Intro to Amsterdam
I moved to Amsterdam for a few months to pursue an internship.
Cover Photo: Me (very sad to leave) with Amsterdam in the distance, Hilton SkyLounge, Amsterdam, the Netherlands (2019).
To Amsterdam!
If you have a chance to work or study abroad, don’t hesitate! In September of 2018, I was offered an internship position at a startup in Amsterdam, the city known for Rembrandt, Anne Frank, Heineken, a booming Red Light District, bicycles, and coffee shops. I had visited the city a year prior while studying in Florence and I fell in love. I found the Dutch houses, canals, and tulips absolutely enchanting. I was excited to return and to have a longer and more meaningful experience in Amsterdam.
After purchasing my flight, I packed my bags, and was on my way. I arrived September 27th, just in time for the grand opening of UNIQLO, my favorite clothing store I had discovered in Japan. The initial transition was not easy. Not knowing where to go, I stayed in a hostel for the first two weeks. Housing in Amsterdam, especially short term housing, is increasingly scarce. I shared the room with a student of a nearby university, who was hostel and couch hopping, unable to find a permanent place to stay (the situation is predicted to get worse once Brexit is finalized, with many European companies relocating headquarters to the Netherlands). Amsterdam is an international city, home to many expats. Nearly everyone speaks English. In fact, none of the people in my newfound apartment were Dutch.
Change
Moving anywhere new is difficult but living out of a couple suitcases is especially tough; I only had a week and a half’s worth of clothes and I frequently had to do laundry. I had to be very conscious about decisions that I once took for granted. Where am I going to buy groceries? How am I going to carry them? How do I get around the city? Where should I set up a new bank account? How do I get a new sim card? Where should I get my hair cut? Where do I get my morning coffee?
With time, I was able to answer all these questions. I signed up for a membership at Albert Heijn, a popular grocery chain, and purchased a reusable shopping bag. I bought an OV-chipkaart metro pass, for which work reimbursed me. I learned the route from my apartment to my job, all the way from Noorderpark to Oostpoort which took about 40 minutes. I set up a Euro bank account with ING. I found a monthly phone and data plan with Lebara, as well as a barber shop close to work—shout out to Hair Studio Moss for their dope fades. And while Amsterdam has Starbucks, I found I prefer Coffee Company, which boasts more locations (and cheaper cappuccinos).
Living in Europe is far different from living in the US, specifically my Texan suburb. Among other things, in Amsterdam, bikes are prevalent (there are more bikes than people), cash is still king, and distances are measured in kilometers. I was sad to abandon my car—as I had just earned my driver’s license—but grateful for the stellar public transportation of Amsterdam. Among other things, I had to get used to asking for tap water at restaurants, making sure I wrote the date day first, and paying for public restrooms (McDonald’s was my go-to near Rokin).
Cuisine
A typical Dutch cuisine doesn’t exist exactly in the way you might think of Italian, Mexican, or Chinese but there are a variety of Dutch tastes to enjoy. I started most of my mornings with a stroopwafel, a thin waffle and caramel treat. At the supermarkets I would buy Dutch kaas, cheese, and Heineken Extra Fresh, bottled Heineken that had been made in the Amsterdam brewery—usually the same day. I also tried raw herring and krokets. I would often walk around Dam Square and buy a FEBO burger—a fast-food chain that keeps their food permanently hot, analogous to Little Caesars. At bars I would order genever, the Dutch alternative to gin, and bitterballen, meat-based balls coated with breadcrumbs. When I grew bored of Dutch food, I would go to De Pijp, a neighborhood with a wide assortment of international restaurants. There I had my fill of pho, spanakopita, and beef bulgogi.
Missing Home
Some days, I found the cultural differences tiring and, after listening to my coworkers speak in Dutch for hours, I would head straight home and watch American TV shows on Netflix, like How to Get Away with Murder or Brooklyn Nine-Nine. I tried to Skype my parents every week but the seven hour time difference was challenging, restraining our chats to the weekends. I kept up with my U.S. friends via a social media medley of Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram.
Gay Rights
Among the many reasons I was excited to move is that the Netherlands is incredibly progressive. In 2001, the Netherlands was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage. Amsterdam itself is home to the Homomonument, the first LGBT monument dedicated to the persecuted homosexuals in World War II. I even visited an exhibit about gay history in the central library. The city is filled with rainbow flags, drag shows, and gay clubs. Most of the friends I made I met through dating apps like Bumble, Grindr, and Tinder, an increasingly common way for travelers to make local acquaintances. I later visited these friends in Naples, Berlin, and Warsaw.
Eventful Life
Amsterdam is a very busy city. There are a myriad of clubs, concerts, shows, movies, lectures, museums, and events to attend. I was not bored for a moment. I enjoyed the annual Amsterdam Dance Event and Amsterdam Light Festival. I frequently went shopping along Kalverstraat—so much so I had to buy an additional suitcase—and I even went ice skating for the first time at Rembrandtplein!
Museums
Amsterdam is home to a thriving art and design scene. I purchased the Museumkaart, Amsterdam’s museum pass, and I used it to explore the best of what the city has to offer. In the iconic Museumplein sits the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, MOCO Museum (Modern Contemporary), and the Stedelijk. Across the city there is a litany more, including the Tropenmuseum, Foam Photo Gallery, and Hermitage Amsterdam.
Design Club
In an attempt to make designer friends, I found Letterspace.Amsterdam, a typography group that holds monthly lectures, often featuring speakers from the nearby Gerrit Rietveld Academie. During a book release at Sans Serriffe, a specialty art and design bookshop, I ran into the legendary American graphic designer David Carson; tragically I didn’t get a photo (but I did purchase a book).
Startup Life
Working at a startup company is difficult. Startups are composed of small teams, and respecting office politics and company culture is vital to success. There are few set processes; expectations are not clearly defined and responsibilities can quickly shift. This is both exciting and exhausting. I didn’t realize I would have to work on my personal laptop, with my own Creative Cloud license. Facebook pioneered the concept of “move fast and break things” and I was frequently encouraged to compromise on projects for the sake of speed. I would start days planning to work on one project only for it to be shelved mid-way and replaced with three new tasks. I ultimately parted ways with the company. I learned that I don’t want to work at a startup again — in fact I just rejected an offer from a recruiter in Amsterdam for yet another startup.
The Next Chapter
My career in Amsterdam didn’t go quite as I had hoped and I have returned to the United States for now, but I will be forever grateful for my time in Amsterdam, my memories, and my new friends. I definitely recommend moving somewhere new and experiencing another culture. I’m still hoping to return to Amsterdam one day or to have another adventure somewhere else!
P.S. Questions!
Have you been to Amsterdam? What’s the farthest you’ve traveled for an opportunity?
