I didn’t arrive in Amsterdam feeling brave -  I arrived scared. Scared of getting lost, of making mistakes, of realising I wasn’t ready to be alone in a new place. For most of that trip, I stayed close to my accommodation, walking familiar streets and avoiding going too far in case I couldn’t find my way back.

But even in that fear, something shifted. Each small win, navigating transport, ordering food alone, simply sitting with myself reminded me that fear didn’t mean I couldn’t do it. It meant I was learning. Amsterdam didn’t make me confident, but it gave me courage.

By the time I left, I understood that I could rely on myself. That trip became the starting point for every journey after. I didn’t come back fearless, I came back stronger. Amsterdam was where my solo travel journey truly began.