The following are some of the ways to get in touch with each other:The evening sun shines on the marina and the wooden gable end of the houses lean into the street, which is only broken by the occasional bicycle. I’m drinking a cheap, decent bottle of wine at a bar on the water. It’s quiet and everyone around me is speaking Dutch.
Amsterdam? The city is overpriced and bustling with tourists. There are also many canals, which makes it a busy place. It’s like a world away. I’m in Nieuwendam. These houses were built as far back as the 16th Century, on top of a dyke to keep the sea away from the pastures that produced the crops for the city. I’m going to drink in Cafe ‘t SluisjeThe last ten years, it has been run by residents. This is the most picturesque quarter of Noord – the Amsterdam that lies on the other side the water from Centraal Station.
Noord, the Netherlands is where I spend my summer. My daughter and her Dutch boyfriend live in Nieuwendam. I am here to take care of their first grandson. My childcare days consist of strolling through Noorderpark or Vliegenbos’s shady woods.
This was Amsterdam’s industrial core a century ago, and its streets are lined by the uniform steep-roofed homes built for workers. The area, perhaps in reaction to the excesses that are displayed in the next street, is now flexing its alternative, laid-back, hippy side. I walk past floating homes whose occupants keep chickens and goats in an old fire engine. In the summer, people live on the street. There are tables, chairs and even sofas in front of most homes. Sunny evenings quickly become a lively street party. Up by the water you will find sculptures created by local artists that peek out through the grass. You can also take a dip in the canal.
Nowhere else in the world can visitors experience Noord like this. Cafe de CeuvelThe former shipyard is now a collection shabby chic vintage houseboats permanently docked around the meandering boardwalk. These are now artist’s workshops and a studio for yoga. The cafe is a glorious, colourful hotchpotch of recycled furniture, with some tables right at the water’s edge – it’s the perfect place to while away an afternoon drinking organic beers and wine. And if you need somewhere to stay, the Ceuvel has rooms in moored boats – its Hotel Asile Flottant has doubles from about €150 a night.
Noord’s most famous area is another shipyard named NDSMA free ferry takes you there in 15 minutes from Centraal Station. On the way, you get a good view of the futuristic, swan-like sculptures. A free ferry transports you there in 15 minutes from Centraal Station – on the way, you get a good view of the futuristic, swan-like Eye Filmmuseum. This is in addition to the Nxt Museum of technologyThe most popular attractions in Noord include the. Also popular is PllekThe collection of shipping containers has been repurposed to serve everything from brunches and dinners, as well as yoga and meditation sessions, and live music. On its beach with stunning views of the city, movies are shown.
It is best to explore a little farther, such as the Johan van Hasseltweg that stretches from NDSM in the other direction. It’s the Noord of the locals, with its corrugated metal warehouses. The tourism industry is just beginning to take off here. Oedipus The brewery serves the citrusy Bride or the Pais Tropical and a delicious smash burger. The nearby is Chateau AmsterdamA winery in the city (open on Wednesdays to Saturdays) uses grapes from Europe to create sauvignons, Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. And at the very end of the street, where you’re again at the water’s edge, is another beach restaurant – De VerbroederIJWith its own food gardens and pigsty.
You won’t even need a boat to push out the boat: just a few minutes of walking will do. HangarMy favourite Noord restaurant. The food – mostly burgers and salad – and the wine are great. It’s not just the food that is good, but the atmosphere, too, which includes tables by the water and meals punctuated slowly by barges. The best part is that it’s rarely crowded, unlike some of the other eateries located in the centre.
And beyond the area’s cool restaurants and vibe is the countryside – surprisingly close since 2018, when the metro’s line 52 expanded, making Noord station just a four-minute journey from Centraal. If you arrive at a time when the metro is not in use, you can ride your bike to see picturesque villages and lush green fields. There aren’t many bars or cafes around. It’s a great antidote for the crowded city.
