Both neighbourhoods are part of Amsterdam-Zuid, but divided by the Schinkel River. A rather novel feature of living here is that you will often have to wait to cross the canal, while several bridges are lifted. This is due to the relatively high level of leisure yacht traffic that passes between the Ring canal at Haarlemmermeer and the IJ. I haven’t lived here long enough to find the wait time frustrating and still enjoy the charm of watching the boats pass by.

Having moved here only 6 months ago I am still discovering new parts of the neighbourhoods and the recommendations are based on my personal preferences. I am sure there are gems I have missed being a relatively new resident and I look forward to adding to the guide based on your insights and on on-going discoveries!

Housing

The charming homes and streets of Hoofdorppleinbuurt

The architecture in these two neighbourhoods varies slightly, in Schinkelbuurt houses are slightly older and from the beginning of the 20th century and in Hoofddorppleinbuurt they date back to the 1920-30s. Prices are steep like the rest of central Amsterdam, but you get a bit more space for your money in Hoofddorppleinbuurt than in other neighbouring areas of Zuid.

The location is the best part of the area for me. Its central, but still feels quaint. The ease of getting to all parts of Amsterdam makes it a very convenient place to live. My commute to work through Vondelpark is pretty cool, even on a rainy day and I am only a 10 min drive to the airport.

– From the Mamas

Schools and Nurseries

The Bockesprong building which houses both De Notenkraker and De Nautilus, two Dutch basisschools.

The neighbourhoods are home to excellent Dutch basisschools: De Notenkraker and De Nautilus (both schools are located in the Bockesprong building on Theophile de Bockstraat which conveniently is also where the ouder and kind team is located). De Nautilus is a relatively small school with incredibly personable teachers. I continue to be amazed by the diversity in the school. The school has families from all corners of the world. Many of the children speak several languages, but their common language is of course Dutch. You can also find a popular international school, the British School of Amsterdam, close by.

If you take a stroll around the area, you will likely be amazed by the sheer number of nursery options. There is one on every street-corner, if not more! All the large chain providers such as Partou, CompaNanny and Klein & Co have several branches in the area, but you will also find smaller independent nurseries like Nanny Poppins, KDV InieMini, Greenkidzz and De Uil. While waiting lists for nursery spots in most of Amsterdam are long, I was pleasantly surprised to get several spots for my youngest within a relatively short time, on enquiring.

Children’s activities

Westlandgracht on a sunny morning. Residents swim and picnic here in the summer.

If you are new to the Netherlands, you will soon come to learn that hockey is a very popular and competitive sport. Panasj Amsterdam runs weekend sessions at the Bockesprong for children aged 3-10 years old. For children aged 5 and above you can sign up for swimming classes (diploma) at Zwemschool Pardoes on Overtoom, which is only a short bike ride away.

Popular playgrounds (speeltuinen) with huge slides include De Vondeltuin at the entrance to Vondelpark and the Speelterrein outside the Bockesprong. For younger children, the enclosed playground of Legmeerplein has all the bikes and sand-toys you could possibly wish for! Another playground for children of most ages is the Spijtellaantje playground close to De Leertuin, Kindcentrum Amsterdam. In the summer, children and adults can enjoy open water swimming at Park Schinkeleilanden, which is also a great place to pick blackberries in the early autumn!

A great activity for the whole family in the neighbourhood is the historic museum tram line from Haarlemmermeerstation to Amstelveen and back (line 30). It runs every Sunday from the old Haarlemmermeerstation adjacent to the British School of Amsterdam.

Eating Out

If you are bringing the entire family for brunch, both Drovers Dog on Heemstedestraat and Dignita on Koninginneweg have little play corners giving you an actual chance to enjoy your poached eggs! Children are also more than welcome to roam around in the craft brewery, Butcher’s Tears. They have a large outdoor area behind the old Haarlemmermeerstation making it a great place to spend a time on a sunny afternoon. I often drink my morning coffee while doing some work at the newly renovated Caffènation on Warmondstraat. Besides the great coffee, the baristas are super friendly and always up for a morning chat. They actually also have a small play corner in the downstairs seating area. Did I mention how family-friendly this area is?

Amsterdam has surprisingly great pizza (!), but if you don’t want to wait 3 months for a reservation at Nnea, then Sotto Pizza or Pizza Mangia on Amstelveenseweg are great alternatives. Crayons provided for the little ones! My favourite neighbourhood restaurant (sans children) is Foodbar 63 Graden on Woestduinstraat. A local gem in my opinion! Delicious food and wine/cocktails and with stand-out service!

Although not technically in the immediate neighbourhood, I cannot write this guide without mentioning THE best chocolate shop in Amsterdam. They don’t have a loyalty programme, but if they did, I would have free chocolate for life! Chocolaterie ArtiChoc on Koninginneweg is a must. They have free samples, but it is impossible to leave without buying something. You are welcome!

I love our neighbourhood! Its very family-friendly, green and with good school-options, but I am also never far from a good coffee or restaurant!

– From the Mamas

Fitness and well-being

After all that eating, it’s good that the neighbourhood also has a number of great fitness options! The YogaDen on Zeilstraat is a must for yogis. Classes are in English and the café is a cute little spot to enjoy a tea after your session. The Bodystudio on Heemstedestraat offers personal training, but also smaller group sessions. Following your work-out you can enjoy a protein shake at the adjoining Juice Brothers. On Karperweg (just behind the old Haarlemmermeer station) you will find Crossfit Amsterdam for a real high intensity work-out.

I can’t recommend this neighbourhood enough! When we first moved to Amsterdam, we lived very central and while there are great benefits to that, I much prefer the true neighbourhood feel of our current home. There is a real community feel, both in terms of conversations you strike on the playground, at school and with your neighbours, but there are also local, neighbourhood drinks, Easter egg hunts (just at Easter obviously!) and other organised activities such as concerts, street clean-ups and markets. It has got a great mix of Dutch and international residents and feels a lot less transient than our old neighbourhood closer to the centre of Amsterdam. If any new or old residents want to meet up, I’d be happy to organise a coffee, and equally, if anyone is considering moving here, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I am a proud ambassador of this part of Zuid!

The post Neighbourhood Guide: Zuid – Hoofddorppleinbuurt/Schinkelbuurt appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

In 2022, Noord was ranked at number 32 out of 51 by the Time Out magazine as one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world. According to this publication, when going from the centre of the city to the northern side it is as if one steps into “a different world”. A more vibrant and coloured world that has managed to retain its “post-industrial charm” and become a central point for innovation and art. In fact, the NDSM is known as one of the most significant artistic incubators in the Netherlands, housing around 400 artists, designers, and architects.

History

The Northern part of the city started to take shape with the opening of the North Sea Canal in 1876, and the construction of the Oranjesluizen near Schellingwoude in a focused effort to stop the threat of the Zuiderzee. Around the same period, massive stretches of the Ij were reclaimed on the north side of the canal. At first this space was used for heavy industry and port-related activities. As the people working for these companies needed easy access to get to work, the ferry services were created that we are using to this day. The more people were circulating back and forth, the more obvious it became that it was necessary to create more living spaces on this side of the IJ. As a result, in 1900, Johan van Hasselt, then the director of the Public Works Department, developed a design meant to create living and working spaces in Amsterdam Noord. This plan was considerably adapted for residential construction in the area and in 1921, Amsterdam Noord was annexed to the city.

Housing

Amsterdam Noord successfully combines traditional, industrial, and modern architecture. However, the renewal and development of new neighbourhoods has recently made necessary a new division of this district of our city. As such, it is divided into 3 parts: Oud-Noord, Noord-West and Noord-Oost. As the name indicates, Oud-Noord includes the oldest neighbourhoods in Amsterdam Noord as Buiksloot, Nieuwendam, and Vogelbuurt, with small houses built in traditional Dutch style. While Noord-West consists of neighbourhoods made up mostly of apartment buildings and old and new Dutch houses (Banne Buiksloot, Kadoelen and Oostzanerwerf). The Noord-Oost part of Amsterdam Noord is considered the heart of this district, with its recently built houses and apartment buildings in Buikslotermeer, Elzenhagen and Waterland.

Family fun/Places of Interest/Parks

• Noorderpark is in the heart of Amsterdam Noord. Usually there are some activities or creative workshops organized at the Gele Pomp and at the Roze Tanker there are concerts or shows. Children can play at the Bloemenkwartier playground and during the summer can have a fresh dive into the Noorderparkbad. At the entrance of the park is located one of the best ice-cream parlors in Amsterdam, Ijskoud de Beste.
• The Tolhuistuin is one of Noord’s cultural oases. Where culture, art and culinary innovation come together. On its grounds, you can find a concert hall, a restaurant, a garden, a dance school, exhibition spaces, and workspaces. In collaboration with various organizations, they create concerts and performances that go from hip hop lessons to vegetable gardening workshops.
• The Vliegenbos is the oldest forest in Amsterdam, and it is full of elms. If you are looking for a bit of adventure let yourself wonder it’s winding paths.
• Situated at the outskirts of Amsterdam, NoordOogst is a unique and inspiring urban farming project that has a wild beautiful garden and its own nature playground where children and adults alike can climb, roll, jump, root and play with water to their heart’s content. The playground is always open during the day and the access is free of charge.
• Het Twiske is a considerable recreation area above Amsterdam Noord where you can enjoy nature, walk, cycle or sail. There are places where you can bask in the sun and you can take a swim, as well as a playground, a petting zoo and adventure park for children. There are viewpoints where you can watch birds and a small port where you can rent a boat.

Activities and clubs

• De Sterrenmakers organize many of the neighbourhood clubs in Amsterdam Noord. Children are invited to choose from a wide range of activities such as cooking, art, film making, design and fashion.
• Noordje is a non-profit organization that has a mission to make art and culture accessible to all children. To stimulate children’s creativity, to increase their confidence and self-awareness, and to teach them how to work together, they organize Writing and Reading Labs in different parts of the neighbourhood as well as Art Labs.
• Amsterdam Noord has its own Muziekschool. Here children learn to sing, dance, and play a wide range of instruments such as electric guitar, drums or piano.
• Telekids Musicalschool offers musical, dance and singing lessons for children from 4 to 16 years old.

Schooling

Elementary schools

Education in Amsterdam Noord is a mix of old and new, that caters to various education methods. There are schools that offer an education based on the Montessori concept such as Montessori Boven ‘t Ij. Also, schools based on a Waldorf concept such as Vrijeschool Kairos and Waldorf aan de Werf. If you are interested in the Dalton method of education, the most known schools are De Ijsbreker and De Zeven Zeeën. And should the Jenaplan concept have caught your interest, the best schools in the area are De Biënkorf and Het Wespennest. But if you are looking for a more experimental education style, you will find the Kindercampus Mokum and Klein Amsterdam schools more to your liking.

Secondary schools

In Amsterdam Noord there are also secondary schools such as:

• Hyperion Lyceum a public secondary school that offers education for vwo level (gymnasium- en and atheneum+).
• Metropolis Lyceum which offers a Dalton education style for vwo-, havo- of mavo level.
• Xplore Agora Amsterdam is a secondary school based on an experimental concept for vmbo-t, havo and vwo level.
• Damstede Lyceum that offers education for havo and vwo level (gymnasium and technamsium).

Shopping

Noorderlingers know that the biggest shopping center in Amsterdam-Noord is Winkelcentrum Boven ’t Ij near Buikslotermeerplein. Since the opening of the Station Noord, the shopping center has become accessible to residents of Amsterdam from other areas too. No doubt one of the attractions is one of the biggest Amazing Oriental Supermarket in Amsterdam.

Markets

• Pekmarkt
  Van der Pekstraat
  Open on Wednesdays from 09:00
• IJ-Hallen
  (Flea Market)
  T.T. Neveritaweg 15
  Weekend, ± every 3 weeks
• Biologische en boerenmarkt Amsterdam
  Winkelcentrum Boven ’t Y
  Open on Saturday from 08:00 to 09:30
• Markt Buikslotermeerplein
  Monday 12:00 – 18:00
  Tuesday – Saturday 08:00 – 18:00
• Buiten Markt
  Every first Saturday of the month
  From 11 to 16, at Noordoogst
  Meteorenweg 272-280

For a first-hand account, from fellow Mamas, about living in and around Amsterdam, check our Neighbourhood  Guide Series.

The post Neighbourhood Guide: Amsterdam Noord appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Almere is a municipality in the province of Flevoland and is part of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (MRA). It is divided into Stad, Haven, Poort and Buiten. Almere’s location is quite convenient as it’s less than a 20 minutes’ drive to Amsterdam and it is very well connected to Schiphol, Amsterdam Central and Amsterdam Zuid by intercity NS trains as well as via buses. The great thing about Almere is the varied natural landscapes – Almere has multiple beaches, parks, woodlands and an abundance of waterfronts. Alongside the striking modern architecture and outdoor artworks, Almere Centrum has more than 400 shops, places of cultural interest and cinemas. Overall, Almere, like many other neighbourhoods in the Netherlands, is safe, peaceful and friendly. With rising housing prices in Amsterdam, more and more families who are looking for larger homes and family-friendly areas are moving to Almere due to attractive housing prices.

Housing

Almere is a new city, widely spread city over a polder, surrounded by fascinating places of natural beauty and with modern architecture. The land on which the city sits, the Southern Flevoland polder, was reclaimed from the IJsselmeer from 1959 to 1968. The first house was finished in 1976, and Almere became a municipality in 1984.

Since it is a suburb in Flevoland, Netherlands, the houses tend to be generally bigger than the houses in Amsterdam city while also being more affordable. In general, Almere offers multiple types of housing including connected houses, corner houses, big stand-alone houses along the canal and apartments. You can also expect to get your own parking spot in many houses.

The buildings are relatively new, and the architecture is different to the iconic canal houses in Amsterdam. Streets are larger with plenty of parking spots, and parking in most of Almere is free of charge.

Schooling

Almere is home to two international schools, two universities of applied sciences, 17 secondary schools and almost 100 primary schools. The city has public schools as well as schools that provide lessons based on a particular pedagogical vision or religious conviction. Examples of the former are the Dalton, Montessori or Jena-plan educational systems. There are also schools based on Catholic, Reformed, Protestant, Ecumenical and Islamic principles, along with schools that offer a high standard of special needs education. Here are the international schools in Almere:

• International Primary School Almere
• International School Almere

In order to accommodate the growth in the number of international students in the Amsterdam Area, Almere is building the International Campus. IPSA and ISA will move into this new building together. It will be built in the new neighbourhood Stadstuinen Poort with capacity for 700 students.

Places of Interest / Family Fun

City Estate de Kemphaan

The Kemphaan estate is located in a wooded area called Almeerderhout. It is a place where you can enjoy hiking, cycling or walking in the midst of wonderful nature, indulge in delicious pancakes, go climbing, visit the city farm, or stay in the luxurious estate accommodation or a camp site on the estate. The estate itself is open to visitors throughout the year, free of charge.

Oostvaarderplassen Almere

The Oostvaardersplassen is a national park which is host to thousands of geese and waterfowl, alongside Heck cattle, Konik horses, red deer and foxes. Start your walking or bicycle excursion from De Oostvaarders Nature Experience Centre or visit the Ecokar to discover the Oostvaardersplassen together with the guide from Staatsbosbeheer. Spot the animals in their habitat with Stad & Natuur’s impressive binoculars available for you to use.  With a bit of luck, you may see the rare white-tailed eagle!

Beaches in Almere

• Almeerderstrand is a spacious beach on the IJmeer. Enjoy sunbathing, walking, and watching the beautiful sunset in the summers with a drink at the Poort Dok beach pavilion or take a dip in the refreshing water by the beach all through the year. Explore the multiple events around culture, entrepreneurship and children organised by Strand Lab.
• Play to your heart’s content on the Lumiere beach on the Weerwater and enjoy a nice bike ride on the beautiful cycling path.
• Almere Haven beach is also great fun for the little ones. In addition to water and sand, this sandy beach also offers play equipment and a beach bar & brasserie (De Jutter).
• Fantasiestrand is another great beach, which offers water, sand and grass. Watch the cool stunts of the water skiers with the little ones or maybe take a chance at the water ski itself with your older kids at the Lido.

Almere Public Library

At the Almere Public Library you can borrow a book, study in peace or enjoy the youth theatre at the Nieuwe bibliotheek (The New Library) in Almere. With 4 different branches at Stad, Haven, Poort and Buiten, visit the library nearest to you. The library offers free membership to children until the age of 18 years old and an adult membership starts from 18 euros per year. Even non-members can use the library for a quiet place to read, or a cup of tea/coffee. The library regularly organises educational and fun activities for young and old. From free reading sessions for toddlers to youth theatre, workshops and new films every week, there’s always something to do! The library offers a Taal café education, explore different career paths and provide consultation on government benefits.

The neighbourhood is quite diverse and is a fair representation of Amsterdam’s cosmopolitan nature with plenty of restaurants serving different cuisines, cafes, sports clubs, ethnic grocery shops and few shopping areas.

– From the Mamas.

Daily Life

• Play Areas: There are many play parks for each block of houses in Almere–making the neighbourhood not only very green, but also very family friendly.
• Grocery stores are scattered across the neighbourhoods of Almere– Albert Heijn, Vomar, Aldi and Jumbo, are larger supermarkets but you also find several specialised stores like India, Surinami, Japanese, Middle Eastern etc. grocery stores as well.
• Farmers Market: Almere hosts a weekly Farmers market, every Wednesday & Saturday, at Almere Centrum and every Friday at Almere Stad Centrum from 9am to 4pm. The market carries fresh cheeses, eggs, vegetables and fruits, fresh meat, fish, and the freshly, hand-made Dutch stroopwafels!
• Shopping: You can find a wide variety of shopping stores at Almere centrum as well as Almere Stad. Explore the furniture shopping centre Doemere in Almere Buiten with stores like Swiss Sense, Leen Bakker, etc.

Sports

If you want to get active in Almere, you can choose from many indoor and outdoor sports facilities. Almere’s sports fields are spread over seven sports parks. In addition, there is a Top Sports Centre, six sports halls, eleven sports halls, gymnasiums, a dojo and three swimming pools. You can choose from a variety of sports including swimming, skateboarding, tennis, basketball, football and more. Explore the Sport en Cultuur website to learn more about various sport activities around Almere for both young children and adults.

Learning Dutch

BC “Before Corona!” most of the Dutch classes in Almere used to be in person, now you more easily find Dutch courses online. However, if you are looking for an in person experience you can always visit the Almere public library for their weekly coffee time to practice your Dutch speaking skills. Registration at the public library is free of charge for children and it costs a small amount for adults. For in person classes you can join Suitcase Talen, Taalbureau Symbol or De taal Brigade.

It’s green, safe and houses are lovely and of a good size.

– From the Mamas.

Kids-friendly activities

Almere government places a special focus on developing the culture and focusing on the overall development of children. Hence, there are multiple activities and initiatives around the city, many subsidised by the government. Here, I list a few of them:

• Kleur in Cultuur offer a range of activities for children between the age of 4 to 14 years. From fashion workshops to theatre, singing, dancing, visual arts and music, they have it all! The cost of the activities ranges from free workshops to a few euros per session.
• Mamacafe: JGZ Almere regularly organises Mamacafe for young mothers to connect with other mothers in the area. They regularly host workshops around variety of topics including breastfeeding, independent play, massage for babies, potty training and more which are completely free of cost!
• Droomspeelbus: The droomspeelbus organises different activities for multiple age groups. You can expose your kids to different activities like balancing, walking, rolling, climbing, etc. with gym classes or inspire them to try new sports like hockey or stake-boarding with free after school lessons.
• Kunstlinie Theatre: Kunstlinie theatre often hosts kid-friendly theatres and musicals for kids of all age groups. Join a Nijntje or Winnie the pooh musical, watch a youth theatre, explore an art installation or join a theatre workshop, Kunstlinie offers it all throughout the year!
• Kermis in Almere: All through the year, you can find different fairs at different locations in Almere. Enjoy the summer fair, join an Indian food festival or explore the Halloween feest at Almere centrum depending on what you like the most!
• Boerderij: Do your kids enjoy playing with the farm animals? Visit one of the 6 kids-friendly boerderij (farms) in Almere including Den Uylpark and de Beestenbende.

For a first-hand account, from fellow Mamas, about living in and around Amsterdam, check our Neighbourhood Guides Series.

The post Neighbourhood Guide: Almere appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Oud Zuid

Oud Zuid is not as old as the canal belt and some areas of Oud Zuid can be downright new, but generally Oud Zuid is a large neighbourhood located between Museumplein on the north, Vondelpark on the west, the Zuider Amstelkanaal on the south and the Boerenweteringkanaal on the east. This location gives residents easy access to some of Amsterdam’s greatest resources: the vibrant beauty of the historic Canal Belt, the peace and quiet of the vast Amsterdamse Bos, and of course, Schiphol Airport!

Oud Zuid itself has lots of green space, open spaces, and quiet residential streets. There are plenty of playgrounds and athletic fields, excellent schools – both international and Dutch – and attractive shopping areas. It has tram service and subway service to downtown and Centraal Station and from Station Zuid one can get to virtually anywhere in the Netherlands.

Is it the proximity to Schiphol, downtown, or Zuidas that has made Oud Zuid popular with the international community? Or is it the international schools in the area? It is not clear what came first but for whatever reason, there is a large international community in Oud Zuid and it is not uncommon to hear English, French, Spanish, Mandarin, German, etc. mixed in with Dutch at the local playgrounds.

Housing

While they all have Oud Zuid on the street signs, there are basically three distinct neighbourhoods in Oud Zuid, each with its own feel – MuseumKwartier and Willemspark, Apollobuurt and Stadionbuurt. The most noticeable difference among the neighbourhoods comprising Oud Zuid is their architecture. There have been three major building waves in Oud Zuid, all with different styles but with the same intention: providing attractive and comfortable places for people to live.

• MuseumKwartier and Willemspark

  The first of the Old Zuid building waves began in the last quarter of the 19th century. Agricultural land was developed into the area now containing Museumplein and Vondelpark and its residential neighbourhoods. Muddy pastures transformed into tree lined streets full of elegant row houses loaded with decorative brickwork, charming balconies and idiosyncratic detailing, and with easy access to the newly built Rijksmuseum, Concertgebouw, and the city’s new park.

  While the horse-drawn carriages of yesteryear have been replaced by bakfiets (and Brios (!)), this neighbourhood still retains its air of elegance and exclusivity. Alongside the tourists and museums and stately consulates in Museumkwartier, there are plenty of families who call this area home and avail themselves of the family friendly resources in the neighbourhood.

• Apollobuurt

  

  Canal homes on Apollolaan

  The next large-scale development of Oud Zuid happened in the early decades of the 20th century. Amsterdam desperately needed housing for families and much care was given to designing neighbourhoods that would incorporate schools, shops, playgrounds, places of worship, and open spaces. A hundred years later, these neighbourhood designs still hold up. Housing is a mix of large, well-appointed apartments and attached houses; buildings usually max out at five stories. The architectural style of these neighbourhoods is pure Amsterdamse School – think brick, rounded organic shapes, decorative glass, and wrought ironwork. Sidewalks are generally wide and easily accommodate little ones on scooters or balance bikes.

  Amsterdam hosted the 1928 Olympic Games and many of the streets in the neighbourhood are named after figures in Greek  mythology and culture: Apollolaan, Minervalaan, Agamemmnonstraat, etc. Others are named after classical painters and musicians: Beethovenstraat, Bachstraat, Michelangelostraat, etc. Apollolaan, which forms the northern border of the neighbourhood, is a beautiful parkway lined with gorgeous  homes and even more gorgeous trees.

• Stadionbuurt

  The neighbourhood around the Olympic Stadium is called Stadionbuurt. Much of it, like Apollobuurt, was built in the 1920s but there has been a lot of new development lately. Luxury modern apartment buildings with underground parking and bordering the Schinkel waterway and its modern parks have gone up next to the Stadium and more are planned for a former industrial area across the Stadiongracht. Stadionplein – a large open area with bars and restaurants that also hosts farmers markets on the weekends is located across the street from Olympic Stadium and is bustling with shoppers and young people.One of the most attractive aspects of life in this newly developing neighbourhood is the truly special bike path that runs behind Olympic Stadium to the Amsterdam Bos, which is shared between Zuid and Amstelveen.

Living in Oud zuid is wonderful as you are surrounded by both history and culture and yet you also have a feeling that you live in a village! I often bump into people I know, which is a wonderful feeling when you’re away from home. Oud Zuid also has amazing coffee and food places around every corner!

– From the Mamas.

Family Fun – Places of Interest / Parks / Sports

Zuiderbad, an elegant indoor swimming pool next to the Rijksmuseum, has plenty of family swim times and swim lessons for the  kids, not to mention floats and toys for making pool time loads of fun.

The basketball courts and playground on Museumplein are frequented by local kids, as are the gardens and fountains of the Rijksmuseum. During the winter there is an outdoor seasonal ice skating rink on Museumplein that offers lessons to children.

Concertgebouw has children’s concerts, the Rijksmuseum has children’s programmes and the Van Gogh Museum can play host to your child’s birthday parties.

South of Museumplein, the buzz and busyness disappears. The entire neighbourhood is closely connected toVondelpark and there are entrances to the park on virtually every block. It is hard to overstate the importance of Vondelpark’s resources to the people (and dogs) of the area. There are playgrounds, a splashing pool, grassy areas for picnics and games, cafes, waterways, rose gardens, running and cycling paths. There is even a place for little ones to learn to bake their treats!

On the Apollolaan, the trees are joined every few summers by the temporary modern art installation ArtZuid, which is a wonderful way to introduce visual arts to kids. They even have a summer camp!

Another one of the main thoroughfares in Oud Zuid is Stadionweg which passes through Minervaplein and its organic Friday market, Olympiaplein and its football fields, and finally to the 1928 Olympic Stadium itself, which still hosts athletic events, including the Amsterdam Marathon.

In 10 minutes or less it is possible to cycle from the relative density of the city to a huge forest, Amsterdamse Bos, where one can kayak, ride horses, walk for hours, visit two farms, swim, and navigate a tree top obstacle course.

Schooling

Zuid has several good local, bilingual and international schools. The most popular ones are:

• International School of Amsterdam
• The British School of Amsterdam
• Amsterdam International Community School

For more information on local education and schools join the Amsterdam Mamas Dutch Education Group.

Shopping

The quiet residential streets of Oud Zuid empty into squares topped by chestnut trees where organic food markets set up on the weekends. The commercial streets – Koninginneweg, Cornelis Schuytstraat, Emmastraat – are lined with small cafes, chic boutiques, and gourmet grocery stores as well as the discreet Albert Heijn or Jumbo. The main commercial street of Apollobuurt is Beethovenstraat which is a mix of typical stores (Albert Heijn, Etos) and upscale boutiques and cafes. Two standouts for children are Boekhandel Van Rossum and MiniMarkt; Van Rossum’s has an extensive assortment of children’s books in both Dutch and English, and MiniMarkt has an eclectic and tasteful selection of children’s toys, clothes and home decor.

Calm and green streets very close to the city centre with lots of families and playgrounds. This is why I really enjoy living in Oud Zuid.

– From the Mamas.

For a first-hand account, from fellow Mamas, about living in and around Amsterdam, check our Neighbourhood Guides Series.

The post Neighbourhood Guide: Oud Zuid appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

History of Diemen

Diemen is a little slice of paradise, even though its name would suggest otherwise (I couldn’t resist sneaking in a bit of wordplay). The gorgeous neo-Romanesque tower of the Sint Petrus Banden kerk (church) is a prominent feature of the municipality and definitely one of the highlights of my walking route across Hartveldseweg, the main road connecting Diemen to the A10. Oud-Diemen in Diemen-Noord is another spectacle to behold. It used to be the centre of Diemen in the past and still contains the characteristic Dutch style gabled houses with painted wooden shutters, some going back to 1774.

Diemen was originally established as a fishing village along the river Diem, which is where its name comes from. It is also much older than Amsterdam, excavations revealing the first settlers to have arrived in the 11th century. It is a charming town with a bustling centrum complete with its Albert Heijn XL in Diemerplein, the main shopping centre. Diemerplein is surrounded by picturesque red-brick houses, a sun-dappled square on one side which becomes a sprawling terrace in the summer, and a basisschool on the other. The theatre can also be found on this road. The deep blue ‘Theater De Omval‘ building would be hard to miss. It’s a little gem, hosting jazz afternoons, serving coffee and drinks in a very charming and spacious café, and of course showing films and performances for all ages. The building is now also home to the OBA (library), newly renovated with a gorgeous interior and a separate reading/ play room for the youngest readers.

Diemen-Zuid is calm and green. The local schools are easily reachable by foot which is perfect for families with primary school-aged children.
– From the Mamas.

Public Transport

The proximity of the municipality to Amsterdam has made it very popular. Tram 19 connects you to Amsterdam Oost and eventually stops at Sloterdijk Station at the end of the line. The Sprinter takes you directly to Amsterdam Central Station in 10 minutes and Schipol Airport in 30. The metro in Diemen-Zuid also connects you to Amsterdam Central Station via Amsterdam Oost, along the Amstel. Bijlmer Arena Station is a 15 minute bus ride away. If you don’t have a car, it can feel inconvenient to have to rely on public transport all the time if you aren’t better connected. I live in Diemen-Centrum and still feel irked sometimes when I have to walk the ten minutes it takes to get to the nearest tram stop, while pushing a wailing toddler in her stroller. I can imagine someone living further away would feel even less inclined to walk that distance.

Activities and clubs

I was pleasantly surprised when I first moved here by the number of activities available for kids of all ages. A free playgroup for 0 to 4 year olds called the spelinloop is offered 3 days a week in Diemen-Centrum, Zuid and Noord. There’s another one starting soon in Holland Park. The Muziekschool Diemen is another hot favourite, offering classes for children as young as 8 months old. For children from 8 years old there are also horse-riding lessons at Manege De Eenhoorn. From football to dance classes, there’s something for every kid.

Schools

The schools here have generally good reviews, but waiting lists can be very long. The international school, AICS, is a 15 minute bus ride away from Diemen-Centrum. Swimming schools can also have long waiting lists.

Housing

The houses are a mix of the old and the new. Holland Park boasts some of the newest buildings, while the older parts of Diemen have the picturesque houses that, while pretty to look at from the outside, might be fixer-uppers or with low energy efficiency ratings. Information about housing prices and renting can be found on funda.nl.

Parks and other attractions

Diemen boasts a ‘nature’ playground, De Omloop in Diemen-Noord, which becomes a lively barbecue spot during the summer. Another lush green playground with a zip-line and a dedicated barbecue area has recently been inaugurated in Diemen-Centrum. Diemen-Zuid is dotted with playgrounds, big and small. Holland Park is also not far behind with three lovely playgrounds having recently sprung up. Diemen Sniep even has options for rainy days: Monkey Town and Street Jump. My kids and I are especially fond of visiting the little boerderij or petting zoo located next to the bridge which connects Diemen-Centrum to Sniep. The Diemerbos is also a favourite among both locals and non-locals. ‘House of Bird’ is located here: a gorgeous eatery with a playground right next to it, the winning combo. The kids can also follow a bird route and get a diploma when they complete the trail. Residents also get to enjoy having a Rataplan in the vicinity. It has a cosy café on the first floor where visitors can enjoy a hard-earned cup of coffee after browsing through the huge thrift store.

If you’re moving from the city (refer to our Amsterdam Neighbourhood Guide series), Diemen might seem a bit too quiet in the beginning. It differs from area to area, naturally. If you are a coffee snob living in Diemen might mean that you’d have to go to Amsterdam to get your fix. However, a new(ish) cafe in Holland Park DSTRCT DZ has reasonable coffee, complete with fancy latte art. Before I bought my coffee machine I took countless trips to Watergraafsmeer just to have a good cappuccino. Thankfully, that’s not too far from Diemen. Options for dining out are limited, although a couple of great Italian restaurants are located here. When I first moved to Diemen four years ago, there were hardly any food delivery options. Now, however, takeout options have expanded considerably.

As my family prepares to leave the Netherlands, heading further West, I look back at my time here, in Diemen, and can’t help but feel content.

For a first-hand account, from fellow Mamas, about living in and around Amsterdam, check our Neighbourhood Guides Series.

The post Neighbourhood Guide: Diemen appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Amstelveen’s location is quite convenient in terms of proximity to Schiphol airport, to some international schools such as ISA, BSA and AICS, and to ‘downtown’ Dam Square, Amsterdam. But the best part about it is that it is surrounded by the Amsterdamse Bos – you can simply and swiftly access the Amsterdamse Bos from several neighbourhoods / wijken in Amstelveen by biking or by walking there! Overall, Amstelveen, like many other neighbourhoods in The Netherlands, is safe, peaceful, and friendly.

The neighbourhood is quite diverse and is a fair representation of Amsterdam’s cosmopolitan nature with plenty of restaurants serving different cuisines, cafes, sport clubs, grocery shops and a few shopping malls. I will list some of the more popular ones here, so keep reading!

Housing

Amstelveen is a suburb of Amsterdam, therefore houses generally tend to be bigger than the ones in Amsterdam city. In general, the types of houses in Amstelveen are called: connected houses, corner houses, apartment buildings and even some stand-alone houses.

The buildings are relatively new and the architecture is different to the iconic canal houses in Amsterdam. Streets are larger with plenty of parking spots, parking in most of Amstelveen is free of charge.

You can search for houses for rent or sale: Pararius, Funda, in addition to other platforms or with the help of a real estate agent (makelaar).

Schooling

Amstelveen has many public schools in its ‘littler’ neighbourhoods, in addition to a few international schools:

• International school of Amsterdam
• Amity International School
• Amstelland International School
• Florencius International School

In terms of nurseries, the majority of them are Dutch, apart from the nurseries in the above-mentioned international schools and Hestia Amstelveen, a bilingual English/Dutch nursery.

Places of Interest / Family Fun

• Amsterdamse Bos, especially Geitenboerderij Ridammerhoeve
  The Amsterdamse Bos is man-made forest  in the municipalities of Amstelveen and Amsterdam, though most of the park is located in Amstelveen. The forest offers many tracks for hiking, jogging and walking, in addition to other sports such as horseback riding and rowing. There are many cafes and restaurants in the forest. One of the more popular attractions is the goat farm where children can play with goats, feed them and watch other farm animals from a closer distance.
• Cobra Museum of Modern Art
  The Cobra Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Amstelveen. The collection consists of key works by artists associated with three art movements, Vrij Beelden, Cobra, and Creatie.  On Wednesdays, all Amstelveen residents have free admission to the museum, in collaboration with the municipality of Amstelveen.
• Clara Maria Cheese & Clog Farm
  This is a beautiful farm house where you can get fresh dairy produce, attend a cheese workshop and learn more about the cheesemaking process. The farm is also a place where you can buy the old Dutch wooden clogs.
• Amstelveen Public Library
  The Amstelveen public library is located right outside Stadshart mall. It offers free membership to children and an adult membership costs 20 euros per year. Even if you are not a member you still can use the library if you are looking for a quiet place to read, or enjoy a cup of tea/coffee. The library offers Taal Coach for those who want to earn Dutch and are looking for free of charge coaches to help. The library hosts many workshops every month for children and teenagers, and language story time for young children.

“During winter you can have a walk in the Bos and afterwards enjoy a nice cup of tea or coffee at any of the cafes in and around the Bos, Also, when it snows and it is really cold, the large lake behind the Gemeente Amstelveen freezes and often people can skate on it, IF the Gemeente puts up a sign that shows it is safe to skate here! Skating can also take place on the frozen canals and the large rowing canal in the Bos, depending on how frozen the water is.”
– From the Mamas.

Daily Life

There are many ‘mini parks’ for each block of houses in Amstelveen – making the neighbourhood not only very green, but also very family friendly.

Grocery stores are scattered across the neighbourhoods of Amstelveen – Albert Heijn, Jumbo and Vomar, are larger supermarkets but you also find several specialised stores like India, Surinami, Japanese, Middle Eastern etc. grocery stores as well.

Amstelveen hosts a weekly Farmers market, every Friday, at the Stadshart Mall from 9am to 4pm. The market carries fresh cheeses, eggs, vegetables and fruits, fresh meat, fish, and the freshly, hand-made Dutch stroopwafels!

On Tuesdays, the mall hosts an organic market “BioMarkt”, which though way smaller than the Friday market, carries only organic produce.

For shopping, Amstelveen has many small shopping centres, but you find the largest variety in the Stadshart mall.

“Don’t miss the fresh stroopwafels every Friday at the Friday Markt .”
– From the Mamas.

Sports

Amstelveen is packed with sport clubs where children and adults can practice many types of sports: at Sportlaan you can find several sports schools/clubs for football, baseball, tennis, basketball or swimming, to name a few. Most of the clubs accommodate non-Dutch speakers. There is also a Golf course in Amstelveen where you can rent to play or book lessons. They have classes for children as well as for adults.

“During summer you can always go canoeing or rent a boat and for little ones. Kids love the Groot Kinderbad and Klein Kinderbad, which are outside paddling pools for young children.”
– From the Mamas.

Learning Dutch

BC “Before Corona!” most of the Dutch classes in Amstelveen used to be in person, now you more easily find Dutch courses online. However, if you are looking for an in person experience you can always visit the Amstelveen public library to apply for one of their classes for Dutch, or join their weekly coffee time to practice your Dutch speaking. Registration at the public library is free of charge for children and it costs a small amount for adults. For in person classes you can also check Platform C for Dutch courses – it is located right next to the mall, the public library and Amstelveen central bus station.

Sustainability

As a neighbourhood, Amstelveen is top-notch in terms of sustainability – Most of the houses have solar panels and produce part of their own electricity; electric car chargers can be found in every corner (there are more than 100 electrical car chargers in Amstelveen); you find underground containers for garbage; and, in each block there is a block of 4 containers for Paper, Glass, Textile and PMD. There are frequent and consistent initiatives for ‘Green Amstelveen’ which help to make the neighbourhood become even more environmentally friendly. The Gemeente (municipality) of Amstelveen subsidies solar panels for houses and offers support to its residents to encourage the use of green and alternative energy. You can check the latest sustainability efforts at this link.

For a first-hand account, from fellow Mamas, about living in and around Amsterdam, check our Neighbourhood Guides Series

The post Neighbourhood Guide: Amstelveen appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

If you consider Amsterdam Centraal Station as a starting point, then Centrum (or the city centre) radiates outwards from there in all directions. A bulk of the city expands southwards, east, west and includes a large area north of the Ij as well. The beautiful picture postcard canals, stately and romantic canals homes, narrow streets, red light district, Jordaan, Waterlooplein and the Plantage lie in what’s known as Centrum or the Canal Belt.

Surrounding Centraal Station are the iconic Negen Straatjes (The Nine Streets). These are the nine u-shaped streets that follow the inner canals—Singel, Prinsengracht, Herengracht and Keizersgracht. Like most parts of the city offer ‘mixed’ housing – some social housing, some on free market rent, and some ownership.

Some homes in the Canal Belt are ‘fancier’ then others even though they might be on the same street. The Canal Belt has canal facing homes, but you’ll find beautiful homes in the streets and alley that are not on the water as well. This historic neighbourhood is flooded with tourists and dotted with amazing restaurants, cafes, bars and stores.

Housing

The city centre is the oldest part of the city and has buildings dating back to around 1600. With that in mind, homes in Centrum are often:

• Old canal 4-5 floored houses, divided into apartments on each floor.
• In buildings that are up to 500 years old, and with that, come uneven, sloping floors, old floorboards and creaky stairwells.
• With heritage and age, many windows are single-paned (not great for energy conservation).
• Very steep, narrow, dark stairwells.
• Vermin is often an issue.
• Cobbled streets.

Search for houses for rent or sale: Pararius, Funda.

Schooling

There are some good schools, though not many international schools as yet.

Points of interest

Play areas: Herenmarkt
Park: Vondelpark, Begijnhof, Oosterpark
Zoo: Artis
Markets: Waterlooplein, Albert Cuyp, etc. etc.

Parking/biking

Being a more crowded part of town, parking of cars and bikes will be challenging, and you might not want to let your kids run around on their own when younger. The city is criss-crossed by trams, buses and metro.

From the Mamas:

We asked members of Amsterdam Mamas to share their experience of living in Centrum and here are some snippets of what they said:

• The best part of living in centrum is experiencing Liberation Day, overlooking over the Amstel.
• We love it because of the older canal houses with loads of history. Homes have lots of stairs but it teaches kids really early on how to use them safely.
• We can walk to the zoo from our home and frequently go there even just for an hour. We love shopping at Tinkerbelle for classic toys right up the street.
• Waterlooplein is a 5 min walk with metros and trams connecting in all directions.
• It is peaceful with lively shops, bars and parks.
• It is international and still has a lot of Dutchies.
• You should worry about secure bicycle parking (that it won’t get stolen).
• It is surprisingly family oriented and many neighbours have been living in the same canal house for 50+ years!
• Everything is within walking distance, parks, the Jordaan and Elandsstraat; it’s good for walking and for running and is about a 15 min walk to get to Vondelpark or Westerpark.
• Super convenient!
• Centrum has older historical apartments with narrow stairs. Most buildings are historical with facades that cannot be changed.
• It was difficult to get a feel of the atmosphere
• When looking for a house, avoid anything close to a bar/restaurant.

For a first-hand account, from fellow Mamas, about living in and around Amsterdam, check our Neighbourhood Guides Series

The post Neighbourhood Guide: Centrum appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.