Moving to Amsterdam

In a few weeks I'll be setting off for the Netherlands, where I don't know a soul or a lick of Dutch. Are there any other forumengers presently stationed there? I've been before, although only for a few days at a time, so I need some advice.

Firstly, I assume the canal belt, Jordaan, etc., will be relatively out of my price range for accommodation, so what's a nice place to stay that won't break the bank? What's a reasonable price for rent? Flatmates or one bedroom?

I'm a freelance journalist, and just found out that my main magazine client is folding, effective immediately, I've got some cash saved up + some contacts in the city, although they are mostly big-name advertising and creative agencies, but I'm going to need to find another source of stable income. Courier-work would be ideal, but lack of comprehension in Dutch will probably be a barrier. Does anyone know of good work for native English speakers? Willing to do anything pretty much, outside of construction and prostitution.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated,

Cheers,

Dan

Dan, I'm also moving there in 2 weeks time. There are several members of this forum based in Amsterdam, and there is also an amsterdam fixed gear forum (http://www.pristinefixedgear.com/forum/index.php)

Renting is expensive as there is a property shortage in Amsterdam as a whole. Try classified ads for a flat share, but you'd be lucky to find your own place inside the canal belt for less than 1000EU pcm.

Oh, and if you're free on 2nd January, come play polo. http://www.londonfgss.com/thread32303-2.html

You're pretty much "screwed" being a foreigner in Amsterdam. There is rent protection for Dutch residents and this means they can ask for extortiante prices for non residents.
De Pijp is very nice from what I know. The Dutch version of Gumtree is www.marktplaats.nl
on the left is huizen en kamers then choose huizen en kamers te huur et voila.
Good luck!

I lived there for a while, and was also a freelance journalist at the time. There isn't much work unless you're fluent in Dutch. Rent is also quite pricey in the nicer parts of town, but there are some areas that are still only a 20min cycle from the centre and reasonably cheap ~700 Euros for a small 2-bed while I was there. That is very cheap, and in a semi-grotty area.

Tjeu ?
Check his profile.

I remember chatting to a bicycle courier when I was over in Amsterdam a few years back. I seem to remember he was earning about 250 euros/wk after taxes etc. IMO, it'd be a much nicer job in Amsterdam than in London because of the more cycle friendly nature of the place.

Tjeu is from Rotterdam and as far as i know there are noy much Amsterdammers on the forum here.. Try the prisine forum which Tomasito posted.. Those guys heve some good contacts and are setting up their own store right now.. They also know some of the messenger services. Just post a little topic on their forum and who knows!! Good luck and come over to Eindhoven if you have some spare time on your hands ;)

Cheers fellas, just bought my ticket today (well, actually my girlfriend did, not yet sure what to make of that), heading over on 16 December. Pretty rubbish timing really, I hope the city doesn't shut down the week leading up to Christmas. I've got some grubby job prospects lined up just to get my feet wet, and it looks like there's loads of flats for rent. I'll be chuffed if I get one with a sauna, or even a houseboat.

Count me in for polo Tomasito, although I might just be a spectator, unless someone can lend me a bike, as I am leaving mine here until I get settled. Plus I'm running about 80+ GI, so it's not the best polo machine.

Shame, I think one of my mates will be stationed in Eindhoven in January, I've heard a lot of good things about the place... or was that Groningen? Anyways, once the tulips are in bloom, I figure to be making several windmill spotting treks about the country. How far is Eindhoven? About a London to Brighton? I'll let you buy me a glass of Palm, or de Konnick, or Duvel. Belgian beer > English tripe.

Also, I'm looking to pick up a little bit of Dutch while I'm there. I've been toying around with some language textbooks and it looks remarkably close to English, although I expect some trouble with the diphthongs, gender articles and the all around wackiness of word order. But I've been smoking extra hard lately to get a good gutteral 'acghkk' going. Can any native speaker recommend even giving it a go?

Wow, anyways I'm pretty excited, I don't know a soul, or even have much money. So if you see lanky beardy-bloke sleeping in the gutter, chained to his bike, lend 'em a fiver, yeah?

Haha, i'll buy you a beer or two (or lend you a fiver when i find you in a gutter) Btw, Eindhoven is approx. 2 hours by train from Amsterdam.. But you'll maybe see me in A'dam, touring with Tomasito soon ;)

If you've got a bicycle, you could stay quite a bit outside the centre and cycle in every day - everyone cycles in amsterdam, it's like the cyclist's paradise! (and the pedestrian's hell - I remember we had to look out for crazy cyclists, weird trams, and frustrated car drivers all the time, as well as people wanting to sell us coke!)

The Dam is really great! I loved it when I stayed there for a while. I rented a flat in Amsterdam and it was quite reasonably priced. Maybe check it out and see if there’s something for you as well. Generally I agree with what people before me said, it can be difficult in dam if you don’t know anybody. But it gets better, it did for me and I loved it.

hello, i thought instead of starting a new topic i'll post my message here,

i have plans on going from Leicester to Amsterdam ON A BIKE. Would you recommend me a best route/routes. Or is there any specialized maps for cyclists in uk ? Appreciate all your help

@OverLoad - there are a few threads on this already with routes and discussion. Search for "Amsterdam" and have a browse. Most people tend to ride to Harwich and take the overnight ferry. Good luck!

thats f***in expensive, real traveller rides his bike through eurotunnel ! with gasmask and sh1t, joke.

Actually it's cheaper catch a friendly lorry driver who will agree take u and yr bike with you through eurotunnel from Dover.

Yo. I did London to AmDam - via Utrecht, Rotterdam and Gouda - this year for that Tango'd time of year, Queen's Day. Bikely.com got us there simply, mainly for the Uk section which was a literal ball ache.

You actually don't need a map over there. Sounds daunting but the bike paths are so well signposted it's a breeze, and a beautiful one.

Gouda

Mmmmm, Gouda...

You actually don't need a map over there. Sounds daunting but the bike paths are so well signposted it's a breeze, and a beautiful one.

I can vouch for this. I rode from the Hook of Holland to Amsterdam sans map in summer and it was fine. Finding our way through/around the towns was a little bit tricky and probably took longer without a map but the actual bike-routes are well signposted and clear.

This is probably a bit redundant now but its worth trying TNS NIPO (used to be Nipofoon) who are/were always looking for native English speakers to do their market research. Its essentially call centre work but you can do it face to face or from home if you have a landline. Not sure what they are like now but they used to be a pretty good employer and you never needed any/much dutch to work for them.

Not sure if there is anybody actually looking for work in Amsterdam, but FWIW and to follow from lively's post above, Booking.com based in the centre of town is continually recruiting, and employs people who don't speak any Dutch.

Hi there! Amsterdam is a lovely city even for non-native Dutch people. I find that everyone here speaks really good English anyway, so it should not be a problem. I would recommend you take some beginner's class of Dutch though, just to make your every day life easier. Regarding accommodation, look at this website of Affordable Amsterdam Apartments, where you can compare flast prices.

Hi there! Amsterdam is a lovely city even for non-native Dutch people. I find that everyone here speaks really good English anyway, so it should not be a problem. I would recommend you take some beginner's class of Dutch though, just to make your every day life easier. Regarding accommodation, look at this website of Affordable Amsterdam Apartments, where you can compare flast prices.