Moving to Amsterdam (temporarily)

[Skyrat]

hi there. basically, i am lucky enough to be in a position where i could easily move away for a few months this summer; being out of full-time work for the first time in 7 years (although i still have a temporary job), and with my college course ending around early May, that leaves me a great big 3 month window in the summer time. You hear of people moving away to different countries to work all the time, but I've never heard/read about it done with Amsterdam.

Sure, you can bring up backpacker stories on Google, but that's mostly to do with slumming it, either living or working in a hostel until you can get by. Or the people going to Uni there. But you don't hear of anyone moving over for a few months and then coming back.

Long story short; I've read into everything I would need to do. I've read up on just about everything you could, relating to moving to Amsterdam. What I would like to know though, is if anyone has any first-hand experience with moving to Amsterdam? Either temporarily or permanently, it doesn't matter. Any information or just reading your story would be great.

Thanks!




PS I'm also starting to learn Dutch, for obvious reasons haha

[dconstrukt]

do it.

I did the same thing 2 years ago.

the stars aligned.

my lease was up.

mom beat cancer.

I knew it was then or never.

Went alone.

Got a sweet lil apt in neiwmarkt square.

Had some friends come for a week.

Had the time of my life.

highly recommended.

[Skyrat]

dare i ask how much you paid for the apartment? ones i'm currently looking at are shared apartments, around 500 a month usually, if not higher.

glad it worked out for you
are you still in amsterdam?

[Marco]

dare i ask how much you paid for the apartment? ones i'm currently looking at are shared apartments, around 500 a month usually, if not higher.

glad it worked out for you
are you still in amsterdam?

That is a really good deal for a short term place. Don't pay any money unless you are certain it's legit.

[Weed-o]

Ehi Skyrat, I'm actually doing now what you're planning
...which means, I'm temporarily living in Amsterdam with my girlfriend.
We came here on November 1st and we'll leave around Christmas.
Now, since we needed a quite place to work in (we both work online), we had to rent an apartment just for the two of us, and believe me, that is crazy money. If you don't have particular needs, I suggest to find a room in a shared apartment and, as Marco pointed out, the price of the room you're looking seems quite good (btw, where is the apartment located?).
If you have specific questions, just ask and I'll try and answer.

[elasticband]

Ehi Skyrat, I'm actually doing now what you're planning
...which means, I'm temporarily living in Amsterdam with my girlfriend.
We came here on November 1st and we'll leave around Christmas.
Now, since we needed a quite place to work in (we both work online), we had to rent an apartment just for the two of us, and believe me, that is crazy money. If you don't have particular needs, I suggest to find a room in a shared apartment and, as Marco pointed out, the price of the room you're looking seems quite good (btw, where is the apartment located?).
If you have specific questions, just ask and I'll try and answer.

Private renting can be expensive and many people have problems getting their foot in the door due to initial costs.

rent = 1000e

1 month rent upfront = 1000e
damage deposit = 2 months rent so 2000e
agent finding fee = same as 1 months rent = 1000e

so if you are looking for an apartment is A'dam you generally need 4 months payment upfront just to get your foot in the door, this puts a lot of people off.

If you can find a house share, private landlord or social house then you are on a winner!

[Weed-o]

rent = 1000e

1 month rent upfront = 1000e
damage deposit = 2 months rent so 2000e
agent finding fee = same as 1 months rent = 1000e

so if you are looking for an apartment is A'dam you generally need 4 months payment upfront just to get your foot in the door, this puts a lot of people off.

This is absolutely true, but I think that this situation applies to longer term stays (minimum 6 months).
I've found my apartment through airbnb and, while the rent is higher than 1000e I didn't have to pay any agent finding fee (apart from airbnb fee, which is way lower) and give no such damage deposit.

[elasticband]

yeah what a mentioned above is the extreme situation for the private renter on the long term.

Really it is the Agent fee that is annoying, the agent advertises the apartment for the owner/landlord, the agent draws up the contract between the tenant and landlord then thats is their job done.

Currently if i have any issues or problems i go direct to my landlord not the agency, in the UK the agency were always working for the landlord and tenant, here the agents job seems to end at the signing of the contract, for the equivalent fee of one months rent it seems like they are making a massive % for doing very little.

Makelaars as they are known are not very well liked by the Private renter

[Skyrat]

thank you all for your comments. yep, the renting prices are insane! agency websites are where i started my search, and i must admit the prices brought me down a few pegs i knew that central amsterdam would be expensive, but the fees etc. added on just added insult to injury. it was, as recommended by others, looking at flat-shares that made me realise that this move was actually possible. these seem to range from 500-700 euros a month, but that's just for a bedroom with shared facilities usually. it's not ideal but you gotta do what you gotta do, and splitting the cost with my partner makes things even more affordable, however this does narrow the search considerably as most bedrooms in flat-share ads seem to be for singles only.

how did you fare with finding work? (an open question to all). getting my head around the SOPI number thing was confusing at first but i think i understand it now. i'm also vehemently looking for a good guide to start learning basic Dutch. I've read the forums and picked up bits here and there but i'm trying to get a package kinda thing where i can learn in one place and keep track of my progress.

doesn't leave much time for the blazing of herb

thanks again all of you for your comments, it's been great reading them.

[Skyrat]

as Marco pointed out, the price of the room you're looking seems quite good (btw, where is the apartment located?).

the apartment was advertised as Jordaan but it was actually out a bit further than that and just using the area name as a rough identifier. i'd be dubious of 500 for a room smack bang in the middle of Jordaan. according to the ad it was 10 minutes on a bike from centraal station. it was advertised on Craigslist though...so maybe not genuine.

[dconstrukt]

you dont wanna know LOL.

too much.

I do pretty well (thank god), so it's not an issue.

the food was the big thing however.

i mean, the first few days I was like a tourist... spending $$ like water.

Then I added up the cash spent... multiplied it by 3 months and was like OH FUCK!

Went to the supermarket and stocked up.

eating out there all the time will KILL you.