International Student Guide Amsterdam 2015-2016 Table of Contents

24/7 international student guide amsterdam 2015-2016 table of contents

24/7 layar 4 03:00 Editorial 5 transport & communication 24 hours with Jenna 42 01:00 Biketrip 44 the netherlands Public transport 46 Regional Pride 8 Private transport 48 Dutch recipe 10 Communication 51 History 12 Addresses 53 Geography 12 Dutch society 13 04:00 Dutch cuisine 13 living & working Media 14 24 hours with Neomi 56 Religion 15 How to behave 58 Holidays 15 Places to live 60 Addresses 19 Student housing 60 Renting privately 61 02:00 Housing corporations 61 amsterdam Commercial agencies 61 7 days in Amsterdam 22 Hotels and hostels 62 Geocaching 24 Student jobs 62 History 26 Money matters 63 Architecture 27 Addresses 65 Local government 28 Special places 29 05:00 Quarters 29 students & studying Squares 31 24 hours with Violet 68 Parks 32 Crossmedia 70 Beaches 34 Student population 72 Around Amsterdam 35 Student facilities 72 Attractive cities 35 Course materials 73 Events 36 Libraries 73 Addresses 38 Social contacts 74 International Student Organisations 75 isn Amsterdam 76 Addresses 78 table of contents

06:00 08:00 going out health 24 hours with Jorge 82 24 hours with Alexandra 120 Dutch cocktails 84 24 hours healthy 122 Where to go? 86 General emergency Restaurants 86 number 124 Pub food 87 Emergency services 124 Lunchrooms and cafés 87 Medical assistance 124 University restaurants 87 Hospitals and emergencies 125 Bars 88 Psychological assistance 126 Clubs 89 Health insurance 126 Music 89 Sexuality 126 Addresses 91 Homosexuality 127 Pregnancy 127 07:00 Drugs and alcohol 128 arts & culture Addresses 130 24 hours with Bugrahan^ 98 Contemporaries 100 09:00 Culture in Amsterdam 102 sports Discount cards 102 24 hours with Dennis 134 Cultural centres 103 Workout exercises 136 Art museums 103 Students sports clubs 138 Other museums 105 Fitness clubs 138 Theatres 106 General sports clubs 139 Festivals 107 Sporting events 140 Cinemas 108 Addresses 141 Film festivals 109 Cultural cafés 110 10:00 Shopping 110 index Shopping streets 111 From A - Z 150 Shopping malls in the town centre 112 Notes 155 Markets 112 Time to meet us 158 Specialty shops 112 Colophon 159 Supermarkets 114 Emergency numbers 160 Late-night shops 114 Addresses 115 24/7 layar time to add a new dimension

Amsterdam comes alive with the extra digital content hidden between the pages of this guide. We invite you to explore the videos, websites, photos and other gems that are available 24/7 through layar.

When you spot the layar logo on one of the pages, grab your phone and scan the page to access our special selection of extra content – some of which we’ve made especially for you.

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After that, all you need is an internet connection and you are good to go. Spot the logo, scan the page and enjoy!

4 editorial time to explore

Dear international students - it‘s time to explore Amsterdam!

In Amsterdam there are things to do and places to go to, 24/7. To make your time in Amsterdam as much fun as possible we have designed this student guide for you, by students for students.

If you like culture or if you wish to know where your friends are having a drink, take this guide. We will tell you which hotspots and hidden treasures to visit any time of the day or night. You can also find everything about transport and communication, health, sports and going out on the town.

To make you enjoy our city even more, we offer you some great recipes, an interesting cycling route outside of Amsterdam, a geocache challenge, and we use a layar app with which you can scan various pages in this guide, pointing you to the YouTube channel, the bike route, our recipes and more.

Our three departments of editors, designers and producers have been hard at work to make your 2015-2016 International Student Guide Amsterdam as interesting and informative as we could.

We hope you will have a great time in Amsterdam!

5 01:00 the netherlands the best time of our dutch lives

even if you spend most of your time

in amsterdam, you still might want to

know something about the rest of the

netherlands. national customs and holidays

need explaining. it’s also nice to know

about our religions. you might even find

our history to be interesting! and did you

know that an eighth of our country is

below the sea level? what is more, the

greater part of the netherlands would

be under water if we didn’t have our dikes

and dunes.

7 regional pride what makes our provinces special

manon afsana mathijs limburg noord-brabant zuid-holland

‘After all the hustle and bustle ‘On a normal day in Brabant ‘My favourite spot in Zuid- in Amsterdam, I love getting you will always meet someone Holland is Kinderdijk, with its a breath of fresh air on the you know, and then you’ll 19 authentic windmills. This shores of the Reindersmeer in always be having a good time. area is beautiful in winter and Limburg. It is a beautiful area In cities with many tourists, to my mind an absolute must- where you don’t meet zillions I feel anonymous. In Brabant see for international students. of people per square kilometre. you certainly don’t. The best I go there every winter with my It really gives me peace.’ thing about Brabant is, of mother and brother.’ course, the carnival! In 2016 it is celebrated in weeks five and six.’

8 dennis janneke dennis gelderland friesland groningen

‘Gelderland is special to me ‘What makes Friesland special, ‘I love Groningen as they because of its large number are the down-to-earth people organise lots of events for of old country houses with their and their beautiful language. young people there. Venues rich history. It’s also great to This language resembles both close late/early in the morning, go to the Sprengbekken near Dutch and English. We love so you can party all night. And, Spaanse Graven, an area of speed-skating and if there of course, fc Groningen, the wondrous beauty. Luckily is enough ice we skate the local football club is the best I live nearby.’ Elfstedentocht (the Eleven Cities thing about Groningen.’ Tour) of almost two hundred kilometres. Go to Leeuwarden if the Tour is held.’

9 boerenkool met worst dutch recipe: mashed kale & potatoes with smoked sausage

This is a traditional, simple Ingredients (will serve you Preparation Dutch dish. In the cold winter and three of your friends!) 1. Put the kale at the bottom of a months, there is nothing that • 1kg potatoes saucepan. After you have peeled the Dutch love more than • 600g kale (boerenkool) and washed the potatoes, cut a plate of mashed potatoes • 2 smoked sausages them into smaller cubes and with boerenkool (kale), and (rookworst) place them on top of the kale. with rookworst (Dutch smoked • 25g butter or vegetable oil Add salt to taste and fill the sausage). Although the original • 1 tablespoon vinegar saucepan with enough water to recipe is simple, there are a lot • pepper and salt cover the potatoes. Put the lid of variations for the meal to suit on the saucepan and put it on everyone’s tastes. Kitchen utensils a medium fire and bring to the • potato masher boil. After 10 minutes, the kale • large saucepan will have boiled down to half • potato peeler the size. • large bowl 2. Remove the wrapping from the sausages. Put them in the saucepan on top of the kale and potatoes. Cook on a medium fire for another 15 minutes. Take the sausages from the lets get saucepan and keep them hot cooking! under a cover.

10 3. Pour the water from the Some variations kale and potatoes into a bowl • If you like spicy food, add and keep it. Mash the kale and chilli sauce or powder. potatoes in the saucepan with You can also add mustard the masher. Add butter and instead. vinegar, and mash again. Add some of the water until the kale • If you like your mash fresh and potatoes are smooth and and sweet, add some apple creamy. sauce. 4. Add pepper, salt, and perhaps some more vinegar, to taste. • For a rich and salty taste add 5. Cut the sausages into slices. 100g of grated old cheese. Either put on top of the mashed dish, or keep separate. • For an Asian touch add some 6. You can now serve this powdered cayenne, ginger, traditional dish to your friends ground coriander, cumin and or family. Enjoy! laos. Add garlic to taste.

• For a Middle Eastern touch add shawarma spices or shawarma meat.

11 history The history of the Netherlands as a nation began in 1568. The province of Holland led the country into a war of independence against the Spanish Empire, in defence of religious and economic freedom. Independence was declared in 1581, and in 1648 the nation gained international recognition as the Republic of the United Provinces of the Netherlands. In 1813, after the French occupation, the Netherlands became a unified state and a constitutional monarchy under King William i of Orange.

The Royal Family Since the Netherlands became a monarchy in 1813, the country has been ruled by the House of Orange. Today the reigning head of state is King Willem-Alexander. His eldest daughter, Princess Amalia, is heir to the throne. The Dutch constitution states that the monarch has immunity and that the ministers are responsible for governing the country.

Politics There are various political parties represented in the Dutch Parliament, usually more than ten. The two major parties of the last decades have been the PvdA (Social Democrats) and the vvd (Liberal Democrats). At least every four years there are democratic elections, after which a coalition government is formed.

geography The Netherlands has a population of almost 17 million people. By car it will take you only four hours to drive from north to south. The country is bordered by Belgium, Germany and the North Sea. Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands and the government is seated in The Hague.

Wet Feet The Western and Northern parts of the country lie between one and six metres below sea level. The soil here is mostly peat and clay, cut through with canals, rivers and estuaries. Much of the land is used for farming or grazing. The territories below sea level used to be lakes or belong to the sea. Mills and pumping stations are used to drain them. The pumping stations run constantly to prevent flooding. Furthermore, the coastal areas are protected by

12 the netherlands natural dunes as well as by man-made dikes. The Flevopolder and the Noordoostpolder are the two polders most recently reclaimed from the sea in the never-ending battle against the water. After the reclamation the land was divided into lots. In 1953, the southern province of Zeeland was hit by a disastrous flood. In the decades following this flood the Delta Works were constructed to straighten and strengthen the southern shoreline with new dikes, dams, sluices and bridges.

The Dutch Provinces The Netherlands is divided into twelve provinces, each with their own capital. • Friesland, Leeuwarden • Utrecht, Utrecht • Drenthe, Assen • Noord-Holland, Haarlem • Overijssel, Zwolle • Zuid-Holland, Den Haag • Gelderland, Arnhem • Zeeland, Middelburg • Flevoland, Lelystad • Noord-Brabant, Den Bosch • Groningen, Groningen • Limburg, Maastricht

Climate The Netherlands has a maritime climate. It rains a lot and there are only moderate variations in temperature between the four seasons. July and August are at one end of the scale, with average tempera- tures between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. The winter months are at the other end of the scale, with frost and sometimes snow. dutch society The Netherlands is a multicultural society. The twentieth century saw people from the former Dutch colonies in Indonesia, the Moluccas, Surinam and the Dutch Antilles who came to live here. In the 1950s and 1960s Southern Europeans, Moroccans and Turks arrived to alleviate the shortage of factory workers in the Nether- lands. In 2004, European borders opened for Eastern European workers. Refugees from all over the world, as well as other groups of immigrants, complete this multicultural picture. dutch cuisine Dutch cuisine is not very well known. Meals are often a cosy affair where the entire family sits down together.

the netherlands 13 Typical Dutch foods are: • Hollandse Nieuwe, raw herring with or without pickles and chopped onions • Snert, a thick pea soup with smoked sausage served with rye bread and bacon. Often consumed in wintertime • Poffertjes, small sweet pancakes served with butter and powdered sugar • Stamppot (hotchpotch) with a vegetable and mashed potatoes • Zeeuwse mosselen, fresh and plump mussels, served steaming in a bowl • Boerenkool, kale and sausage

media the city of hilversum, the heart For such a small country, the Netherlands has many newspapers. of dutch broadcasting media, is There are ten national and dozens of regional newspapers. There jokingly referred to as ‘hillywood’. are also many magazines and radio and television broadcasting stations.

Newspapers Many Dutch people subscribe to one or more newspapers and get them delivered to their home. The national newspapers are de Volkskrant, Trouw, Algemeen Dagblad, De Telegraaf, nrc Han- delsblad, Het Financieele Dagblad, Het Parool, Nederlands Dagblad and Reformatorisch Dagblad. De Telegraaf is the nearest thing to a tabloid, the rest are seen as quality newspapers. Het Parool focusses on Amsterdam. Nederlands Dagblad and Reformatorisch Dagblad are Protestant newspapers. Also, there is a free daily newspaper: Metro. It is distributed for free at train and metro stations.

Magazines There are about 4,000 titles from all over the world to choose from, ranging from general interest and news magazines to specialist publications. Magazines are sold in supermarkets, bookshops and at newsstands. Subscribing is cheaper overall than buying single issues and new subscribers may even get a bonus gift. Many magazines offer reduced rates for students. For more information check www.iss-online.nl.

Television Dutch television has three public channels, with the broadcasting time divided among twelve broadcasting associations, each acting

14 the netherlands from a particular philosophy. The diversity of Dutch television is ensured by the Broadcasting Act. In the last two decades the public channels have had to compete with an increasing number of commercial networks. Both public and commercial channels broadcast a large number of films and series in English, with Dutch subtitles. Amsterdam and the surrounding areas are served by two local (Dutch only) networks, at5 and rtvnh. Foreign networks take up the other available television channels, so you might find broadcasts in your native language easily.

Radio Nationally, there are six public radio stations as well as several dutch and foreign stations can commercial stations. Radio 3 on 96.8 fm is a pop/rock station, be found at www.nederland.fm all dutch stations can be found Radio 4 on 94.5 fm specialises in classical music. (To listen to the at www.radio.startpagina.nl. radio stations online, you can go to www.npo.nl/radio). Commercial stations include Sky Radio on 101 fm (non-stop music, no djs), Radio 538 (for young people) on 102.1 – 102.7 fm and q Music on 100.4, 100.5 and 100.7 fm. religion For centuries the Netherlands has maintained a policy of freedom one notable feature of the of religion. As a result the country has always been home to many netherlands is that 44% of dutch people are not affiliated religious groups. Generally speaking, the Southern provinces tend to any religion. catholics make to be Roman Catholic, while the Northern provinces are mainly up 28% of the population. Protestant. The Protestant Church of the Netherlands (Protestantse the protestant faiths account Kerk Nederland or pkn) comprises nearly all Protestant communi- for a further 18%, while 5% are islamic and 5% have other faiths. ties with a few independent splinter factions here and there. Various smaller religious groups complete the complex religious picture. Together with student unions, churches and other organisations, the Student Parish arranges debates, events, trips and gatherings for students aged 18 to 30. The Student Parish is also available for confidential consultations. There is one student chaplain for international students, with consultations in English. Their origin is Christian, but they welcome students from any religious background. holidays The days marked with an asterisk (*) are official holidays. On these days most shops, offices, schools, universities and government buildings are closed and public transport runs according to Sunday timetables.

the netherlands 15 Third Tuesday of September 2015, Prinsjesdag On this day, the 15th of September, the King gives his Speech from the Throne, detailing the government’s proposed legislative programme for the next year. Usually a crowd gathers to watch the King drive through Den Haag in the royal family’s gold state coach.

11 November 2015, Sint Maarten On this day (mainly in the Northern provinces), children go from door to door with self-made lanterns, singing songs in exchange for sweets or fruit. The feast of Sint Maarten is based on a legend. Martinus (Maarten) was a Roman officer born in Hungary in 316 ad. One cold day Maarten, then 15 years old, saw a poor man sitting in the snow without a coat. He got off his horse, cut his cloak in half with his sword and gave the poor man one half. Maarten died on 11 November 397 ad.

5 December 2015, Sinterklaas In spite of what everyone thinks, Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) does not come from Spain: he lived in Myra (present day Turkey) around 300 ad. As a bishop he helped the poor. When he died on 6 December 342 ad, he was declared a saint. The anniversary of his death became his name day, which people celebrate on its Eve. Sinterklaas is mainly a children’s holiday. On 5 December, also known as Pakjesavond, Sinterklaas brings gifts to all good children, together with his black helpers called Zwarte Pieten. They deliver gifts through the chimney.

There is a continuing discussion in the Netherlands about whether or not the Zwarte Piet tradition holds a racist connotation, relating to the transatlantic slave trade in which Dutch seamen played an important role. Special treats on 5 December are gingerbread bis- cuits (pepernoten), marzipan, chocolate letters and hot chocolate. Many Dutch students celebrate Sinterklaas with surprise presents. They write poems and hide their presents from each other in homemade contraptions. In November the arrival of Sinterklaas on his steamboat is celebrated with a colourful parade.

25 and 26 December 2015, Christmas (Kerstmis)* not all dutch people know Most people celebrate Christmas with their family by having a what the christian holidays Christmas tree and a luxurious dinner. A lot of churches have involve, but they’re extremely special Christmas services. In recent years more and more people grateful for the day off. have adopted the Anglo-American tradition of exchanging Christ-

16 the netherlands mas presents, making the Kerstman (Santa Claus) a friendly rival to Sinterklaas. However, not many people know that the Kerstman was based on Sinterklaas.

31 December 2015, New Year’s Eve The traditional way to celebrate a Dutch New Year’s Eve is to play games with family or friends, watch a special cabaret show on television and eat doughnut-like snacks made of fried, sweet dough known as oliebollen, appel beignets (apple fritters) and appelflappen (apple turnovers). At midnight people go outside to wish everyone a Happy New Year, light fireworks and drink champagne. Afterwards there are parties all over town. Those in Paradiso and the Melkweg are the most famous, but you need to buy a ticket in advance.

1 January 2016, New Year’s Day* On New Year’s Day many Dutch people visit their relatives to wish see www.nieuwjaarsduik.info for them a Happy New Year. Some people traditionally take an icy dip more information (dutch only). in the North Sea (de Nieuwjaarsduik) to wash away the worries of the past year. This event is organised in several seaside resorts, the most popular of which is Scheveningen. In Amsterdam you can go to the Sloterplas for a dip.

7 to 9 February 2016, Carnival During Carnival people dress up in funny costumes, go to parties and drink a lot of alcohol. The regular order of things is turned upside down. Cities are renamed and ruled by Prince Carnival. Carnival is especially popular in the Southern and Eastern provinces of the Netherlands, particularly in the predominantly Catholic provinces of Limburg and Noord-Brabant.

25 March 2016, Good Friday (Goede Vrijdag)* Good Friday is the Friday before Easter. On this day Christians commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus in Jerusalem.

27 and 28 March 2016, Easter (Pasen)* Easter is usually spent with relatives. During these days Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Others enjoy having time off, eating eggs and chocolate.

1 April 2016, April Fool’s Day After the long Dutch winter, everyone is ready for some fun. On 1 April people play pranks on each other. So be prepared!

the netherlands 17 27 April, King’s Day 2016* Until 2014 it was Queen’s day the Dutch celebrated yearly on 30 April. After the current King Willem Alexander’s succession to the throne it is now King’s Day they celebrate on his birthday, 27 April. The King and members of the Royal Family pay a public visit to one or two cities. All over the country, people participate in street markets much like yard sales, and perform or play games in the streets. There are food and drink stalls and concerts in every town in the Netherlands. Most people wear orange, the royal colour. The night before King’s Day, Koningsnacht, almost everybody goes out. Clubs and pubs are open all night. There are many special parties, although you will have to buy tickets in advance because usually these are in high demand.

4 May 2016, Remembrance Day On this day every victim from during or after the Second World War is commemorated. People visit war memorials to lay wreaths, as the King does at the war memorial in Dam Square. Nationwide, people participate in a two-minute silence at 20.00 hrs.

5 May 2016, Liberation Day This day celebrates the end of the Second World War and the liberation of the Netherlands on 5 May 1945. All over the country, free festivals are held where you can go to see bands and performances. Every year one artist is the ambassador for freedom and travels by helicopter from festival to festival to perform.

5 May 2016, Ascension Day (Hemelvaartsdag)* This Christian holiday marks Jesus’ ascension to heaven. Ascension Day always falls on a Thursday, ten days before Pentecost.

15 and 16 May 2016, Pentecost (Pinksteren)* Pentecost is the fiftieth day after Easter. This day commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit.

18 the netherlands addresses religion Unitarian Universalist International Student Netherlands Unitarian Chaplaincy Universalist Fellowship www.iscnetherlands.nl Keizersgracht 566 020 337 99 61 Protestant www.nuuf.nl Crossroads International Church (services in English) Jewish Sportlaan 27 | Amstelveen Gerard Dou Synagoge 020 545 14 44 | www.xrds.nl Gerard Doustraat 238 www.gerarddou.org The Student Parish Nieuwe Keizersgracht 1a Church of Scotland 020 53 53 700 English Reformed Church www.protestantsamsterdam.nl (Services in English) (Dutch only) Begijnhof 48 020 624 96 65 Westerkerk www.ercadam.nl Prinsengracht 281 020 624 77 66 Buddhist www.westerkerk.nl Boeddhistisch Centrum Amsterdam Tiratna Catholic Palmstraat 63 St. John and St. Ursula 06 45 93 59 69 Begijnhof 30 www.bcatriratna.nl 020 622 19 18 (Dutch only) www.begijnhofamsterdam.nl Hindu Islamic Hindoestaans Cultureel Fatih Moskee (Turkish) Centrum | Asterweg 45 Rozengracht 150 020 637 37 62 020 627 46 68 www.fatihcamii.nl

Moskee Al Kabir (Moroccan) Weesperzijde 76 020 693 41 26 www.moskeealkabir.nl

19 02:00 amsterdam back in time

history has made amsterdam into what it

is – from two dikes with a dam in between

to the most multicultural town in the

world. did you know that amsterdam has 180

different nationalities? compare this with

new york’s 150 nationalities, and you will

wonder how this came about. this chapter

will tell you about it. you will also find a

geocaching challenge in the amsterdamse

bos – the largest city park in amsterdam –

and we offer you the chance to get to know

amsterdam a lot better in just seven days.

21 7 days in amsterdam

monday tuesday wednesday

Every Monday from 20.00 to If you like the theatre, you The Concertgebouw offers 21.30 hrs, crea, the cultural might want to visit the beautiful free lunch concerts every student centre of UvA and Frascati Theatre in the Nes, Wednesday at 12.30 hrs, HvA (Amsterdam University near Dam Square. Some from September to June. of Applied Sciences), organises of the plays presented are The concerts last thirty interesting lectures by profes- experimental. The Amsterdam minutes, and vary from sors and lecturers. These are School of the Arts (Amsterdam rehearsals by the Royal free for students, but please Hogeschool voor de Kunsten) also Concertgebouw Orchestra register beforehand. Doors present their plays here. to chamber music by young open at 19.30 hrs. musicians.

22 thursday friday saturday & sunday

Thursday nights in Amsterdam Every Friday between 12.30 and You could do your weekend are for students. Before having 13.00 hrs the Rijksmuseum shopping at the biological a drink somewhere, it’s fun to offers lunch lectures for free. farmers’ market near visit Eye. Eye film museum is These lectures are given by Noorderkerk. It takes place a film exhibition gallery, bar Rijksmuseum specialists every Saturday between 09.00 and restaurant, and art-house about a current topic. You can and 16.00 hrs and is a firm cinema in one. The restaurant register, or just turn up on the favourite with local residents. has a stunning view of the ij day. Also on Friday, between and the Amsterdam skyline. 14.00 and 14.30 hrs, the Have a look at www.eyefilm.nl museum organises a free tour for current films and with a curator, during which exhibitions. you learn everything about one particular painting.

23 geocaching in the amsterdamse bos Treasure hunting in the 21st century

Discovering every nook and cranny of the city where you live in is a priority. Amsterdam is a place of many hidden gems, so we thought we could nudge you in the right direction and have you explore one of Europe’s largest city parks, Amsterdamse Bos (Amsterdam forest), with a geocache.

Geocaching works as follows. You download a geocache app to your phone (for example, ‘Geocaching Intro’, check the margin!) and use it as a navigation tool to discover a treasure hidden in a specific location, using gps coordinates. You can find the treasure stashed anywhere, from a bird house to a hand-crafted box. A geocache typically holds a log book, in which people can write their names and the date. Some geocaches even come with small gifts. Check out the geocache we have hidden for you to discover what that gift is!

While you’re treasure hunting, don’t forget to check out the Amsterdamse Bos. It is the perfect getaway. You can recover from a busy exam period by attending sport events or having a picnic with your friends. In the summer, you can even go to there are a number of geocaching the open air theatre. More suggestions for activities can be found apps for every phone operating on the forest website, www.amsterdamsebos.nl/english. See also system. geocaching intro is the Chapter Amsterdam, or sneak a peek using your layar app to scan one we tested – it’s free and it’s available for ios, android and this page. windows phones. all you need to do is download it and sign up. The easiest way to get to the forest is to take either bus 170 or 172

you can find our geocache with from Centraal Station, and get off at Koenenkade, which is right the following code: gc 5wvw8 at the entrance of Amsterdamse Bos. You can also take your bike.

Happy hunting!

come out to play!

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amsterdam 25 history Amsterdam was built on the Amstel estuary, on what used to be marshland. To protect the town against the sea, a dam with a sluice gate was built in the river and the area was shielded by dikes, the ‘Nieuwendijk’ and ‘Zeedijk’. This area formed the heart of what would ultimately become the city of Amsterdam. The city’s name was first recorded in a document signed by the Dutch Count Floris the Fifth in 1275.

Growth and Recession From the year 1300, Amsterdam expanded rapidly thanks to a lively trade in spices, corn, fish and timber. Around 1500 Amsterdam had already become the largest city in the Netherlands. When Antwerp (the major trading port of the Low Countries) was taken by the Spaniards in 1585, Amsterdam took over its leading position, reaching the peak of its power and wealth in the 17th century. This period would become known as the Dutch Golden Age (Gouden Eeuw). In the 18th century the city gradually lost its hold on international trade to Great Britain. From 1795 to 1813 the Netherlands were occupied by the French, resulting in the further decline of the reputation of Amsterdam as an international trading port. From the 1850s onwards, however, Amsterdam’s economy recovered, partly due to the new Noordzeekanaal, the waterway connecting Amster- dam directly to the North Sea.

The 20th Century In the 1930s the country was hit by a recession that would last until after the Second World War. For many people this economic stagnation meant unemployment, poverty and misery. The German occupation (1940-1945) brought even more hardship. More than ten percent of the population of Amsterdam lost their lives during the occupation. Of the 80,000 Jewish people living in the city before the war, only 5,000 survived. The diary of the Jewish girl Anne Frank remains a powerful testimony to the fate of the Jewish people. After the war, the city’s economy flourished and Amsterdam became the cultural and intellectual centre of the country. In the rebel years of the 1960s, the Provo movement used provocations and non-conformist actions to rebel against the establishment. Many students defied university authorities and demanded democratic reforms. During the 1970s many people left Amsterdam to live in the countryside, which left some city districts under-popu- lated and impoverished. However, in the last two decades, urban

26 amsterdam renewal schemes have been set up to counteract this problem, with your mobile phone you can leading to a vibrant atmosphere in those city districts once again. have the whole city in your pocket. these apps will help you find your way around the city: Amsterdam Today · gvb Today Amsterdam is a multicultural and multi-ethnic city where · 9292 you can find all kinds of people. If you are interested in the history · bike city guide · tripadvisor amsterdam city guide of Amsterdam, the Amsterdam Museum and the Jewish Historical · amsterdam stadsgids by tripomatic Museum are good places to start. once you arrive at your destination, you may also like to speak a few words of dutch. in that case you can use the app ‘world nomads architecture dutch language guide’ (iphone Amsterdam has been called the city of ‘gentle architecture’, since only), ‘learn dutch with babbel’ by its architectural charm lies not in its grandeur but in its intimate babbel or ‘learn dutch’ by bravolol. details. From the 15th century onwards, planning laws, plot sizes and the instability of the topsoil dictated that facades were largely uniform in size and were built of lightweight brick or sandstone. Large windows further reduced the weight of the buildings. For every new building, foundation pillars were driven deep into the soil to prevent sinking. The owners of the townhouses along the canals gave their homes personal touches like decorative gables and cornices, ornate door casings and variations in window shapes.

Canal Houses The first canal houses, grachtenpanden, were single-storied, thatched wooden structures, with different floor levels at the front and back. Over time the front-side rooms were separated from the main room, and the back of the house was similarly partitioned. The bedrooms were moved to the first floor and goods were stored under the roof. Many 17th century canal houses are subsiding due to insufficient foundations. In the past they were simply propped up by wooden supports, but these days technology allows for the replacement of rotten support piles without damaging the house.

Amsterdam School The architectural style known as the Amsterdam School is one of the most characteristic Dutch styles. In the first decades of the 20th century, architects of the Amsterdam School designed several expressionistic, large-scale housing projects as well as public and private buildings. The architecture of the Amsterdam School is among the most renowned of early 20th century styles. These buildings include the Scheepvaarthuis at the Prins Hendrikkade, Het Schip at the Hembrugstraat (it’s a museum and well worth

amsterdam 27 a visit!) and De Dageraad housing facility located at the Pieter Lodewijk Takstraat. The Amsterdam School style is not easily defined because of the wide variety in forms on one hand and the distinguishing features of the individual architects on the other.

‘Het Nieuwe Bouwen’ The New Building (Het Nieuwe Bouwen) architectural movement is a style of Dutch architecture from around 1915 to 1960. Its architects believed architecture was inextricably linked with the social situation in the country. They preferred functionality and lack of ornamentation and worked with modern materials like concrete, steel and glass as well as modern techniques and elementary geometric shapes.

local government With a population of over 811,000 (iAmsterdam, 2014), Amsterdam is not only the capital city but also the most populous city in the Netherlands. Amsterdam is governed by an elected council that is seated in The Music Theatre/Stopera. The building houses both the city hall (stadhuis) and the Dutch Opera. The mayor, appointed by the national government, has autonomous powers. The aldermen are elected by and from the city council. The decentralisation of the city’s administration in 1990 meant that many civic tasks and powers were delegated to the city districts. One aim of this operation was to increase public participation at local level, by enabling citizens to elect representatives to both their local district council and the city council. However, at the moment centralisation is slowly gaining ground again.

Crime and the Law Everybody aged fourteen and over must be able to show a valid identity card (id) or passport if the police or anybody else with the authority such as conductors in public transport asks for it. They need to have a reason to ask for it, such as traffic control, aid and assistance, penal offences, or maintaining law and order. There won’t be any special check-ups just to see if you have it on you. If you cannot show a valid identity card or passport on request, you can be taken to the police station where your identity will be checked. If you are sixteen or older, you will be fined e90 for not having your papers on you. Amsterdam is a great city to live in, but like any large city it has risks and dangers that you should be aware of.

28 amsterdam Legal Assistance If you get involved in some kind of legal conflict during your stay in the Netherlands, you might need legal assistance. Everyone is entitled to legal representation by law. Those who can’t afford a lawyer can go to a legal advice centre (check the address below) or solicitor’s office, where first consultations are given free of charge.

City Districts The city districts (stadsdelen) of Amsterdam are administrative areas, distinct from neighbourhoods or quarters. A city district is larger than a neighbourhood or quarter and has a local council, elected by the district’s inhabitants. It also has a separate municipal administration and can draw up its own budget. Amsterdam’s city districts are: • Centrum (Centre) • Zuid (South) • Noord (North) • West (West) • Oost (East) • Nieuw-West (New West) • Zuidoost (Southeast) • Westpoort (Western Gate) special places Amsterdam has many quarters, squares and parks. All quarters or neighbourhoods have their own particular atmosphere, making some of them almost like villages within the city. The parks serve as every citizen’s garden in summer quarters Amsterdam Noord Amsterdam Noord is the part of the city north of the IJ. Here you will find attractions including the eye film museum, the ndsm- werf and the Landmarkt. The district also includes the villages of Landelijk-Noord. Amsterdam Noord is easily reached from Centraal Station by the free ferry.

Amsterdam Zuidoost This colourful district does not border on the rest of the city, but is still easily reached by public transport. Zuidoost has many different restaurants and shops. Music lovers can attend concerts by their idols at the Heineken Music Hall or the Ziggo Dome. For football fans the ArenA, home of the club Ajax, is worth a visit. Next to the station is Pathé Arena, the largest cinema in Amsterdam.

amsterdam 29 The spectacular imax cinema often has special showings. Theatre fans will love the Bijlmer Parktheater, which offers circus, music concerts, drama, dance and festivals. Zuidoost used to be called the Bijlmer, known for the Bijlmer Disaster of 4 October 1992. A cargo plane crashed into the Groeneveen and Klein-Kruitberg flats. The disaster caused more than forty deaths. This event had a deep impact on the Netherlands and is commemorated every year.

Jordaan The Jordaan, enclosed by the Leidsegracht, Brouwersgracht and Prinsengracht, is commonly considered the best of the city’s old quarters. Formerly a working-class area it now has a more uptown vibe, attracting students and artists as well as many companies. This part of town produced many of the city’s famous singers. The Jordaan is especially known for its small houses with their narrow windows, its shops, and the pubs on virtually every corner.

Nieuwmarkt and de Wallen The Nieuwmarkt, the area around the Waag (the weighhouse), is the medieval city centre of Amsterdam. The streets are just wide enough for a horse and cart to get through. Nowadays this is the heart of a small Chinese quarter, where you will find many cheap Chinese and Thai restaurants and shops. The Nieuwmarkt is also popular for its nightlife, with its many clubs ranging from typical student hang- outs, to an old salsa café. Beyond the square is the Wallen (the red light district), where the city’s brothels and strip clubs can be found.

Pijp The Pijp, a 19th-century working class neighbourhood, is just outside the outer ring of the 17th-century city centre. Nowadays mainly yuppies, immigrants and students populate this quarter. The Albert Cuyp Market is Amsterdam’s largest and best-known open-air market. It’s a good place to shop for clothes and shoes as well as exotic fruit and seafood. The Pijp has many pubs and restaurants offering good food and a good atmosphere at reasonable prices.

Grachtengordel The grachtengordel (the canal ring) surrounds the Old Centre, with its handful of canals forming a border between the tourist and shopping centre of town and the more serene residential areas of the Museum Quarter, the Jordaan and the Pijp. The best-known canals in Amsterdam are the Herengracht (named after the gentlemen

30 amsterdam who initially invested in it), the Keizersgracht (named for the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I) and the Prinsengracht (named after William, Prince of Orange). These are the canals where the rich originally lived. Though they are still residential in parts, many properties are now house offices, hotels and museums.

Plantagebuurt In this part of the city you can find Artis, the famous Amsterdam Zoo. People who are interested in gardening should pay a visit to the Hortus Botanicus (near Artis) where you can find all kinds of tropical plants and flowers. The coffee plant in their collection was the parent of the entire coffee culture in South America.

Amsterdam Oost The quarters Zeeburg, Oost and Watergraafsmeer are in East Amsterdam. The ‘Indische Buurt’ (the names of streets refer to the former Dutch colony, the Dutch East-Indies) is the oldest quarter of Zeeburg. The Oost district also has much to offer, such as the Oosterpark, the Tropenmuseum (the largest anthropological museum in the Netherlands) and the Dapperstraat market.

IJburg IJburg is a modern, artificial island in the IJmeer with around 18,000 houses. This quarter has been under construction since 1997 and will not be finished until 2020. The IJmeer is a lake east of Amsterdam, featuring one of the city beaches called Blijburg. squares Leidseplein In the 1960s, the time of the Teddy Boys (nozems) and hippies, the Leidseplein was the coolest place to hang out. Nowadays the area is very tourist orientated and seems to be filled with snack bars, travel agencies and currency exchange offices. The square itself is pleasant enough, with its rows of bars on three sides and a large, shaded terrace in the middle. In the summer months the square comes alive with street performers, musicians, jugglers, fire-eaters and percussionists.

De Dam (Dam Square) Dam Square was the favourite hippie hang-out in the 1960s, the place where they met and smoked joints. Some even slept there.

amsterdam 31 Nowadays, mainly tourists visit Dam Square, as it’s the first large square you come across if you follow the Damrak into the city from Centraal Station. On the right-hand side of the square you see the old City Hall, dating from the 17th century. It has been a Royal Palace since 1830, used mainly for formal receptions. The Royal Palace has recently been renovated. On the corner of Dam Square and the Damrak you find De Bijenkorf (a high-class department store). The opposite corner of the square leads off into the Kalverstraat (the city’s main shopping street). In the middle of Dam Square you find the Dam Monument, where every year on 4 May the Dutch commemorate war victims who died since the start of the Second World War.

Rembrandtplein This is the square where locals, Dutch out-of-towners and tourists mingle on their nights out. Alongside restaurants and pubs there are bars where you can sing along to Dutch folk songs and some large clubs that organise big parties.

Museumplein Museumplein is bordered by the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmu- seum and the Stedelijk Museum. Across from the Rijksmuseum you will find the world-famous Concertgebouw, one of the city’s main concert halls for classical, jazz and world music. On warm days the Museumplein is a lovely spot to kick back and relax.

Waterlooplein The market at Waterlooplein, one of the city’s oldest market squares, is a flea market for second-hand clothes, used furniture and other products. The city hall is also found at Waterlooplein, sharing the Stopera building with the Muziektheater – a music theatre that is home to the Dutch Opera and the National Ballet.

parks Amsterdam is a relatively green city. You will hardly find any street that is not lined with trees. The city also has 29 parks. Below we offer a cross-section of five.

Amsterdamse Bos This is the large woodland park to the south of Amsterdam. You can rent canoes and pedal boats. You can have a drink while enjoying

32 amsterdam the view from the terrace of the Meerzicht Restaurant. You can also go for a walk, a run or a ride on the many trails and bicycle tracks.

Vondelpark Vondelpark, Amsterdam’s most famous park, is located near the Leidseplein. In a way, many people view the park as the communal garden of Amsterdam where on warm days both tourists and locals come to enjoy the sun. You can rent inline skates to explore the park, or take skating lessons first. Many cyclists use the park as a short cut through the city, so you have to watch where you are going.

Westerpark Westerpark lies in the northwest of the city about 25 minutes walking distance from Centraal Station. It has a large pond, and two tennis courts that visitors are free to use. Bordering on the park are the grounds surrounding the Westergasfab- riek, an old industrial complex that has been converted into an entertainment centre including a theatre, a cinema, a club and restaurants. sixty percent of the space is rented out to creative companies, cultural organisations and entertainment venues. It’s a very trendy spot.

Oosterpark Oosterpark is near Hotel Arena and the Tropenmuseum. The pond is the centrepiece of the park. The park is also the home of the National Slavery Monument commemorating the abolition of slavery in the Netherlands in 1863. The park offers a home to a monument in memory of Theo van Gogh, the Dutch filmmaker and journalist who was murdered nearby. The sculpture called ‘The Shout’ (De Schreeuw) symbolises freedom of speech. Also, Oosterpark was one of the first parks in Amsterdam to offer visitors free Wi-Fi access. Unfortunately the Oosterpark will be partly closed until October 2015.

Gaasperpark Gaasperpark, part of the large recreation area Gaasperplas (Gaasper Lake), is enclosed by the south-eastern outskirts of the city and the Gaasp River. The northern part is taken up by the permanent International Horticultural Fair. The park has extensive walking, bicycle and bridle trails, large stretches of grass, a beach, a strip for windsurfing and diving, and an area for day camping.

amsterdam 33 beaches You do not have to leave town in order to enjoy the sun and the beach. There are various city beaches in Amsterdam.

Blijburg for more information on these Blijburg aan Zee is the sandy beach of the new island IJburg. It is beaches, go to the website 250 metres long and forty metres wide. There is a beach restaurant www.iamsterdam.com/en-gb/ called Blijburg where you can get drinks, ice cream and all kinds of experience/what-to-do/activities- and-excursions/beaches food. The beach is only open in the summer months.

Strand West This wide sandy beach of 20,000 square metres offers you a panoramic view of the water. It is near the Houthavens in the Westerpark city district. It’s a place to lounge, eat tapas or play beach volleyball with your friends.

The roof of the nemo Science Museum This place offers an enjoyable summer outing with a lovely view of the old town. It is not really a beach but you can do similar things there, like lounging on brightly coloured deck chairs while enjoying a drink or a meal. Open: Tue to Sun from 10.00 to 17.30 hrs. It is closed during the winter and when the weather is bad.

Strand Zuid In the rai area, next to the Beatrixpark, you can visit a city beach of 2,000 square metres with deck chairs, an outdoor café, and you can even get there by boat if you prefer.

Roest Amsterdam Roest is a creative city oasis, café, bar and city beach. It is located at the Koud Gas Gebouw at the Oosterburgereiland. This urban oasis offers plenty of variety: drink a nice glass of punch on the beach, stroll through the market in the shed or go dancing in the café.

Amsterdam Plage Amsterdam Plage is a small city beach at a site called Stenen Hoofd, located West and behind Centraal Station. By foot you can follow the IJ water side, a walk that will take fifteen minutes. Amsterdam Plage is open 12.00 to 23.00 hrs, until 15 August. Also, every year read more about the ‘seize the night festival’ on this website: (in August) the free Open Air Film Festival Pluk de Nacht (Seize the www.plukdenacht.nl. Night) will take place at Amsterdam Plage.

34 amsterdam ’t Twiske ’t Twiske is a recreation and nature area north of Amsterdam. It has several small beaches and also walking and biking routes. During the summer you can buy ice cream and snacks at the main beach. around amsterdam Bicycle Tours If you like cycling and would like to see some of the sights around Amsterdam, Durgerdam is an ideal destination. Durgerdam is a small village built on a single, long dike providing a lovely view of the IJsselmeer. In the next chapter you will find a bike tour around this area.

The Beach (Zandvoort) The beach is the place to go if you want to get out of the city on a hot day. The closest seaside town, half an hour by train from Centraal Station, is Zandvoort aan Zee. From Zandvoort you can walk along the beach to the popular Bloemendaal Beach Clubs. In the summer months there are open-air parties, organised by beach clubs such as Woodstock and Solaris. Zandvoort is also renowned for the race circuit near the beach. attractive cities Haarlem If you are keen for a change of scenery, you can be in Haarlem by train within 15 minutes. Visit the Frans Hals museum (Frans Hals is a famous Dutch painter), have a drink on the Grote Markt or go shopping in the charming old town centre.

Alkmaar Alkmaar, the Dutch cheese town, is only half an hour by train. From April to October, each Friday morning there is the famous traditional cheese market.

Utrecht Utrecht (also within approximately half an hour by train) offers you a huge shopping mall, Hoog Catherijne. You walk straight into it when you exit the train station. In the Utrecht Museum Quarter you can walk from one museum to the next, such as the Centraal

amsterdam 35 Museum and the Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum (Dutch Railway Museum). The Cathedral Tower (de Dom) in the old town is the most famous monument in Utrecht. It is possible to climb the Dom Tower and enjoy an excellent panoramic view of the city and its surroundings.

Den Haag and Rotterdam Remember to visit Den Haag (The Hague), and Rotterdam, the port city. You can get there by train in an hour. Both have many museums, theatres, clubs, monuments and shops. In Den Haag you can also visit the Houses of Parliament. In Rotterdam you can visit the large harbour, the Erasmus Bridge, the Euromast, the Diergaarde Blijdorp Zoo, and many other highlights.

Volendam and Marken For tourists interested in old Dutch traditions and sights, Volendam and Marken are recommended places to visit. They are fishing villages well known for their traditional clothing, music and fish. You can have your picture taken in a traditional Volendam costume. Buses to both villages depart from Amsterdam Centraal Station.

events Jordaan Festival www.jordaanfestival.nl 17 to 20 September 2015 – An annual event that has been taking (dutch only) place for over 25 years. A variety of famous and unknown artists perform at the festival.

Vondelpark Open Air Theatre for the programme go to 5 May to 27 September 2015 – Every summer Vondelpark bustles www.openluchttheater.nl with events. The Open Air Theatre offers a programme with dance, film, stand-up comedy and, of course, lots of music.

Museum Night www.museumnachtamsterdam.nl Every year there is one night in Amsterdam when art does not sleep. On 7 November 2015, that museums are open deep into the night and young people are invited to come and get a fresh view on art.

KetiKoti Festival 1 July 2016 – KetiKoti, a Surinamese term, means ‘Broken Chains’. It symbolises the abolition of slavery on 1 July 1863 in the former

36 amsterdam colonies of Suriname and the Dutch Antilles, and thus the end of a dark period in Dutch history. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima commemorate the abolition of slavery on 1 July, at the monument of slavery in the Oosterpark in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam Light Festival Every year the streets of Amsterdam get some very special for information about the walks illumination. For fifty days, starting in December, the old town and boat trips on offer, go to www.amsterdamlightfestival.com is the backdrop for many sculptures and projections by well-known as well as up and coming artists.

Amsterdam Gay Pride 25 July to 2 August 2016 – A festival where gay and transgender find more information: people can show that they are proud to be who they are. They en.amsterdamgaypride.org celebrate this with many small festivals and parties. The most popular and the biggest is the Canal Parade, where lots of colourful boats sail through the canals. Straight people are welcome too, of course.

Grachtenfestival 14 to 23 August 2016 – A classical music festival with seventy for more information, please concerts. All 35 locations of the festival are around Keizersgracht go to www.grachtenfestival.nl and Prinsengracht. The highlight of the Grachtenfestival is the Prinsengracht concert.

Uitmarkt 28 to 30 August 2016 – This weekend marks the start of the new find more information: cultural season. You can attend various open-air concerts. There www.uitmarkt.nl (dutch only) is music, drama, shows and comedy and there are markets and exhibitions you can enjoy for free.

There’s a very popular Fashion, Art & Design market every first Sunday of the month in trendy Westerpark. Of course they also have food stands.

Rollende Keukens This festival has more than one hunderd little food stands made for more information: of campers, double-deckers, little vans and more. Enjoy the large www.rollendekeukens.amsterdam variety of cultures and food while watching a movie in the open air.

amsterdam 37 addresses legal assistance The Roof of nemo Science Legal Advice Centre (Het Museum | Oosterdok 2 Juridisch Loket Amsterdam) 020 531 3233 | Closed when Vijzelgracht 21 to 25 | 0900 80 the weather is bad, at special 20 (e0.25 p/m) | Open: Mon to events and on new years Fri 10.00 to 17.00 hrs | www. evening | www.e-nemo.nl/nl/ juridischloket.nl (Dutch only) bezoek/het-dak-van-nemo asva student union | asva Amsterdam Roest | Jacob Bonti- Student desk (UvA) | Nieuwe usplaats | 020 3080283 | Open: Achtergracht 170 | 020 525 29 Sun to Thu 11:00 to 01:00 hrs, 26 | Open: every day from Fri and Sat 11:00 to 03:00 hrs 12.30 to 16.00 hrs | www.asva.nl www.amster damroest.nl asva Student Union (HvA) Amsterdam Plage | West HvA Kohnstammhuis of Amsterdam Central Station Wibautstraat 2 to 4 | Open: at a site called: Stenen Hoofd. Mon and Thu from 09.00 Just follow for 15 min. the ij to 12.30 hrs | www.asva.nl water side by foot | Open: every day from 11.00 to 24.00 hrs beaches www.stenenhoofd.nl Blijburg | Muiderlaan 1001 020 416 0330 | www.blijburg.nl ’t Twiske | Lies to the North of (Dutch only) Amsterdam, between Zaandam and Purmerend | 075 684 43 38 Strand West | Stavangerweg www.hettwiske.nl 900 | 020 682 6310 | www. strand-west.nl (Dutch only)

Strandzuid | Europaplein 22 020 639 2589 | From May open at 11.00 to 24.00 hrs www.unlimitedlabel.com/ Array/strandzuid/sz-welcome

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39 03:00 transport & communication quickly from a to b

in amsterdam the fastest way to travel from

a to b is by bike. did you know that there are

more bikes than inhabitants in our town?

cycling is easy to do in a compact town

without hills. however, be careful not to

get caught in a tram rail with your bike

wheels! of course there are other means

of transportation as well. trains, trams,

the metro, buses and ferries will get you

anywhere you want to go.

41 24 hours

09.00 11.00 14.00 by bike on the train the ferry

‘Every weekday I cycle to ‘I really only take the train for a ‘I’ve already been to Amster school. I like the Amsterdam day trip with friends. Next week dam-Noord by ferry. If it’s biking culture. I’m not used I’m going to Utrecht by train, hot outside, the ferry is to travelling by bike that much actually. I am excited because nice and you can take great because in Finland things aren’t you see a lot of the Dutch land- pictures. Amsterdam-Noord that close to each other. Here scape and the country is so flat, is fun too, because it’s really you can just go anywhere by which I think makes it really artsy and there is a large flea bike. It’s great! The VU has beautiful.’ market every now and then.’ this new project with blue bikes (bimonthly market in IJhallen, for international students. see chapter six) I hope I can get one.’

42 with jenna jenna hirvonen (21), finland, political sciences at vu university amsterdam

14.30 16.15 23.00 taking the tram back on the bike good night bus

‘I sometimes take a tram when ‘After lectures I cycle back ‘I haven’t used the night I’m going somewhere with home. On the way I stop at bus yet. I know about it but friends. Also, I take a tram the supermarket to get some I usually go by bike then too. when it is somewhere new, food for dinner. You really have It’s cheap and when you’re because I’m afraid I’ll get lost to pay close attention to the with a large group it’s a lot by bike. Trams provide good traffic because a lot of people more convenient. The night information about which stop are only focused on their own bus comes in very handy when you need to get off at and what route. Traffic rules don’t seem you are stranded somewhere you can find there.’ to matter to a lot of people. and you don’t have money for Everybody is just looking out a taxi.’ for themselves.’

43 biketrip north of the ij Just outside Amsterdam there is a lot to discover. This bike trip takes you to a couple of real gems. On a sunny day take your bike and follow this itinerary via Ransdorp to Durgerdam and back.

from flevopark via ransdorp The itinerary starts at the Flevopark tram stop, at the end of to durgerdam Insulindeweg. Go left and take the cycle lane across the large bridge distance: 23 kilometres (Amsterdamse brug). Cycle straight on. You pass several crossings time: ca 1,5 hours start and finish: and go towards the next large bridge (Schellingwouderbrug). Cross tram stop flevopark the bridge and cycle straight on along Schellingwouderweg until you get to a roundabout. Take the first turn to the right (Durger- dam). Immediately afterwards, at the junction, keep to the left, staying on Liergouw. Cross the road towards the cycle path. Take the viaduct underpass, going towards Ransdorp. Read the next part very clearly before you go any further. Follow the road. After three hundred metres, turn left, sticking to the cycle lane, on Zwartgouw. The allotment gardens are on your left and on your right you have pastures. After the wooden bridge, immediately turn right, taking the cycle path. In the distance you see Ransdorp tower. Half way take the wooden bridge on your right and follow Weerslootpad to the left. Cross the next wooden bridge. Immediately turn left until you get to Ransdorp tower, famously drawn by Rembrandt.

In the 15th century Ransdorp became a prosperous village, mainly through shipping and trade. This enabled the villagers to build the 32 metres high Ransdorp Tower in the early sixteenth century. You can walk or cycle around the church. In summer (April to Septem- ber) you can climb the tower in the weekend. In July and August you can also visit on weekdays. You pay e0.50 for a lovely view of the countryside.

After your tower visit, you circle the church to its other side and cross the drawbridge on the left. At the next T-junction turn right (Bloemendalergouw). Cycle straight on. After a kilometre follow the road when it curves to the left. Ignore all cycle lanes and cross a small but steep bridge, towards Holysloot. Cycle straight on for a few kilometres. Turn right at the next, diagonal, T-junction. time to bike! However, you can, if you wish, take a short detour to the left, to a nice Holysloot pub in the old village school where you can sit outdoor too. Die-hard cyclists may choose to take the ferry to Broek in Waterland for a longer but also terrific trip.

44 transport & communication Returning from Holysloot to the diagonal T-junction, cycle straight on. If you haven’t made the detour, turn right at this junction. At the next T-junction turn left, and follow the dike road circling the low polder on your right. At the end of the dike road, cross the road at the T-junction. Take care to avoid racing vehicles and cyclists coming from left and right. Put in an effort to climb the steep IJsselmeerdijk, where you turn right. Follow the cycle path on the dike for circa four kilometres until you reach Durgerdam. Cycle straight into the village. Here you’ll find the Amsterdam Village Hotel where you can enjoy some traditional Dutch apple pie or a bowl of hot pea soup.

Immediately on leaving the built-up area, take the cycle path to the right running along the dike. At the end, take the viaduct underpass and cycle straight on to the large bridge across the road, your old friend, the Schellingwouderbrug. Take the bridge underpass, and then turn left to climb the bridge stairs with your bike. Cross the street after you have crossed the bridge. You are then facing the last stretch along the Amsterdamse Brug, returning to your starting point.

The trip will take you an hour and a half, or longer if you wish!

transport & communication 45 public transport for information about rates, Amsterdam has an efficient public transport system with numer- routes, lines and timetables, call ous bus and tram routes, metro lines and ferry links. Centraal the national information number Station is Amsterdam’s main public transportation junction. 0900 92 92, or check www.9292ov.nl Dutch students have a public transport pass (called the ov-studentenkaart). Some eu/eea students may also be eligible for check www.duo.nl and click on one, but only if you receive a Dutch student grant. If so, with the international visitors and then on ov-studentenkaart, you can travel for free during the week or on student grants, or call weekends. On the days you’re not entitled to travel for free, you 050 599 77 55 to see if you are entitled to a student travel card. get a forty percent discount with the ov-studentenkaart. You can bring along a maximum of three travel companions on the train at a forty percent discount if they travel in the same carriage and if you travel after 09.00 hrs.

ov-chipkaart On all public transport, your ticket is a so called ov-chipkaart (public transport smart card). If you don’t have a student travel card as mentioned above, you deposit money on the card, which will either be a personalised card or a general one. Machines to deposit money on your ov-chipkaart can be found at train stations, in supermarkets, tobacco shops and on some buses. You can also buy disposable ov-chipkaarten from the driver, but they are relatively expensive.

At the beginning of your journey you hold your card against one of the card readers. At metro stations you have to check in, in order to access the platform. The ov-chipkaart readers for the train are on the train platforms or in the main hall, and for the tram and bus inside the vehicle. When you check in, the reader deducts a standard fare from your card. At the end of your journey or if you change to another kind of transportation, you have to check out. The cost of your journey will be balanced against your standard fare. The remaining amount will be put back on your card. So, if you check in for the metro, e4 will be deducted from your card. If your journey costs e2, e2 will be put back on your card when you check out.

You can buy a general ov-chipkaart or apply for a personalised card. With this personalised card you can choose to automatically add an amount from your bank account to your ov-chipkaart whenever the credit on your card goes below e5. This way you will always have enough money on your card to travel. Keep in mind that to travel by train, you need to have at least e20 on your

46 transport & communication ov-chipkaart. The advantage of a general card is that more people for up-to-date information, go to can use the same card (but not at the same time!). For more www.ns.nl/en or www.9292ov.nl information about the ov-chipkaart, check the website www. more information about trains and ov-chipkaart.nl. Here you can choose for the English version tickets can be found at www.ns.nl/ en/travellers/home of the site. If you forget to check out, you lose the standard fare deducted when you checked in. If you forget this too often, your card will be blocked. You cannot check in if the amount on your card is below e0. If you do not have an ov-chipkaart with a student subscription you can buy a discount card.

Train The Dutch national railway company (Nederlandse Spoorwegen, ns) runs a busy railway network. In and around Amsterdam you can travel by train to the following stations: Lelylaan, Sloterdijk, Centraal Station, Muiderpoort, Amstel, Duivendrecht, Bijlmer ArenA, RAI, Zuid, Holendrecht, Amsterdam Science Park and Diemen (Zuid). You can travel second class or first class – at a forty percent surcharge. You can take your bicycle with you, but only if you buy a separate day ticket for your bike, at a cost of e6. However, you cannot bring your bike in traffic hours. Night trains run between Amsterdam Centraal Station, Schiphol, Utrecht Centraal, Leiden Centraal, Den Haag Hollands Spoor, Delft, Rotterdam Centraal, Dordrecht, Breda, Tilburg, ’s-Hertogenbosch and Eindhoven. Buy your disposable ov-chipkaart before you board. You can do this at the ticket office or the ticket machine and check in on the platform with your ov-chipkaart; otherwise you risk a fine. You cannot buy your disposable ov-chipkaart on the train or check in on the train!

Bus Amsterdam has various bus lines and a regional network connecting the capital to surrounding towns and villages. Amsterdam also has a late-night network, with special rates. Night buses, leaving from 00.30 hrs onward, mainly depart from and arrive at Centraal Station. When the bus you need approaches, raise your hand to make sure the driver sees you and stops.

Metro The metro connects the centre of Amsterdam to the suburbs. Lines 53 and 54 run parallel as far as the metro station at the Van der Madeweg, where they split and run on to Gaasperplas Station (line 53) and Gein Station (line 54). Another metro line,

transport & communication 47 line 51, connects Centraal Station to Amstelveen (Westwijk). Line 50 runs from Gein in the south-east to Isolatorweg, near Amsterdam Sloterdijk Station, in the north-west. In 2017 the Noord-Zuidlijn – a metro line connecting the north and south of Amsterdam – will be opened.

Trams Trams are a fast and reasonably cheap mode of transport. The 16 lines crisscross the city. You can take a tram almost anywhere. Check in with your ov-chipkaart inside the tram or buy a ticket, and do not forget to check out before you get off. When your tram approaches your stop, press the red button to signal that you wish to get off.

Ferries Behind Amsterdam Centraal Station, free ferry services connect the city centre to Amsterdam Noord across the IJ. Apart from the ferries there is also a waterbus to the Java-eiland. Ferries depart more frequently during peak hours.

Taxi Taxis are the most expensive form of transport in the Netherlands, but you can keep the costs low by sharing one with others. If you need a taxi do not try to hail one in the street, but call for one instead. Dutch taxis are legally required to have number plates with black numbers on a blue background. A car looking like a taxi but without these plates is not allowed to carry passengers, so beware.

Tuk Tuk Company Tuk Tuks are small cars on three wheels. They drive through the city and you can use them like a taxi. They are cheaper than regular taxis, and a little faster. You can book one on their website or you can hail one in the street. If you do make a reservation, you have to do this two days in advance.

private transport Bicycles www.iamsterdam.com/en-gb/living/ Amsterdam is full of bicycles. The Dutch are true bike fanatics; about-amsterdam/transportation/ practically everyone has one or more bicycles and there are lanes bikes everywhere. These separate bicycle lanes, together with separate cyclists’ traffic lights are meant to make the roads safer for

48 transport & communication cyclists. The most enjoyable way to discover Amsterdam is by bike. On a bike you can go places where no cars are allowed, and buses and trams cannot take you. Any bike will do in Amsterdam – as long as it gets you from a to b, it does not matter what shape it is in. However, the brakes and the lights must work or you risk getting a fine. The afac (Amsterdam Fiets Afhandel Centrale) collects all the bikes that have been removed by the authorities or have been found In the locker bike sheds you can park your bike and have it guarded for free for the first 24 hours. After that you pay e0.50 for the second and for the third day. If you want to park your bike even longer, you must pay e2 a day. For more information and locations, go to www.locker.amsterdam.nl (Dutch only).

You can buy second-hand bicycles at most bicycle repair shops. A second option is putting up an advertisement on the notice board of your local supermarket or library. On www.marktplaats.nl there are many bikes for sale. Do not buy bikes from strangers in the street – chances are that it has been stolen, which means you risk being arrested or having to pay a e160 fine. You might even get a criminal record if the theft was reported. Members of the asva student union can buy second-hand bikes for e60 plus e15 membership, every Thursday. However, you get the bycicle without a lock. For details, go to www.asva.nl.

Theft Prevention Bicycle thieves are everywhere, so it is essential to secure your bike. Fasten both the front wheel and frame to a stand post or railing using a strong lock. For advice on how to keep your bike safe from thieves, ask the rental companies or specialist bike shops which you can find at the end of the chapter. You can buy good and cheap locks at the Waterlooplein, as well as in bicycle (repair) shops.

Renting If you do not need a bike regularly, you can also rent one. In the addresses we’ve listed a couple of places. You will have to pay a deposit to take a bike out, but some shops accept your passport and credit card instead of cash. The cheapest day rate is around e9.50; the deposit can be anything from e50, a passport, identity papers or credit card. Many Dutch bikes brake by back-pedalling. This can take some time to get used to, so if you prefer handbrakes, ask for a bike with handbrakes.

transport & communication 49 ov bicycles If you feel like cycling, hire an ov bicycle. You can hire one at most stations and return it to many other locations. Look for locations at www.ov-fiets.nl. You can also subscribe via this site. To hire a bicycle you need to subscribe or possess an ov-chipkaart.

Bicycle Taxi In Amsterdam you can use the bicycle taxi (fietstaxi). You can find them at Damrak, Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein.

Cars When driving through the city, watch out for trams and cyclists. Trams always have right of way and cyclists usually take it. Take care especially when turning, and give way to cyclists. Many Amsterdammers, whether they’re pedestrians, cyclists or drivers, do not follow the traffic rules. So please be careful and do not take any risks. Most of the city centre is one-way only; when driving along canals make sure you always stay to the right of the canal. Diamond-shaped signs with a yellow centre indicate you have right of way; in all other cases, yield to traffic from the right. The worst thing about driving in the city is finding a place to park. If you park where parking is forbidden, or if you forget to pay your parking fee, the traffic warden will give you a fine, or even tow away your car. If your car has been towed away, it will take a phone call to the traffic warden’s office and a large sum of money to get it back.

Driver’s Licence If your driver’s licence was issued in an eu country, it is valid in the Netherlands for one year, provided you drive a foreign car. After this year, or if you want to drive a Dutch car, you need to apply for a Dutch driving licence. It will take about a month for the application to be processed. Non-eu nationals need an international licence in addition to their regular licence. This international licence, for which you have to apply in your country of origin, is valid until your tourist visa expires. After that it has to be exchanged for a Dutch driving licence. This procedure takes about three months. If you do not have a driving licence yet, you could try to get one in the Netherlands. However, taking lessons and applying for a driving test can take a lot of time and money. If you have any questions about this, please contact the Department of Transport (Rijksdienst voor het Wegverkeer).

50 transport & communication Car Rentals There are several options if you want to rent a car. To be able to rent a car, you have to have been in possession of your driver’s licence for at least one year, and you will also have to pay a deposit of around e250. For special conditions, such as a minimum age requirement, contact the rental company or take a look at their website. If you only need a car occasionally, you can subscribe to Green Wheels. You only pay when you rent a car, and there are no monthly recurring costs. You can reserve a car 24/7 on the website or call 088 210 01 00. There are special parking spaces for Green Wheel cars. You will have your own card, with which you can unlock and start your car. You can also rent a car online at www.easyterra.com. The pick-up point is at Overtoom 333. communication Of course you’ll want to tell your relatives and friends at home how you are doing. Below you will find information on how to use the telephone, the mail and the Internet in the Netherlands.

Telephone Calls The Netherlands has landlines and mobile phones. For a landline some companies that offer you need a subscription. You pay a monthly fee and you pay for landline subscriptions are kpn (www.kpn.com), ziggo (www.ziggo. the minutes you use. Prices depend on your type of subscription nl) and tele2 (www.tele2.nl). if you so it is worthwhile to find out which would be cheapest for you. buy a mobile phone, you can choose to pay a monthly fee or to buy Fees a prepaid card. If you make a lot of calls, a monthly fee is the cheapest option. Tariffs vary substantially. You can choose to pay a fixed fee for a fixed number of minutes. Or you pay a (lower) monthly fee and pay an additional rate for the minutes you use. Quite often you get a phone for free.

Please note: you may have to pay an initial fee, and contracts have either a one or two year duration. A cancellation fee may also apply, and you can only cancel your contract providing you give three months’ notice. Therefore, make sure you do your homework before you sign up.

Prepaid If you do not make many calls, a prepaid card is the best option. You buy a specific number of minutes, and when you run out of

transport & communication 51 minutes you buy a new card. You do have to pay for your phone, though. The cheapest price of a prepaid phone is e20 to e30 including e15 credit. You can visit the Dutch website www.bellen. com for more details or call rates. You can also make your calls in phone shops (belwinkels).

Mail If you want to post a letter, you will need to pay attention to postage. Mailing a letter (0 to 20 grams) to a Dutch address needs a number one stamp. These cost e0.69. The heavier the letter, the more you have to pay. Letters to addresses across the world require a number two stamp. These cost e1.15. You can buy stamps at Postnl service points, supermarkets, tobacco shops and some bookshops. A letter can be posted in the orange (and sometimes red) post boxes that you can find almost everywhere. If you want to send a letter or a postcard to another country, you can put the letter or the card in those post boxes too. If you want to send a package that weighs two kilograms or more, you will have to use the international service at Postnl service points. If you have more questions about posting a letter or a card to another country, please ask the Postnl service point staff for more information.

Free Wi-Fi in Amsterdam The number of free Wi-Fi connections is increasing almost every day. You can use free Internet while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea at cafés like the Coffee Company (www.coffeecompany.nl). But free Wi-Fi is also available in some restaurants, like the In de Waag restaurant, McDonald’s and La Place (inside v&d). Access to the Internet is also provided by the pillars kpn has put up at Leidse- plein, Max Euweplein and elsewhere. Free Wi-Fi can be found at other locations as well, including the following: • Bagels and Beans, Waterlooplein 2 and all other locations • Coffee Company, Nieuwe Doelenstraat 24 and all other locations • McDonald’s, Damrak 92 and all other locations • Vapiano, Oosterdokskade 145 and Amstelstraat 2-4 • Belgisch Bierproeflokaal De Zotte, Raamstraat 29 • La Place, Kalverstraat 203 and all other locations • Starbucks, Utrechtsestraat 9 and Rembrandtplein and all other locations

52 transport & communication addresses taxis cars Taxicentrale Amsterdam (tca) The Traffic Warden Office 020 777 77 77 | Firma Taxi 672 Telephone number: 14 020 020 650 65 06 • De Clercqstraat 66 to 68 • Burgerweeshuispad 301 Tuk Tuk Company | 088 885 • Bos en Lommerplein 250 08 55 | www.tuktukcompany.nl • Oranje-Vrijstraatplein 2 (Dutch only) • Amstel 1

Wielertaxi | The price for three rdw | Keuringsstation minutes per person is e1. Amsterdam | Tijnmuiden 1 The minimum price is e2.50 0900 07 39 (e0.10 per minute) per person. If you want to book www.rdw.nl a wielertaxi, call 06 18 59 51 53 or 06 28 24 75 50 Europcar Autoverhuur www.wielertaxi.nl Overtoom 197 | 020 683 21 23 www.europcar.nl bicycles asva Student Union | Nieuwe Budget Rent a Car | Aaron Achtergracht 170| 020 525 29 26 Coplandstraat 6 | 088 284 70 21 Open weekdays from 12.30 to 16.00 hrs | Sale: Thursdays Schiphol Airport | 088 284 75 50 at 12.30 hrs | www.asva.nl www.budget.nl

Yellow Bike Green Wheels Netherlands Nieuwezijds Kolk 29 Postbus 4031 | 3006 AA 020 620 69 40 Rotterdam | 088 210 01 00 www.yellowbike.nl/en (e0.35 per minute, local costs) www.greenwheels.nl MacBike | 020 620 09 85 (Dutch only) www.macbike.nl • Waterlooplein 19 • Stationsplein 5 • Weteringschans 2 • Marnixstraat 222

Rent-a-bike | Damstraat 20-22 020 625 50 29 | www.rentabike.nl

53 04:00 living & working be on time

living and working in a town like

amsterdam, who wouldn’t want that?

everybody does. and that causes problems.

it can be very difficult to find a house.

if you’re on a waiting list for a council

house in amsterdam, it may take you more

than five years to get one. in this chapter

we offer you information on how to get

a place to stay here. we also discuss jobs

and how to behave there.

55 24 hours

08.00 09.00 12.00 starting the day class cheesy lunch

‘I usually get out of bed at ‘On Tuesdays and Thursdays ‘I normally pack lunch, either 08.00 hrs, make some tea and I have class. I feel really lucky with leftovers or a sandwich get ready for my class. at 09.00 this semester, because I have and fruit. It’s really hilarious hrs I pack lunch and make sure been thoroughly enjoying my to me that the Dutch packed I have all of my books, but there classes. In my Big Books lunch is automatically bread usually isn’t time to do much literature class, we are reading and cheese, and I have to admit else! I live at Science Park so selections of Western literature that’s what I have been doing it‘s just a short walk to auc. and discussing them. The myself. I also find it interesting When walking to school, the professor for this class is espe- that the Dutch eat their fresh air really wakes me up.’ cially good – he encourages real lunch cold. I really needed discussion in the classroom, time to get used to that.’ and a deeper reading of the texts – which makes me think about and engage with the content more.’

56 with neomi neomi rao (21), usa, general biology and linguistics at amsterdam university college (auc)

13.00 18.00 21.00 class again school’s out socializing

‘In my Brain and Cognition ‘My school day is over. I usually ‘In the evenings after school class, I feel stimulated by the go home and prepare dinner I usually end up meeting with lectures every day. I find the myself. I try to live as cheaply friends to either go out, or have material fascinating and the as possible, so I save on things a relaxed night in, or, if I have professor genuinely passionate like meals in order to have other a lot of homework I stay in and about the subject. And in my nice experiences! On my days try to get it done. Some nights, History & Culture of the Dutch off I like to go to museums and if there are interesting events Golden Age, I love learning explore the city. I am trying out I will go to those – I went to a about the major events in a lot of libraries and cafés to Stedelijk Museum lecture by Dutch history that form the find the best and cheapest place the cultural anthropologist and background of the country I live to study.’ social activist Gayatri Spivak, in today. Plus, we go on some and to a free jazz night at excursions around the city, Bimhuis. It depends on what’s which are a lot of fun.’ happening at that moment.’

57 howto behave when working with and living among dutchmen

In the Netherlands you can find yourself in very different working cultures each day. In many student jobs the contact with managers and colleagues is relaxed and good-natured. And what’s more, a relaxed attitude is much appreciated. Do take care, however, not to become too familiar and relaxed. You need to work hard all the time, particularly in the catering industry. There’s always time for a joke and a laugh, but the Dutch do want to be productive as well.

• You very quickly get on first-name terms in the Netherlands. It’ll first be Madam and Sir, but that changes quickly into Peter and Annemarie.

• If you know each other well, it’s normal to say hello with three kisses on the cheek. Remember, not one, not two, but three! Women kiss women and men; men kiss women, but two men shake hands.

• If you’ve been out to dinner with a friend, it’s normal to go Dutch – share the bill – when it comes to paying. But if you’ve been invited by someone, that person will pay.

• Try not to be taken aback by the openness and even bluntness of the Dutch. They have a habit of saying what they think without much hesitation.

• It’s always a good idea to have a good relationship with your neighbours. So do invite them for a cup of coffee or tea so you can get to know each other.

• Have you been invited to a Dutch birthday party? You’ll be sur- prised by the many different kinds of people there; colleagues, relatives, neighbours and friends all sit in a circle. Take a seat and start talking with your neighbour. It may happen quite sneak a peek! often that you’ll notice that a newcomer congratulates not only the birthday boy or girl, but also their relatives and partner. If you notice this, do so as well. The Netherlands is the only country in the world where this strange custom is honoured.

58 living & working • If you want to take something along to the party, do not take food. A bottle of wine or some flowers, however, will be greatly appreciated.

• The Dutch like planning and structuring their time. So arrive on time. If you can’t manage that, do call your colleagues or friends to warn them you’ll be late. Do not cancel an appointment at the last moment, and try not to drop in on someone without an invitation.

• The Dutch may sometimes seem less than enthusiastic. But that’s just the way it looks. If somebody says: ‘That’s not bad’, then that is really meant as a compliment.

• If you’ve got Dutch roommates, remember to clean up after yourself in shared rooms and kitchen. Do the dishes after you’ve cooked and clean up your mess. Respect and follow the cleaning duty list that tells you who cleans what and when.

• Dutchmen pride themselves on being rather down-to-earth. Performing well is something quite often taken for granted. But showing off or drawing attention to your own achievement is considered inappropriate. This attitude is illustrated by the much- used Dutch proverb ‘Doe maar gewoon, dan doe je al gek genoeg’, which translates into something like: ‘Don’t get above yourself.’

• The Dutch attitude is to live and let live. In the eyes of many foreigners this makes them tolerant about religion, gay rights or the use of drugs. But the Dutch don’t really understand tourists who only come to the Netherlands just to get high or drunk, because the country has so much else to offer!

• The Dutch like their autonomy. This is why, for instance, children get a lot of freedom from their parents. In general they allow their offspring to just go ahead and do their own thing. Children from a young age are encouraged to make their own discoveries and choices.

• The Dutch are subtle about their politeness. Young people, for instance, will address older people with formal ‘u’ rather than informal ‘je’. But in some contexts it is completely acceptable to say ‘je’ to older people or to give your straightforward opinion.

living & working 59 places to live for more information about living It is not easy to find a place to live in Amsterdam. Rooms are in in amsterdam, check great demand but unfortunately also in short supply. There is a www.iamsterdam.com/en shortage of housing in general, because the number of students in Amsterdam exceeds the number of rooms available. If you have not been allocated a room in student housing, you will need to find one on the private market. Although this may be quite difficult, there are a lot of resources to look into. Quite a few Dutch students studying in Amsterdam do not live in the city. They still live with their parents or rent a place in one of the towns around Amsterdam.

student housing To find a room in Amsterdam, international students can contact their host university. Most universities offer special housing services for international students.

UvA (University of Amsterdam) If you are studying or going to study at the UvA (Universiteit van Amsterdam), check their website for information: www.uva.nl/ housing.

VU University Amsterdam The International Office of VU University Amsterdam helps international Bachelor, Master and exchange students to find housing. More information can be found at www.vuamsterdam.com, or you could send an email to [email protected].

HvA (Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences) you can look at the website Prospective international students at HvA (Amsterdam University www.amsterdamuas.com of Applied Sciences) can contact the International Office at the location where they will be studying, to apply for student housing. Contact HvA for more information.

Inholland University of Applied Sciences Hogeschool Inholland Amsterdam/Diemen has a limited capacity of student housing and offers short-term accommodation to in-coming foreign students. Go to www.inholland.com, select location ‘Amsterdam/Diemen’ and click on ‘Accommodation’. You can also contact Hogeschool Inholland at the addresses at the end of this chapter.

60 living & working renting privately A starting point for your housing needs would be to check the Facebook page of the International Student Network, where you can get in touch with other students. Some general information can be found at www.huurders.info which has an English version. If you happen to speak Dutch, two other great resources are www.kamers. pagina.nl and www.start12.nl/studentenkamers, the latter offering reviews as well. housing corporations There are three major housing corporations, De Key, duwo and you can look at these websites: Ymere. These have one central information desk for student hous- www.studentenwoningweb.nl www.duwo.nl/en/i-search/other- ing while the application process involves a waiting-list system. offers/direct-offer/ duwo also offers short stay accommodation via their website, where you can register and look for rooms online.

Another option is checking Woningnet, a housing corporation www.woningnet.nl which offers apartments for rent in various regions. At their website you can choose to search for housing in the Amsterdam region.

Elynx is a site for expats living in The Netherlands. If you go to ‘Notices’ in their menu, then click on the ‘Offered: Shared Accommodation’ option, you will find various announcements.

Housing Anywhere is a housing platform on which students that www.housinganywhere.com go on exchange for a few months post their rooms available for renting. Incoming exchange students can respond to their announcements. This website operates on a student-to-student basis, without intermediaries. commercial agencies In Amsterdam there are two agencies run on a non-commercial rotsvast wonen is a commercial basis: asva, and srvu, both mentioned above. All the other agencies agency that offers housing for a higher price. you have to pay in the city are run on a commercial basis, which means that they a subscription fee, as well as a want to earn a profit. All commercial agencies offering houses or month’s rent and vat when they rooms must be registered with the Amsterdam authorities. Check find you an apartment. the Wijksteunpunt Wonen at www.wswonen.nl/english if you have www.rotsvast.nl. questions. Agencies are allowed to ask for a registration fee. They will offer you a house or room within four months and if they are

living & working 61 randstadwonen offers furnished unable to do so, you can get your money back. If they do find you and unfurnished accommodation a room, you have to pay for their services. in the area of amsterdam and

haarlem. registration is free. www.randstadwonen.com We advise you to be careful when you apply to a room agency. Go to the asw office (www.huurders.info) for information and amsterdam apartment rental advice. On the left you can find some commercial parties that offers studios, rooms, bed are known to be reliable. and breakfast and furnished houses in amsterdam, which can be rented temporarily. www. The Student Hotel in Amsterdam offers Dutch and international amsterdamapartmentrental.com students fully furnished rooms with private bathrooms, a shared or private kitchen, Wi-Fi and tv, including the use of a personal bike, gym, study rooms, lounges and a game room. The hotel has a re- ception with 24-hour security, a laundry room and a restaurant/bar. Rooms at The Student Hotel can be viewed online and are available for one or two semesters. The rooms can also be booked for a week or a month. The website is in English. www.thestudenthotel.com

temporary accommodation (hotels and hostels)

In case you are not able to find a room before arrival, you may want to stay in a hotel or hostel. Finding daily accommodation should not be difficult. However at certain times of the year (especially during specific events), most places may be fully booked. Right before the start of the semester, a lot of students stay in hostels, so act quickly when making a reservation.

student jobs Life in Amsterdam is not cheap. The obvious solution is to combine your studies with a job. Although the city offers enough jobs, foreign students can experience some obstacles. The tips offered to you here should help you get around them.

Work Permits If your study schedule allows it, you might be interested in finding a part-time job. While this can be a great experience, you are advised to first check with your host university for more information on work permits. Additional information can be found on the website of the Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education (Nuffic), www.nuffic.nl.

62 living & working Citizen Service Number/Burger Service Nummer The Burger Service Nummer (bsn) is a unique number for everybody who has to deal with the Dutch authorities. This number, which in most cases replaces the social security number (Sofi-nummer), will become more important in the future. When in the Netherlands, you will automatically obtain a bsn if you register with the municipal authorities. To start your job you will need this number, so it is important to arrange this. To do this, and also if you have other questions, you can go to the website www.burgerservicenummer.nl or contact your municipal authorities. It is, of course, also possible to go to the foreign students’ counsellor. If you are planning to stay for only one semester you won’t be able to get a job in the Netherlands, since it would take too much time to obtain the necessary documents. For more in-formation check the website of uwv werkbedrijf: www.werk.nl.

How to Get a Job If you are looking for a job, approach a job agency (uitzendbureau); for a student job you can also they can be found all over town. They offer temporary jobs, also search the following websites: www.studentenwerk.nl for students. If they do not have anything on offer, they will try to www.studentsforstudents.nl find an appropriate job for you. Registration is free. For addresses www.undutchables.nl (also for look in the Gouden Gids (www.goudengids.nl) or in the telephone information about work permits) directory under ‘uitzendbureau’ (www.telefoongids.nl). www.asastudent.nl (jobs of around 15 hours a week for which you do not need to speak dutch) Look out for posters on shop windows or check the internet. Again, there is a maximum number of hours you are allowed to work as a non-eu student without a work permit. Do not exceed this, or the authorities will consider your residence permit invalid! money matters The Dutch currency is the euro. This European currency is valid in most eu countries. The currency is decimal; one euro is equivalent to 100 euro cents.

Bank Notes and Coins There are eight euro coins, in the following denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 euro cents. There is also a 1 and 2 euro coin. Most shops no longer accept the 1 and 2 euro cents. In most shops the amounts you pay are rounded up or down to the nearest e0.05. All coins have the same European design on one side, while the

living & working 63 other side is different for each euro country. There are seven euro banknotes, of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros. 100, 200 and 500 euro bills are often not accepted. You can use euros from any of the euro countries.

Bank Accounts and Cash Dispensers It might be useful to open a Dutch bank account during your stay. Your faculty contact person can tell you where to go and which documents you need. The major Dutch banks are ing, abn amro and Rabobank. Once you have opened an account, the bank will provide you with a bankcard, which you can use to withdraw money at cash dispensers/atm machines (pinautomaten). You can also use your own bank card to withdraw cash. Just check if you have the same logo on your card as is on the atm. Generally, banks are open on weekdays and between 09.00 and 19.00 hrs (abn is open until 18.00 hrs), some are open on Saturdays too. There is 24-hour access to the cash dispensers and they can be found all over town.

Changing Money You can get euros using traveller’s cheques or by changing your own currency at exchange offices or banks anywhere in the Netherlands. You can also get euros by using your credit card (but keep in mind that this is quite expensive!). There is usually an exchange office in or near major train stations. The gwk (grenswisselkantoor) at Amsterdam Centraal Station, the official exchange office, is open 24 hours a day. There are several smaller exchange offices in the city centre as well, but because they are not linked to any of the major Dutch banks, they usually charge more commission. If you use American Express Travellers Cheques you can also go to their offices.

Credit cards Although credit cards are not used often in the Netherlands, they are one of the options when paying in stores and such. A credit card is used in the same way as a normal atm card, the only difference is that you don’t pay straight away. The amount is later drawn from your bank account. In the Netherlands there are several banks that offer credit cards. For students there are, because of different incomes, special options when getting a credit card. This differs per person and per bank. It’s also a possibility to get a credit card from international companies like: Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

64 living & working addresses student housing Meetingpoint Youth Hostel Hogeschool Inholland Warmoesstraat 14 Wildenborch 6 | 1112 xb 1012 jd Amsterdam Diemen | 020 495 11 11 +31 (0)20 627 74 99 [email protected] asva Student Union www.hostel-meetingpoint.nl Nieuwe Achtergracht 170 020 525 29 26 | 12.30 to money 16.00 hrs | www.asva.nl American Express International (Head Office) srvu Housing Office (at VU Hoogoorddreef 15 University Amsterdam’s 020 504 85 04 campus) | De Boelelaan 1105 www.americanexpress.com/ Room 0D-05 | 020 598 94 22 netherlands www.facebook.com/srvubond [email protected]

Temporary accommodation Stayokay | www.stayokay.com • Stayokay Vondelpark Zandpad 5 1054 ga Amsterdam +31 (0)20 589 89 96 [email protected] • Stayokay Zeeburg Timorplein 21 1094 cc Amsterdam +31 (0)20 551 31 90 [email protected] • Stayokay Stadsdoelen Kloveniersburgwal 97 1011 kb Amsterdam +31 (0)20 624 68 32 [email protected]

65 05:00 students & studying time to hit the books

time to open your books! studying in

amsterdam is a great experience, but as a new

student here you should know everything

about where to study and any other student

information. where, for instance, do you

get your textbooks? and did you know

that a great place for studying quietly

is the amsterdam public library (openbare

bibliotheek amsterdam)?

67 24 hours

08.00 09.00 11.00 bright and early! enjoying a cuppa students’ choice

‘On a day dedicated to studying ‘My friends and I take a lot ‘I usually try to bring a for my exams, I usually get up of breaks. Sitting down and sandwich for lunch, but that quite early to catch my favourite studying can take a toll on can get boring sometimes. spot in the library. By 9 hrs I am your body, so we like to walk When I don’t feel like making already there! I get together around the library and get my own lunch, I try the cafe- with some study buddies and some refreshments as well. teria food or go to one of the we usually end up spending If I feel that I’m getting bored cafés across the street with my most of the day together.’ with studying, I like to drink friends. It’s a great excuse to some green tea for energy, or take a break and socialise!’ some coffee.’

68 with violet violet huynh (22), vietnam, international finance at university of amsterdam

13.00 15.00 18.00 catching some sun what’s for dinner shake it off

‘After lunch, I usually study ‘If I’m not feeling too tired, ‘After the exam period is until late in the afternoon, I like grabbing dinner with over, my study buddies and when I like to take a walk my friends after we are done I celebrate by going out. We outside. If it’s nice, I’ll walk studying. We usually go for usually have dinner together, along the canals right next to sushi, since a lot of places have after which we will go to a the library to stretch my legs. some great student discounts. pub or even to a karaoke bar. If it’s too cold for a walk, I’m not out too late, especially We usually get on the stage I usually take a break by if I have an exam the following together and sing as a group!’ checking social media.’ day.’

69 crossmedia in amsterdam Books, films and tv series

Many books have been written about Amsterdam. Not only the fascinating Amsterdam: A History of the World’s Most Liberal City by Russell Shorto, but also fiction like The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and Amsterdam by Ian McEwan. And you might like the famous Dutch detective novels by Appie Baantjer about inspector DeKok. Baantjer was a detective inspector with the Amsterdam police. He wrote many novels about his hero DeKok, also an Amsterdam police officer, more than twenty of which have been translated into English. DeKok solves many murders, while the reader gets to know a lot about Amsterdam places and things. There is also a Dutch tv series, based on the Baantjer books, with well-known Dutch actors.

A classic novel, partly situated in Amsterdam, is Turks Fruit (Turkish Delight) by Jan Wolkers. It was made into a movie by Paul Verhoeven, which, with 3.5 million Dutchmen going to see it, was the most successful Dutch movie of all times.

Alles is liefde (Love is All), was also shot in Amsterdam, around Christmas. The film, a romantic comedy, follows various characters all looking for love. It may remind you of the British Love Actually.

Ciske de Rat is a successful book, musical and movie. The story is about a young Dutch boy who lives in De Jordaan area, never sees his sailor father, and is neglected by his mother who is a drunk. In a fit of rage when she mistreats him, he kills her and is sent to an institution. Fortunately, it all ends well. The film was shot in and near the Czaar Peterstraat.

Major foreign movies that have been shot in Amsterdam are the James Bond film Diamonds are Forever and Ocean’s Twelve. Another popular film which was also partly shot in Amsterdam is The Fault in our Stars. This film is based on a book by the same name, written by John Green. student stories

70 students & studying students & studying 71 student population Amsterdam has a sizeable student population. Together, the UvA (University of Amsterdam) and VU University Amsterdam have over 50,000 students. The Universities of Applied Sciences (hogescholen or hbo) combined have approximately 55,000 students. Economics is the most popular course for the hogescholen, while Behavioural and Social Sciences attract the most students at the Amsterdam UvA and VU Universities.

Higher Education There are two types of higher education institutions in the Netherlands, Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences (hogescholen or hbo). Hogescholen prepare students for specific professions and tend to be more practically oriented than universities, which focus more on theory and generating knowledge through research. Generally speaking, an hbo degree provides its graduates with sufficient skills to practise the profession they were trained for, without any additional training.

Bachelor – Master In the last decade, the system of higher education has been dras- tically reorganised to comply with the British or American model. This means that a university education has been subdivided into a broader, three-year bachelor’s degree and a one-year master’s degree. At hogescholen the bachelor’s degree takes four years while in some cases graduates will be able to continue their studies for one or two years for a master’s degree. The aim of this European reorganisation is to make the system of higher education more transparent throughout Europe and to make it easier to study in another country.

student facilities All educational institutions try to provide all facilities necessary to enable their students to study to the best of their abilities. There are faculty libraries providing a quiet place for studying, computer rooms to work on papers, and of course students can go to the departments with questions about the course programme or for help with a particular problem.

If you are thinking about switching to another course, you could consult the student counsellor. Advice and information about

72 students & studying course programmes is also available at the university information centre, where you can go with general questions or to make a personal appointment. course materials Textbooks can be purchased in specialised bookshops, but you can studystore has bookshops also get most textbooks in online bookshops like Bol.com. Here you in or near various universities in amsterdam. they also offer books can find new and second-hand copies. Bol.com is also a good place online. for more information for selling textbooks that you no longer need. Athenaeum Boekhan- go to www.studystore.nl/en. del has bookshops in the city centre and near various university you can also visit studystore to buildings. You can purchase books via www.athenaeum.nl. sell textbooks you no longer use.

For photocopying, you can use the machines at your faculty or those in libraries, shops and supermarkets. At commercial copy centres you can also have your papers printed and bound. One of these is Lowie Kopie Copy Centres, which has four shops where you can print, bind, copy and make your own business cards. You can also send them your work online and pick it up later.

Dutch Language Courses If you have obtained the necessary preparatory diplomas in your you can start your dutch language country of origin and are planning to enrol in a Dutch course, course on the internet. go to www.duolingo.com and click on you will need a certificate stating that you have sufficient Dutch ‘dutch’. it is a free resource with language skills. Students in exchange programmes don’t need this lessons varying from beginner’s certificate, but of course some knowledge of the Dutch language tips to fun vocabulary. makes it easier to enjoy your stay. Your university or college can tell you about Dutch language courses. Sometimes the institutions offer Dutch language courses, you can contact their websites for information. libraries University Libraries All educational institutes have their own libraries, where you can borrow books using your student id card. Most libraries also have reading rooms, where you can study or read the books you are not allowed to take out.

Public Libraries The largest public library is the one at the Oosterdokseiland, near Centraal Station. This library has a wide selection of foreign news-

students & studying 73 to take out books at the university papers and is a good place to start if you want to learn more about library of the university of Amsterdam. To get a library card you need to bring valid identifica- amsterdam (uva), or the library tion papers and a document stating your current address (a recent of vu university amsterdam, you need a library card. telephone bill or bank statement will do). For more information, check the website www.oba.nl. The oba (Amsterdam Public Library) organises various events, many with free entry. These include lunch concerts in cooperation with the Conservatorium, city walks and bike rides, talks and reading events (similar to lectures).

social contacts A good balance between work and relaxation makes for better results in your studies. The more pressure you are under, the more important it is to unwind. Fortunately, there are about a million interesting ways to spend your free time.

Student Clubs Hogescholen and universities have clubs to keep students informed about course schedules and related subjects, and to represent the students in decisions regarding the programme. Parties, trips and other social activities are sometimes part of the programme as well.

Student Societies it’s no secret that some students To get to know people outside your own institute or field, you can prefer to do other things join one of Amsterdam’s student societies. These social clubs than studying, but studying is organise all kinds of activities, ranging from lectures and plays nevertheless the reason for your stay. there’s always something to to parties. For most societies, membership is required. esn VU, do in the city, but there are also is a society that aims to help foreign students feel at home in the special places where you can study Netherlands, for instance by organising city trips and parties. in peace or meet other students. The UvA (University of Amsterdam) together with the HvA (Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences) has a similar society for foreign students, called the International Student Network Amsterdam (isn). The esn section for Inholland University of Applied Sciences Amsterdam/Diemen is called esn Diemen. They will make you feel more at home in the Netherlands, and help you make new friends. The general student union is the asva. This organisation represents students’ interests at universities, hogescholen and in the political arena. They also organise courses, political debates and much more. You can always contact asva if you want to become an active member of the student union. For homosexual, bisexual and transgender students, a.s.v.gay organises meetings and can serve as a safe space.

74 students & studying asdv Bonaparte Office asdv Bonaparte is a student debating society that meets on Wednesday nights between 19.30 to 23.30 hrs. If you would like them to organise an English language evening for you, send them an e-mail.

Some universities have their own cafés, like Bruin Café at VU University Amsterdam or the hes Café. These cafés have a great atmosphere and are good places to meet fellow students. Another reason to go there is the fact that they are usually not expensive. international student organisations The two major organisations providing support to foreign students are the Foreign Student Service (fss) and the Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education (Nuffic).

Foreign Student Service The fss was founded in 1951, in response to the growing demand for assistance and advice among foreign students in the Netherlands. The organisation provides the three following services: • It supplies information about practical matters like residence permits, accommodation, study grants and health insurance • It publishes an information magazine that is for sale at the fss offices, with suggestions such as where to go for Dutch language courses • It publishes the Monthly Bulletin, listing fss activities

Nuffic Nuffic provides foreign students with information about: • International courses available in the Netherlands • The Dutch system of higher education • The practical, day-to-day aspects of living in the Netherlands, including information about residence permits • Relevant news articles and comments on the Netherlands via a newsletter which is distributed every two weeks • Nuffic regularly organises day trips for foreign students, for example to Den Haag, Maastricht and Volendam

students & studying 75 isn amsterdam International Student Network (isn) Amsterdam is a student-run organisation dedicated to helping international students studying at the Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA) and the Hogeschool van Amsterdam (HvA) in making the most of their stay in the Nether- lands. isn is part of the Erasmus Student Network (esn); an organisation with 391 sections in 36 countries. They are here to ensure that you are going to have the time of your life studying abroad.

check out www.isn-amsterdam.nl isn achieves this by organising great introduction days, parties, or find isn on facebook to stay weekend trips, excursions and other cultural activities. This dynam- updated! ic organisation promotes integration through the Dutch coaches who guide international students during the introduction period, as well as a sophisticated buddy system. Some classic examples of isn activities include the Discover Holland weekend, Dutch movie nights, Dutch lessons and daytrips to the places in Holland you cannot miss. In addition to this, isn even organises a number of international trips to popular European destinations such as Prague, Paris and London.

With an esn card you can join all the isn activities. In addition to this, this card provides you with various great discounts at their weekly ‘Borrel’ and lots of other museums, shops and restaurants.

esn VU Amsterdam stay updated through facebook esn VU Amsterdam is the international student association of and www.esnvuamsterdam.nl VU University Amsterdam. The mission of esn is to contribute to the experience of exchange students in Amsterdam by organising social activities and estabishing links with organisations in order to bridge the gap between students and firms. At the beginning of each semester, esn organises the isi Days (International Student Intro- duction Days), an introduction through Amsterdam. Other activities can be weekly borrels (drinks), hitchhiking weekends, bowling nights and ice-skating trips, or even city trips and full-fledged weekends into the great outdoors (in the Netherlands or abroad).

esn INHolland Diemen for more information check the esn Diemen aims to help all incoming international and exchange website: www.esndiemen.nl students to socially integrate at Inholland Diemen and therefore also in Dutch society. esn INHolland Diemen does this by organising activities and workshops on both an educational and socio- cultural level.

76 students & studying 77 addresses student facilities Gerrit Rietveld Academie course materials Amsterdamse Hogeschool Student Office Athenaeum Boekhandel voor de Kunsten (ahk) FrederikRoeskestraat 96 Spui 14 to 16 | 020 514 14 60 Service bureau ahk 020 571 16 00 www.athenaeum.nl Jodenbreestraat 3 www.rietveldacademie.nl/en email: [email protected] 020 527 77 10 | www.ahk.nl email: studentoffice@ email: [email protected] rietveldacademie.nl Lowie Copy centres www.lowiekopie.nl (Dutch only) Universiteit van Amsterdam dutch language • Rozengracht 63 | 020 420 02 (UvA) | Student Service Desk courses 47 | Mon to Fri 10.00 to 13.00 Nieuwe Achtergracht 166 Department of Dutch hrs, 13.30 to 18.00 hrs 020 525 80 80 | www.uva.nl/ as a Second Language • Amstelveenseweg 202 studentservicedesk (VU University Amsterdam) 020 675 64 05 | Mon to Fri De Boelelaan 1105 | Room 09.30 to 18:00 hrs, Sat 10:00 Hogeschool van Amsterdam 12A-43 | 020 598 63 98 to 17:00 hrs HvA | Student Information www.nt2.vu.nl/en | • Kinkerstraat 101-103 Office | Wibautstraat 2-4 [email protected] 020 689 90 20 | Mon to Fri 020 599 54 22 09.30 to 18:00 hrs Sat 10:00 www.amsterdamuas.com UvA Talen | Roetersstraat 25 to 17:00 hrs 020 5254678 | www.uvatalen.nl • Linnaeusstraat 107 Hogeschool Inholland 020 468 20 71 | Mon to Fri International Office intt (Institute for Dutch 09.30 to 18.00 hrs, Sat 10.00 Amsterdam/Diemen as a Second Language) to 17.00 hrs Wildenborch 6 (Diemen) Spuistraat 134 | Room 405 Room X0.10 | 020 495 10 15 020 525 44 10 | www.intt.uva.nl libraries www.inholland.com University Library VU [email protected] P.C. Hoofthuis Library VU University Amsterdam Spuistraat 134 | 020 525 44 13 De Boelelaan 1105 | 020 598 VU University Amsterdam www.uba.uva.nl/en/locations/ 52 00 | A detailed schedule can International Office | De Boe- p-c-hoofthuis.html be found on the website under lelaan 1105 | Room 0E-68 | In- Borrowing, Reserving | ternational Cooperation Project Easy Dutch Plus | Roomolen- www.ub.vu.nl/en (cis) | 020 5989097 | Mobility straat 17b | 020 422 19 06 020 59 89607 | International www.easydutchplus.com Universiteitsbibliotheek (ub) Service Desk Room OA-11 UvA | Singel 425 | 020 525 91 11 www.vuamsterdam.com Mon to Fri 08.30 to 23.45 hrs Sat and Sun 10.00 to 17.00 hrs www.uba.2.nl

78 Openbare Bibliotheek asdv Bonaparte Office Amsterdam (oba) Nieuwe Achtergracht 170 Oosterdokskade 143 06 31 53 67 35 020 523 09 00 | Open seven www.asdvbonaparte.nl days a week 10.00 to 22.00 hrs (Dutch only) www.oba.nl international student societies student asva (Algemene Studenten organisatons Vereniging Amsterdam) fss (The Foreign Student Nieuwe Achtergracht 170 Service) | Oranje Nassaulaan 5 020 525 29 26 020 671 59 15 www.asva.nl/english www.foreignstudents.nl [email protected] [email protected] a.s.v.gay | Nieuwe Achtergracht Nuffic Information Department 170, room 4.12 | [email protected] Kortenaerkade 11 | The Hague www.asvgay.nl 070 426 02 60 | www.nuffic.nl esn VU Amsterdam De Boelelaan 1105 | Room 0D-07 (0D wing, VU main building | 1081 HV Amsterdam www.esnvuamsterdam.nl [email protected] esn Diemen | Amsterdam/ Diemen | International Office Wildenborch 6 (Diemen) Room Y1.04 | www.esndiemen.nl isn Amsterdam | (International Student Network) | crea, Nieuwe Achtergracht 170, Room 1.15 020 525 3721 www.isn-amsterdam.nl [email protected]

79 06:00 going out it's time to boogie

students and going out are as inseparable

as a clock and its hands. without going out,

life becomes rather drab. fortunately

amsterdam offers plenty of opportunities

to go out around the clock. did you, for

instance, know that there are more than

a thousand pubs in amsterdam? the best pubs

and many other places to go to can be found

in this chapter.

81 24 hours

09.00 13.00 16.00 early riser spanish time chill in the park

‘I’m an early riser and it’s great ‘I love watching Spanish ‘If the weather holds, I can be to run along the banks of the ij. football matches with Spanish found in the park, most of the I run as far as I can, stop to friends. Although I love Latin time in Flevopark in the catch my breath and watch the American Spanish much better ‘Indische Buurt’, but also in ships pass. That’s my ideal start (we don’t lisp), it’s great to be Oosterpark or in Vondelpark. of the day. I have breakfast as able to talk Spanish. It makes It’s nice to relax and sit in the soon as I come home. As far me feel at home. We have sun, and listen to music with as breakfast is concerned I’m typical Spanish snacks like friends, but I also like going a real Mexican. I have a large chorizo or tortilla chips.’ on my own. When I’m with breakfast for about an hour and friends, it’s the first thing we do a half, often with quesadillas, before going out on the town.’ always with coffee.’

82 with jorge jorge del rio de echavarri (24) mexico, international journalism, amsterdam university of applied sciences

19.00 22.30 03.30 international dinner bourbon street midnight snack

‘We have dinner with room- ‘This is when we go to the ‘If we still have the energy, mates and friends. I cook centre of town, by bike of we have a midnight snack like almost every day with my course, like real Amsterdam- a tosti or a fried snack. But roommates, preferably Mexican mers. There’s a pub on Leidse- quite often I only have a cup food, like fajitas. I’m living in plein that we all like. It’s called of tea before turning in. I like a large apartment in Diemen, Bourbon Street and it is a kind to sleep in after a long night. so sometimes we have German of blues pub with live music. This is usually till 11.00 in the food or something Asian that We prefer a pub where we feel morning. Although I sleep my Chinese roommate cooks. free and can talk, to a club with in, I’m ready for a full day in We always have dinner together very loud music.’ Amsterdam.’ before going out.’

83 cocktails

If you have any time left on orange pride shot Preparation your day off, you can always 1. Pour the pineapple and start making these appetising Ingredients (for one shot) cranberry juice into a glass. shot recipes. Both recipes have • 1/3 pineapple juice 2. Add the coconut milk and a Dutch touch and can be fun to • 1/6 coconut milk stir. make. Follow the tips to make • 1/3 cranberry juice 3. Add the 7 Up and decorate your shots even more awesome. • 1/6 Sprite the glass with a small Dutch Enjoy! flag or a cocktail umbrella – Kitchen utensils or feel free to get creative! • a small glass • a spoon • something to decorate the glass with

84 dutch flag jello shot Preparation 5. Pour the coconut syrup and 1. Boil enough water for one gelatine mixture into the shot Ingredients (for one shot) gelatine sheet in a saucepan, glass until two thirds of it is • 1/3 white coconut syrup following the instructions filled. Put the glass into a fridge • 1/3 red lemonade on the gelatine packet. Stir for another two hours. • 1/3 Cool Blue Gazeuse until the gelatine powder is 6. Repeat the process of boiling • 1 packet of gelatin sheets dissolved. water and a gelatine sheet, 2. Add the Cool Blue Gazeuse adding red lemonade syrup Kitchen utensils to the warm gelatine mixture for this final layer. • a saucepan and leave it to cool. 7. Fill the shot glass to the brim • a shot glass 3. Pour this mixture into the and again leave to cool. Enjoy! shot glass until one third is filled. After this, put the glass Tip: put an orange slice on the into a fridge for at least two glass rim for decoration. hours. 4. For the next layer, repeat the previous steps but use white coconut syrup instead of the Cool Blue Gazeuse.

85 where to go? Amsterdam has a very interesting international cuisine. There are many restaurants and cuisines to choose from. It is therefore wise to consult a good restaurant guide before you decide to have dinner somewhere. iens Independent Index, for example, provides a complete list of restaurants in Amsterdam (www.iens.nl). The list includes star ratings and customer opinions and is used by many local people.

Couverts gives you the opportunity to select the type of restaurant you are looking for, and you can make reservations online (www.couverts. nl). If you own a smartphone, you can also download the Couverts app, which allows you to make reservations anywhere, anytime.

You can also check the website www.diningcity.com/nl/amsterdam for reviews of all sorts of different restaurants in Amsterdam. Here is a small selection of restaurants that offer a good meal at a price students can afford. It is usually best to make a reservation to make sure you get a table.

restaurants Wolvenstraat 23 is home to restaurant Wolvenstraat, better known as the restaurant with no name. Even though there is no name on the window, it is easy to find. Here you can relax with a book, work on your laptop or enjoy a tasty lunch or a drink with friends. The restaurant serves Asian food all day, prepared by Asian chefs. You can order big bowls of noodles, bami goreng, soup and much more.

The Butcher sells the tastiest hamburgers in Amsterdam. After booking via e-mail, you check in using the intercom at the rear entrance. You will then find yourself in a room that feels like a New York speakeasy, and you can enjoy cocktails and mini burgers.

Chinese restaurant Nam Kee is quite a famous place in Amster- dam. Their oysters are delicious and Nam Kee has won many awards over the years. The restaurant received even more publicity when the Dutch writer Kees van Beijnum published his novel The Oysters of Nam Kee. In 2002 the book was adapted into a movie.

Vapiano is an Italian self-service restaurant that currently has two locations in Amsterdam. The chain gets its name from the Italian proverb ‘Chi va piano vasano e va lontano’, meaning ‘Slow and

86 going out steady wins the race’. The prices are surprisingly low (the most expensive main dish is e8.75). Vapiano is unique because you order your food directly from the chefs at the individual stations.

Basis is a popular club with a relaxed atmosphere. It has amazing murals and one wall is covered with old radios and televisions. This restaurant has an unusual motto – ‘Bring your own’ – meaning you can bring in bought or home-cooked food and heat it up. There are also regular exhibitions by local artists. pub food Amsterdam’s many eetcafés (eateries) combine the atmosphere of a pub with the good food of a restaurant, making them good places to have a reasonably priced meal and meet people at the same time. Most of them serve daily or weekly specials, bargain dishes in addition to the regular menu.

Situated near the University of Amsterdam in the Roetersstraat is the lively Café de Roeter. You will find a lot of students here, so it’s a great place to meet new people over a drink. The meals are cheap: you can choose from a simple salad to aubergine stuffed with minced meat. Weekdays between 17.00 and 18.00 hrs is happy hour. lunchrooms and cafés There is a multitude of places in town where you can enjoy lunch with a cup of coffee, a sandwich or a piece of cake. Bagels & Beans, for example, is a very nice place to enjoy your lunch. There are over 15 locations in Amsterdam alone. Check www.bagelsbeans.nl (Dutch only) to find the Bagels & Beans nearest to you.

In lunchroom Latei, you can go back to the 60s and 70s. The whole interior is inspired by this era and you can buy everything you see. Have some homemade pie, freshly squeezed juice or just a nice cup of coffee. university restaurants University restaurants or ‘Mensas’ are places where you can go to dinner with other students at long tables. They are open to people

going out 87 outside the student community as well. In some cases your student id card gives you a discount.

Agora is one of the two restaurants of the University of Amster- dam. You can eat there with just a few friends or a bigger group, as there are small and big tables. Around dinnertime, the restaurant has a buffet with several dishes with meat or fish, as well as vegetarian dishes. If you just want to sit or study in Agora, there are computers with free internet and a corner to read magazines or newspapers.

bars Amsterdam has all the bars you can think of, from corner pubs, snooker and pool bars to grand cafés. Most pubs close at 01.00 hrs on weekdays and at 03.00 hrs during the weekend. A trendy spot is Café Canvas, which can be found on Wibautstraat 150 on the 7th Floor. The view is phenomenal! (www.canvas7.nl)

Beer Cafés Café Karpershoek is the oldest café in Amsterdam. The café began life in 1606 as an inn on the ij for the sailors of the Dutch East India Company. Nowadays it is a real bruin café (brown café). These cafés are named for their typically dark brown interiors. You can always rely on the barman for entertaining stories. The terrace of Café Karpershoek has a view of the busy traffic around Amster- dam’s Centraal Station.

De Bierfabriek is a mixture of a brewery, restaurant and café. Here you can draft your own beers. Inside there are big jute bags of peanuts, of which you can eat as much as you like. You simply throw the shells on the floor. The Bierfabriek has two kinds of home-brewed beer, a bakery and many organic products.

Gay Bars If you’re looking for gay bars, the Regulierdwarsstraat is for you. The Regulierdwarsstraat is renowned for its many gay restaurants, hey bars and dance venues. Thursday, Friday and Saturday are busy. mister dj!

You can find an overview of all the cafés at www.reguliers.net. Soho is, for example, one of Amsterdam’s largest gay cafés. Taboo is a modern gay bar with a diverse mix of people: gay people, straight people, young and old, tourists and locals.

88 going out clubs Rembrandtplein is not the only square for a good night out. Leid- seplein has the best bars and clubs for a pub crawl. You can visit all the great pubs in one evening. Most bars are found on Leidseplein and Korte Leidsedwarsstraat. If you want to sing along to the Top 40 you can go to Bubbels. If you fancy shaking your hips you can go to the Bamboo Bar, a Brazilian club. If you want to hear all the latest hits, go to the Van Dyck bar. And if you prefer somewhere more upmarket, Jimmy Woo is the ideal place, because it is one of the most exclusive clubs in Amsterdam. You can also enjoy an evening of alternative music at Chicago Social Club. air is one of the most famous clubs in Amsterdam, with an international feel. club air is open from thursday to People who like a good r&b, techno or house party need look no sunday. for the programme and opening times check www.air.nl. further. The club has a capacity of 1300, but the layout makes for an intimate atmosphere. Panama is a theatre/nightclub, housed in an 1885 monument. They offer a wide variety of live music and djs. Thursday night is student night, offering discount tickets for students. music Amsterdam is full of music of all kinds and styles, from classic for bigger concerts and music opera to free jazz or hard-core rave. In the summer months there festivals in the netherlands you can also go to www.ticketmaster.nl are free open-air concerts at Museumplein and in Vondelpark. The or scan the layar on the left page Amsterdam Uitburo provides information on all kinds of concerts in Amsterdam.

The concert programme at Bimhuis is mainly modern and experimental jazz. Bimhuis is situated in the Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ. Students can get a 15% discount.

The acoustics of the Concertgebouw Main Hall are rated among the best in the world. The Concertgebouw, completed in 1888, is the country’s major centre of classical music. Tickets are not cheap, but the Robeco Summer Concerts series held in July and August are less expensive than the regular concerts held here. On Wednes- days, lunch concerts are free.

Melkweg – a former dairy factory – started out as a meeting place for hippies in the late 1960s. Over the years it became a venue for concerts as well as demonstrations. Many famous artists and bands have given concerts here, such as Prince and Coldplay. To get in, you need a membership card in addition to a ticket, which can be

going out 89 bought at the door or from the online ticket shop. Membership costs e4 for a month. Melkweg also has an art gallery and a cinema. There are regular dance and theatre shows. Saturday night is the best night to party at the Melkweg.

For 20th-century classical music you can visit the Muziekgebouw aan ’t ij. It is also possible to take a stroll around the huge new building or have a drink on the terrace by the riverside.

Paradiso’s programming caters to a wide range of musical tastes, and is situated in an old church: a beautiful spot for fun parties. The stage of this so-called ‘rock temple’ has seen many local as well as world-famous bands and artists, including the Rolling Stones and Prince. To get in, you need a Paradiso membership card in addition to a ticket, which is sold at the door or via the online ticket shop. Membership costs e3.50 for a month.

Sugar Factory is a night theatre with performances, dance, art, jazz, entertainment, visuals, bands and theatre shows.

Winston offers a varied mix of talent, from local punk bands, open poetry nights and musicals in drag to the grooviest djs – an eclectic mélange designed to funk everybody up. Open seven nights a week.

Heineken Music Hall (hmh) is the place to go for the big concerts; international artists play here regularly.

The Ziggo Dome is the newest concert venue in the Netherlands where live music sounds at its best. There is capacity for 17,000 spectators. The programme includes various major artists.

The Amsterdam ArenA is the venue for concerts, dinners and all kinds of events and also home to the football club Ajax.

90 going out addresses restaurants Genki | Reguliersdwarsstraat 26 Chinese Asian 020 626 37 27 | Kitchen open Nam Kee | Zeedijk 111 to 113 Wolvenstraat | Wolvenstraat 23 16.00 to 22.30 hrs | Average 020 624 34 70 | Kitchen open 020 320 08 43 | Kitchen open price all you can eat e26.95 12.00 to 23.00 hrs | Average Mon to Thu and Sun 09.00 to www.restaurantgenki.nl price three courses e15 01.00 hrs Fri and Sat 09.00 www.namkee.net to 03.00 hrs Genroku | Open every day: Lunch 12:00 to 17:00 hrs, International Indonesian Diner: 17:00 to 22:30 hrs Humphreys | Kitchen open Kantjil & de Tijger | Spuistraat • Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 115 Sun to Thu 17.00 to 22.00 hrs, 291-293 | 020 620 09 94 020 42 888 09 Fri and Sat 17.00 to 22.30 hrs Lunch: 12.00 to 16.30 hrs [email protected] Average price three courses Dinner: 16.30 to 23.00 hrs • Reguliersdwarsstraat 18 e24.50 | www.humpreys.nl www.kantjil.nl 020 330 47 53 • Nieuwezijdskolk 23 [email protected] 020 422 12 34 | Kitchen also Mexican open Sun 16.30 to 22.00 hrs Burrito | De Clercqstraat 14 Umami | Nieuwezijds Voor- • Spuistraat 267 | 020 624 35 55 020 618 98 07 | Kitchen burgwal 161 | 020 420 8080 open from Tue to Sun 16.00 Lunch Tues to Sun 12:00 to Fifteen | Jollemanhof 9 to 00.00 hrs | Average 17:00 hrs, Diner from Wed to 020 509 50 15 | Kitchen open price three courses e25 Sun 17:00 to 22:00 hrs, closed for lunch 12.00 to 15.00 hrs www.burritoamsterdam.nl on Monday | amsterdam@ dinner from 17.30 to 22.00 hrs umami-restaurant.com Average price three courses e29 Rose’s Cantina www.fifteen.nl Reguliersdwarsstraat 38 Wagamama | Kitchen open 020 625 97 97 | Kitchen open 12.00 to 22.00 hrs, Fri Italian 17.30 t0 23.00 hrs all week and Sat until 23.00 hrs Palorma | Plantage Kerklaan 28 Average price three courses e30 www.wagamama.nl 020 625 34 34 | Kitchen open www.rosescantina.com • Amstelstraat 8 15.00 to 00.00 hrs | Average 020 320 03 10 price three courses e12.50 Japanese • Max Euweplein 10 Tempura | Plantage Kerklaan 020 528 77 78 Vapiano | Kitchen open 09.00 26 | 020 428 71 32 | Kitchen • Zuidplein 12 | 020 620 30 32 to 23.00 hrs | www.vapiano.com open 17.00 to 22.30 hrs Kitchen open 11.30 to 21.00 • Oosterdokskade 145 closed on Mon | Average hrs Sat and Sun 17.00 to 020 420 18 25 price three courses e15 21.00 hrs • Amstelstraat 2 to 4 www.restauranttempura.nl 020 767 08 00

91 Fusion to 22.00 hrs | Average price Fri to Sat 16.00 to 03.00 hrs Brix | Wolvenstraat 16 three courses e21 www.basisamsterdam.nl 020 639 03 51 | Kitchen open www.spang makandra.nl Mon to Thu and Sun 11.00 to • Gerard Doustraat 39 Burgers 01.00 hrs, Fri to Sat 11.00 020 670 50 81 The Butcher | Albert Cuyp- to 03.00 hrs | Average price • Tussenmeer 227 straat 129 | 020 470 78 75 three courses e20 020 610 27 11 Kitchen open Sun to Tue 12.00 www.cafebrix.nl to 23.00 hrs, Wed to Sat 11.00 Vegetarian to 23.00 hrs | Average price e9 Dutch De Vliegende Schotel www.the-butcher.com Pancake Bakery | Prinsengracht Nieuwe Leliestraat 162 to 168 191 | 020 625 13 33 | Kitchen 020 625 20 41 | Kitchen open Burgermeester | Average open daily 09.00 to 21.30 hrs 12.00 to 21.30 hrs | Average price three courses e13 Average price three courses e21 price three courses e14.50 www.burgermeester.eu www.pancake.nl www.vliegendeschotel.com • Albert Cuypstraat 48 0900 287 43 77 Hap Hmm | Eerste Helmers- Thai • Elandsgracht 130 straat 33 | 020 618 18 84 Ko Chang | Westerstraat 91 0900 287 43 77 Kitchen open Mon to Fri 020 638 10 39 | Kitchen open • Plantage Kerklaan 37 16.30 to 20.45 hrs Average 17.00 to 22.30 hrs | Average 0900 287 43 77 price e7.50 | www.hap-hmm.nl price three courses e24 | www.ko-chang.nl Pub food Mediterranean De Blaffende Vis | Westerstraat Bazar | Albert Cuypstraat 182 Turkish 118 | 020 625 17 21 | Kitchen 020 675 05 44 | Kitchen open Divan | Elandsgracht 14 open 08.30 to 01.00 hrs 11.00 to 23.00 hrs | Fri and 020 626 82 39 | Kitchen open Average price 3 courses e8.50 Sat until 00.00 hrs | Average 17.00 to 23.00 hrs, closed on price three courses e22.50 Mon | Average price three Café de Roeter | Roeters- www.bazaramsterdam.nl courses e18 straat 192 | 020 625 37 75 Kitchen open Mon to Fri Surinamese Moroccan 09.00 to 23.00 hrs | Sat 11.00 Kam-Yin | Kitchen open 12.00 El Kasbah | Van der Hoopstraat to 23.00 hrs, closed on Sun to 00.00 hrs | Average price e7 94 to 96 020 488 77 88 Average price 3 courses e14 www.kamyim.nl Kitchen open Wed to Sun 17.30 www.goodfoodgroup.nl • Warmoesstraat 6 to 23.00 hrs. Average price 020 625 31 15 three courses e25. On Mon and Eetcafé ’t Pakhuis | Voetboog- • Bijlmerplein 525 Tue, it‘s only open for group straat 10-12 | 020 625 08 56 020 409 58 88 reservations | www.elkasbah.nl Kitchen open 11.00 to 00.00 hrs from Mon to Sat, on Sun Spang Makandra byo from 12.00 to 22.30 hrs Kitchen open 11.00 to Basis Amsterdam | Tolstraat Average price 3 courses e17 22.00 hrs, Sun from 13.00 182 | Opening hours Sun www.eetcafehetpakhuis.nl to Thu 16.00 to 00.00 hrs,

92 Rosereijn | Haarlemmerdijk 52 Agora (UvA) | Roetersstraat 13 Taboo Bar | Regulierdwarsstraat 020 626 80 27 | Lunch 12.00 Mon to Thu 08.00 to 22.00 hrs 45 | Opening times change per to 16.15 hrs, dinner 17.00 to Fri 08.00 to 18.00 hrs. Closed season | www.taboobar.nl 22.30 hrs | Average price 3 on Sat and Sun courses e19 | www.rosereijn.nl grand cafés Atrium (UvA) | Oudezijds Café de Jaren | Nieuwe Doelen- lunchrooms and Achterburgwal 237 | 020 525 straat 20-22 | 020 625 57 71 cafés 39 99 | Kitchen open Mon to Open daily 09.30 to 01.00 hrs Latei | Zeedijk 143 | 020 625 Thu 11.00 to 19.30 hrs Fri until Fri and Sat till 02.00 hrs 74 85 | Kitchen open Mon to 19.00 hrs. Closed on Sat and www.cafedejaren.nl Wed 08.00 to 18.00 hrs, Thu Sun. and Fri 08.00 to 22.00 hrs, Sat Eetcafe Pilsvogel | Gerard 09.00 to 22.00 hrs, Sun 11.00 bars Douplein 14 | 020 664 64 83 to 18.00 hrs De Hallen | Hannie Dankbaar www.pilsvogel.nl Passage 33 | 020 705 8164 Tisfris | Sint Antoniesbree- De Bierfabriek | Rokin 75 straat 142 | 020 622 04 72 Café Karpershoek 020 528 99 10 | Mon to Thu Open daily | 09.00 to 19.00 hrs Martelaarsgracht 2 15.00 hrs-01.00 hrs, Fri 15.00 www.tisfris.nl www.cafekarpershoek.nl to 02.00 hrs, Sat 13.00 to 02.00 hrs, Sun 13.00 to 00.00 hrs. IJkantine | Mt. Ondinaweg 15-17 Café Fonteyn | Nieuwmarkt Mon to Sat kitchen open until 020 633 71 62 | Open daily from 13-15 | 020 422 35 99 23.00, Sun kitchen open until 09.00 hrs | www.ijkantine.nl www.cafefonteyn.nl 22.00 | www.bierfabriek.com (Dutch only) Greenwoods | Keizersgracht 465 clubs 020 420 43 30 | Kitchen open Café Hoppe | Spuistraat 18-20 BlinQ | Kleine Gartmanplant- Mon to Thu 09.30 to 17.00 hrs 020 420 44 20 | Sun to Thu soen 5 | 020 330 40 00 Fri to Sun 09.30 to 18.00 hrs 08.00 to 01.00 hrs, Fri and Mon to Wed 17.00 to 01.30 www.greenwoods.eu Sat 08.00 to 02.00 hrs hrs, Thu 12.00 to 01.00 hrs, www.cafehoppe.com Fri and Sat 12.00 to 03.00 Zuivere Koffie | Utrechtsestraat hrs, Sun 12.00 to 01.00 hrs 39 | 020 624 99 99 | open daily Genootschap der Geneugten www.blinq-amsterdam.nl 08.00 to 17.00 hrs, Sat from Kerkstraat 54 | 020 625 09 34 09.00 to 17.00 hrs. Closed www.cafegdg.info | Tue till Thu Club 8 | Admiraal de Ruyterweg on Sun 18.00 to 01.00 hrs, Fri and Sat 56B | 020 685 17 03 | Mon to 16.00 to 02.00 hrs, Sun 17.00 Thu 14.00 to 03.00 hrs, Fri university to 00.00 hrs | Closed on Mon 14.00 to 04.00 hrs, Sat 12.00 restaurants to 04.00 hrs, Sun 12.00 to VU Mensa De Boelelaan 1105 Gay bars 03.00 hrs | www.club-8.nl (main building) | Mon to Fri Café-Pub Soho (Dutch only) 08.00 to 20.00 hrs. Closed on Regulierdwarsstraat 36 Sat and Sun www.soho-amsterdam.com

Bimhuis | Piet Heinkade 3 020 788 21 88 www.bimhuis.nl

Bitterzoet | Spuistraat 2 020 421 23 18 www.bitterzoet.nl (Dutch only)

94 95 07:00 arts & culture past, present, future

in the seventeenth century, during the

dutch golden age, amsterdam art and

culture flourished exceptionally. it was

the age of world-famous dutch masters

like rembrandt and johannes vermeer. today,

art and culture still play an important role

in town. both tourists and inhabitants are

drawn to the rijksmuseum, the van gogh

museum and the stedelijk museum. go at

least once during your stay here. students

under 29 get a discount when they show

their student card.

97 24 hours

09.00 12.00 15.00 music for breakfast a taste of culture hip & happening

‘On a Sunday morning ‘At noon I like going for some ‘I’m interested in the food I wake up with some cheerful culture, surprising myself from many cultures. I love music. This can be jazz, pop or with some spontaneous activity. Vietnamese, Japanese and some orchestral music. Indie I like going to museums. Indian food. I don’t know music I like best; it makes me I’ve been to the Scheepvaart- much about Dutch food, but totally happy. For breakfast museum and the Tropen- I know poffertjes are quite I have an egg and bacon museum. The Jazz Museum delicious. After lunch I like sandwich while playing my is still on my bucket list. The going to a concert. I’ve been to music. After breakfast I have a Scheepvaartmuseum blew the Bimhuis a few times (Piet discovery hour while watching my mind. I thought it was Heinkade). They often play jazz indie clips of 10 minutes. very interesting to hear about there. Sometimes it’s students I enjoy finding music that Dutch shipping at the age of from the nearby Conservatorium nobody knows.’ the Dutch East India Company playing there. This makes it (voc).’ even more fun.’

98 with bušrahang bušrahang namdar (20) turkey, international studies, university of amsterdam

18.30 20.00 00.00 broadening horizons spicing up dinner from a’dam with love

‘Indie games like the Stanley ‘When cooking dinner ‘Before going to bed, I have Parable are great to play with I improvise with the stuff that a stroll through Amsterdam. friends. It’s fun to see their happens to be in the fridge. In Compared to Istanbul, Amster- reactions. Not only indie games this way I can combine cultures dam is a very quiet place at have my attention, I also enjoy by mixing various spices and this time of night. At times like mainstream games like Final other ingredients. I prefer these, the differences between Fantasy. I can get so caught up having meat for dinner, in these two cities surprise me. in videogames that I forget the particular beef and pork. I do In Istanbul the streets are still time. One time I even forgot to like chicken, but I prefer red crowded at this time. At mid- eat dinner.’ meat. Finally, on a Sunday I like night I go to bed. I put on having a drink with friends.’ some music that I discovered that morning, and then I go to sleep, probably until 09.00 hrs the next morning.’

99 contemporaries The Netherlands has always been the home of many talented people. However, creativity is not a thing of the past. Here are some of the most influential contemporary minds.

Fashion Design: Marlies Dekkers Business woman of the year, cila Award for best Fashion Lingerie and Elle’s Innovator of the year award. This is only a small selection of the awards Marlies Dekkers won with her lingerie designs. Hollywood stars like Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Shakira are fans of her work. Her lingerie can be recognised by its provocative design with the taut lines of her strings and straps, see-throughs and her transparent materials. It’s an interesting fact that she wouldn’t have been able to start her business without a Dutch state subsidy. It’s in 1993 that, enabled by this subsidy, she set up her lingerie line ‘Undressed’.

Film and photography: Anton Corbijn Anton Corbijn is probably the best-known Dutch photographer. He has become famous with his pictures of pop musicians like Bob Dylan, U2, and the Rolling Stones. He has also portrayed other world-famous people like Clint Eastwood, Robert de Niro, Stephen Hawking and the previous Dutch monarch, Princess Beatrix. Corbijn directs music videos and he designs sets for concerts, for Depeche Mode, among others. He’s also known for his movies, such as The American with George Clooney and Control about the British Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, for which he received two awards at the Cannes film festival.

Architecture: Rem Koolhaas The work of Rem Koolhaas is an inspiration for architects from all over the world. He has received various awards for the art works he designed for people to live in. He won the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2000, and, in 2004, he received the Royal Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects, for his entire oeuvre. He was made Chevalier de Légion d‘honneur in 2001. His designs can be recognised by their modern and deconstructive style which let´s dance! was influenced, among others, by the Dutch graphic artist Escher. Examples of his work can be found in Peking (the cctv tower) and in Porto (the Casa da Música).

100 arts & culture Graphic Design: Irma Boom Irma Boom is an internationally renowned graphic designer. She specialises in book design, but she has also designed house styles, calendars and stamps. She became famous in 1996 with the 2,136 page shv Think Book, designed for shv company. This book is seen as an icon of Dutch design. Ferrari became interested in her work because of this. In 2012 she designed the new house style and logo for the Amsterdam Rijksmuseum. She was awarded several prizes, such as the Gutenberg prize, the Johannes Vermeer award and a medal for Art and Science of the Order of the House of Orange. The MoMA in New York has many books designed by her in its collection.

Writing: Kader Abdolah Hossein Sadjadi Farahani, better known as Kader Abdolah, is a Persian-Dutch writer. He came to the Netherlands as a political refugee in 1988. He learned Dutch, by, among other things, reading children’s books and poems by the great Dutch writer Annie M.G. Schmidt. He then started to write his own stories in Dutch. In 1993 his short story collection De Adelaars was published, which was awarded the important ‘Gouden Ezelsoor’ beginners award in 1994 (the Golden Dog Ear). In 2011 he wrote the Dutch Book Week gift, which is considered an honour for a Dutch writer.

Music: Armin van Buuren Armin van Buuren is a Dutch dj and producer, who you may know better as Armin, Darkstar, E=mc2, El Guitaro, Gaia, Gimmick, Hyperdrive Inc., Perpetuous Dreamer, Problem Boy, Rising Star, The Shoeshine Factory, or Mister White. He is the first dj ever to have been awarded best dj of the World five times. He specialises in Trance and Techno and has worked, among others, with David Guetta, Deadmau5, Tiësto, Sophie Ellis Bextor en Trevor Guthrie. With Trevor Guthrie he made the prize-winning hit ‘This Is What It Feels Like’, which received sevenfold platinum certifications.

arts & culture 101 culture in amsterdam Whether you are interested in art, history, theatre, cinema or shopping, Amsterdam has got it all. The city is known for its art and culture, and there is no reason to ever be bored here. Amsterdam has a free magazine called De Uitkrant containing useful information. The magazine is available everywhere, in displays in public places such as stations, restaurants and libraries. Students of the Conservatorium perform regularly in the concert halls of the Conservatorium of Amsterdam. Most concerts of classical music, jazz or pop music there are free of charge. Every year there is a weekend when monumental buildings open their doors to the public. In 2015, this weekend takes place on 12 and 13 September.

discount cards you can order the card on the Some theatres and concert halls give discounts to anyone with a website, which also contains a list student card. Some other discount options are buying the Museum of participating museums: Card (Museumkaart) or the Cultural Youth Passport (Cultureel www.museumkaart.nl (dutch only) Jongeren Paspoort, cjp).

Museumkaart The Museumkaart is a worthwhile investment for frequent museum visitors. With this card you will get free entry or a considerable reduction for up to four hundred Dutch museums for one year. If you are aged 18 or under, it costs e27.50 (plus a one-time administration fee of e4.95). If you are nineteen or over, the card costs e54.95 (plus a one-time administration fee of e4.95).

Cultureel Jongeren Paspoort If you are aged 29 or under you may want to consider buying a cjp pass, which gives you discounts on movies, plays, magazine subscriptions and cds. A cjp pass is yours for only e15. You can buy one at the Amsterdam Uitburo (aub), Tourist Information Offices and on the cjp website. Check the cjp website for available discounts: www.cjp.nl.

esn Card For e5 you can buy an esn Card at the office of your esn section which gives you a discount at several museums, bars and shops in

102 arts & culture Amsterdam. You can use this card all over Europe and enjoy the great deals that are linked to it. For more information check www.isn-amsterdam.nl/esn-card-deals and www.esncard.org.

Amsterdam Uitburo The main place to buy your tickets is the Amsterdam Uitburo. there is a selection of half-price They also have The Last Minute Ticketshop, which gives you a tickets every day from 10.00 hrs at www.lastminuteticketshop.nl 50% discount if you buy your theatre or concert tickets on the day of the show (you have to pay e2 service costs). This only applies to selected performances. The last minute starts every day at 10.00 hrs with a maximum of two tickets per transaction. cultural centres crea is the cultural organisation of the UvA (University of Amsterdam) and the HvA (Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences). They offer courses and workshops on literature, music, video, dance, theatre and photography. Participating students frequently perform and exhibit their work. Griffioen, the cultural centre of VU University Amsterdam, offers similar workshops, exhibitions and performances. They also have their own cinema. art museums Amsterdam has too many museums to name them all, so here you’ll find a selection of the most important ones. Also, every year on the first Saturday in November, Amsterdam opens its museums during Museum Night (Museumnacht). This one-night event is very special and includes all kinds of activities in several participating museums, from concerts to visits by tattoo artists. In 2015, Museum Night will take place on 7 November. For tickets and information go to Amsterdam Uitburo or www.n8.nl (Dutch only).

Stedelijk Museum The Stedelijk Museum focuses on the developments in art from the for more information: latter half of the 20th century. It has a famous collection of paint- www.openmonumentendag.nl ings by, for instance, Picasso, Mondriaan and Warhol, sculptures, photographs and graphic design. In September 2012 the museum reopened after an eight-year renovation. You can’t miss the museum’s new wing. It hasn’t been nicknamed ‘the Bathtub’ for nothing.

arts & culture 103 eye eye is a film institute that has eyes for only one thing: developing an active and dynamic film culture. eye has an extensive collection, ranging from classic and contemporary films to the newest digital productions. eye offers an inspiring meeting place where you can watch films, visit exhibitions and relax on the terrace of the eye restaurant. The museum is located on the IJ in Amsterdam North.

Van Gogh Museum The Van Gogh Museum boasts the largest collection of paintings in the world by the famous Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions featuring 19th-century art and related subjects. Their audio tour is worthwhile.

Rijksmuseum The Rijksmuseum is the largest and best-known museum in the country. The building is a national monument designed by the architect Cuijpers. It houses an internationally renowned collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age, with Rembrandt’s Night- watch as the centrepiece. The Rijksmuseum also has Delftware, drawings and Asian art. The museum reopened in April 2013 after a ten-year renovation. Did you know that you can now cycle under- neath the museum once again via a bicycle tunnel?

Rembrandthuis In the Rembrandthuis you can see the rooms in which the famous painter Rembrandt van Rijn lived and worked from 1639 to 1658. In a separate wing, the museum shows its permanent collection of Rembrandt prints, as well as temporary exhibitions.

Cobra Museum The Cobra museum is located in Amstelveen, south of Amsterdam. In the museum, you can find the colourful art produced by the Co- bra Group, a movement that was significant for the development of modern art in the Netherlands. Artists from Copenhagen, Brussels and Amsterdam were part of that Cobra group, hence the name.

Het Grachtenhuis This museum aims to teach its visitors how Amsterdam’s ring of canals was created. With the help of multimedia, visitors are guided through the exposition in the newly opened museum. The museum also has its own app, Go!Canals.

104 arts & culture Foam Photography Museum If you love photography, you must visit Foam. The museum exhib- its photographs by famous artists and young up-and-coming talent. Genres include fashion, history and documentary.

Hermitage Amsterdam In 2009 the world famous Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg opened an annexe in Amsterdam. The Hermitage Amsterdam hosts temporary exhibitions of art from the enormous collection of the Saint Petersburg Museum. other museums Anne Frank Huis Het Anne Frank Huis (The Anne Frank House) is where the Jewish girl Anne Frank went into hiding during the Second World War and wrote her famous diary. The rooms the Frank family lived in have been kept in their original state, and the museum’s permanent exhibition includes the original diary.

The Heineken Experience Heineken has been brewed since 1863, making it a classic Dutch beer brand. The museum is housed in the old Heineken brewery and has been transformed into a real ‘experience’. The Heineken Experience guides you through all aspects of the brand. Here you can literally see, hear, feel, smell, and of course taste, the beer. On the tour you will hear all about the distinctive Heineken taste and you can, of course, take a look inside the old brewery.

Tropenmuseum Het Tropenmuseum (The Tropical Museum) combines its permanent exhibition with temporary ones. These objects tell stories about the daily lives of the people who made and used them. They are brought to life with sounds, photographs, videos and interactive displays. Het Tropenmuseum also has a hall for music, dance, drama, film, debate and lectures.

Het Scheepvaartmuseum The collection of Het Scheepvaartmuseum (the Dutch Maritime Museum) is housed in the former naval depot, built in 1656. The museum owns a replica of the Amsterdam, one of the trading ships of the Dutch East India Company (voc).

arts & culture 105 Amsterdam Museum The Amsterdam Museum is housed in the Burgerweeshuis. This former orphanage dates back from the 17th century and traces Amsterdam’s history through the ages.

Verzetsmuseum The Dutch Resistance Museum covers the period of the German Occupation (1940-1945) and the Dutch Resistance. The museum contains reconstructions of streets and interiors as well as personal documents, photographs, videos and sound fragments.

Joods Historisch Museum The Jewish Historical Museum is located in three synagogues that form part of the High German synagogue complex, dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. The museum presents an overview of Judaism and Zionism, the persecution of the Jewish through the centuries and Jewish culture in the Netherlands.

theatres The theatres in Amsterdam offer plays to suit everyone’s taste, with traditional as well as experimental work and everything in between. The Amsterdam Uitburo provides information and programmes.

Boom Chicago In this theatre, you will find (mostly American) stand-up comedi- ans who will entertain you while you enjoy dinner or drinks. Shows are in English.

De Kleine Komedie De Kleine Komedie is Amsterdam’s oldest theatre, and the only one devoted entirely to Dutch cabaret.

Het Compagnietheater In this theatre you can enjoy a variety of theatre, dance and musical shows. You can have dinner there as well, at a reasonable price.

Koninklijk Theater Carré This theatre was named after circus manager Oscar Carré, who built the theatre on the Amstel River. Carré hosts the larger shows such as musicals, cabaret and ballet.

106 arts & culture Nes Theatres Nes, a narrow street running parallel to the Rokin, has a couple of small theatres such as Vlaams Cultuurhuis De Brakke Grond, Theater Frascati and Comedy Theater. The repertoire is generally experimental.

Stadsschouwburg The city theatre at Leidseplein is the direct descendant of Amster- dam’s first theatre, built in 1617. The theatre boasts an extensive collection of portraits of famous Dutch actors and actresses. Stadsschouwburg is also home to café-restaurant Stanislavski. In summer the outdoor area is a wonderful place to study.

Theater Bellevue In Theater Bellevue you can see cabaret shows as well as theatre and dance performances. Students pay e10 for almost all performances. You may have to show a valid student card.

Meervaart All theatre genres are represented in the Meervaart theatre, which is situated in the West of Amsterdam.

Het Muziektheater Het Muziektheater is sharing its beautiful building with the town hall of Amsterdam. At the Muziektheater you can see the Dutch Opera and the Dutch National Ballet, as well as other performances by guest companies. The performances are usually first-rate.

DeLaMar Theater The newest theatre in the city centre of Amsterdam is the DeLaMar Theater, situated near Leidseplein. It offers a varied programme for a varied audience. Cabaret, musicals and international plays can be seen in this theatre. It is a contemporary theatre with two halls, a Grand Café and several foyers. festivals Various theatre and dance festivals are organised in Amsterdam. for more information go to The world-famous Holland Festival is a multi-disciplinary and www.hollandfestival.nl. international festival for the dramatic arts. Students can get a considerable discount on performances.

arts & culture 107 De Parade www.deparade.nl De Parade is a theatre festival that stops in various Dutch cities every year. This festival includes theatre, music, dance, film and visual arts, with performances for both adults and children. It is just like an old-fashioned fair with a carousel and several tents for the performances. In August 2016 the festival will make a stop in Amsterdam in the Martin Luther King Park. Check their website for the exact dates. Entry is free until 16.00 hrs, after which the charge is e7.50.

Other Festivals www.julidans.nl Julidans is a summer festival of international contemporary dance. www.adayatthepark.nl There are also various dance events in Amsterdam, such as Day www.ketikotiamsterdam.nl at the Park. KetiKoti, also known as Emancipation Day, marks the end of slavery in Surinam and the Antilles. It was abolished by the Netherlands in 1863. KetiKoti means ‘broken chains’ and is celebrated every year on 1 July in Oosterpark. It is a special festival in Amsterdam. Entrance to the KetiKoti festival is free.

cinemas The cinemas in Amsterdam screen everything from the latest blockbusters to the best classics and the most obscure art-house films. Film reviews and programmes can be found in Amsterdam magazines, cinema foyers and on www.filmladder.nl. March is the month of the annual Amsterdam Gay & Lesbian film festival, the Pink Film Days (RozeFilmdagen 12 to 22 of March). It offers a diverse range of films for anybody who is interested. Check their website for more information: www.rozefilmdagen.nl

Kriterion Kriterion is an art house cinema run by students. If you like surprises, try the sneak preview on Tuesdays (movies that have not premiered yet).

Studio/K Studio/K is a unique platform for film, theatre, music, debates, festivals, events, spoken word and stand-up comedy.

The Movies Enjoy the latest films in one of the four Art Deco auditoriums at The Movies, Amsterdam’s oldest cinema.

108 arts & culture Pathé Cinemas Pathé runs four big cinema complexes in Amsterdam, most impressive being the Pathé Arena, which also hosts an imax theatre and shows movies on a huge and impressive screen. Pathé Tuschinski is situated in a magnificent Art Deco building. A lot of Dutch movies have been filmed in this building. Pathé cinemas screen mostly Hollywood blockbusters, but also some art house movies (pac), Turkish and Bollywood movies, and Gay Classics. On Tuesday evenings Pathé offers special sneak previews.

Rialto This cinema specialises in less mainstream, mostly foreign, films. It is an old cinema which was founded in 1921. The cinema is now run by a group of young people as an art house

De Uitkijk Film Theatre Film theatre De Uitkijk, Amsterdam’s smallest cinema, has one screen and a varied programme, run by students. Each night it focuses on unique and unusual films. It is the oldest film theatre in the Netherlands.

Het Ketelhuis Het Ketelhuis is home to Dutch film and television productions. There are daily screenings and regular dance nights.

Filmhuis Cavia Cavia is a small cinema, but it shouldn’t be underestimated. It offers unusual film projects and art house movies. If you have suggestions for a particular movie you wish to see, just give Film- huis Cavia a ring. They might decide to put it on the big screen. film festivals International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (idfa) 18 November to 29 November 2015 | www.idfa.nl

Imagine Film Festival | 14 April to 24 April 2016 www.imaginefilmfestival.nl | Outside Amsterdam

International Film Festival Rotterdam (iffr) 27 January to 7 February 2016 | www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com

arts & culture 109 Nederlands Film Festival Utrecht (nff) 23 September-2 October 2015 | www.filmfestival.nl

cultural cafés De Badcuyp De Badcuyp offers a wide variety of cultural activities. Emphasis is on world music, jazz and improvised music. But art, literature, dance, philosophy, politics, film and theatre have their place too. De Badcuyp offers a stage for beginners, good amateur artists and performers.

De Balie De Balie is the home base of the Amsterdam Foundation for Literary Activities (Stichting Literaire Activiteiten Amsterdam), which stages socio-cultural events, dramatic performances, readings of poetry and prose, and public lectures. They also offer film, theatre and photography. The name De Balie finds its origin in the fact that this cultural cafe used to be a law court.

Westergasfabriek The Westergasfabriek was built in 1883. In the past it supplied gas for the city’s street lighting, but the complex has now been converted into a trendy cultural park where you can go for dinner, drinks, partying, a play or a movie. The gasworks and the surrounding area have been beautifully restored.

shopping Amsterdam’s historical city centre boasts an enormous range of shops and markets. Whatever you need, there will be a shop somewhere selling just that. Luxury stores, trendy boutiques, small specialist shops, English shops; you can shop till you drop in Amsterdam. On Thursday nights most shops do not close until 21.00 hrs, and most shops in the city centre are open on Sundays as well.

There are also good places to shop outside Amsterdam, for example at Primark in Zaandam. Here you will find fashionable clothes at great prices. The shop is easily reached by public transport. While in Zaandam, be sure to check out Hotel Zaandam, famous for its facade incorporating authentic Zaandam houses.

110 arts & culture shopping streets Haarlemmerstraat Haarlemmerstraat is a shopping street that has become very trendy. It has a large number of small, specialised shops. You might like to visit Papabubble, a sweet shop where they demonstrate the art of making sweets, or Petit Gâteau to get or make cupcakes. Cafe Dulac at number 118 offers a cheap student menu.

Leidsestraat Heiligeweg/Leidsestraat is a street just off Kalverstraat. Fashion stores, shoe stores, restaurants and fast food chains predominate here.

Kalverstraat Kalverstraat is the main shopping street of Amsterdam. Well known chain stores here are h&m, v&d, Marks & Spencer and hema, but you will also find smaller specialised shops with all kinds of accessories.

P.C. Hooftstraat P.C. Hooftstraat, five minutes from Leidsestraat, is the most stylish and expensive shopping street in the country. Famous fashion houses have their stores here, so if you like haute couture this is the place to go. The street is very popular with the rich and keep in mind that the kalverstraat famous and it is the place to spot them and their exclusive cars. is very busy as tourists and day visitors come to shop here as well

De 9 Straatjes A shopping area of nine small streets connecting the canals south of the Raadhuisstraat up to Leidsestraat. It includes Wolvenstraat, Runstraat and Huidenstraat. The many exclusive shops here sell mostly clothes (including second-hand), jewellery, shoes, lighting and antiques. shopping malls in the town centre Magna Plaza Magna Plaza, in the old General Post Office, is a shopping mall www.magnaplaza.nl with two floors of luxury stores, ideal for a shopping spree on a rainy day. This shopping centre is only closed four days a year. You can find Magna Plaza behind Dam Palace. It is open until 19.00 hrs and on Thursdays until 21.00 hrs.

arts & culture 111 Kalvertoren www.kalvertoren.nl The Kalvertoren is a shopping mall in Kalverstraat, near Muntplein, with many different shops and some cafés and lunch bars. It is open seven days a week until 18.30 hrs and on Thursdays until 21.00 hrs.

markets Each stadsdeel (city district) has its own markets where you can hunt for bargains and buy food, clothes and other useful products. More information on markets, check out the website: www.hollandsemarkten.nl (Dutch only).

Flower market The Singel canal, between Koningsplein and Muntplein, is home to the Flower market, a must-see for everyone. Daily opened from 09.00 to 17.30 hrs, on Sundays from 11.00 to 17.30 hrs.

Ten Katemarkt A lively local market for cheap products. You can buy cheese, wine and clothes among other things. Enjoy bargain hunting. Mondays to Saturdays from 09.00 to 18.00 hrs.

Landmarkt Schellingwoude In Schellingwoude, Amsterdam Noord, you will find Landmarkt, a Mediterranean restaurant and covered marketplace. The market offers fresh products direct from the farmer, market gardener, butcher, fishmonger and baker. It is open every Monday to Saturday from 09.00 to 20.00 hrs and on Sundays from 12.00 to 18.00 hrs.

specialty shops Amsterdam has many interesting specialty shops, known for their assortment of delicious food and other specialties.

The American Book Center In this bookshop you can find practically every recently published book in English. They have a very interesting range of magazines, art, film and comic books, as well as management books and titles about politics. It is also considered one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world.

112 arts & culture Concerto Concerto has a large selection of new and second-hand cds and records. They also sell tickets with discounts for Paradiso and the Melkweg.

The English Bookshop The English Bookshop in the Jordaan is a small, independent bookshop selling both new and second-hand English books. The shop also organises walking tours through literary and cultural Amsterdam, writing workshops and quiz nights.

Condomerie Het Gulden Vlies The Condomerie, the first ever shop to devote itself entirely to the sale of condoms, was opened in 1987. It has over fifty different kinds of condoms to choose from.

De Taart van m’n Tante The only real Dutch cake shop in Amsterdam. Feast your eyes on the most wonderful cakes and the colourful interior. The owner, Abel, has his own television programme in which he bakes a cake with a child, who tells his or her extraordinary life story.

Van der Linde For art materials and other items, go to Van der Linde. Art students receive a discount.

Recycling Shops If you have had enough of your stuff, you can bring it to the recycling shop. Normally you won’t receive any money in return. Rataplan and Het Juttersdok are two organisations for used furniture, clothing and bicycles.

Space Oddity For robots, Star Wars, manga, monsters, Batman and other tv and movie toys, this is the place to go.

Partyhouse If you want to steal the show at a fancy dress party, go to the Partyhouse. Here you will find costumes, wigs and masks. Mon 12.00 to 18.00 hrs, Tue to Sat 10.00 to 18.00 hrs.

arts & culture 113 supermarkets check your local supermarket to There are many supermarkets in Amsterdam. Aldi and Lidl are the see if they have a discount card. cheapest but don’t carry leading brands. Dirk van den Broek is the cheapest supermarket with leading brands. ‘Dirk’ is also popular with students because it is convenient. Albert Heijn (ah) is by far the most common and best-known supermarket chain in Amster- dam. Many of their shops are open until 22.00 hrs and on Sundays. Supermarkets have special offers every week, so look for brochures and advertisements.

Bilder & de Clercq where to find the supermarkets? With a diverse selection of fresh products, Bilder & de Clercq offer aldi | www.aldi.nl enough variety for a healthy meal. Bilder & de Clercq is laid out lidl | www.lidl.nl according to each dish. There are various tables complete with all albert Heijn | www.ah.nl dirk van den Broek | www.dirk.nl the ingredients you need for a meal. As well as a varied choice of ekoplaza | www.ekoplaza.nl healthy meals, this is also a great place for fresh bread, wine and marqt | www.marqt.com desserts. estafette | www.estafettewinkel.nl

Organic Supermarkets If you’re an ethical shopper, or just like good, healthy food, Amsterdam’s organic supermarkets are not to be missed. The biggest in Amsterdam are EkoPlaza, Marqt and Estafette, with several branches across the city.

late-night shops If you forgot to buy something or want a snack late at night, you can always go to one of the late-night shops all over town. Late- night shops do not close until midnight or later and are open on Sundays as well, a service they make you pay for by charging higher prices. A popular late night shop is Sterk Delicatessen.

114 arts & culture addresses discount cards Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Rijksmuseum | Museum- Amsterdam Uitburo Markenplein 1 020 527 73 33 straat 1 | 0900 07 45 Ticketshop | Leidseplein www.ahk.nl/filmacademie www.rijksmuseum.nl 26 (Terrace side) | 020 795 99 50 (not for reservations) Gerrit Rietveld Academie Rembrandthuis | Joden- Mon to Fri 12.00 to Frederik Roeskestraat 96 breestraat 4 | 020 520 04 00 19.00 hrs, Sat and Sun 020 571 16 00 www.rembrandthuis.nl 12.00 to 18.00 hrs www.gerritrietveldacademie.nl www.amsterdamsuitburo.nl Cobra Museum | Sandbergplein (Dutch only) or De Theaterschool | (Faculty 1 (Amstelveen) | 020 547 50 50 www.lastminuteticketshop.nl of Dance, Theatre Technology www.cobra-museum.nl and Scenography of the vvv Ticketshop Centraal Amsterdamse Hogeschool Foam | Keizersgracht 609 Station Stationsplein 10 voor de Kunsten Joden- 020 551 65 00 | www.foam.org 020 702 60 00 | Mon to Sat breestraat 3 | 020 527 77 77 09.00 to 17.00 hrs, Sun 09.00 www.ahk.nl/theaterschool Hermitage Amsterdam to 16.00 hrs Amstel 51 | 020 530 8755 cultural centres www.hermitage.nl art academies Stichting crea | Nieuwe Ach- Conservatorium van Amster- tergracht 170 | 020 525 14 00 other museums dam | (Faculty of Music of the www.crea.uva.nl Het Grachtenhuis Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor Herengracht 386 de Kunsten) | Oosterdokskade Cultuurcentrum Griffioen 020 421 16 56 151 | 020 527 75 50 Uilenstede 106 (Amstelveen) www.hetgrachtenhuis.nl www.ahk.nl/conservatorium 020 598 51 00 ww.griffioen. vu.nl | [email protected] Anne Frank Huis Academie voor Beeldende Prinsengracht 263 to 267 Vorming (Faculty of Fine art museums 020 556 71 00 Arts and Design of the Stedelijk Museum | Museum- www.annefrank.org Amsterdamse Hogeschool plein 10 | 020 573 29 11 voor de Kunsten | Zeeburger- www.stedelijkmuseum.nl Heineken Experience dijk 112 | 020 527 72 20 Stadhouderskade 78 ww.ahk.nl/beeldende-vorming eye | IJpromenade 1 www.heinekenexperience.com 020 589 14 00 | www.eyefilm.nl Nederlandse Film en Televisie Tropenmuseum | Linnaeus- Academie (nfta) | (Dutch Van Gogh Museum | Paulus straat 2 | 020 568 82 00 Film and Television Academy, Potterstraat 7 | 020 570 52 00 www.tropenmuseum.nl Faculty of the Amsterdamse www.vangoghmuseum.nl

115 Het Scheepvaartmuseum Comedy Café Rozengracht 117 cinemas Kattenburgerplein 1 020 638 39 71 Kriterion | Roetersstraat 170 020 523 22 22 www.comedycafe.nl 020 623 17 08 www.hetscheepvaartmuseum.nl Every Thursday, half price for www.kriterion.nl (Dutch only) students. Amsterdam Museum Studio/K | Timorplein 62 Kalverstraat 92 | 020 523 18 22 Vlaams Cultuurhuis 020 692 04 22 www.amsterdammuseum.nl De Brakke Grond | Nes 45 www.studio-k.nu (Dutch only) 020 622 68 66 Verzetsmuseum | Plantage www.brakkegrond.nl The Movies | Haarlemmerdijk Kerklaan 61A | 020 620 25 35 161 to 163 | 020 638 60 16 www.verzetsmuseum.org Theater Frascati | Nes 63 www.themovies.nl 020 626 68 66 Joods Historisch Museum www.theaterfrascati.nl Pathé | www.pathe.nl Nieuwe Amstelstraat 1 • Pathé De Munt | Vijzelstraat 15 020 531 03 10 | www.jhm.nl Comedy Theater | Nes 110 • Pathé Arena (including imax) 020 422 27 77 Arena Boulevard 600 theatres www.comedytheater.nl • Pathé Tuschinski | Reguliers- Boom Chicago | Rozengracht breestraat26-34 117 | 020 217 04 00 Stadsschouwburg www.boomchicago.nl Leidseplein 26 | 020 624 23 11 Rialto | Ceintuurbaan 338 www.ssba.nl (Dutch only) 020 676 87 00 De Kleine Komedie | Amstel www.rialtofilm.nl (Dutch only) 56-58 | 020 624 05 34 Theater Bellevue | Leidse- www.dekleinekomedie.nl kade 90 | 020 530 53 01 Het Ketelhuis | Pazzanistraat 4 (Dutch only) www.theaterbellevue.nl 020 684 00 90 (Dutch only) www.ketelhuis.nl (Dutch only) Koninklijk Theater Carré Amstel 115-125 | 0900 252 52 55 Meervaart | Meer en Vaart 300 De Uitkijk Filmtheater www.theatercarre.nl (Dutch 020 410 77 20 Prinsengracht 452 only) www.meervaart.nl 020 223 2416 www.uitkijk.nl (Dutch only) Het Compagnietheater Het Muziektheater Kloveniersburgwal 50 Waterlooplein 22 | 020 551 81 17 Filmhuis Cavia | Van Hallsrtaat 020 520 53 20 www.het-muziektheater.nl 52-i (go upstairs) | 020 681 www.compagnietheater.nl 14 19 | www.filmhuiscavia.nl (Dutch only) DeLaMar Theater | Marnixstraat (Dutch only) 402 | 0900 335 26 27 (e1.00 Café Toomler | Breitnerstraat 2 per call) | www.delamar.nl cultural cafés (next to the Hilton Hotel) (Dutch only) De Badcuyp | Eerste Sweelinck- 020 670 74 00 straat 10 | 020 675 96 69 www.comedytrain.nl www.badcuyp.nl

116 De Balie | Kleine Gartman- Waterlooplein | Waterlooplein, Van der Linde | Rozen- plantsoen 10 020 55 35 151 1011 pg | 020 552 4074 | Open gracht 36-38 | 020 624 27 91 www.debalie.nl (Dutch only) Mon to Fri 09.00 to 17.30 hrs www.vanderlinde.com Sat 08.30 to 17.30 hrs (Dutch only) Westergasfabriek | Polonceau- kade 27 | 020 586 07 10 Lindengracht Market Rataplan | 0800 282765 www.westergasfabriek.nl Lindengracht, 1015 kl Mon to Fri 9.00 to 18.00 020 552 4074 | Open hrs, Sat 10.00 to 17.00 hrs shopping Sat 09.00 to 17.00 hrs • Van Slingelandtstraat 39 Markets • Willem Roelofsstraat 2 Flower market | The Singel Antiekcentrum Amsterdam canal, between Koningsplein Elandsgracht 109, 1016 tt The American Book Center and Muntplein | 09.00 to 17.30 020 624 90 38 | Open Mon Spui 12 | 020 625 55 37 hrs, Sundays 11.00 to 17.30 hrs 11.00 to 18.00 hrs/ Wed to www.abc.nl Fri 11.00 to 18.00 hrs, Sat Ten Katemarkt | Mon to Sat and Sun 11.00 to 17.00 hrs Party House | Rozengracht 92 from 09.00 to 18.00 hrs 020 624 78 51 Art Market | Spui Plein, 1012 Landmarkt Schellingwoude wz | Open Sun 10.00 to 17.00 Space Oddity Schellingwouderdijk 339 hrs open March to December Prinsengracht 204 Market: 020 490 43 33 020 427 40 36 Restaurant: 020 490 43 66 Speciality shops www.spaceoddity.nl www.landmarkt.nl Concerto | Utrechtsestraat 52-60 | 020 623 52 28 Het Juttersdok Noordermarkt | Noordemarkt www.platomania.eu • Postjeskade 23 & 25 1015 mv | 020 551 2512 (Dutch only) 020 689 28 99 | Mon to open Sat 09.00 to 17.00 hrs Sat 09.30 to 17.00 hrs The English Bookshop • Zeeburgerpad 90-99 Westerstraat Market Lauriergracht 71 Mon to Sat 9.30 to 17.00 hrs Westerstraat, 1015 ml 020 626 42 30 • Kerkstraat 354 | Mon to Fri 020 626 8666 | Open www.englishbookshop.nl 10.00 to 17.00 hrs Mon 09.00 to 13.00 hrs • Papaverweg 17-25 | Mon Condomerie Het Gulden to Thu 9.30 to 17.00 hrs Albert Cuyp Market | Albert Vlies Warmoesstraat 141 Cuypstraat, 1072 cn | Open 020 627 41 74 Supermarkets Mon to Sat 10.00 to 17.00 hrs www.condomerie.com Bilder & de Clercq www.bilderdeclercq.com Dappermarkt | Dapperstraat, De Taart van m’n Tante • De Clercqstraat 44 1093 bs | 020 694 7495 | Open Ferdinand Bolstraat 10 020 760 76 40 Mon to Sat 09.00 to 18.00 hrs 020 776 46 00 • Ceintuurbaan 334 www.detaart.com 020 760 7641

117 08:00 health time will heal

getting ill is anything but nice. getting

ill while in a foreign country is even worse.

a severe cold, exam stress or other

ailments can catch you unprepared

at any time. luckily amsterdam’s health

services are varied, so you can rest assured

that no matter what comes up, you can

easily find help.

119 24 hours

09.00 11.00 13.00 getting around healthy choices soaking up the sun

‘Before studying here, I never ‘The Dutch really love their ‘When I first came to Amster- rode a bike to get from a to b. sandwiches! But something dam, I was told that I would Cycling is so different in the that I found impressive was need a lot of vitamin c and d. Netherlands. It’s not just an the fact that they respect your Autumn and winter are quite easy and healthy way of getting tastes. For example, my long here, so people said that around, but it’s also a social university has days for vege- I was definitely going to end up thing – a lot of students go out tarian cuisine. I also ended up craving vitamins and sunlight. by bike in the evening.’ falling for their famous and I ended up taking a vitamin pill nutritious herring sandwich!’ a day.’

120 alexandra drăguşi (22), romania, university of amsterdam, accountancy and control

with alexandra alexandra dršgua çsi (22), romania, university of amsterdam, accountancy and control

13.00 15.00 19.00 21.00 soaking up the sun reliable no smoking role models

‘I helped a friend getting a ‘You’re not allowed to smoke ‘Dutch people are very laidback medical checkup when he was inside public buildings, inclu- and I feel that nothing phases having some health problems. ding pubs and restaurants, them. I am the sort of person The doctors managed to calm which makes going out less of that stresses out easily, but him down and assured him that a health hazard! However, some I think it’s good for me to he was suffering from exam public spots have special smoke be around people that know stress. They were very under- areas, like Amsterdam Centraal how to kick back and relax.’ standing and they’re used to Station.’ working with students.’

121 24 hours healthy banana pancakes Preparation wrap … are the perfect alternative 1. Whisk the eggs in a bowl. This wrap is a fresh and to the delicious but less than 2. In a separate bowl, mash the energising lunch that is also healthy regular pancakes. bananas with a fork. easy to pack when going to Skipping the flour will certainly 3. Add the eggs, baking powder, school or to the park. make a difference. vanilla extract and cinnamon to the bananas and then stir them Ingredients Ingredients all together to combine. some cooked chicken breast / 1 banana / 2 eggs / 1/2 tea- 4. Pour two tablespoons at a 6 tablespoons of light mayon- spoonful of vanilla extract / time in a heated frying pan and naise or yoghurt / 1/2 teaspoon 1 teaspoonful of ground cook for one or two minutes curry powder / 1/2 ripe mango, cinnamon / 1/2 teaspoonful until the bottom begins to set. peeled and chopped into small of baking powder / maple Carefully flip them over and pieces / 1 tablespoon lemon syrup or honey (optional) / cook for another minute. juice / some mixed salad leaves fresh fruits (optional) 5. Serve immediately with the / one spring onion, chopped / topping of your choice! wheat tortilla wraps Kitchen utensils two bowls / a whisk / Kitchen utensils a frying pan / a tablespoon a large bowl / knife and cutting board have a nice meal!

122 Preparation Ingredients Preparation 1. Mix the mayonnaise 3 tablespoons vegetable oil / 1. Cook the rice according or yoghurt, curry powder 1 package (500g) of tofu, to the instructions on the and lemon juice together drained, cut into small chunks package. It can be any type in a large bowl. or any type of meat / 2 garlic of rice, but brown rice is 2. Add the chicken breast cloves, minced / 500g eggplant, always a healthy choice. and mango. cut into small chunks or strips / 2. Meanwhile, cook the tofu 3. Place salad leaves and 1 small red or green bell pepper, in some heated oil for five the chopped spring onion cut into small pieces / minutes or until it’s brown, on a tortilla – or other 80 ml reduced-sodium soy then transfer it to a plate. toppings of your choice! sauce / 2 tablespoons sugar / 3. Cook the eggplant, bell 4. Add the mixture and then 2 tablespoons oyster sauce / pepper and garlic in a pan fold the wrap according to 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped until softened. Add soy sauce, the instructions on the package. fresh basil leaves / rice sugar and oyster sauce and cook for 2 more minutes. Kitchen utensils 4. Put the tofu back into vegetable stir-fry a saucepan / knife and cutting the pan and stir gently. This is the perfect dinner for board / plates for the separate 5. Remove from the heat the end of an eventful day and ingredients and serve it with rice and a sure way of getting more some chopped fresh basil vegetables into your diet. leaves on top.

123 general emergency number emergency number: 112 The general emergency number in the Netherlands is 112. With this number you can reach all emergency services (Police, Fire and Rescue Department, Ambulance). This number should be used only for serious and potentially life-threatening emergencies. For less urgent situations, contact the local Police Department on the national number 0900 88 44 or call anonymously on the national number 0800 70 00.

emergency services If there is a personal question or problem you feel you cannot talk about with anyone you know, you can call the Sensoor Helpline or use the chat and email service (both ways of communication available 24 hours a day).You do not have to give them your name, and anything you tell them is strictly confidential. If necessary, Sensoor can refer you to the organisation best suited to help you.

medical assistance The Family Doctor or gp The family doctor or general practitioner (huisarts) plays a key role in the Dutch health care system. Your gp is usually the first person you go to with any medical problem, so it is best to register with one as soon as you are more or less settled in. If you are studying at the University of Amsterdam or the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, the secretarial office of your university can usually refer you to the Bureau Studentenartsen (appropriate doctors). These doctors function as gps, but have specific expertise in student health matters. If you live in Amsterdam, you can register with them for free. Be sure to take your insurance card with you to your first appointment. If you are a student at the Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten (ahk), you can contact your student counsellor to help you see a gp.

Open consultations Monday to Friday 09.00 to 09.45 hrs. For appointments outside these open consultations, you have to call on workdays between 08.00 to 17.00 hrs. Unfortunately there are not a lot of parking spaces, which is why you are advised to use your bike or public transportation to get there.

124 health General practice VU Medical Centre All students at VU University Amsterdam can register with the University gp Office/VUmc. VU University Amsterdam has made special arrangements with this office for their students so that they can all be registered. Please note: if you are not registered, you cannot go to the gp in case of need. Once you are in the Netherlands you can register with the gp Office. Call the office on 020 444 14 00, daily between 08.00 to 12.00 hrs, to make an appointment for registration. For this appointment, you will need to bring a valid identification document, such as your passport, a valid proof of insurance and your medical record. After completion of your registration you can make use of the gps in the office. Currently there are eight practitioners working in the office. Make an appointment to visit one.

Specialists If a medical problem requires specialist treatment, the family doctor can refer you to a specialist, who will report back to him or her about their findings and proposed treatment. Both family doctors and specialists are bound by a confidentiality agreement, which means they are not allowed to discuss anything related to your case with anyone else without your permission. If you do not yet have a gp and need medical assistance, you can always call the Stichting Huisartsen Dienstposten Amsterdam (General Medical Services) on 020 344 53 77 where you will be put through to the doctor in attendance. Or go to www.huisartsenpostenamsterdam.nl. In some cases you have to pay for consultations and prescriptions yourself before you send the bill on to your insurance company for a refund. In other cases the bill is sent on directly. hospitals and emergencies There are 18 hospitals in Amsterdam. Spoedeisende Hulp (First Aid Departments) supply first aid in case of medical emergencies. If you want to visit someone in hospital, call to ask about their visiting hours.

Pharmacies Most types of medication are available on prescription only. Excep- tions are general drugs like aspirin and cough mixtures, sold over

health 125 the counter at pharmacies, most drugstores and some supermarkets. If your usual pharmacy is closed, check www.apotheek.nl (Dutch only) for pharmacies nearby.

Dentists The dental surgeries of the University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam (acta) provide (emergency) dental care to students. Both surgeries will charge you for emergency dental care, but in other cases you only pay for the costs of the materials used.

psychological assistance it is also a good idea to contact Just like physical problems, psychological issues can affect your your student counsellor first. life, mood and studies. You can either talk to your family doctor www.ggznederland.nl, first or see a student counsellor. Wherever you decide to go, you www.arkin.nl (dutch only), www.mentrum.nl (dutch only) can be sure that anything you discuss will be treated confidentially. Students do not always have immediate access to the student psychologists and the municipal mental health institutes such as ggz, Arkin, Mentrum, UvA (University of Amsterdam) and HvA (Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences). These organisations have various branch offices in town. However, before you go to one of these you will need permission from your family doctor.

health insurance The compulsory healthcare insurance is called the ‘basic healthcare insurance’ (basis zorgverzekering). Only students under the age of thirty, who are in the Netherlands solely for study purposes, are exempt from the requirement to take out basic healthcare insurance. However, if you are an international student and you start a part-time job, you will still have to take out a basic healthcare insurance policy. This is because you are then no longer just a student, but also an employee. In this case, you may qualify for special tax refunds known as ‘zorgtoeslag’ (more information can be found at www.toeslagen.nl. ips can give independent advice if you have any questions or problems with your medical insurance.

sexuality The Netherlands is a relatively liberal country as far as sexuality is concerned. Homosexuality, transsexuality and bisexuality are

126 health generally accepted, homosexual marriage is permitted and un- married couples living together have the same rights as married couples. If you have problems related to sexuality you can go to the following institution for help and advice.

Sexual Harassment Each university and college has appointed a vertrouwenspersoon (sexual harassment officer) for victims of sexual harassment. This is someone to whom victims can turn for help and report their case in confidence. Check your university paper for further information.

aids and stds If you have any questions about hiv or aids, you can call the free for more information about aids aids Information Line on 020 689 25 77. To get tested for hiv and other stds, call the gg & gd on 020 555 58 22. for more or Sexually Transmitted Diseases (std) go to the ggd. Testing information about aids and there is anonymous and free. sexuality, check out these websites: Consultation hours: Mon to Fri 08.30 to 10.00 hrs and 13.30 to www.soaaids.nl or www.aids.org 16.30 hrs (for tests), Mon to Fri 08.30 to 12.00 hrs and 13.30 to 17.00 hrs (results and treatments). You can also get a test from your general practitioner. homosexuality The coc provides information about all subjects related to homosexuality and can help you if you have problems or questions regarding your sexual preference. It regularly organises informative meetings, panel discussions, parties and dance nights. pregnancy If you think you are pregnant, the first step could be to buy a pregnancy test at the pharmacy. You should also visit your doctor. He or she can tell you for certain whether you are pregnant or not and can give you relevant information. If you prefer anonymity, or wish to talk things over with somebody who does not know you, go to the ggd.

If you do not wish to continue your pregnancy, you can get advice and information at the centre for anti-conception, sexuality and abortion Amsterdam.

health 127 drugs & alcohol Dutch law makes a distinction between two categories of drugs, soft drugs and hard drugs. Hash and weed (marijuana) fall into the soft drugs category. Hard drugs are all the other kinds of drugs. Hard drugs are highly addictive and can cause serious harm if misused. This is why they are illegal and forbidden. Soft drugs, on the other hand, are tolerated if you have less than five grams. Below you will find some rules concerning the regulation, use and sale of drugs: • It is illegal to have hard drugs in your possession, to sell them or to use them • It is illegal to have over five grams of soft drugs in your possession • The use or possession of soft drugs is illegal for anyone aged under 18 • It is illegal to promote or advertise for the use or sale of soft drugs • Anyone causing trouble when under the influence of drugs can be charged with disturbing the peace

Coffeeshops In most Dutch coffeeshops, coffee is not actually the main item on the menu, soft drugs are. Trustworthy coffeeshops are identified by a green and white window sticker and the word ‘coffeeshop’.

Alcohol However socially acceptable the use of alcohol may be, to a certain extent alcohol is just as addictive as drugs and is just as dangerous. Keep in mind that it is illegal to drink and drive, and that the same applies to riding a bicycle. On page 130 you will find some organisations that provide information about the use of drugs and alcohol.

Soft Drugs There are two types of cannabis products, hash and weed. Weed is a powder, ground from the tips of the leaves of the hemp plant. In order to make hash, this powder is sieved and compressed afterwards. Both substances are usually rolled into cigarettes. For some people, cannabis can cause depression or panic attacks.

Hard Drugs Cocaine is a powerful drug, and it is mainly taken by sniffing the white crystalline powder through the nose. It causes a relatively

128 health short-lived sensation of euphoria. Its negative effects are mostly psychological; cocaine can cause memory loss, apathy, depression, paranoia and hallucinations. ghb, a substance that has become known as a ‘date-rape drug’, affects the central nervous system. It causes the body temperature to drop, lowers the heart rate and slows the breathing. Because ghb is absorbed into the system very quickly, its effects are immediate and very unpredictable. When consumed in large quantities, ghb can even cause convulsions. lsd is a strong hallucinatory drug, working on the central nervous system. It is not addictive, but is best avoided because of its unpredictable effects. The use of lsd can cause acute panic attacks, hallucinations, psychoses and delusions.

Opiates are derived from opium, which is one of the most addictive drugs. It comes in grains or in black, gum-like slices and can be eaten, smoked or injected. Opiates strongly affect the nervous system and are highly addictive; users have to keep increasing the dosage to get the same effect. An example of an opiate is heroin. xtc has a stimulating and psychotomimetic effect. It causes the body to overheat, which can cause damage to the heart and liver. Even small quantities of xtc can cause a ‘bad trip’, including flash- backs, anxiety or panic attacks and psychotic episodes.

Smart Drugs Smart drug is a term used for certain stimulants used to boost memory, concentration or brainpower. Some of these substances are also used in medications for dementia, amnesia and epilepsy.

The Dutch term paddo is used for any mushroom with a hallucinatory effect. The concentration and the effect of the active substance vary according to the type of mushroom used, as well as according to the way it is digested. Many magic mushrooms resemble lsd in their effects, and like lsd, they can cause delusions and psychotic episodes. In a reaction to a number of incidents involving magic mushrooms, the Dutch government classed all types of magic mushrooms as hard drugs. This means that the sale of paddos is illegal in the Netherlands.

health 129 addresses emergency services olvg (Onze Lieve Vrouwe Homosexuality Sensoor Amsterdam Gasthuis) | (First Aid coc | Rozenstraat 8-14 0900 07 67 | www.sensoor.nl Department) | Oosterpark 9 (temporary location) (Dutch only) 020 599 91 11 | www.olvg.nl Stadhouderskade 89 020 626 30 87 medical assistance Slotervaartziekenhuis Wed 10.00 to 16.00 hrs HvA and UvA Student Medical (First Aid Department) www.cocamsterdam.nl Service | Oude Turfmarkt 151 Louwesweg 6 | 020 5124113 020 525 28 78 | Emergency www.slotervaartziekenhuis.nl Pregnancy number: 020 525 28 89 ggd (Health Care) Emergency outside office hours BovenIJ Ziekenhuis | (First Aid Nieuwe Achtergracht 100 Sat and Sun: 0800 0300 0600 Department) | Statenjachtstraat 1 020 555 59 11 www.huisartsenamsterdam.nl 020 634 63 46 | www.bovenij.nl casa Amsterdam (Abortion General practice VU Medical dentist Clinic) Sarphatistraat 620 Centre | De Boelelaan 1131 acta (Dentistry) 088 888 44 44 | www.casa.nl (entrance Amstelveensweg 601) Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004 1081 hx Amsterdam 020 598 08 88 (general number) Alcohol or 020 598 03 80 (number ggd (Public Health Service hospitals and for pre-registered patients) Amsterdam) emergencies www.acta.nl/en Nieuwe Achtergracht 100 amc (Academics Medisch 020 555 59 11 Centrum) | (First Aid health insurance www.ggd.amsterdam.nl Department) | Meibergdreef aon | 010 448 82 70 9 020 5662222 | www.amc.nl www.aonstudentinsurance.com Drugs (Dutch only) Available Mon to Fri 8.30 Jellinek (Consultation Bureau to 17.30 hrs for Alcohol and Drugs) VU Medisch Centrum 020 590 44 44 | www.jellinek.nl (First Aid Department) ips | Laan van Nieuw Oost-Indie (Dutch only) | Mon to Fri 15.00 De Boelelaan 1117 123 070 302 85 98 to 17.00 hrs | Chatroom: Mon 020 444 44 44 www.studentsinsured.com to Fri 13.00 to 17.00 hrs www.vumc.com other mdhg (Association of Drug Sint Lucas Andreas Zieken- aids and std Users) | Jonas Daniël Meijer- huis (First Aid Department) std Clinic | Weesperplein 1 plein 30 | 020 624 47 75 Jan Tooropstraat 164 020 555 58 22 www.mdhg.nl 020 510 89 11 | www.sint www.gezond.amsterdam.nl lucasandreasziekenhuis.nl

130 131 09:00 sports time to get moving

after having arrived in amsterdam, you’ll

find out soon enough that it’s quite an

active city. from walking and cycling to

practising team sports, there’s something

you can do at any time of the day.

the following chapter has lots of

suggestions, as well as some tips for

exercising at home.

133 24 hours

09.00 12.00 14.00 biking everywhere isn sports exploring

‘In Sweden I used to cycle, but ‘I’m not big on team sports, ‘I love walking through not as much as in Amsterdam. but I did join a few football Amsterdam, so I usually bring I love how many bike roads events organised by isn. You my camera with me so that there are here, even between didn’t need to be a pro, just I can take photos of all the cities. At one time I decided willing to work with your team interesting things I see. That to bike from Amsterdam to and have some fun as well. way, I can combine a casual Utrecht. It was a hell of a bike I’m happy I got to go.’ work-out with my hobby and tour, but worth it!’ everyone’s happy!’

134 with dennis dennis au (21), sweden, inholland university of applied sciences, international communication management

16.00 20.00 22.00 getting outside for the fans dancing

‘When it’s warm, I usually ‘Amsterdam is a city of a lot ‘The nightlife in Amsterdam is like to go for a run around the of events, no matter the season. amazing too. I hadn’t seen such student housing area. Come I was lucky enough to get tick- a vibrant city until my stay here. winter, I’ll try to find other ets for an Ajax game and the I attended at least five festivals, places to work out, which isn’t experience was amazing – the which means you are dancing too much of a challenge. There atmosphere was great and and walking around for a long are a lot of gyms in Amsterdam it was completely different time. It’s more of a social work- and the surrounding areas.’ from watching a game on tv.’ out, but I think it counts.’

135 workout exercises For everyone who wants to stay fit while studying abroad

For all exercises: breathe in when relaxing the muscles, breathe out when tightening them. Breathe out slowly and strongly. Also, keep a day of rest in between the days you exercise. We advise you to do the exercises under the supervision of a certified trainer for the first couple of times.

Monday (chest and shoulders) 1. Press-ups, wide – good for the outer pectoral muscles. Lie on the floor, face-down. Place your hands on the floor, 50 cm wider than your shoulder width. Then press yourself up slowly. Slowly lower yourself and press yourself up fast from your breast and shoulders. Do take care to keep your spine and neck straight in one line, or you might hurt your back. If you do it right, it’s good for your back as well. Do three sets of as many repeats as you can manage, resting in between.

2. Press-ups, narrow – good for the inner pectoral muscles. Lie on the floor, face-down. Place your hands on the floor, next to your shoulders. Spread your thumbs and index fingers to make a triangle. Slowly press yourself up. Take care to keep your back and spine straight in one line, or you might hurt your back. Then press yourself up slowly. Slowly lower yourself and press yourself up fast from your breast and shoulders. Do three sets of as many repeats as you can manage, resting in between.

3. Bent-over raise – needed: two full bottles of water. Choose a size of bottle you can comfortably hold. Fill it with as much water as you wish. Take a bottle in each hand. Put your feet under your hips, and straighten your back. Bend over at the waist, keeping your back straight. You can bend over at 45 to 90 degrees, depending on which muscles in your bottom you wish to exercise. Then, keeping your spine straight, drop your arms, allowing them to dangle. Then lift the bottles out sideways until your upper arms are parallel with your back. Do three sets of as many repeats as you can manage, resting in between. stay fit!

Wednesday (legs) 1. Squats – good for upper legs and bottom. Put your feet some 20 cm wider than your hips. Slowly lower yourself by bending

136 sports your knees. Remember to stick your bottom out, to keep your neck straight, and to keep you knees aligned with your feet. They must not protrude over your feet. From this position, push yourself up with your legs until you are fully stretched with your arms raised. Remember to keep your back and neck straight. Do three sets of as many repeats as you can manage, resting in between.

2. Lunges – good for upper legs and bottom. Put your feet parallel to your hips. Keep your back and neck straight. Take a large step forward with your left leg. Bend your knees. Keep the left knee above the ankle, and keep your weight on your left foot. Then do the same, but with your right foot forward. Do three sets of as many repeats as you can manage, resting in between.

Friday (back) 1. Back extension – good for the lower back. Lie flat down on your belly. Keep your feet on the floor. Raise your upper body, keeping your neck straight and look at the floor. Keep the position for a few seconds, if you can. Do three sets of as many repeats as you can manage, resting in between.

2. Back squat – good for the upper back – needed: two full bottles of water. Take the bottles. Stand straight, tucking in your belly and stomach firmly. Slowly bend your knees, taking care to keep your knees above your feet and sticking out your bottom to the back. Move your arms forward and raise them to shoulder height. Keep this position for a few seconds. Then slowly lower your arms. Do three sets of as many repeats as you can manage, resting in between.

Sunday (cardio workout) 1. Running – sprints or extended running. Run for 30 or 60 minutes or do 20 sprints of ca 20 steps with a 1 minute break in between each sprint. Control your breathing at all times. If you cannot do that, take a break of 1 minute or more, and then start again.

sports 137 student sports clubs Playing a sport is more than just a way for you to stay healthy: joining a (student) sports club is also a great way to meet people. Apart from social clubs there are several sports clubs specifically for students, where you can try to get (or keep) fit in the company of other students. One of the advantages of joining a student sports club is that you pay less than at a regular club. Some student sports clubs are recreational only while others are devoted to just one particular sport.

Sportcentrum VU University Amsterdam There is an extensive sports programme for students at VU University Amsterdam. All sports are offered at locations near the university. Training sessions are usually in the afternoon or evening, and most sports are played at a recreational level as well as a competitive level. There are three different locations. You can sign up for a membership at the sports centre.

usc The usc offers more than seventy sports and activities at discount rates for UvA (University of Amsterdam) and HvA (Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences) students and staff, including ice skating, fitness, tennis and swimming. The main building, Universum at Science Park, is open seven days a week. Here you can find a large gym, several sports halls, a climbing hall, squash courts, a dojo and a sauna. There is also a restaurant: eetcafé Oerknal. You can use the facilities free of charge up to three times in a three-month period. The usc has five annexes: pch Fitness in the city centre, usc tennis in Amsterdam East, asc in the amc hospital, ClubWest in Amsterdam New-West and Amstelcampus near Wibautstraat. The usc also organises activities ranging from baseball to horse riding at specialist venues.

fitness clubs Fitness fanatics should head for Fit For Free, which offers fitness equipment and group classes. Fit For Free is one of the cheapest fitness clubs in Amsterdam; you pay less than e10.00 per month. If you want less restrictive opening times, Basic Fit Amsterdam Distelweg is for you. This establishment is open Monday to Friday from 08.00 to 22.30 hrs and 09.00 to 16.00 hrs at weekends. At Fit2Fit students can get a discount on standard membership fees.

138 sports general sports clubs If you cannot find anything that suits you at the student clubs, one of the city’s general sports clubs may be more to your liking. On the website: www.sport.amsterdam.nl (Dutch only), of the municipal organisation of Sport en Recreatie (Sport and Recreation), you can find addresses of sport associations, clubs, swimming pools and sports parks. A few of them are mentioned below.

Horse Riding Horse lovers can go to De Hollandsche Manege (riding stables) for indoor or outdoor riding.

Horse riding is also an option at the two riding schools (manege) for more information go to: in the Amsterdamse Bos. www.deamsterdamsemanege.nl (dutch only) or www.nieuwamstelland.nl Sports in the Amsterdamse Bos www.amsterdamsebos.nl You can do all kinds of sports in the Amsterdamse Bos. There are playing fields where you can play football with portable goals in summer. You will find a 2400 meter training circuit with some equipment, and running trails of 5, 10 and 21 kilometres.

(Ice)skating At Jaap Eden IJsbanen you will find an outdoor ice skating rink (400 metres) and an indoor track. You can also skate, work out and visit the indoor ice skating rink.

At the SkateZone you can buy skates and go ice-skating, roller-skating, or in-line skating.

Friday Night Skate Every Friday you can join the Friday Night Skate, a twenty kilometre skating tour through Amsterdam, organised by ‘Stichting Skate!’. It starts at 20.00 hrs, at the Vondelpark, near the Filmmuseum. Departure is at 20.30 hrs. If it rains, the whole thing will be can- celled. To be sure, check their website: www.fridaynightskate.com.

Swimming The Mirandabad is an indoor swimming complex including a subtropical pool as well as an outdoor pool.

The Zuiderbad is Amsterdam’s oldest swimming pool and has a beautiful Art Deco interior.

sports 139 Snowboarding The Netherlands doesn’t have any real mountains, but if you love to ski or snowboard you can visit SnowPlanet. You will have to leave town to do so, but you will get a very fine indoor ski and snowboard rink in return. From September to the end of April, the winter season, SnowPlanet is open every day from 09.00 to 23.00 hrs. It is only closed on King’s Day. During the summer season SnowPlanet is open on weekdays from 15.00 to 23.00 hrs and at weekends from 11.00 to 23.00 hrs.

sporting events Dam tot Damloop extra options: 20 September 2015 – A 16- (or 6.4-) kilometre run from Amster- 6 september 2015 – city swim for als dam to Zaandam. You can enrol at www.damloop.nl. 19 september 2015 – dam tot dam walking race Grachtenrace electric run march 2016 10 October 2015 – Rowing 24 kilometres on the Amsterdam canals check the site for the exact date 020 523 47 82 | www.grachtenrace.com (Dutch only) www.electricrun.nl/amsterdam

the color run may 2016 Amsterdam Marathon check the site for the exact date 18 October 2015 – The marathon circles the centre of town, passing www.thecolorrun.co.nl by the Olympic Station and the Rijksmuseum | 072 532 48 49 (dutch only) www.amsterdammarathon.nl

140 sports addresses student sports clubs fitness clubs De Mirandabad | De Miranda- Sportcentrum VU Basic Fit Distelweg laan 9 | 020 252 44 44 University Amsterdam Distelweg 80 | 0900 249 93 48 www.mirandabad.nl www.sportcentrum.vu.nl/en www.basic-fit.nl/sportschool/ (Dutch only) [email protected] amsterdam-distelweg • Uilenstede 100 (Amstelveen) Check www.basic-fit.nl for Zuiderbad | Hobbemastraat 26 020 598 50 90 | 08.15 to other Basic Fit locations. 020 252 13 90 23.30 hrs | Sat & Sun 10.00 www.zuid.amsterdam.nl/ to 18.00 hrs Fit For Free | www.fitforfree.nl sportaccommodaties/ • Van de Boechorststraat 38 zwembaden/zuiderbad-0 020 442 26 34 | 09.00 hrs Fit2Fit | Bakkersstraat 23 (Dutch only) to 21.00 hrs | Sat and Sun 020 33 03 123 | www.fit2fit.nl 10.00 to 18.00 hrs. Recreatieschap Spaarnwoude • Boelelaan 1109 general sports clubs (SnowPlanet) | Heuvelweg 6-8 020 598 36 56 | 07.15 hrs De Hollandsche Manege (Velsen-Zuid) | 0255 54 58 48 to 20.00 hrs | Sat and Sun Vondelstraat 140 www.snowplanet.nl (Dutch only) closed. 020 618 09 42 www.dehollandschemanege.nl usc | www.usc.uva.nl (Dutch only) • Universum | Science Park 306 | 020 525 89 55 Kanoverhuur Amsterdamse • pch Fitness | Spuistraat 134 Bos | 020 645 78 31 | 1 April 020 301 35 45 to 1 October www.usc.uva.nl/pchfitness www.kanoverhuur-adam.nl • usc Tennis | Radioweg 80 (Dutch only) 020 525 89 32 www.usc.uva.nl/tennis Jaap Eden IJsbanen • asc | Meibergdreef 27 Radioweg 64| 0900 724 22 87 020 566 32 23 (e0.10 per minute) www.jaapeden.nl (Dutch only) ClubWest | Dr. Meurerlaan 10 020 525 89 09 SkateZone | Ceintuurbaan 59 www.usc.uva.nl/clubwest 020 662 28 22 www.skatezone.nl (Dutch only) Amstelcampus | Tweede Boerhavestraat 10 Marnixbad | Marnixplein 1 020 525 80 76 020 524 60 00 www.usc.uva.nl/amstelcampus www.hetmarnix.nl

141 www.evenaar.net [email protected]

LITERARY TRAVEL BOOKSHOP EVENAAR 142 www.evenaar.net [email protected] www.evenaar.net [email protected] 1

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www.studentsinsured.com www.facebook.com/studentsinsuredholland [email protected] Tel.: +31 (0)70 302 85 98 148 149 10:00 index from beginning to end

are you in a hurry to find one of the pages

in the student guide? this index chapter

will help you. we give you all the entries

you need to find what you’re looking for,

such as the best comedy clubs, or useful info

about your supermarket around the corner.

151 index a-z

A Boerenkool 10 cjp Cultureel Jongeren Abdolah, Kader 101 Books 70, 73, 101, 142 Paspoort 102 afac 49 Boom Chicago 106, 116 aids 127, 130 Boom, Irma 101 D Ajax 29, 90 Bourbon Street 83 Dam tot Damloop 140 Alcohol 128, 130 Bus 47 Dam Square 31 Alles is liefde (Love is All) 70 Dekkers, Marlies 100 Amsterdamse Bos 24, 32 C DeKok 70 Amsterdam Gay Pride 37 Cafés 87, 93, 110 DeLaMar Theater 107, 116 Amsterdam School 27 Canal Parade 37 Dentists 126, 130 Amsterdam: A History of the Canal Ring 30 Discount Cards 102, 115 World’s Most Liberal City 70 Canal Houses 27 Driver’s Licence 50 App 4, 27, 86, 104 Carnival 8, 17 Drugs 128, 130 April Fool’s Day 17 Carré 106, 116 Dutch Cuisine 13 Architecture 27, 100 Car Rentals 51 Dutch Language 27, 73, 78 ArenA 29, 90, 94 Cash Dispensers 64 Durgerdam 35, 44 Arkin 126 Christmas 16 Armin van Buuren 101 Church 15, 19 E Art Academies 115 Cinemas 108, 116 Easter 17 Art Museums 103, 115 Ciske de Rat 70 Editorial 5 Arts & Culture 97 City Districts 29 Education 72 asdv Bonaparte Office 75, 79 Climate 13 Emergency Numbers 124, 160 a.s.v.Gay 74, 79 Cobra Museum 104, 115 Emergency Service 124, 130 Attractive Cities 35 Cocktails 84 esn 76, 79, 146 Coffeeshops 128 Events 36 B Communication 51 eye (Film Institute the Baantjer 70 Het Compagnietheater 106, 116 Netherlands) 23, 29, 104, 115 Bachelor - Master 72 Concerts 29, 89, 100, 101 Banana Pancake 122 Conservatorium 102, 115 F Bank Account 64 Coordinates 24 Family Doctor 124, 126 Bars 88, 93 Copy centres 73, 78 Ferries 48 Beaches 34, 38 Corbijn, Anton 100 Festivals 107 Beer Cafés 88 Course Materials 73, 78 Film Festivals 109 Bellevue 107, 116 crea 103, 115 Films 70, 108 Bicycles 48, 53 Credit cards 64 Fire Department 160 Bijlmer 30 Crime and the Law 28 Fitness Clubs 138, 141 Bike Trip 44 Cultural Cafés 110, 116 Flevopark 44 Biological Farmers’ Market 23 Cultural Centres 103, 115 foam (photography museum) Blijburg 31, 34, 38 Culture 102 105, 115

152 Food 10, 14, 37, 87, 92, 114 I Melkweg 89, 94 Frank, Anne 105, 115 Ice-skating 139 Mentrum 126 Frascati 22, 107, 116 IJburg 31 Metro 47 fss (Foreign Student Service) International Student Money 63, 65 75, 79 Organisations 75, 79 Mosques 19 isn (International Student Museum 103, 105, 115 G Network Amsterdam) 74, 76, Museumkaart 102 Gaasperpark 33 79, 143, 145, 146 Museumplein 32 Gaasperplas 33 Music 89 Gay Bars 88, 93 J Het Muziektheater 107, 116 General Emergency number Jobs 62 124, 160 Joods Historisch Museum 106, N General practice (VU Medical 116 Nes Theatres 107 Centre) 125, 130 Jordaan 30, 36 Netherlands 7 Geocache 24 Newspapers 14 Geography 12 K New Year 17 ggd 127, 130 King’s Day (Koningsdag) 18 Nieuwmarkt 30 ggz 126 De Kleine Komedie 106, 116 Nuffic 62, 75, 79 Going Out 81 Koolhaas, Rem 100 The Goldfinch 70 O Good Friday 17 L Oosterpark 31, 33, 108 gp 122 Language Courses 73 ov-chipkaart 46, 50 gps 24 Late-night Shops 114 Grachtengordel 30 Leading Edge 100 P Grachtenhuis 104, 115 Legal Assistance 29, 38 Paradiso 17, 90, 94, 113 Leidseplein 31, 89 Parks 24, 29, 32, 33, 139 H Liberation Day 18 Pentecost 18 Hallen 93 Libraries 73, 78 Pharmacies 125 Health 119, 124, 126, 130, 147 Living & Working 55 Pink Film Days 108 Health Insurance 126, 130, 147 Local Government 28 Police 124, 160 Heineken Experience 105, 115 Lost and Found 160 Politics 12, 110, 112 Heineken Music Hall 90, 94 Pregnancy 127, 130 Hermitage 105, 115 M Prinsjesdag 16 History of Amsterdam 26 Magazines 14 Private Transport 48 History of the Netherlands 12 Mail 52 Provinces 8, 13 Holidays 15 Marathon 140 Psychological Assistance 126 Homosexuality 74, 127, 130 Markets 112, 117 Public Transport 46 Horse Riding 139 Mashed kale 10 Hospitals 125, 130 McEwan, Ian 70 Q Hotels 62 Media 14, 70 Quarters 29 Housing 60, 65 Medical 124, 160 Meervaart 107, 116

153 R T Radio 15 Tartt, Donna 70 Ransdorp 44 Taxi 48, 50, 53 Recipe 10, 84, 122 Telephone 51, 160 Recycling Shops 113 Television 14, 15 Religion 15, 19, 59 Temporary Accommodation Rembrandthuis 104, 115 62, 65 Rembrandtplein 32, 94 Theatres 106, 116 Remembrance Day 18 Theft Prevention 49 Renting 49, 61 Train 47, 160 Residence Permit 63, 75 Tram 48, 160 Restaurants 86, 87 Transport & Communication 41 Rijksmuseum 104, 115 Tropenmuseum 31, 105, 115 Rollende Keukens 37 Tuk Tuk Company 48, 53 Rotterdam 36, 47, 53, 109 Turks Fruit (Turkish Delight) 70 Royal Family 12, 16, 18 ’t Twiske 35, 38

S U Scheepvaartmuseum 105, 116 Uitburo 89, 102, 103, 106, 115 Science Park 47, 138, 141 University Libraries 73 Second-hand Shops 111, 113 Sexual Harassment 127 V Sexuality 126 Van Gogh Museum 104, 115 Shopping 110, 117 Vegetable Stir-fry 123 Shorto, Russell 70 Verhoeven, Paul 70 Shots 84, 85 Verzetsmuseum 106, 116 Sinterklaas 16 Vondelpark 33, 36, 65, 89, 139 Social Contacts 74 Social Security Number 63 W Specialty Shops 112 Wallen (Red Light District) 30 Sports 133, 136, 138, 139, 140, 141 Waterlooplein 32, 49, 52, 116, 117 Squares 31 Westergasfabriek 39, 93, 110 Stadsschouwburg 107, 116 Westerpark 33, 34, 37 std 127, 130 Wi-Fi 33, 52 Stedelijk Museum 32, 103, 115 Wolkers, Jan 70 Sint Maarten 16 Work Permits 62, 63 Student Clubs 74, 139 Wrap 122 Student Facilities 72, 78 Student Population 72 Y Student Societies 74, 79 Youth Hostel 65 Supermarkets 114, 117 Swimming 139 Z Synagoge 19 Ziggo Dome 29, 90, 94

154 notes

155 notes

156 notes

157 time to meet us

editors producers designers alina bojescu tessa van dinteren anouk van driessen anouk haaijen rosalie klick elvira de goede jacky hitzert may-lynn tsiang joy heijstee daan schinkel lieke de wilde manuel müller sofie van rooij

‘as editors, we weren’t just ‘if plan a hasn’t worked, ‘“this is the final version” cooped up in a room and writing stay cool. the alphabet has was never stated by any of the all the time. we got to discover 25 more letters. (producers’ designers, ever. nevertheless amsterdam along with the guide! note: we are currently at we are very proud of our work we enjoyed the experience and we plan m).’ and we hope you will enjoy it, hope you will as well.’ too.’ the making of!

158 colophon

The International Student Guide Amsterdam 2015-2016 has been edited, designed and produced by students of the Minor Programme International Trade Publishing, Books & More of the School of Digital Media and Creative Industries of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (Hogeschool van Amsterdam or HvA).

Acknowledgements Paper Mario van der Pol, massimo0x, Meal Sjoerd Visser (HvA) 115 grs Arctic Volume Makeover Moms, Michel van Reysen, Guido de Wilde (UvA) High White Nietnagel, Nik Morris (van Leiden) Julia Robeer (isn) 240 grs Algro Design nmmacedo, Olivier Blitzblum, Karin Roggeveel (isn) 240 grs PopSet Ultra Red Onno Kluyt,Patricil Complex,Paul van Ed van der Ham (Ten Brink) Eijden, paula soler-moya, Raymond van Donk (dps) Photography Peet Sneekers, Peter Valckx, Poom!, Esther Krop (Monsterkamer) Gabrielle Laarhoven Rafale Tovar, Ralp Richter, Anouk Haaijen Robert Gourley, Shing Thukral, International students Shirley de Jong, Sicco2007, Simba, Jenna Hirvonen Other photographers SnipyHollo, Sportcentrum vu, Stab Neomi Rao aleazzo, Alex rvd, Ana, Axel Bruns, at sleep, Stewart Leiwakabessy, Violet Huynh Bas de Brouwer, Bas Pijles, basegreen, Storm Crypt, StudioK, The Basket, Jorge del Rio Bert Kaufmann, Brighter than sun- The Butcher, The Student Hotel Alexandra Dragusi^ ¸ shine, Chandrika Nair, crea, Amsterdam, Tom Jutte, Tom Roeleveld, Dennis Au D.M. Langereis, Daan Schinkel, Ton Staphorst, twentieth century Bugrahan^ Namdar Daniel Neri, David Mills, David van der fox film corporation, Udo Geisler, Mark, Dennis Burger, Deryl_mitchell, usc Sportcentrum, Wjotek Gurak, Translations & corrections Dominik Schwind, E. Dronkert, Yvonne Compier. Heleen van Loon Eetcafé de Oerknal, Elvira de Goede, Escape, Fenneke, Fidel Ramos, Project consultants Fitness4Fitness, Frans Schouwenburg, Lieke Biesma Gerard Stolk, Guilhem Vellut, Bregitta Kramer Harry Cock, Hindrik Sijens, Ian Lloyd, Rose Leighton ing Nederland, isn, Jabb, Jac Jansen, Caroline de Lint Jacky Hitzert, Jacob Botter, Jamonation, Jan Boeve/De Balie, Jan van Griet- all rights reserved. no part of Lithography huizen, Jay, Jeroen Mirck, Jim Nix, this book may be reproduced or dps design & prepress studio, Johan Wieland, John Lewis Marshall, transmitted in any form or by Amsterdam JPekker, jpmm, Juan Paulo Gutierrez, any means without permission in Kadege59, Kanovereniging Frisia, writing from the holder of this Printing kdogbone, Kevin Oliver, Kotomi_, copyright. we cannot take any Ten Brink, Meppel Kris Krug, Liberty Global Content responsibility for any inconven- Netherlands B.V., Llama Zotti, ience caused by errors in this Binder Luuk Kramerm, Mace Ojala, publication. for questions please Hexspoor, Boxtel Maria Mastrafchieva, Marie, contact [email protected] e mergency numbers information about telephone numbers

The Netherlands have various kinds of information phone numbers. An information number is a service that you pay extra for. However, a 0800 number in general is for free.

0900 numbers are used for business information for which you pay more than the normal rate. So take care!

Many phone numbers in this guide start with 020. This is the Amsterdam area code for which you pay a local rate if you use a land line.

Finally there is the 088 number. This is a national phone number used by companies that have branch offices all over the country.

National emergency number: 112 (Dialing 911 will also connect you to the 112 emergency operators)

Police (general number): 0900 88 44 (local rate)

Police (anonymous): 0800 70 00

Fire Department: 020 555 66 66

24 hour Medical Service: 088 003 06 00 (www.shda.nl)

lost and found

If you’ve lost something at Schiphol Airport or on the train, bus, tram or metro, these are the numbers to call and places to go.

Lost Property, Schiphol Airport: 0900 01 41 (e0.40 per minute) Lost Property, Amsterdam Central Station: 020 557 85 44 (lost property on trains): 0900 321 21 (lost property on tram, bus and metro)

Lost and Found, Police Amsterdam: 020 251 02 22, avalaible Mon to Fri 12.00 to 16.00 hrs. Visiting: Mon to Fri 09.00 to 16.00 hrs. Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 52, Amsterdam. 160