthusiastic the Hawker. The Central Square the dam is a straight six Block walk from the station s main Entrance. An excellent Way to get quickly acquainted with Amsterdam is by boat. More than 70 Craft ply the canals on water level Tours that show the City in its Best Light. A number of companies Start their Tours near the main train station. A 45-minute ride costs around 10 guilders about $5.31. The Tours Are conducted in at least three languages and give a Good overview of some of the main landmarks. A few such As the seven arched Bridges on regu Liers Bracht Are Best viewed from the deck of a boat. Those who choose to see Amsterdam on foot should Bear two things in mind. Always look both ways before crossing a Street even a narrow byway May have two Way traffic and Amsterdam Drivers do not believe in slow and easy. Another Hazard is the ubiquitous piles of dog excrement a blemish on the otherwise clean City. Bicyclists should be careful of the Amsterdam Drivers who tend to drive too close and too fast. Stay in hike lanes where applicable and do not insist on the right of Way. One of the special features of Amsterdam social life is its Quot Brown pubs a so named because of the Woodwork discoloured by centuries of cigarette smoke. A few of them Dale to the i 7th and 18th centuries. Be advised that some of the Quot cafes Art really marijuana bars. There Aie Many other bars and genuine cafes. One disappointment is the Heineken brewery tour which is now something of a Misnomer. The brewery in Amsterdam was shut Down in april 1988. Now it is Only a quasi museum that provides a few Beers for the 2 Guilder $1.07 Entrance fee. For More information Contact we Amsterdam tourist office Post bus 3901, 1001 As Amsterdam Netherlands Telephone 020-6266444 or 020-62 52869. If calling from outside the Netherlands be sure to acid the country code. A Norm Zeigler March 26, 1992 stripes Magazine 7
