Euro products and services I recommend
I receive no compensation or special treatment for recommending these! Just a running list of things I like/use. For dining out, check out my husband’s cool places map, and my notes on gluten-free offerings at restaurants.
Bikes
My husband and I both started by renting from Swapfiets. We heard from multiple people this was the way to go at first, and it’s been great for us, too. Prices seem reasonable, and it takes the guesswork out of it when you’re already learning so much about your new environment. And you’ll see Swapfiets EVERYWHERE, so you know they’re doing something right.
Books
Amsterdam: A History of the World’s Most Liberal City by Russell Shorto. Came recommended by an acquaintance here, and have seen it prominently featured in an English-language bookstore. SUPER informative about the history and culture here, and a really good read.
Culture
The Museumkaart is available to residents for a low annual fee (when I first signed up it was €65) and gives you access to literally hundreds of museums throughout the country. You have to sign up online (with BSN and bank card) and wait for the card to come in the mail. Reservations are still needed at the museums that require that. I love that I can just pop in to the Rijksmuseum (if I have a reservation!!!) to visit the Dutch masters for a bit, and not have to make a day of it. And there are so many nontraditional museums in Amsterdam alone, so this is not just for people who like traditional art museums.
The Cineville movie membership is the bee’s knees. We pay a monthly fee (€17,50 when we signed up) and can see movies for free at theaters all over town. They also strike deals with some film festivals. We more than got our money’s worth in a single weekend at the Leiden Film Festival.
Groceries
Albert Heijn is the standard in Amsterdam, and if you can find an Albert Heijn XL, you’ll find an amazing selection of everything, including international foods, and special items for those of us with dietary restrictions. The gluten-free section of the Albert Heijn XL in Gelderlandplein far exceeded my expectations of what I’d find here. My favorite find so far are the Wasa Lactose Free & Gluten Free Classic crackers. The prepared foods there are reasonably priced and delicious — check out the tapenades.
Transit
The 9292 mobile app will get you where you need to go in the Netherlands. Put in current and destination addresses, and it will give you door-to-door directions across all types of transit (bus, tram, Metro, train), walking directions to access transit, and accurate times for transit arrival.
You pre-load an anonymous OV chipkaart at any Metro station, and it will give you access to all types of transit, including regional trains. The better move is to create an account with ns.nl, and get a card attached to your personal details. With that you can take advantage of special products and discounts that better fit your travel needs. You can also pay by invoice (instead of pre-loading), which means you never have to worry about being caught with not enough €€€ to get to your destination.