Ok, it's the big trip #10 and the wife and I are staying at the always fabulous "Global Fusion" apartment at the Greenhouse Effect in Nieuwmarkt Square. Morning cafe and a spliff at Hillstreet Blues is a given as is buds aPLENTY at the Greenplace. Now, when I left off on our last travelogue in June I mentioned the offer to transfer over to the Motherland to work at our Amsterdam office; an offer we have contemplated over these past months.
We let the holiday hangover reside and sat down and discussed in detail COULD we give up what we have in the States (friends, family, a nice neighborhood in a very cool city) and move over there? But it finally hit me - I thought about passing through Centraal Station to go to work daily and stopped and said - "whoa, IMAGINE having that town, that route, those smells, those sounds, EVERY day and EVERY night?". I mean, the coffeeshops are a given (but not something to figure in lightly by any means!) but also the food, the CANALS and harbor, the music/art, the architecture, the SOCIAL JUSTICE for cripes sake! Needless to say the wife and I are a big YEAH and want to explore some fresh neighborhoods to see, well, where we might like to live!
My obvious choices are the Westerdocks, Westerpark, Jordaan area (the wife agrees with Jordaan but needs more detail on the other two), the Pijp (of course!) and the Old South. Now, we haven't been to the New South, the Eastern Docklands, the Indian neighborhood or some of the out skirt neighborhoods outside the ring. And Amsterdam NOORD - now there are some SERIOUS houses in THAT neighborhood but I'm not sure if the Biljmer area is cool enough yet.
For those who live here, have lived here, have spent an extended time or know someone who has - any suggestions? Where should we look? Where SHOULDN'T we look? We are a 40 something (white but toasted dark!!) couple (I visually pass easily for Dutch) who have pets and no intention of children. What we love about Amsterdam is the international influence as well as the Dutch so mixed nationality/race neighborhoods are preferred. I know we'll visit the Nood side via ferry this trip (especially since scooters are welcome on the ferry!!!).
Ya know, coffeeshop scene (none in the Docklands I know!), attitude of neighbors, food, markets blah blah blah.
As always, thanks for the help and all the coffeeshop suggestions over the years! WHEN we finally make it over there, I PROMISE a party!!
-HD
TRIP 10 - HEY LOCALS...New neighborhoods, any ideas?
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HasjDreamer
- Posts: 368
- Joined: Mon 10th Sep 2007 01:03 am
- Location: New England, US
TRIP 10 - HEY LOCALS...New neighborhoods, any ideas?
its bouquet sweet & pungent, its bite will roast
Westerpark. Really the coolest and most up and coming part of Amsterdam. Its centered around a huge park (different but nicer than the Vondelpark) and an old Gas Works. The gas works serves as a place for bars, clubs, theaters and galleries.
I will be moving from Old West (Vondelpark) to Westerpark in November.
Westerpark can be cheaper than Jordaan (for sure) or Old West. Much more of a mixed neighborhood than Jordaan which tends to be very very white. And cross the Biljmer off your list right now.
Would be happy to meet up with you as I am a dual US/EU citizen and I moved here last year. So I know some of the things you will go through.
I will be moving from Old West (Vondelpark) to Westerpark in November.
Westerpark can be cheaper than Jordaan (for sure) or Old West. Much more of a mixed neighborhood than Jordaan which tends to be very very white. And cross the Biljmer off your list right now.
Would be happy to meet up with you as I am a dual US/EU citizen and I moved here last year. So I know some of the things you will go through.
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Twichaldinho
- Posts: 3830
- Joined: Sat 21st Jul 2007 07:08 pm
Re: TRIP 10 - HEY LOCALS...New neighborhoods, any ideas?
Damn, I'm excited for you HasjDreamer!HasjDreamer wrote:Ok, it's the big trip #10 and the wife and I are staying at the always fabulous "Global Fusion" apartment at the Greenhouse Effect in Nieuwmarkt Square. Morning cafe and a spliff at Hillstreet Blues is a given as is buds aPLENTY at the Greenplace. Now, when I left off on our last travelogue in June I mentioned the offer to transfer over to the Motherland to work at our Amsterdam office; an offer we have contemplated over these past months.
We let the holiday hangover reside and sat down and discussed in detail COULD we give up what we have in the States (friends, family, a nice neighborhood in a very cool city) and move over there? But it finally hit me - I thought about passing through Centraal Station to go to work daily and stopped and said - "whoa, IMAGINE having that town, that route, those smells, those sounds, EVERY day and EVERY night?". I mean, the coffeeshops are a given (but not something to figure in lightly by any means!) but also the food, the CANALS and harbor, the music/art, the architecture, the SOCIAL JUSTICE for cripes sake! Needless to say the wife and I are a big YEAH and want to explore some fresh neighborhoods to see, well, where we might like to live!
My obvious choices are the Westerdocks, Westerpark, Jordaan area (the wife agrees with Jordaan but needs more detail on the other two), the Pijp (of course!) and the Old South. Now, we haven't been to the New South, the Eastern Docklands, the Indian neighborhood or some of the out skirt neighborhoods outside the ring. And Amsterdam NOORD - now there are some SERIOUS houses in THAT neighborhood but I'm not sure if the Biljmer area is cool enough yet.
For those who live here, have lived here, have spent an extended time or know someone who has - any suggestions? Where should we look? Where SHOULDN'T we look? We are a 40 something (white but toasted dark!!) couple (I visually pass easily for Dutch) who have pets and no intention of children. What we love about Amsterdam is the international influence as well as the Dutch so mixed nationality/race neighborhoods are preferred. I know we'll visit the Nood side via ferry this trip (especially since scooters are welcome on the ferry!!!).
Ya know, coffeeshop scene (none in the Docklands I know!), attitude of neighbors, food, markets blah blah blah.
As always, thanks for the help and all the coffeeshop suggestions over the years! WHEN we finally make it over there, I PROMISE a party!!
-HD
Be sure to have a good wander around the Plantage area on your next trip, I found that area to be very Picturesque (sp).
Having never seriously thought about it before, I cant give you any advice, but wanted to post anyway, just to wish you luck
So good luck.
Endure
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HasjDreamer
- Posts: 368
- Joined: Mon 10th Sep 2007 01:03 am
- Location: New England, US
'dam, thanks for the responses!!! 
Thanks FlyByNite but you already got my dates in (October 30 - November 6). I'm hoping for some more virgin menu photos on this trip!
Marco - dude, thank you SO much for the info AND the offer to meet up. The wife and I would love to get together, perhaps for a smoke and coffee (on us, of course!) at YOUR favorite coffeeshop. There are so many questions - all the LITTLE things you take for granted living in the same country (state AND city) your entire life. Your info and perspective will be of infinite value! Please feel free to PM me at your leisure.
Twich...it's ALWAYS a pleasure to hear from you! I'll take your enthusiasm and well wishes ANY day along with an expectation of a meet up once we become RESIDENTS! Resident...damn, that sounds GOOOOOD!
-HD
Thanks FlyByNite but you already got my dates in (October 30 - November 6). I'm hoping for some more virgin menu photos on this trip!
Marco - dude, thank you SO much for the info AND the offer to meet up. The wife and I would love to get together, perhaps for a smoke and coffee (on us, of course!) at YOUR favorite coffeeshop. There are so many questions - all the LITTLE things you take for granted living in the same country (state AND city) your entire life. Your info and perspective will be of infinite value! Please feel free to PM me at your leisure.
Twich...it's ALWAYS a pleasure to hear from you! I'll take your enthusiasm and well wishes ANY day along with an expectation of a meet up once we become RESIDENTS! Resident...damn, that sounds GOOOOOD!
-HD
its bouquet sweet & pungent, its bite will roast
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HasjDreamer
- Posts: 368
- Joined: Mon 10th Sep 2007 01:03 am
- Location: New England, US
Hey Hasj, Hope all goes well with the planned move.
I've got to say living anywhere from Herengracht outwards is a must, you wouldn't want to live in the centre. By the same token, Bijlmer is too inconvenient to live in, I would advise outside Herengracht, but inside the ring road.
Have a good look round, all the areas in that zone have good places and not so good places, but i'll be amazed if you don't find multiple areas that you really would love to live in.
I've had a couple of moves recently, and also had much fun cycling all around amsterdam while flat hunting, and there really are some stunning places available.
When you're next out, I'll try and arrange some time to have a good meet up and maybe a wander round some of the residential areas
Look forward to seeing you
I've got to say living anywhere from Herengracht outwards is a must, you wouldn't want to live in the centre. By the same token, Bijlmer is too inconvenient to live in, I would advise outside Herengracht, but inside the ring road.
Have a good look round, all the areas in that zone have good places and not so good places, but i'll be amazed if you don't find multiple areas that you really would love to live in.
I've had a couple of moves recently, and also had much fun cycling all around amsterdam while flat hunting, and there really are some stunning places available.
When you're next out, I'll try and arrange some time to have a good meet up and maybe a wander round some of the residential areas
Look forward to seeing you
Just trying to be 'En Vogue'
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HasjDreamer
- Posts: 368
- Joined: Mon 10th Sep 2007 01:03 am
- Location: New England, US
darkglobe - 2nd or 3rd works perfect for us, we have our very FIRST Ajax game on Sunday the 1st: Ajax vs. FEYENOORD! The infamous "classic" match - rioting occurs on a small scale every year so we figure what better initiation? I'm thinking a small, Moroccan shop: perhaps 1e Hulp or even a shop WE'VE never been too (any ideas on your end?).
SoulRider, it would be a PLEASURE to join you for a neighborhood stroll and a spliff or two! I've been following your Livinglogue (travelogue seems inappropriate!) and your experiences and first hand expat knowledge will be priceless! I know you have a busy schedule, so shoot me a PM (or right here) anytime...we arrive Friday, October 30th and leave Friday November 1st.
-HD
SoulRider, it would be a PLEASURE to join you for a neighborhood stroll and a spliff or two! I've been following your Livinglogue (travelogue seems inappropriate!) and your experiences and first hand expat knowledge will be priceless! I know you have a busy schedule, so shoot me a PM (or right here) anytime...we arrive Friday, October 30th and leave Friday November 1st.
-HD
its bouquet sweet & pungent, its bite will roast
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evergrey1968
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Thu 12th Mar 2009 09:36 pm
- Location: North East England / Purmerend NL
1e Hulp sounds good to me...in fact ,its on my list of shops to visit...i stumbled upon it about 6 years ago and never noticed its name...wondered ever since which CS it was,until someone here described it and i realised it was the long lost CS I'd been searching forHasjDreamer wrote:darkglobe - 2nd or 3rd works perfect for us, we have our very FIRST Ajax game on Sunday the 1st: Ajax vs. FEYENOORD! The infamous "classic" match - rioting occurs on a small scale every year so we figure what better initiation? I'm thinking a small, Moroccan shop: perhaps 1e Hulp or even a shop WE'VE never been too (any ideas on your end?).
-HD
This site ROCKS...So yeah,I'm thinking afternoon,about 2 ish on either the 2nd or 3rd...if you survive the Battle of the Dutch Giants OK...should be a hell of a game
"That cats something i can't explain"