Amsterdam, Amsterdam. Melting pot of anarchist underground groups and hyper-capitalist finance geniuses, loved by artists as much as by stoners. Most likely, you know Amsterdam’s city center with its coffee shops, cheese shops and souvenir shops. A real-life Disneyland. Here come some insights from people that know Amsterdam beyond its city center, so read carefully if you’re heading to the unofficial Dutch capital soon.
Best website/app/crystal ball to use when you are looking for a place to live?
Joana: Rich Dutch friends.
Louis & Allegra: Facebook groups, funda, kamernet, pararius, grind all of them at the same time, to ultimately get a flat recommended by a friend.
Stijn: Kamernet and Facebook housing groups.
Which tourist attraction is actually worth it?
Joana: The overarching gentrification of noord
Louis & Allegra: Boat tours are nice, but only if you have posh friends with private boats Stedelijk museum – if you want to impress your date and Bulldog coffee shop if you want to depress yourself.
Stijn: IJ Hallen Flea Market at NDSM.
Mykolas: Vondelpark, the 9 streets, boat tours.
Easiest way to save some money like a true Amsterdamer?
Joana: hopping tram line 5 and 19.
Louis & Allegra: Live in Utrecht.
Stijn: Don’t drink in the city center, Leidseplein or Rembrandtsplein. Never enter an Albert Heijn To Go.
Mykolas: Get a job and apply for Studiefinanciering (study grant) and huurtoeslag (rent allowance).
An Amsterdamer would never be seen… / How to spot the difference between tourists and locals? …
Joana: An Amsterdamer would never be seen without a general air of smugness.
Louis & Allegra: Difference between locals and tourists – height and biking speed.
Stijn: Amsterdamers would not be seen getting a prostitute, drinking at bars in the Red Light, going to the Heineken Experience, getting on a canal cruise.
Mykolas: An Amsterdamer would never be seen zigzagging on a red rental bike.
Best place to escape to if the city gets a bit much?
Joana: De Bijlmer.
Louis & Allegra: deSchool basement or alternatively Zandvord.
Stijn: In nice weather, go for a swim up at Bogortuin.
I wish people would have told me… about living in Amsterdam.
Joana: It‘s all fun and games until you get denied huurtoeslag (rent allowance).
Louis & Allegra: That the walls are thin as paper and there is construction going on 24/7.
Stijn: To get a museum card. That there is top-notch ramen to be found.
Mykolas: How difficult it is to find affordable accommodation and to stay away from Dutch food, except stroopwafels.
Amsterdam politics are…
Joana: snooty greens.
Louis & Allegra: Liberal, vegan, woke at, but not very present in daily conversations.
Stijn: Green and left.
How (and where) to flirt like an Amsterdamer?
Joana: bumble business while on your swapfiets.
Louis & Allegra: Borreltje with the boys/girls.
Stijn: Wear a white button down and go order G&T’s at De Tulp on Marie Heinekenplein.
Which stereotype about Amsterdamers is actually true?
Joana: Signet rings.
Louis & Allegra: Tall, blond, stingy.
Mykolas: Tall, blunt and speak English really well.
If Amsterdam were a person, who would it be?
Joana: David Garret.
Louis & Allegra: Boris Jonson if he were cool with weed and the European Union.
Stijn: Andre Hazes. Or a non-Dutch person, David Bowie. A little out there, forward thinking, strange at times, a cool aesthetic, beautiful in spirit, and loved by everyone.
Mykolas: Walter Faber.
Photo by Jack Winbow from Pexels