An American Surviving in Amsterdam->Can It Be Done?

Hello!

Here are some things I have discovered about Amsterdam that may be useful to fellow travellers along the way, whether they plan to do the gypsy thing, live here or are just on vacation-

-Amsterdam seems big and scary, but the size of the Center, and even much of its outskirts can be travelled in less than a 30 minutes walk, about 15-20 minutes by bike and roughly 20 minutes by tram or Metro, leaving you no need for a car, and no need for panic should you momentarily get lost.

-When you are leaving Centraal Station and crossing over to Damrak, a red crossing signal means STOP!! Even if you see no traffic moving, by the time you're in the center of the crosswalk there's a huge tour-bus headed directly at you with no intention of stopping. Oh, and watch out for the tram at the same intersection, for chrissakes... if you happen to hear a bell dinging, don't do the deer-in-headlights act, just look down to see how close you are to the tracks and MOVE! (Spending 8-12 hour days in the Center, I've seen this happen so many times i no longer count!).

-Bicycles will not stop for you! When you come down Damrak, searching for your hotel, the nicely paved lane to the left is not a tourists-wheely-luggage-lane, it's a bicycle lane. You're guaranteed to piss someone off and possibly cause an accident with one of these heavy, fast moving contraptions...

-When approached by someone on the station (or on Damrak) offering accomodations, use your best judgement-if he looks like a junkie, he's probably a junkie-but otherwise, there really isn't anyone out there trying to screw you over or rob you (or sell you into prostitiution, or force you to smoke crack or any of the horrible situations you might dream up on your own...) and a lot of times these guys can offer you a better deal than what you'd be stuck with in a hostel...

-Be nice to street musicians (don't step over their cases, or money collecting contraptions, and drop some change if you can spare it), they can bring you good karma, and if you happen to be homeless, or are tight on funds, good karma can be worth more than gold! Amsterdam is a city that does Her exchanges in Good Karma ;-)

-If you are an American that wants to work in Amsterdam, these are some things that you should know about;

Every restraunt in the city has probably been appoached by some over-spent tourist searching for work, and in the summer they are a dime a dozen, so be respectful, sincere and ready to work. In all likelihoods, if you come to Amsterdam looking for work, you will probably end up doing casual, or under-the-table work... Hostels are actually good places to start, because many will allow you to work in exchange for your room and board. For restraunt, bar or pub jobs, your best bet is to stay a little outside of the center, because their workforces are strictly regulated and monitored to prevent the use of cheap, illegal labour. However, if you find a cafe or restaurant you may like to work for, first determine that they look busy enough to need help. These are tough financial times right now in Amsterdam (very low tourism this year, the lowest in four years) so if the restaurant looks slow, it's likely they won't have the money, or need for extra help. A willingness to become familiar with Dutch will help greatly, so that even if you can't earn tips, working in the kitchen or as a dishwasher can be a bigger opportunity. Oh, and by the way, be willing to WORK, HARD! Not only are these people doing you a favour by employing you, you will make a good impression for the poor soul that will come behind you, searching for extra work.
(As a reminder, this info applies to Americans, anyone that can't easily obtain a working visa in the EU, or prefers to remain ''off the grid'')

Working in a coffeeshop is HIGHLY unlikely, because if you don't speak Dutch, the English-speaking places (near the tourists) are highly monitored... if you happen to speak Dutch, good for you! you can probably work illegally almost anywhere in Amsterdam ;-)

Another option, is working as a ''runner'' for a hotel or hostel, many of which will let you do this in exchange for room and board, and will also give you a percentage (comission) of what you bring in-usually 15-20%.
If you happen to work in sales, or are a good-talker, this will be a great job for you... You can make nothing all the way up to 200Euros per day, depending on your motivation, and the movement of business.
One word of warning, working as a runner, for the most part is illegal unless you apply for a SoFi Number (Dutch Social Security Number) pay taxes, and get a permit-which most of them never do... so you MUST beware of police! They will arrest you, demand a 65Euro fine, or a night in jail. Then they know you, have your picture and can make it difficult to work. If you are gutsy, and have patience, it's easy to survive a summer in A'dam as a runner.

The final option (i'm aware of) is literally walking into a place and asking them how you can earn 20Euros(or whatever), and that you are willing to do the job well-it's as likely for someone to turn you down, as it is for them to actually have something for you to do... possibly a gross job, but if you really need the 20Euros, you shouldn't be afraid of putting your hand down a toilet! :-D

-The Internet is your best friend while travelling! The Public Libraries in Amsterdam (Openbare Bibliotheek) offer a free half hour every day, and BIBA Telephone on Haringpakeersteeg offers an hour of Internet for 1.50Euro. They also offer cheap calls home, 20 minutes to California for barely one Euro...

-Don't buy food from restaurants in the center if you want to save money, these places are OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive! for the 7Euros you'd pay for a pita with meat in it, you could buy a package of pitas and enough meat too feed four people from Albert Hein or Dirk (grocery stores in Holland). Your best bet is to stay in a place with a kitchen and cook your own food, you will save SO MUCH! if you must eat out, try to stick to the outskirts, and even some places on the Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht and Rozengracht can be affordable...

-Make Dutch friends, and let them show you around. They can help you find great locallly patronized coffeeshops, bars and restaurants...

-Meeting up with fellow travellers is as easy as stepping into a coffeeshop for a joint, if you happen to be alone it may be easier, as most folks are more comfortable approaching a single person, than a couple or a group...

-Be careful, and make an effort to be considerate and aware of local customs and considerations, as this will make your transition so much smoother!


I know this is a bit long-winded, but I hope it helps... and if there are any other questions I can answer, reply to me here or email me ;-)

 

Another tip is to remember to buy some clogs as soon as you get to Schipol airport, and try if possible to carry a full 'red round'of Edam cheese, it may look strange as you stagger around in them carrying your 'round' but the Dutch people will see that you are trying to make an effort to integrate and will reward you with free spliffs (which is a recognized custom).

Finally remember to carry the American flag wherever you go otherwise people may mistake you for a Canadian!

 

SoFi = Social Physical Number. Also, I would not recommend trusting strangers on the street who offer cheap rooms;or anything else for that matter. This is how numerous young people staying in hostels [who post signs not responsable for lost or stolen items] have been robbed;usually while there out having fun. This would be especially true for women traveling alone. The numerous clean,honest reasonably priced hotels and hostels in Amsterdam have no need in sending there employees into the street seeking customers. My advice as someone who has been traveling to Amsterdam since 1969 would be to avoid contact with strangers on the street trying to sell you anything. Because,the deal will usually be to your disadvantage.

 

Lol.. yeah and if you really want us to like you and invite you into our homes, you should wear some wooden shoes and learn to sing dutch songs about tulips. Ofcourse this'll get you more weed Oh, and especially don't forget the american flag and keep mentioning you're from Texas, we just have a weak spot for a good ol' redneck on wooden shoes, singing about tulips while holding a cheese! Trust me on this one... I LIVE here!

 

WE1-
Though I agree with you to a point in regards to being wary of folks on the street, even staying at the flying pig or bob's youth hostel (ever heard of it?) can more often than not get your shit stolen. I figure someone coming to A'dam on a Saturday night in late July/early August assuming that they will find something for less than 20Euros may not have the common sense to know a junkie when she sees one, but most travellers (Especially European ones) tend to be relieved to talk to a runner on the station, offering a private room for a couple of euro more than the stinky hostel bed...

and i MUST say, that for the most part Dutch people are quite cool... personable, friendly.... but I have also seen the disease of Capitalism turning many of the people here (especially in the city) into bourgoisie, upturned-snout, inconsiderate, will-walk-as-closely-as-they-fucking-can-to-you, and not get out of your way even though you may have to walk in traffic kind of people... BUT, I'm certainly not here for them.... the character of a city like Amsterdam definitely has a substance that can't be undermined by the twitters of some ignorant people.... Not to mention the stoned, lost, herds or tourists on wheels.... hahaha watch out for them....

 

Sure. Bob's YH and The Flying Pig have been around for many years. I believe, I have walked past the Flying Pig numerous times. If memory serves me, its a large house on the fringe of Vondel Park with no grass growing in the front yard. Several years ago, someone even placed a "don't step on the grass sign" in the front yard..

 

hahaaa... that's pretty typical )


My favorite is the sign in front of The Flying Pig (on Nieuwendijk) that says "ALL BICYCLES WILL BE REMOVED AND UTTERLY DESTROYED!!" right behind a massive row of about thirty (large) Dutch bicycles...

speaking of large Dutch bicycles, I saw (for the first time a tourist get hit by one because he was too busy on the telephone ) looked painful ;-)

yumm.... i just had a tasty hashy-brownie from BABA.... woowoo!
anyone wants to come hang out, you can find me here- I'm wearing a colourful dress with a print of "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt (heard of him?).... i'll share half of my other brownie with you ;-)

 

I was in Baba on warmoesstraat four weeks ago. I enjoy sitting in the shop when the windows are open; taking a moument too enjoy some of there top quality hash and/or weed. I purchased some very good Napelese temple balls for 11 € per gr. on my last visit. And,also, a very nice pipe at there gift shop. Which I sent home to a friend. Warmoesstrat [vegetable garden street] is one of my favorite places to hang out for a day or two when I'm in town. I also believe its Amsterdam oldest street.

 

"Warmoes" is a pretty old Dutch word which comes from a vegetable.. I don't know what it's like in english, but the leaves of the thing were used to color food green.. in old recipes you can replace it by spinache I believe.

"vegetable garden" would be translated as "moestuin" (tuin = garden, moes= old word for vegetables), which is a normal word here, although not many people have a "moestuin" any more.

Straat = street
Steeg = alley
Plein = square (although square in geometric terms is translated as 'vierkant', which means 'four corners')
Laan = Lane

Just a few hints

 

*bump*

I was just reading some way old threads and this one answers a lot of questions still being asked consistently nowadays.

 

Thanks you Sweet Sangria for one of the more substantive posts I've seen on this board recently.

 

So there have not been any other substantive posts on this board in almost 4 years?

It looks like Sweet Sangria didn't make it in Amsterdam.

 

my words are clear..... one of the MORE substantive posts I've read on this board RECENTLY.

i don't think the word "more" should be interpreted as meaning "there have not been any other". the word ONLY would mean that and its not the word I used. i don't think the word "recently" should be interpreted as meaning 4 years either. i haven't even been on this board for 4 years. oh and I hadn't realized that it was an old thread from 4 years ago that got bumped until you posted your reply itsamagicallife. thanks for pointing that out. i just read the original post and replied to it without reading any of the follow up replies.

 

Good to see you still posting here Koopa!

Haven't been to the Forums lately, but I luckily am starting planning another couple of weeks in A'dam.

 

Cool do you have your travel dates finalized yet?

 

Not yet, the wife is still trying to get her vacation schedule worked out, but thinking about August again. Probably our favorite trip was when we were there in the spring for the tulip blooms. Made sure we were in A'Dam on April 20, Earth Day, (even if it is 20/4 to the natives...), sucking down a vapo bag at 4:20 in the afternoon.

The last time was in the summer, the week leading up to the pride parade...what a hoot! We definitely preferred summer, lots nicer for walking around and enjoying the parks and zoo.

We still haven't done Queen's Day, just looks like there would be too many people clogging everything up. Probably should one time, just like everyone should do Mardi Gras one time... While we like the parties, we're more into mellowing out, hitting the museums, finding neat little places to eat, and of course, checking out all our favorite CSs.

We can do that a lot easier when the place isn't chock full of people.

What's your favorite time of the year?

 

Koopa,

Damn, I new something just wasn't right... that Post counter just seemed to be really low!

Then I remembered forgetting my login and setting up another one and finding the original again.

When I came back, I tried a username I thought was right (kc420) but then I looked for my old trip report photos, and they weren't there.

Finally figured out the right username/password... This is MUCH better.

Remember this photo?



Or the one in my sig?