ST201903

“Where the Dutch really shine is in their beers and

snacks. Happy hour is a strong cultural tradition”

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tranquil spots to relax, along with a few cafés and even

an open-air theatre in summer. In March, the little

purple crocuses start to pop up, signalling that picnic

days are coming soon. Sometimes, I’ll grab food to go

from the nearby Vegan Junk Food Bar and head to my

favourite spot by the rose garden.

Tell us about the light and colours of your city.

It’s a common joke coming from Florida that I

obviously didn’t move here for the weather. However,

I love how Amsterdammers never take for granted the

sunshine we do get and terraces fill up the moment a

f licker of sun is spotted. And when the evening sky is

clear, we get some beautiful vivid sunsets.

Tell us about the people who live in your city.

Amsterdam really prides itself on our culturally

diverse composition of 180 nationalities. A centuries

old, chilled-out vibe has created one of the most

relaxing cities in the world, you can pretty much do

your own thing, within reason. I think it’s funny that

Amsterdammers notoriously peek in each other’s

windows when passing by.

Where are your favourite places to meet friends?

Cafe Papeneiland dates back to 1642 and it feels like a

gang of pirates could walk in at any moment. This

canalside building and the interior is absolutely gezellig

(cosy). Stop by for a beer, thick slice of apple pie or just to

people watch. For a swanky night, Cecconi’s is a new

favourite, offering delicious cocktails and truff le pizza.

Housed next to a windmill, Brouwerij ’t IJ serves up

potent beers and a packed terrace on sunny days.

What about eating out?

The Dutch are known for a lot of great cultural

achievements, however the local cuisine isn’t their

finest. A hearty plate of stamppot (potatoes mashed up

with veggies) is nice for cold weather but where they

really shine is in their beers and snacks. Borreltijd

(happy hour) is a strong cultural tradition. Start with a

round of beers and kaasstengles (fried cheese sticks) or

bitterballen (fried ragout) at bruincafes (pubs) such as

Café De Doffer or Café Thijssen. There is a variety of

local brews on offer too; a few favourites include

Brouwerij Troost and Oedipus Brewing.

What’s your favourite way to get about the city?

My bike! No doubt about it, fietsen (cycling) is the way

to go. There are four times more bikes than cars here

and bikes always have the right of way. Our city centre

has a compact layout full of tiny, twisting streets and