To start this article, I will talk you about some symbols of The Netherlands or from Amsterdam. Then, the traditions and habits of people here, some that I see myself.
The orange is the National color of The Netherlands.
The tulip is an other symbol the The Netherlands. In the center of Amsterdam we can find the flower market, where there is a huge quantity of different flowers, carnivorous plant, and also cannabis seed!
In all tourism shop you can find the wooden shoe, or representation of mill, one of the symbol of the country.
The Stroopwafel, a "Dutch Caramel Syrup Cookies" is the local cake, that you can find everywhere.
The King's Day is celebrated on Saturday, 26 April 2014. First of all, it was the Queen's Day that was celebrating the birthday of the Queen Wilhelmina, for the first time the 31 August of 1885. After the official day became the 27 April of each year, but it use to be celebrating on the last Sunday of the month. This year it will be the first King's Day because of the recent inauguration of the King Willem-Alexander.
During this day, all the city is celebrating! We can see citywide street sale and party during night and day, on the street and on the canals. I look forward to participate to this celebration!
The architecture of the city is really different from other countries. The buildings are skinny, not very upstanding, sometimes on the right, on the left, frontward, but there is not a lot of monumental construction as we can see in other capitals or cities. The city is cross by a lot of little waterways were boats navigates, and where we can see a lot of houses on the water. Actually Amsterdam don't have enough housing for all people, that's why they create many "houseboats" on the waterways.
It is pleasant to live in Amsterdam because the city is not compress with all the water, you can breathe and most of the waterways are very calm. We also find a lot of natural spaces.
There are several museum, of art, history, like Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum or Anne Frank House, there is a lot of things to visit in the city.
Amsterdam is a beautiful city!
BIKES! How visit Amsterdam without see this overcrowding of bike!
The Netherlands is a straight country, it is easy to move by bike because there is no relief. Moreover it is good for the environment, you don't see a lot of cars, only bike and common transports as bus or tram. You can not realize the magnitude of bikes before you come in Amsterdam!
Of course when you live here you must have a bike, it is really easy to find, on the internet, on many shops, it is a good substitute to the common transport, that are very very expensive. The first time I took my bike in the center I was afraid because you are in Amsterdam with you bike like you are in Paris with you car! I explain myself : people by bike drive very fast, impatient, you can't drive everywhere (I was one time arrested by the police because I was not on the bike area!), and it is very difficult to find a place on the bike park! Be aware of the bike areas is you are walking!
The first crime of the country is the bike steel!
I could personally see that people here drink a lot of beer!
The famous Heineken is actually produce near Amsterdam, you can also visit the Heineken museum, a really nice "experience", as they say. You learn how the beer is made, the different ingredients, steps, you learn how to savor a drink of beer, you also discover the history of the brand, and all that in a very good atmosphere, with a lot of activities.
In the supermarket you can't buy strong alcohol but only beer and wine. If you return your empty bottles of beer, the supermarket return you money for the recycling!
Even in bars and disco, people drink almost only beer.
Fast food and take away food are very present in the city. I don't see a lot of very good restaurant, like in France for example, but a lot of various fast food. The innovative one is FEBO, where the food is in a little locker behind a window, and you just have to put your money and take your food! They do some speciality like a kind of Dutch croquette.
People in Amsterdam are very nice. First of all they speak rally good english so it is easier for foreigners because the Dutch is a difficult language. After, they are always smiling, not stressed, they will be happy to help you if you need, and nobody annoyed you! You feel integrate, comfortable and in security!
Of course when we speak of Amsterdam people think of all the vice of the city : the Red Light District where there is the prostitution, The Coffeeshops where you can smoke marijuana and eat some space cake or the music life, with huge disco and international electronic DJ's, but also awesome open air…
But even if it is a part of the local culture I would like to talk about this in an other article, that will be my "free subject", because these three topics are very interesting for the difference that they afford to the city of Amsterdam.
