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How to Be Like an Authentic Local in Amsterdam, Netherlands
How to Be Like an
Authentic Local in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful cities in Netherlands, and
even in Europe for that matter, where old traditions and new trends live side
by side, thus adds a quaint and quirky touch to the whole city. Amsterdam
is definitely one of the must see cities when travelling to Europe for the
very first time.
It is very easy to generalize that all of
Amsterdam is beautiful - very clean, multicultural, and pleasant. Spent a
couple of days in an budget hotel that actually looks more like a horror
backpacker hostel, which gave us a glimpse of the real life and stories of
Amsterdam. Thanks to the 21-year-old Pakistani receptionist who became our
friend. He’s been living in Amsterdam for nearly two decades, we found out what
it would take to seem like a local.
To blend in with the locals in Amsterdam, the
fastest, easiest, and simplest way, without looking like you're trying too
hard, is to simply do what they do, which is:
1. Ride a
Bike
If in the
rest of Asia, it's all about motorcycles and tuktuk rides, in
Amsterdam, it's all about bicycles. Everyone,
adults and children alike, gets around the city on bicycles - like the normal
ones, fancy ones, sleek ones. Not the mountain bikes that's not fit for city
roaming. It's amazing to see how they even have bicycle lanes and parking lots
here. You would rarely see a local hail a cab or drive a car on an everyday
basis.
2. Coffee
Shops versus Cafes
I know,
sounds one and the same right? Kinda funny trying to make
some sense out of this because it really is the same in most countries. Lol.
But yes, in Amsterdam, you can order coffee in both places too. But, for
the locals, they get their caffeine fix in cafes, while they get their
medicinal fix in coffee shops (read: marijuana). That's just
the way things are here, and it's interesting to see the difference in crowds
and cultures in both places. Both are a must try when in Amsterdam. It's a
distinctive kind of cultural high.
3.
Amsterdam canals – Thou shall not ogle too much
This is
probably the hardest to do, given how much perfection these canals really exude
in real life, but the common custom of people in Amsterdam when it comes to
this historical heritage, is more on the quiet kind of appreciation. It's part
of their everyday life, and they are not too fanatical about it. So, when you
chance upon their canals, which you will for sure, don't act like you've seen
the face of paradise (even if it’s probably true). That will be a dead give
away that you're not a local. Just walk around, appreciate, maybe even park
your bikes near it.
Once you
zoom off in your bicycles for a quick coffee in a nearby cafe, before heading
for work, and maybe passing by or parking along the canals of Amsterdam, you
know you've experiences being a local in Amsterdam.
Have you
ever been to Amsterdam? What do you think about this city?
[NETHERLANDS TRAVEL] Read the rest of Explore Netherlands Travel Blog
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