I moved to Amsterdam, and in this post I talk about the challenges of building a life in a new city, along with Zandvoort, the seaside town I discovered in my first months.
I Moved to Amsterdam: What Have I Been Through?
Hello, I’m Esra,
Although this isn’t my first published post, it has been a long time, so I think I’m a little excited.
I’d rather not stick to one fixed topic here. In fact, we can shape the next post together based on your feedback. So I’m eagerly looking forward to your comments.
Right, let’s get to the point: I have been working in the software industry since 2015. Taking into account the socio-economic situation in our country, partly willingly, partly unwillingly and after a great deal of thought, I decided to settle in Amsterdam. For someone like me who is in love with Istanbul, it was actually quite hard. And for someone setting off alone, leaving her family and boyfriend behind in Turkey, the parting was very, very hard. That is what I want to share with you: both these difficult moments and the warm memories I have been collecting from the very beginning, and of course the beautiful places I have visited and seen.
Amsterdam’s Beaches and Sunsets
To do things a little differently, I want to start my Amsterdam posts not with the canals but with the beaches.
I arrived in Amsterdam in April. I spend the time left over from work exploring and getting to know this new city I have moved to. The city centre, the museums, the canals… but as time passes and the weather warms up, there is only one question on everyone’s mind: where is the Caddebostan Beach of this place, where we can go when we feel stifled, open our chairs and sit down? 🙂
And then “Zandvoort” comes to the rescue. If you are coming to Amsterdam in spring or summer, I absolutely, absolutely recommend that you see it. I first got to know this stretch of coast on a summer evening, and I can honestly say I fell in love with it. Restaurants lined up side by side, wonderful lights, a relaxed and calm atmosphere, unobtrusive music in the background, a beach fire lit later in the evening, the stars and the moonlight. Whichever restaurant on the beach you sit at, you will definitely leave happy with what you have eaten and drunk. But I would still recommend having a cocktail as the sun sets 🙂 In the summer months, even when I went there after work in the evening, seeing that it was still crowded and that people were swimming definitely made me forget the stress of work. As the sea felt cold to me, I never found the courage to swim; I only managed to dip my feet in. But if you’re the type who doesn’t feel the cold, I definitely recommend diving into those cool waters 🙂
After eating and taking a short walk along the beach, you can grab an ice cream, hop on the Ferris wheel and look at the town from above.
See you on the next adventure.
Don’t forget to share your comments.
Love,
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I moved to Amsterdam: a few notes for newcomers
Moving abroad means rebuilding many things at once, such as work, home and a social circle. In the first months, getting to know the city without rushing, and getting acquainted not only with the tourist centres but also with the surrounding towns, makes adjusting to a new life easier. Zandvoort is a seaside resort in the province of North Holland known for its long, sandy beach, and it is easy to reach from Amsterdam by train; that makes it ideal for a short escape from the city on summer evenings.
For more information about Zandvoort, see Wikipedia’s Zandvoort entry. If you are curious about what people wear on the streets of the fashion capitals, our article on the street styles of the fashion capitals may also interest you.