Viking moves to Haarlem

Dear readers,

You got it right, I am moving again in June! This time to a lovely town called Haarlem. The city of design and sophistication and a very beautiful city centre. At the moment me and a friend is looking for houses or apartments together. We have a few in mind already and are making sure animals are allowed and that the price is good. 

This weekend I went exploring and shopping in Haarlem and as I did last time I enjoy it very much. Good restaurants, cafes and shopping freaking amazing over there. I am like a kid in a candyshop. They have a refurbished church over there that is made into a restaurant! It is always busy of course since they also make beer and very good food. I am looking forward to trying out more places in this area and to get away from the hussle and bussle of Amsterdam. I mean do not get me wrong, Amsterdam is amazing in it's own kind of way and it has many hidden treasures I have grown to love, yet I like slightly less marijuana scented shops and streets and I prefer a more calm atmostphere. It is actually one of the best cities to live in the Netherlands aparently. Why? It has enough green spaces and still everything a city needs to function well for the people in the Netherlands. You can rent affordable places if you rent together with someone. Alone it is more difficult if you want to find an apartment.

On Saturdays there is a big market on the town square next to the big cathedral. When you walk over there it kind of feels like you are walking in a piece of history (which indeed you are!). You see old brick buildings perfectly and cymetrically made in the golden era! The have signs of catholic influences and a time when kings were brave and princes were real. 

Of course like any city it has it's bad sides too. In Amsterdam you see very few alcoholics or homeless people. In Haarlem you do however see that, but nothing compared to other places I have lived.  Do not get me wrong, I am not saying they are bad people or making me feel unsafe. It is rather that it makes me feel sad on their behalf and the fact that life is difficult for them. I wish the government would offer them real help and roof above their heads, yet somewhere in the system something has gone terribly wrong. 

With that being said, Haarlem so far looks like a nice place to live and I have been there a few times now. When I first came to the Netherlands it was one of the cities I considered moving to. Now I am making a choice to go there for real. A new place, building a carreer and network in the north of the Netherlands is actually working out much better than I thought. :) Who would have thought that when I first started off moving around in Europe!

 Copyright: Google Pictures (2015)  Haarlem - cathedral and market square.

x Viking

When the Dutch people go Orange

Dear Readers,

Sorry for the long gap in my posting, I have been quite busy and to be honest I also had a little bit of a writers block. Too many thoughts going through my Viking head recently so I had to gather them a bit.

The title might make those of you who never went to the Netherlands wonder, ¨what the heck is that all about?¨ Well it is is a Dutch thing really. I see the Dutch people as tremendoulsy idividualistic people (if that is even a proper description for it), idependent is probably more fitting actually. Yet once in a while they like to gather and dress up in colours that unite the people. The colours might not represent only Dutch people, it represents this country and everyone it that feel like joining the celebration of the achivements and life of all cultures in the Netherlands. Colours that represent this are white-red-blue combinations or more populare ORANGE! Specifically the people of the Netherlands like to dress up in orange when the Dutch footbal team is playing in the world cup and to celebrate the King's birthday! 

The King's birthday (27th of April) is really popular to celebrate with friends or family out on the streets of whatever city you are in dressed in orange. I never really liked dressing in orange because I honestly think the colour does not suit me at all :P Yet on this day I do normally make an effort with the orange for this special day. I enjoy celebrating it with people, it kind of feels like a day that is meant for everyone who lives or stays in the Netherlands for while. It is nice to see how good food, trade, culture and music just blends and flourish on this day. In big cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht you can barely walk through the massa without feeling like you are invading people's personal space. There are flee markets, food & drink stands and free concerts everywhere in the streets! To come to the Netherlands in April makes sense if you like all the hussle and bussle and enjoy a good party. I have seen it now a few times and can enjoy observing from a distance as well. Preferably I go to a terrace with friends and eat nice food while watching the crowds in nice weather and finnish it up with a italian dry white wine. 

    © 2015, Veenkle

To see the Netherlands go orange and celebrate their King is for sure an experience which is nice to be a part of. I would recommend everyone going to the Netherlands in April to go see the streets of one of the 3 biggest cities on these days. Something will be happening from the beginning of the day untill the very end and then some!

x Viking