Ananya
What’s your name, how old are you, and where are you originally from?
My name is Ananya Rao, I’m 34 years old, and I’m originally from Bengaluru, India.
What do you do for work?
I work as a senior UX designer at a fintech company based in Amsterdam. The international work culture here feels very familiar to me.
Which neighbourhood in Amsterdam do you live in?
I live in Amsterdam Noord
What do you like most about your neighbourhood
What I love most about Noord is the space and creativity. It feels more open and experimental than other parts of the city.
There’s a strong sense of community, and I enjoy how quickly the area is developing while still keeping a slightly raw, industrial character.
How do you usually spend your weekends in the city?
My weekends usually start with a ferry ride across the IJ—it still feels special every time. When the weather is good, I often cycle through Noord or meet friends for picnics.
Where do you like to shop in Amsterdam?
For shopping, I often go to Haarlemmerstraat and Haarlemmerdijk because they have a nice mix of independent stores and larger brands.
Where do you usually buy your groceries?
For everyday groceries, I usually shop at Jumbo or Albert Heijn nearby.
For Indian spices and ingredients, I go to the market in West or order online.
What’s your favourite museum in Amsterdam, and why?
My favourite museum is the Eye Filmmuseum. I love the architecture, the views over the IJ, and the way it combines film, culture, and discussion.
I also enjoy smaller exhibitions and cultural spaces in Noord.
Do you have a favourite restaurant or café in the city?
I really enjoy Pllek. And Saravanaa Bhavan in the Pijp.
What’s Amsterdam’s best-kept secret, in your opinion?
I think many people underestimate Amsterdam Noord itself. It offers so much culture, green space, and innovation, without the crowds of the city centre.
The ferry system is also an underrated luxury—it makes crossing the river easy and fun.
And finally: what do you think could be improved in Amsterdam?
Like many expats, I find the housing market very competitive, especially when moving within the city.
I also think public transport at night could be improved in Noord, although cycling usually solves that.
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Catalina
What’s your name, how old are you, and where are you originally from?
Catalina Huilcaman, 32 years old, Chile.
What do you do for work?
Finance – accounting.
Which neighbourhood in Amsterdam do you live in?
Rivierenbuurt.
What do you like most about your neighbourhood?
It’s very quiet and close to Amstel and Beatrix park.
How do you usually spend your weekends in the city?
Visiting the Albert Cuyp market, museums and restaurants.
Where do you like to shop in Amsterdam?
De Pijp.
Where do you usually buy your groceries?
Albert Heijn and Albert Cuyp Market.
What’s your favourite museum in Amsterdam, and why?
Van Gogh museum, because I like the artist very much.
Do you have a favourite restaurant or café in the city?
Probably Choux, Sushi Misaki and Bacalar.
What’s Amsterdam’s best-kept secret, in your opinion?
Fromagerie Kef (for the cheese lovers).
And finally: what do you think could be improved in Amsterdam?
The cleanliness of the city, especially in touristic areas.
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Kenji
What’s your name, how old are you, and where are you originally from?
My name is Kenji Nakamura, I’m 38 years old, and I’m originally from Yokohama, Japan.
What do you do for work?
I work as a regional project manager for a Japanese electronics company, focusing on European markets. My job is mostly hybrid, which is one of the reasons Amsterdam works so well for me.
Which neighbourhood in Amsterdam do you live in?
I live in Buitenveldert.
What do you like most about your neighbourhood
What I appreciate most is the balance between calm and convenience. Buitenveldert feels residential and quiet, which reminds me a bit of suburban Japan, but I’m still close to the Zuidas, the city centre, and Schiphol.
I also really enjoy the green spaces, especially Amstelpark and Beatrixpark.
How do you usually spend your weekends in the city?
My weekends are usually quite relaxed. I like cycling along the Amstel, visiting parks, or meeting friends for brunch.
Sometimes I explore different neighbourhoods like De Pijp or Jordaan.
Where do you like to shop in Amsterdam?
For clothes and gifts, I like shopping in De Negen Straatjes , Uniqlo, Cos.
For practical shopping, Stadshart Amstelveen is also very convenient and close to Buitenveldert.
Where do you usually buy your groceries?
Gelderlandplein. I love the Asian supermarket Shilla!
What’s your favourite museum in Amsterdam, and why?
My favourite museums are the Rijksmuseum & H’ART museum.
Do you have a favourite restaurant or café in the city?
I really like De Kas for special occasions—the focus on seasonal ingredients feels very thoughtful and refined.
What’s Amsterdam’s best-kept secret, in your opinion?
I think one of Amsterdam’s best-kept secrets is how peaceful the city can feel outside the tourist areas.
Early mornings in Zuid or Buitenveldert, especially on weekends, can be incredibly calm—almost village-like.
And finally: what do you think could be improved in Amsterdam?
Housing is definitely a challenge. Finding an affordable apartment is stressful, especially for newcomers.
I also think clearer communication in English from some local services would help expats integrate more easily, even though Amsterdam is already very international.
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Anila
What’s your name, how old are you, and where are you originally from?
My name is Anila and I am 30 years old. I grew up in
Prague but originally I’m from Kosovo.
What do you do for work?
I work as a Sales Executive for a large fine-dining hospitality group in Amsterdam.
Which neighbourhood in Amsterdam do you live in?
I live in the Rivierenbuurt.
What do you like most about your neighbourhood?
I enjoy that it is very quiet and close to the water. The quietness is very important, since I work in a fast paced environment. The water side has many running routes that are suitable for weekly training!
How do you usually spend your weekends in the city?
Since I work for a hospitality group, often I have clients booking restaurants on the weekends. In some cases, I join the venues to oversee operations. However mostly I spend my weekends resetting and being active. On a Saturday I might do the usual stroll around the city and then dinner with friends or a family memeber. On Sundays, I am always active – a run, yoga or gym. I then ensure to deep clean my house and then rest early in the evening. 🙂
Where do you like to shop in Amsterdam?
Unfortunately, I don’t as I mostly shop online. My only physical shopping experiences are the grocery & drug store.
Where do you usually buy your groceries?
Most often Albert Heijn, however it depends. Some items aat bikere at Jumbo only and some other items are at Aldi. But predominantly, Albert Heijn.
What’s your favourite museum in Amsterdam, and why?
Stedelijk!
Do you have a favourite restaurant or café in the city?
To be honest, I am biased as I love the restaurants that I work at – anything from The Entourage Group. However other amazing restaurants I’ve recently tried have been Badcuyp or Zoldering!
What’s Amsterdam’s best-kept secret, in your opinion?
Broad question, to specify it from my end; Amsteldijk for running. Cafe Restaurant Sandberg; the lunch spot of Stedelijk Museum.
And finally: what do you think could be improved in Amsterdam?
Although popular and in a negative tone, I would support the prohibition of fat bikes are they are rather dangerous on bike lanes. I would also love to see more recycling options – having grown in Prague, I was always used to multiple trash bins specifying this. The waste structure could be improved.
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Teodora
What’s your name, how old are you, and where are you originally from?
Teodora, 28, Bucharest Romania.
What do you do for work?
AI Engineer @ Amsterdam Data Collective.
Which neighbourhood in Amsterdam do you live in?
De Jordaan
What do you like most about your neighbourhood?
Plenty of bars, cafes, restaurants.
How do you usually spend your weekends in the city?
Going for drinks/games with friends, hobbies & sports.
Where do you like to shop in Amsterdam?
Vinted, but Kalverstraat if i really have to.
Where do you usually buy your groceries?
AH & Dirk.
What’s your favourite museum in Amsterdam, and why?
Stedelijk, always a wide range of art and pop-up expos.
Do you have a favourite restaurant or café in the city?• .
Mamas & Tapas, Pata Negra, Euro Pizza.
What’s Amsterdam’s best-kept secret, in your opinion?
LAB 111 & House of Bird.
And finally: what do you think could be improved in Amsterdam?
Housing…, less stuff catered for tourists in and around the centre, clearer rules for tourists not to walk in the middle of the street, better litter management, more support from the government to make your house more energy-efficient, ban non-electric scooters from residential streets after hours (those things are insanely loud).
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Shelley
What’s your name, how old are you, and where are you originally from?
Shelley, 36 years old, from South Africa
What do you do for work?
Tech company.
Which neighbourhood in Amsterdam do you live in?
West
What do you like most about your neighbourhood?
It is lively, with lots of restaurants and bars, good access to parks and transport, good location to get around Amsterdam / Netherlands easily.
How do you usually spend your weekends in the city?
Dinner with friends either at restaurants or mainly at each other’s homes, workout classes, doing life admin, long walks, going to Haarlem to see friends. It of course differs per time of year and season so in winter it’s more movies and chill but in summer it’s more travel and park time.
Where do you like to shop in Amsterdam?
I usually shop online. I have specific stores I will go to for gifts such as Things I like, Things I love, Bijenkorf etc but I do not like Kalverstraat and Rokin and avoid.
Where do you usually buy your groceries?
Usually Albert Heijn or Jumbo and then more specialist stuff online such as tea, meat etc.
What’s your favourite museum in Amsterdam, and why?
For tourists, I always recommend Van Gogh as its very rich in experience and doable in a few hours. For myself, I like Stedelijk and Rijks.
Do you have a favourite restaurant or café in the city?
Utage Sake Bar, Cafe Maurits, Gebroeders Hartering, Massalia, Coba, Bacalar.
What’s Amsterdam’s best-kept secret, in your opinion?
Stretch & Fold – yoga, rooftop pool, restaurant.
And finally: what do you think could be improved in Amsterdam?
More street cleaning. It is much more dirty in West and it makes me less proud to live there as it looks unkept.
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Mia
What’s your name, how old are you, and where are you originally from?
Mia, 26, UK.
What do you do for work?
Data & AI Engineer @ ADC.
Which neighbourhood in Amsterdam do you live in?
Amsterdam Oost.
What do you like most about your neighbourhood
Diverse cultures, lots of nice restaurants and parks around.
How do you usually spend your weekends in the city?
Crafting with friends, sports, outside if nice weather or go to nature! Dinner with friends or cinema with Cineville.
Where do you like to shop in Amsterdam?
Vinted or my old street, Haarlemmerstraat in three vintage shops, namely: Archives1904, (IM)MATERIAL, Tutto Bene!
Where do you usually buy your groceries?
Sahan, Jumbo or Lidl.
What’s your favourite museum in Amsterdam, and why?
Stedelijk or Foam – love the wide range of work and modern art or photography.
Do you have a favourite restaurant or café in the city?
Cafe Wu, Xian noodles (cheap and cheerful :D), Armoury bar for games.
What’s Amsterdam’s best-kept secret, in your opinion?
Most independent cinemas in Amsterdam on Cineville, range of markets, Cafe R. de Rosa.
And finally: what do you think could be improved in Amsterdam?
Metro options from oost to west. and waay less for tourists and more for the local Amsterdamers. Ironic coming from an expat, but not for expats either but more for the actual Amsterdammers. For example, I used to live on Haarlemmerstraat and the local tea shop, up the street had to close as they could no longer afford rent! They were the oldest tea shop in the Netherlands I believe, which really saddens me as they should be supported more to be able to keep their business running especially as born and bred Amsterdammers, to keep their spirit alive. Oh and more community activities !
Thanks for the interviews! 🫶👌🏼
Interviewed by Caroline Spraakman