I am dedicating this post to Amsterdam, a city that I am absolutely grateful to call my home.
For me, Amsterdam has been like a dream. A city that surprised me in wonderful ways when I moved here 4 years ago without even having seen the place before. I had only heard snippets of stories from friends travelling to Europe. And they said it was lovely because certain things were legal here. So, I thought if there was nothing bad to say, it would be good. And I took a giant leap of faith and decided to explore it myself.
Living in Amsterdam (and The Netherlands) has been a beautiful experience. When I say beautiful, it does not stop at the gorgeous scenery – hundreds of small canals, cute bridges, or lined-Dutch houses. Though that does elevate my mood every time I go out for a walk. But it means a lot more than one can see on the outside.
Living here has been effortless and enriching. It has made me appreciate how they take care of the simplest and basic things first. The transport connectivity and more importantly, the biking infrastructure adds a lot of ease to my daily life. I had only biked for leisure before this. So, having a bike as my primary vehicle was a completely new concept to me. From going to work, shopping, visiting my friends (because yes, they all live within 20 mins), to not having to worry about traffic or parking place or my carbon footprint, I haven’t found a downside yet.
Speaking of downside, one big change I made was downsizing my belongings because truth is Dutch houses are really small. And it was a learning experience to understand how minimalism can be good.
And these experiences have opened my mind to many trivial things that I never thought about before. About how much a place can impact one’s lifestyle, their hobbies, the convenience or resistance in doing things that one likes, and the work life balance that most of us keep trying to achieve.
Things I love:
Aesthetics
The first few years went by adoring the aesthetics of the city. The row of cafes during summers, fresh breeze that gusts as fast as bikers rushing to work, tourists marvelling down the narrow pink streets, and canals full of happy boats. The occasional snow always felt like the best makeover this city needed.
And then last two years (most of which during the lockdown phase) have gone adoring the small ways in which this city (basically all of us) tried to overcome the change. I practically spent endless days and weekends just strolling in one of the many parks. And realising how that was also sufficient in its own way. I could pack my food and have an outdoor picnic by a river, or go for a run (and not feel alone because you can spot runners at any time of the day here), biking trips, and just walking around the neighbourhood and finding something to nice to look at. And the city continued to impress me despite the lockdown.
Balance
There is a sense of balance between the fast city life and a more relaxing side. There are busy areas, nightlife, touristy highlights and also plenty of nature to rejuvenate in close proximity. And there is also a sense of wanting that balance, and slowing down when needed to enjoy both extremes.
Sustainability
There is a collective conscience to do better for our environment. It reflects in the pride that people have when they choose bike over cars, in that extra effort one takes in segregating their garbage, or in the gardening enthusiasm by locals.
I like how an average person is so aware about their lifestyle choices and what they can do to make a difference. And I just love the community driven initiatives for a more circular economy. It is as simple as having free libraries on the street, to social media groups for bartering, and thrift store culture.
Multi-cultural
Majority of the population in Amsterdam is of expats. And it brings a nice diversity making it an international city. It also helps me to get an exposure to different cultures, make friends from other countries, and try delicacies from a good selection of diverse restaurants here. It is also a reason why Dutch are so open-minded, because they get see other cultures coming together and respect the differences.
Minimalistic
I started enjoying the idea of minimalism, once I got more used to it. The houses might be small as per average standard, but I enjoy the freedom of not needing too many things. I am able to happily get by with all that I have. And I am now proudly trained at optimising the most out of little storage spaces.
This is a fan appreciating what an adorable city this is and how it helps a piece of me to be constantly gleaming even on the gloomy days.