Yes, you read that right: you can go windsurfing in Amsterdam by only travelling half an hour from Central Station by public transport! IJburg is an interesting new neighbourhood that is actually still under construction. It's named after the 'IJ', the water that connects the North Sea channel to the Ijsselmeer. Since it's not the open sea, waves are usually very moderate, which is ideal for starting or intermediate surfers like me. I love going there on a Saturday morning to start the weekend 'flying' over the water... or in the evening, during the week, after a long working day to empty my mind. I always check the wind forecast on the website to make sure I'll have a good time :) the staff is friendly, prices include all the gear, including the wetsuit (don't expect fancy stuff but everything is working perfectly). They also offer courses -- I took a beginner course (10hrs, €195) and was very happy with it!
P.S. next to the surf school, the city seems to be building a huge beach. I'll keep you updated about it.
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Cafe de Tuin has such a nice atmosphere. The interior is classic and the customers are diverse, which makes it the perfect mix between modern and dated.
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"Pension Homeland" at Marine Terrain in Amsterdam is a great restaurant that also has its own brewery! It's also a vintage hotel. So cool@
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Parks in Amsterdam are packed with people, especially in summer. So my recommendation for a nice spot where you can also swim is "Marine Terrain!"
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The "American Book Centre" in Amsterdam is a trustworthy bookstore to call home, with plenty of English books, a spiraling staircase and even a cozy cafe!
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"Latei" is the rare breed of neighborhood Amsterdam cafe that's so hard to find these days! It's in the touristy part but still has an authentic charm...
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"Noorderlicht Café" is an artistic café and cultural spot in Amsterdam Noord that's in a greenhouse! I recommend the Brinjal...
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"A. van Wees" in Amsterdam has its own jenever distillery, the Ooievaar, the only one left in the city. Come here for a jenever tasting under the stairs!
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"Scandinavian Embassy" in Amsterdam is a pretty small and cute coffee shop. You may have to queue up, but their coffee is 100% worth your while...
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"SUE" in Amsterdam is a vegan, sugar- and gluten-free pastry shop. Their specialty are their 'bites', square-shaped delights in about 20 different flavors!
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"Yusu" in Amsterdam is what the perfect coffee company a-la twenty-first century should look like. Also, if you're a lover of matcha, it's the place to be.
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"Bar Botanique" in Amsterdam East makes you feel as if you've stepped inside a jungle! You should really see it from both the inside and out...
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