I’ve only been living in Amsterdam since last November, but I still feel like an adventurous tourist and traveler most of the time I roam around the city. It’s such a wonderful and multicultural place with so many different, but always kind people, and I don’t see myself ever getting bored with it.
One of my favorite areas to visit is “de Pijp”, which is literally translated as: “the Pipe” and is located in the east side of the city. It’s one of the older neighborhoods, which used to be a lower class area and is a melting pot of different cultures, but is currently up-coming with new cool hotspots, restaurants, cafes and other businesses popping up daily. Despite all the innovations it still retains its authenticity and multicultural influences, which gives it such a nice vibe. It’s the perfect place to find some peace from the busy and often quite touristic city center, but still find all the social encounters you’re looking for that make Amsterdam so special.
It’s also where the famous Albert Cuyp Market (De Albert Cuypmarkt ) takes place on a daily basis. You will find typical authentic Dutch items like tulips and “haring”-fish, but you can also find that vintage jacket you were looking for. You might also get happily screamed at by the vendors, who can put on quite the show getting customers to buy their fresh fruits and waffles. Although the whole vibe is friendly and open, do mind your purse/wallet as the busy street is not only a hotspot for honest people, but also quite popular for pickpocketing.
If you walk onto one of the side streets of the Albert Cuyp-street (Albert Cuypstraat), named Eerste van der Helstraat, you will arrive at Gergard Dou-square, which is, especially on the weekends, always a bubbly and cozy place to go to. I personally love to go there on a lazy (and maybe with a little hangover) Sunday.
On one corner you’ll find a lunch-place called “de Wasserette”, which means “the Laundromat”, and you’ve got to love how inventive they got with the name, it somehow just fits the place. Here you get your healthy superfood-filled lunch (or just get that tasty bacon sandwich that goes with the hangover), smoothies, homemade iced teas and coffee just the way you like it. They have a nice terrace that goes all the way around the corner and nobody minds if you join their table once it gets a little crowded, or when you want to catch some of those lovely sun rays. They have a well-working, easygoing system where you order at the counter and they bring it to your table. Easy goes, easy does.
If you look across the street to the other corner, you’ll find “Pilsvogel” which literally translates to something like “beerbird” (again: YES!). Here you can spend the rest of your day/evening, since the lunch place closes at 18:00 and doesn’t serve alcohol (and we still have to deal with that hangover). Their terrace has a Mediterranean feel with a lovely porch with wooden tables, benches and blue pillows you just want to “chill on” for hours. The atmosphere is always easygoing and you’ll get served by a young but professional staff that isn’t afraid of a little small talk or a quick joke.
If you’re staying in Amsterdam and have time for enjoying some good food, drinks and laziness, but still want to experience a “famous place” (Albert Cuyp Market) visiting here is your perfect day and location to do it. I can only hope you enjoy it as much as I do, have fun!
Happiness + Sunshine, Amy
