cool nice city amsterdam!

One story of my life in amsterdam:

About half a year ago, my daughter Asia and I were at the post office. Being the stubborn two year old, she wanted to turn right and descent from the staircase. I preferred to turn left and walk down the wheelchair friendly walk way. Since we were without a push chair, I gave in: we turned right. 

how my daughter spotted my stolen bike, and how I stole my bike back. Life in Amsterdam...

On top of the staircase, my daughter said ‘ma mama’ and pointed at some bikes parked a few feet away. ‘Ma mama’ in my daughter’s language means ‘van mama’ in Dutch and ‘from mama’ in English. I was too preoccupied carrying my purchases and preventing Asia to fall down, that I didn’t pay much attention to what she said.

But my strong-willed little girl was quite persistent. ‘Ma mama, ma mama’ she continued to yell. ‘Yes, yes… mama also has such a bike’, I said and looked up… to realize that the bike that she had been pointing at, was my bike which had been stolen a month earlier.

So that's how I filled my stuff in the bike bag pockets, put my child in the bike kid seat and stole back my bike. Cool nice city amsterdam.

Another story of my life in amsterdam: 

Sunday evening. Again, I find myself carrying lots of stuff with my daughter on a staircase. This time we are on the steps of a canal house. I have so much stuff with me, I cannot carry it all up in one go. Thankfully, my partner is there to help: he put the things on top of the staircase, I carry it into the house.

My Maccie and I - a fairly strong marriage.Flashforward with an hour: Hey where's my laptop? I call my partner ‘did I leave my computer in the car?’. His reply ‘no.. oh darn it… I put it on the steps outside the house’. When I go outside to check, there is no dear Maccie. 

What I later do find in my LinkedIn mailbox that night is a message: 

“Dear Kira, 

Could it be that you have lost an Apple computer on our doorstep? If so, please call me. 

Regards,
John
T06.”

What appeared to have happened is that John saw a man walking outside with a laptop in his hands. The man's appearance and state made him question why he was carrying a Macbook like that (no sleeve, no bag, sloppy clothes and he was a bit dazed). So John asked him about it. The man replied 'oh, yeah... I found it... somewhere on one of these steps'. John replied 'well, then it probably belongs to someone who lost it and may still be in one of these houses'. The man replied 'yes, well... I'll try to find the owner' and tried to walk on. John then became forceful and said 'As I live in one of these houses, why don't I take it and try to find the rightful owner'. And so it happened that John, opened the laptop, saw my name, Googled me, ended up on my LinkedIn profile and left me a message. 

When texting my boyfriend the good news, he sharply replied:

cool nice city amsterdam! 

rental of the month: herengracht 187 D, amsterdam

This gorgeous property can be found in the stately building “Den Grooten Heer”, a former bank which was converted into royal apartments in 1996 and offering luxuries rarely seen in Amsterdam. The apartment is ca. 180m2 and is laid out over 2 floors with 2 large bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a large balcony off the living room. 

Layout 1st Floor:
Via a large and beautifully carved wooden door you enter the building into an enormous communal foyer (where the huismeester/concierge has his office) and then into the sunny atrium with soaring ceilings. Via either the lift or one of the staircases, you reach the apartment on the first floor. 

Entrance hall with intercom and stairwell to the 2nd floor as well as access to the kitchen or living room, coat closet, guest toilet and separate technical closet with new CV-Ketel/boiler from 2011. The large and light combined open living /dining room features beautiful oak wood floors (recently refinished!), a cozy gas fireplace as well as 8 large windows, including French doors, opening out onto the balcony with southern exposure. The modern and luxury, semi-open kitchen boasts ample storage space/cabinets and electrical outlets, tasteful tiles and a French balcony. The well equipped kitchen is fitted with high-end appliances including a stainless steel, 5 pit gas stove with large oven and exhaust fan as well as several other built-in appliances. 

2nd Floor/Entresol:
Landing/hallway with nice views over the foyer below and access to both bedrooms. The large master bedroom features plenty of space as well as an ensuite marble bathroom with large tub, double wash basins and toilet. The second royal bedroom also boasts its own bathroom with shower and wash basin.
There is also an additional storage room in the cellar of the building as well as a communal indoor, salt water and heated swimming pool, sauna, solarium and more! There are also typically several options for parking in the building’s garage (for rent or purchase).

Details:
Living space +/- 180m2 
Total number of rooms: 3
Total number of bedrooms: 2
Building Year: +/- 1902, very luxurious apartments have been built in 1996
'Rijksmonument'
Separate storage space in the cellar of the building

Highlights:
Situated at the Herengracht in a former bank between ‘de Dam’ and ‘de Westerkerk’
Lift
Divided over two floors
Two large bedrooms and two bathrooms
Heated pool, wellness, solarium, more!
Concierge
Style and elegance!

rental of the month: lijnbaansgracht 112hs, amsterdam

*update 10 March: this house has been rented*

Unfurnished 1 bedroom in the Jordaan area! This apartment was also featured in the super popular US TV show, House Hunters International!

This very nice 1 bedroom apartment has been renovated in 2008 and is in excellent condition. The modern style and Oakwood floors make it a great apartment! It is located on ground floor.

The apartment is available unfurnished. The furniture in the photos will be removed.

It is located on a quiet spot in the Jordaan, close to the Rozengracht, in the centre of Amsterdam. You enter directly into a spacious living room with a, fully equiped, open plan kitchen.

From the large bedroom, located at the back, you enter a spacious patio with build in lounge corner. The nice bathroom contains a walk in shower.

In the area you will find all kinds of shops, bars and restaurants. Tram lines stop just around the corner.

• 1 bedroom 
• Oakwood floors 
• Unfurnished
• Fully equipped kitchen
• Ca. 55m2
• Patio ca. 12m2

Rental price: E1475.- p/month

Available immediately
Period: 12 - 24 months

Click for more information, photos & other amsterdam properties!

return to life in amsterdam

After having spend nearly 3 weeks in the Cape wine lands of South-Africa, I find it hard to adhere to ‘home sweet home’. And now I have to rave about life in Amsterdam?!

To boost my love for the city, I've been thinking what makes life in Amsterdam great (over the sun overloaded Cape region).

1. Crawling into bed, covering yourself under thick, fluffy duvets. Definitely beats sheets & airco.

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trash in amsterdam

Let’s talk dirty… to keep this town clean! I have wondered where to dump ‘small chemical waste’. The batteries I can dispose at the supermarket, but what to do with the TL lighting and used paint?  

Last week I received a flyer from the municipality giving me the answers. As it’s in Dutch, I will translate the highlights. 

Small chemical waste and electrical appliances can be disposed at these blue bus 'collection points'.Small chemical waste

Used paint, nail polish, light bulbs and alike can be disposed at collection points in blue busses. See here when/where the bus is nearby to your house. The pages are in Dutch but I trust you’ll understand. For example, on the 1st Saturday of the month there’s a bleu bus nearby the Albert Heijn on Museum Square (Van Baerlestraat 33) from 12h30-14h30.

Collection points in Amsterdam centre & De Pijp

Collection points in Amsterdam South

Collection points in Amsterdam West

Medication can be handed in at pharmacies.

Electrical appliances

You can hand these in at the collection points above OR when buying a new appliance (ie hair drier, hand mixer) you can hand it in the old one at the store. The store is obliged to accept it. The same counts for car batteries at your garage.

Furniture

Put your old sofa next to your household waste on the street. Please do so after 19h on the evening prior to the usual ‘trash pick up’. In the centre one cannot leave furniture outside and has to call municipality for a pick up instead (T. 14 020).

Please dispose glass and paper in the appropriate (underground) containers. When the container is full, please inform the municipality this by calling T. 14 020.

For questions, please call the municipality: T. 14 020

Cooking for homeless Amsterdammers

Question: how many adults you know do not have a College / University degree?

In my case, I can only name my cleaning lady (who’s looking for more work - do you need a cleaner for E10p/h?) and some family members. Only 31% of the Dutch ‘labour force’ is highly educated, meaning that I’m not in contact with two-thirds of society. Conclusion: I live in a very small, privileged circle of Amsterdam… and I bet you do too.

So, let us be grateful for our privileged position and at the same time, share a bit of our luxury (i.e. of having food in our bellies every evening) with those less fortunate Amsterdammers. 

My objective for 2013 is to arrange 10 cooking groups to feed homeless people. Each group of 4-5 people prepare a dinner for 45 homeless people, which are in my opinion people with undiagnosed mental diseases and (childhood) trauma’s.

Apfelstrudel was once on the menu - what will you come up with?Can you spare an afternoon to cook with friends?  

This is how it works:

1. Gather 3-4 friends 
2. Pick a ‘green’ date on the cooking calendar, to indicate that you’re cooking that evening.
3. Plan a two course menu or use the one that'll be send to you by the organization.
4. Do groceries; get other friends to pay or pitch in E100 yourselves.
5. Go to the Marnix shelter and start cook 
6. Get to make other people happy with your wholesome meal.

What’s in it for you:

• the terrific feeling of doing something for others in need
• enjoy a fun afternoon with friends

What else do you need to do?

Nothing, it’s as simple as that! Henny Heijmans from AmsterdamVerbindt will brief you further and can answer any questions you may have.

The winter shelter at the Marnixstraat.Where to cook

In the Marnixstraat next to the EuroParking, where there’s a shelter for homeless people.

When

Any ‘green date’ evening (see calendar) between September 2012 and May 1 2013.

Kira’s Life in Amsterdam, 2013

New year’s resolutions are bound to fail by definition. Instead, I will make one promise to you, my valued readers: I will seek ‘new’ ways to enjoy life in Amsterdam. 

I 'intellectually' know that there must be more out there to enjoy life than friends, food & drinks. I’m just not ‘feeling’ it yet. This is what I’ve come up with till now:

1. Visit all museums in Amsterdam 

… in an attempt to get a deeper appreciation of Amsterdam’s culture. I’ve counted 64 ‘real’ museums. 14 Museums I’ve visited in the last 10 years, leaving 50 museums to frequent in 2013. I am giving myself exemption from the Kattenkabinet as I hate cats. 

Taking the opportunity to teach my daughter colours at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.

2. Give Amsterdam the best that I can.

Making others happy is my biggest joy in life (see connecting amsterdam). It’s what made me start blogging. With a readership of over 15.000 people per month, I have realized that by mobilizing my network I can have the biggest positive impact in society. 

The Teddybear fundraiser in 2012 called for a repeat initiative in 2013.

3. Get healthy

It has appeared that my love for culinary art is not in relation with my current physical condition. So, I need to get fit so I have the needed energy to discover amsterdam in new ways and give back to society.

I vaguely remember who it felt to be fit. Photo taken one year ago, when the canals were frozen.

If you have any ideas how else I can find joy in life in Amsterdam, do let me know! 

De beste wensen,

Kira

Connecting Amsterdam

Albert Cuypmarkt in the summer.Amsterdam is a melting pot of people. Particularly at the Albert Cuypmarket this is visible, where all sorts of people shop: ie. new age hippies, YUPpies, the ones wearing head scarves and the ones wearing Hermes scarves. Everyone shops at the Cuyp. I do too, first as a day-tourist, then as a student, followed as a DINKY and now as a mother.  

Apart from the Cuyp and possibly when Ajax plays at the Arena, Amsterdammers live separate lives. Not just at micro level (read honouring flower man Frans) but also on a larger scale. AmsterdamVerbindt, meaning AmsterdamConnect, is an organization that connects Amsterdammers who normally would never cross paths, with the aim to make the city a better place to live in.

AmsterdamConnect connected me with a primary school in Amsterdam, 500m west of wealthy Prinseneiland and Jordaan. The kids at this school are of a low socio-economic background and not all of them will receive a Christmas (/Sinterklaas) gift. True, they do not live on the streets of India, but they do experience some form of poverty, which goes far beyond not receiving a December gift.  

My daughter Asia was happy to hand out the gifts to the pre-schoolers. To protect the kids' privacy I'm sharing photos of the happening with those who've made a donation.Thanks to some of you, however, each first graders from this school received a Christmas gift yesterday. I can tell you, they were absolutely thrilled! They actually went ballistic, particularly the boy who received a caterpillar clown. I saw several kids kissing their new doll or teddy. Seeing the happy faces is a sight I am most grateful for, and qualifies as one of the best experiences of my life.  

Thank you everyone for your donation, helping my site grow and for allowing me to make these kids so happy. In 2013 I will continue to connect you with enjoyable places in Amsterdam. At the same time, I will try to connect you with those Amsterdammers whose lives we can enrich, and I have a few (non-monetary) ideas…  so I hope to see you in the New Year and tell you all about it. Put yourself on the mailig list if you want to stay posted on occassional charity projects!

Wishing everyone a joyous festive season,

Humbly yours,

Kira

PS. 6 moving boxes of teddies and furry friends were raised in 2013, which were distributed as following:

1 box actually made it to the orphanage in South Africa (2 got sent back, despite my friend's effort to claim them from the post office).

3 boxes were donated to StilleArmoede – an organization that silently helps poor families in The Netherlands

2.5 boxes were donated to the school class; each child received one toy, and about 20 teddies will fill the class’ Knuffelhoek, meaning ‘cuddle corner’.

For rent: amsterdam apartment

Fantastic, super light, 2-3 bedroom (2 large bedrooms and one office space/baby room), renovated apartment on a wide and scenic canal with 3 sunny outdoor spaces, PRIVATE entrance from street level and situated in the popular Old West neighborhood just steps to the Centrum/Jordaan!

Images of Da Costakade 60, Amsterdam apartment.

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Honouring flower man Frans Kremer

Coming from a small village in the province of Groningen, I am still amazed at how impersonal life in Amsterdam is. After looking straight into his house for two years, I invited my neighbor over. Mr. Q. has been living in his apartment for 12 years and it was the first time he ever set foot into a neighbour’s house. I simply cannot get my head around it

On the other hand, life in Amsterdam is partly so charming because there is a real ‘neighbourhood’ feel. To illustrate, I share with you the story of my flower man Frans Kremer.

Frans Kremer, Amsterdam's most cheerful flower man.Frans was a simple man. He did not expect a lot from life. Just a little love and kindness. Frans was an only child. He suffered badly from epilepsy.  “That’s why I really missed having a brother, he could have taken me out” Frans told me. Besides his health, being victim of bullying and his loneliness had a dramatic impact on his happiness. 

Frans started his own 6sqm flower shop at the crossing of van Eeghenstraat/A. Boerstraat nearly 30 years ago. Life improved after he got his pace maker, reducing the effects of epilepsy. Frans was always cheerful. People took time out to have a talk with him. Me being eternally late, I sometimes took a little detour so that I did not need to pass him without stopping for a little chat. Later I learned that others did the same.

To the delight of Frans, the reception was also attended by famous Dutch neighbours.In November 2011 Frans’ stall was closed - odd, as he was always there, six days a week. After 5 months, I noticed a letter stuck on his stall ‘Frans has been diagnosed with cancer. It is his wish to go on a camping holiday in Spain before he is being operated on.  As he’s a sole proprietor money has run dry. We are raising funds to make his wish come true. - Nour, Kantoorboekhandel Brugman, A. Boerstraat’.

A couple of hundred Euro’s were raised by the people from the neighbourhood. Unfortunately, Frans was too sick to go on holiday. Instead, a reception was hosted at the post office, attended by people from the neighboorhood.

Frans passed away in the summer of 2012.

These 6 square metres will remind everyone of our Frans the flower man.Though Frans died having only three friends and his parents, at least he did feel the love from the neighbourhood before he passed away.

Dear Frans, Willemspark misses you. Where your flower stall stood for so many years, we now see tiles of a different colour than the rest of the pavement. Now my readers will know where the most cheerful flower man of Amsterdam kept shop!

- Kira