Portfolio Category: Content Writing

This article was originally published on BGMT.nl and you can find it here.

---

Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on this great accomplishment in your life – whether it’s high school, vocational school, Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, or any other graduation. You made it! Times are difficult and particularly the Dutch higher education system is known as the 10^th best in the world according to Universitas 21; thus, your effort was not only impressive, but also quite worth it. Tap yourself on the back!  

Now that you have that diploma in your hand, have possibly had an online graduation ceremony and maybe popped a bottle of champagne, it’s time to get to business. Taking your first steps are important in outlining your future path.  

But don’t you worry! Here, I have outlined the most important steps you can take in the very beginning to help you orientate yourself and navigate through the post-graduation blues. This period is what I call an ‘orientation period’. You know, similarly to the first weeks of any sort of educational institution when you test the waters, try out courses, meet people, and organize.  

Credit: Joshua Hoehne from Unsplash

Step 1: Take a breath (or more)  

Everything is looking bright, there are things ahead, you are excited about what this new course known as post-graduation holds for you, but you are also feeling a bit overwhelmed with all of the exciting possibilities and opportunities. The orientation period is becoming tougher than expected. We have all been there.  

That’s why it’s important to take half of your step back and breathe! You just graduated and you are allowed to take some time off to relax. Do things you wanted to do while studying and working hard, but just did not have time to do so. Self-care is probably one of the most important steps during this orientation period. Check out apps such as Calm, Headspace for meditation exercises, take a bath or bike to that one park you never went to but always wanted to. Is there one hobby you miss doing? Exercise, painting, crafting? Yes to all! Tell me, when else will you have some extra free time on your hands if not after graduation? Now is the time and in the wise words of Shia LaBeouf and Nike – “just do it”.  

Step 2: Seeking help  

Best advice I have ever received is to never be afraid to seek out help from others and ask questions. You should already be familiar with that, especially in the Dutch education system where questions are always encouraged (or at least that was my experience).  

Check out your university’s career center, for instance. Do they have any interesting events that may be of use to you? Register for info sessions, make 1-1 appointments with career coaches. The institution is there to give you help post-graduation, guide and help you with orientation. It would also be beneficial to utilize any other online resources to prepare a great resume and LinkedIn page. Make sure that you create them in a way that you would be proud to show them off.    

Step 3: Make a plan of action  

Here it is, orientation period in its full swing. Time to plan, organize and ask yourself some questions. It’s okay, there are no wrong answers and you can always drop out a ‘course’ or two. What seems to help people are note taking and organizational tools such as Notion, but you can also do the old-school method of using Excel sheets or the most old-fashioned way of them all – bullet journaling.  

Ask yourself questions such as: What sort of jobs will you be looking for? Do you need a work permit visa if you are not from the EU? Where in the Netherlands (with Covid-19 and work from home possibilities are both larger and limited at the same time since you can work from anywhere)? Would you like to continue studying? Take a gap year? Internships or part-time jobs? One small note on internships: most of these in the Netherlands require a student status and pay much lower than part-time jobs. Therefore, it may be more difficult if you are graduated or if you are on a budget. For the job search process in the Netherlands, you can check these websites out – IamExpat, Iamsterdam, Undutchables, etc. 

Don’t forget to do proper research on the sort of post-graduation path you would like to take and have it as a goal, but don’t fret if it takes time. You only need to do things one step at a time to get closer to your ultimate goal.

Step 4: Networking  

The most important part of any orientation period, especially of the one following your graduation is networking and making connections. Message anyone you know in a similar position as you or a few steps further and enquire after their own post-graduation orientation periods. Who knows, one of them might have something of importance and relevance to say to you. 

Build your LinkedIn profile and connect with anyone you met or did not. Connect with those you see are in interesting positions that you would be interested in the future. Ask them about how they got there. The more you ask, the higher the chance someone would be nice enough to respond. In this way, you will learn more about what you would like to do or not do in the future. For instance, someone contacted me on LinkedIn regarding moving from the British educational system to the Dutch one without knowing me. It does not matter who you are, what stage you are at, we are all social creatures and are looking for contact. Even more so when face-to-face possibilities are limited in 2020.  

Conclusion   

The post-graduation orientation period is there for you to take steps to navigate challenges, explore opportunities and get your head straight about things you both want and dislike. What is important is not to undermine this period as stress levels may increase in time while looking for potential jobs, higher degrees, etc. Leave panicking and stressing in the other room, take a breather and enjoy dreaming about the future. Being a graduate in the Netherlands is a sign of your hard work, which will pay off in the future.  

In the meantime, if you are looking for more ‘adulting’ tips, check out this article on getting your driver’s license in the Netherlands!

This article was originally published for BGMT.nl and you can find it here.

---

Winter is almost here. You can feel the cold through your fingers and you are most likely already rocking your winter gear. With that, the Netherlands is going in and out of partial and full lockdowns. So what do you do when hospitality businesses are closed and there is no place to cozy up in? Well, that only means exploring, exploring, exploring.

In this article, I will propose a few fun things you can do around Amsterdam – the city I live in. These ideas revolve around exploring the town specifically during the winter time. You can enjoy them with a friend or two (depending on current regulations) or even better – by yourself. Either way, exploring Amsterdam with a cup of coffee/tea in your hand is probably a good way to remain sane and healthy during the winter lockdown period.

Credit: Evelyn Liow from Unsplash

Walking Tours

Did you know that you don’t need money or experienced tour guides to explore Amsterdam? You can sign up here to receive free weekly walks curated by locals and tour guides by email. They are very easy to follow using Google Maps (plus you get some exercise in). I have found them to be one of the best ways to learn more about the historical side of Amsterdam. For instance, a few weeks ago, I was exploring Amsterdam East and on one of these walks, I saw the building in which Napoleon received the keys to Amsterdam. I would not have known this fact without using these walks.

Try them out and comment below, telling us what fun new place you found!

Urban Walks

Don’t be scared to also curate your own walks and get lost in Amsterdam neighborhoods. Now is the best time to take in every single thing that is around when there are fewer tourists walking the streets. Lately, I’ve been noticing more Amsterdam locals than ever enjoying what their city has to offer. The activity of finding a new cool café, spot, shop, itself is quite rewarding. Become a regular at those places and make connections (with a mask and distance, of course!) and show off your new finds to your friends! One of my favorite bakeries at the moment is this one, in my neighborhood. It’s great to grab a coffee, a pastry and walk towards Vondelpark. Moreover, don’t forget to support local places; they need our help the most at these times.

How does a romantic winter stroll along the beautiful canals of Amsterdam Jordaan/West sound? Now that the holiday lights are up, it is a wonderful part of town to explore (it also happens to be my favourite Amsterdam area). For this I would suggest getting some fresh and warm cookies from Van Stapele. From there, you can walk towards the bench from The Fault in our Stars (it’s near Leidsegracht 34HS). The view is quite wonderful and you can either share it with a fellow explorer or just enjoy it by taking yourself on a date.

Okay, I will suggest one more cute exploring expedition if you happen to still be in Amsterdam West. Can you spot the tiny hidden houses on Westerstraat? Maybe this article will help.

Parks, parks, parks

What? Is it not raining today in Amsterdam? Then you need to get out there and visit the parks that Amsterdam has to offer. You can bike or walk; after all, exercise is quite important and especially supported by the Dutch government at the moment.

Fortunately, Amsterdam is known for the variety of parks one can explore. But let’s admit it, Vondelpark is overcrowded and definitely not one of the best. Here are some of the ones I would recommend instead:

• Sloterplas – so many things to see and it also has a lake and its own beach area.
• Beatrixpark – a smaller park, but the dogs are definitely worth it.
• Amsterdamse Bos – a.k.a. the Amsterdam forest, where you can definitely get lost. De Bos has a goat farm, where you can feed baby goats for 1-2 euros (it will be closed until February, but you can visit after). You can opt for exploring the forest in its entirety and try spotting a Highland Cow. Yes, a highland cow.
• Amstelpark – leave your bike outside of this park as they are not allowed in. You can do a lot of exploring here with the mini-golf area and the ‘farm’ with alpacas, donkeys, and more.
• Westerpark – for animal lovers, you can check out Nemoland.

Activities

Yes, I admit. Walks, strolls and parks are all fun, but only up to a point. We all need a fun activity to do from time to time. However, the pool of activities in Amsterdam is quite limited right now.

Museums are open, so there is no need to mention those. If you have the Museumkaart there is no point in waiting – you need to get out there and see them all. Otherwise, go ice skating! It’s the best winter activity you could possibly do at the moment and it’s a lot of fun. If you are a fan of more passive activities and enjoy having a few laughs, comedy clubs such as Boom Chicago are open again.

In conclusion, exploring Amsterdam during this winter lockdown does not have to be boring. There is still plenty to enjoy and do. To be honest, now may be the best time, as it motivates you to be creative and find out what places are still open. It also allows you to spend some time by yourself or get closer to some friends. So get out there and explore to the fullest, but don’t forget a hot beverage in your hand for the days when the sun is not on your side.

This article was originally published on BGMT.nl and you can find it here.

---

Credit: MD Duran from Unsplash

Have you recently graduated in the Netherlands? Then I am assuming you, similarly to me, are currently searching for a job. In this article, I would like to explore ways to improve yourself and your skillset while on this job hunt. Before reading this , however, you should first check out my previous article on taking your first steps after graduation during what I call the orientation period!

What sort of experience are you looking for?

A brief note before you begin the journey of improving yourself. You are on the job market as a graduate, so you should know your options. Apart from seeking a full-time job, you may also look for internships and traineeships. You may have already seen that most internships here require a student status. Alhough, this may be surpassed. A graduate can be hired if the internship’s purpose is learning new skills based on the theoretical knowledge gained at university. Of course, these sort of jobs are not for everyone due to their low pay. However, for others, who are privileged enough to afford this, an internship may be the best way to improve your skills and prepare for a future job.

Improve by volunteering for a cause you like

There are a multitude of volunteering opportunities in the Netherlands depending on where your interests lay. Volunteering is quite revered by Dutch recruiters (per my careers adviser’s opinion) and can immensely improve your CV. Some volunteering experiences may even end up being directly related to your area/industry of interest for a full-time job. This and this website offer many short and long-term volunteering opportunities for English speakers in the Netherlands. For instance, if you pick volunteering with elderly people, this would be quite a beneficial experience for the pharmaceutical industry or a non-governmental socially-focused organization.

Improve by joining student associations

You may be a recent graduate, but student associations are still accepting members and volunteers. This opportunity can improve your skills, CV and social circle, as well as fill your job hunting days with tangible work. For example, experience at the UvA Green Office may be great if you are looking for sustainability-related job opportunities. It would show your commitment and passion for the field. Thus, get in touch with any student association which you think will best contribute to your own future career goals.

Improve by taking courses

Another way you can improve your CV while on the job market is to take online courses. You have probably heard of Coursera, EDX, Codeacademy, but there are many websites that provide a list of free courses such as this one. I would recommend courses that are exciting whether they are in your field of interest or a secret passion. As long as the course brings you joy, you would actually gain more and improve your current knowledge.  

And since we are in the Netherlands, I can’t miss mentioning learning Dutch. Many Gemeentes across the Netherlands offer such classes. For instance, if you are registered in Amsterdam, the Gemeente offers them for free. Though I have heard this is not the case in other cities. Despite this, investing in this way to improve yourself might be worth it, depending on your future plans about staying in the Netherlands.

---

Now that you have learned some ways to improve yourself (and your CV), it is important not to stress too much. The job hunting process may take some time, but never lose hope. Job searching is a full-time job in itself, but the more you fill your time with volunteering, courses, student associations, languages, the less you will feel like the process is going badly. On the opposite, you will be consistently improving yourself. Exactly that is what many employers are seeing – a proactive and ambitious individual. Good luck!

Let me know in the comments below what sort of free courses you would recommend for the rest of us!

This article was originally published on BGMT.nl and you can find it here.

---

New Year’s Eve has passed and we have entered 2021 full of hope for ourselves and the world. Many people usually take this time to think of their new year’s resolutions in order to set the tone for the upcoming year. Setting such resolutions is a daunting task for some and often times, the immensity of the goal contributes to that fear. The prevalent belief that everyone should have high expectations and standards for the year ahead, places immense pressure on each one of us.

Nonetheless, resolutions should not be considered as a burdensome task, but more as smaller attainable goals that could help us improve. Resolutions that work for us.

How do we create such resolutions? Keep reading to find out the 3 most important steps to make the process easier and achievable. Additionally, you will also discover my personal experiences with resolution development.

Defining New Year’s Resolutions

Important Disclaimer:

You need to remember that they are not laws, but rather pointers for progress and self-improvement. Even if you don’t achieve them perfectly, it matters that you were willing to try, and willing to put the effort in trying. That to me is reason enough to create resolutions.

What are New Year’s Resolutions

Firstly, we need to briefly mention what these resolutions are. In the past, after 5 years of goal-setting and 2 years of bullet journaling, I can say that I am warming up to them. Initially, I tried to write down resolutions such as “be happier” and “spend less”. All of these are amazing goals, but I soon lost interest in them as it seemed very hard to do.

I had not given myself the opportunity to achieve these resolutions because I was looking at them as mere guides. Guides to habit development. I thought that after all, habits need around 66 days to be built and ingrained in us.

Here are a few steps that I should have taken:

1. Customize your resolutions

Okay, you are in. You want to make 2021 resolutions. So you start from customizing them to you and your current situation. One reason why resolutions fail is that they revolve around societal or other external expectations about yourself.

At the bare minimum, you should be honest to yourself on what you need to work on. Why stop there? Don’t only make them about yourself, consider the others around you. How about giving back to your local community or saying “thank you” more. Make the goals beneficial to others and not because of external pressure, but because you want to.

The time factor

Another reason why resolutions are so hard to keep is their 1-year time stamp. Shorter time frames allow for focussed goal-targetting.

Consider making resolutions weekly or monthly. For instance, if your resolution is to become a vegetarian, start with 3 to 4 days of vegetarian food. This makes the resolution more possible. By breaking down these goals, you can more closely monitor your progress. This is harder to do with a longer term goal. You can also view your results, and build on past achievements no matter their size.

2. Simplify and categorize

After personalizing your resolutions, it’s time to simplify and categorize them.

Each year, I use my bullet journal to write out a few aspects of my life that would benefit from resolution-making. These can be career goals, personal development, relationships, finance, fitness, etc. Personally, I choose to write out my resolutions in pencil because it makes them less permanent and I can adjust them as the time passes by. As I said, they are not laws, they are merely guides.

Simplification is important because the less grand, the more attainable they are. Trust me, achieving your resolutions feels like tangible progress. Even a goal such as “drinking 1.5L of water every day” can be a new year’s resolution.

3. State the how

Now that you have a clearer vision of your simple and personal resolutions, it’s time state how you will actually achieve them. This step is probably the most important one. It makes new year’s more grounded rather than ethereal and impossible.

For instance, you could easily say you want to learn the Dutch language by doing 2 hours of work every week, from specific textbooks or applications. This does not seem like a lot, especially if you consider time for a break in between the weeks of studying.

One method that I recently discovered and could be useful is the WOOP method. After coming up with your resolution, a.k.a. ‘wish’, work out the possible outcomes and obstacles as part of your plan.

Writing your wishes down is much easier than just saying them out loud. Try it out and let me know how it goes in the comments below!

…..

Now that you have learned how to set new year’s resolutions, you should adapt these tips to your own liking. You do not have to set resolutions but if you do, remember to focus on enjoying the process of self-improvement. Good luck!

If your resolution is to get a driver’s license in the Netherlands, check out this previous article on our site. Maybe you want to explore the world of podcast as a new 2021 goal? Click here for interesting podcasts based in Rotterdam.

This article was originally published on BGMT.nl and you can find it here.

---

You may have seen my previous article on how to create your own New Years’ resolutions and maybe actually took my advice on it. However, I think that getting organized is a major step in the process of achieving goals. There are many articles talking about how to begin doing this, but truly your organizational style is quite personal. Which aspects of your life do you want to be more organized in? Your living space, school, work?

In the next few paragraphs, I will mostly talk about tips for a generally positive attitude towards getting organized. It’s a process of healthy habit-building that takes time and effort. Nevertheless, you should first start by thinking of organizing your life as a way to take care of yourself. In these Covid-19 times, it’s even more important to prioritize yourself.

Why Does Getting Organized Matter?

In my personal opinion, the more organized things around you are, the more likely you would be to achieve your goals. Chaos may trigger creativity sometimes, but mostly, you are left with a feeling of mess and lack of structure.

Getting organized brings in a sense of responsibility into your own life and can reduce anxiety immensely. In that way, you can focus on achieving longer-term goals or even do things you otherwise don’t have time for. You may not benefit from getting organized in a perfect way. Sometimes, this process can increase anxiety. Whenever it does, stop immediately. The goal of getting organized is not perfection, but it’s about making yourself feel better and be healthier.

Thus, here are my personal organizational tips from 17 years of studying. Hopefully, you find them useful.

1. WRITE THINGS DOWN to Get Organized more Easily

I mean it. When was the last time you thought to yourself that there was something on your mind to be done, but you forgot about it? Yesterday? Today? Write it down! This is the number one organizational tip I could ever give.

Use a piece of paper, a journal, a software like Evernote, anything. Getting organized is not that hard when you actually are aware of all the tasks you need to complete. Don’t forget to make these tasks specific and detailed. For example, if you are, similarly to me, looking for jobs, don’t just write “apply to jobs today”. How about “apply to this company in the morning and this one in the afternoon”. Great, you have 2 applications done for the day and you organized that part of your life.

2. Set Deadlines

You need to understand what sort of deadline style works best for you in order to become more organized. Do you prefer external deadlines or do internal ondes do the job as well? If you chose external, you may set notifications on your phone to remind you to do something. Another option would be to ask a friend to check in with you for some of your bigger tasks.

A big part of setting deadlines is scheduling. On one hand, I see how using the Pomodoro method or the Forest app could work. In both, you have 20 (or more) minutes to focus and complete a certain task. Additionally, in Forest with each cycle of minutes, you are building a forest, adding motivation by gamifying the process. However, often time, slots may not particularly work for the type of tasks you have in mind. Schoolwork seems like one sort of task that would benefit from such focus timeslots. However, some creative tasks, for instance, would require more or less time and you would never know exactly how much. If you find it hard to work with time slots, you can do what I do and just have general ideas of when things would be done. This can be the morning, the afternoon, etc.

That’s why you should always remember to always adapt your organizational style to your own life.

3. Building up to the Big Tasks

Small or big tasks first? That depends on what your personal organization style is, but for me personally starting off with something simpler is the way to go. That way I already feel like I have achieved something, just by ticking that off my list. Moreover, making the tasks tangible and seeing your progress can definitely be a motivation to start working on something bigger. Did you do your dishes? Tick them off of the list.

Eventually, you will achieve all of your organizational goals.

4. Unconventional Tips for Personal Organization

There are many unconventional tips on how to get organized and there is no shame in the game. I have heard people listen to inspirational music such as Ludovico Einaudi. Others say you should work on your tasks when you are tired at the last minute. Maybe that is a source of motivation? Some people prefer to detach themselves completely and focus on the tasks at hand by removing all of their social media accounts. For me, some days I purposefully try not to plan out everything I am doing. If it does not feel like a productive day, that’s okay.

Hence, most importantly, you should get organized in a way that works best for you. You may hate deadlines; you may love them – it really does not matter. Now go and get things done!

This article was first published on BGMT.nl and you can find it here. It was a collaboration article with another writer focused on interviews for dating apps.

---

As many countries around the world, The Netherlands has been in a hard lockdown for a few months now. This situation has impacted not only daily life, but also the dating scene and particularly dating app use. Apps are seeing soaring usage numbers as romantic socialization in other ways has been halted. Another factor affecting the dating scene is the fact that there are quite a lot of internationals in The Netherlands. This has made the dating scene ever so unique. And this Valentine’s day is different for both singles and couples.

Thus, to explore the view of dating apps in The Netherlands, we interviewed 2 couples and 2 single people. The couples were mixed, an international and Dutch person, whereas both singles were internationals. One of the couples met through Tinder (Michael and Rika) and the other one through their Masters course (Juan Carlos and Luisa). On the other hand, both single people (Maria and Nicholas) were not very active users of apps, yet they had a few encounters with people from dating apps. We spoke to them about their opinion on dating apps, their use of and experiences from dating apps as well as whether apps can nurture sustainable relationships. Here is what we discovered:

Dating apps are tools for exploration and experimentation

One of the most prominent points from our interviewees was the belief that apps are meant for ‘seeing what’s out there’. Even Michael & Rika said they joined the app without any particular goal in mind yet a relationship is what they ended up getting. Maria and Nicholas were hesitant to use apps partially due to their lack of experience, but also lack of trust in the app system and the others. Yet, most agreed that the swiping is a fun (mostly casual) pastime. Especially during lockdown when activities are limited, the interviewees saw dating apps as one form of entertainment. Moreover, the lockdown has also restricted social interactions, so for those who are looking to gain further dating experience, dating apps can be a great solution. After all, the lockdown is preventing many from beginning or continuing their young love lives.

Authenticity is king

One idea appeared, again and again, among the answers we gathered: authenticity. More accurately, it seemed like our fellows considered dating apps to bring little of it to the table. Nicholas put it best “I’m generally looking for a more authentic connection than for a fictional one.”

He was concerned about one particular element: catfishing. He explained it as “basically when you use altered images of yourself, or even images of other people to make yourself appear much nicer than you are in reality.” He further stated that ” (..) when you meet that person in real life that usually becomes an issue, because you are basically falsifying your identity, and that can lead to some nasty situations and miscommunication. And I think that’s very unfair to the other person. I mean, what’s the point of creating that kind of persona online, if your end goal is to meet someone in real life, but you can’t change how you look in real life, so I don’t see the point.”

Neither couples nor singles seemed to expect dating apps to help one find a sustainable, long-term relationship. Actual dating websites was Michael’s suggestion for those looking for true love, as they are created with the purpose of bringing couples together. In Rika’s opinion, ” (…) on Tinder there’s so little information, just pictures and a relatively short description. It’s really more like meeting people randomly instead of meeting them in person. (…) It’s just that you raise your chances of randomly meeting people.” 

While Luisa appeared to be distrustful of the very idea that one can build serious and long-term relationships through dating apps, Juan Carlos was a bit more moderate on the subject. However, he did mention the need for “filtering the bad ones out,” and how it is a considerable impediment to using dating apps. 

But what if I’m looking for something else?

One great point made by Rika was that not everybody is looking for something serious on dating apps, and that’s just fine. You can have a casual thing and still call it dating. In that aspect, dating apps are surely where one will find success. 

Nicholas agreed. “The way they are used now at least, most people just use them for quick hook-ups, or just casual relationships,” he says. Even the couple that met through Tinder, Michael and Rika, acknowledged that they weren’t particularly looking for a serious relationship when they matched, and it took a few dates until they decided they are a “thing.” Another advantage of dating apps that Maria saw is that they can be helpful in meeting new people, as a way to gain experience to prepare for something more serious in the future.

And what if you really meet that special someone on Tinder or Bumble? Well, first, as Michael put it: “It does happen often, but it’s not something that occurs regularly, or often for most people,” so set your expectations at an appropriate level. Then, even when you match with them, listen to Nicholas and meet them in real life as soon as possible, to see if the connection is real.

Most importantly, make sure that before you fall for someone online, you can love the person in the mirror. As Maria said, “a sustainable relationship is first built by building a relationship with oneself.”

Internationals’ experience of dating apps  

Rika and Nicholas mentioned that dating apps can be difficult to navigate as internationals in The Netherlands. Mainly this concerned language barriers that they experienced. These internationals saw biography sections and first pick-up lines in Dutch and were often put off by them as the conversations shortly ran out. Unfortunately, many dating apps do not provide any translation options, so internationals’ dating pools often seem much smaller.

Contrary to this more negative view, Rika, Maria, and Luisa perceived the apps as opportunities to meet new people and make friends. Though Michael believed that this, as possible as it is, is not a very regular occurrence. Often, we see internationals focusing on the social part of their new lives in The Netherlands, which are now affected by the lockdown. Rika, who is in a relationship with a Dutch person, claimed that the Dutch dating environment is quite specific. That is quite normal to hear. Dating habits differ from country to country, so internationals have different expectations for casual or serious relationships than their Dutch counterparts. Thus, understanding Dutch dating style is important for any international. How can they do that? By getting more experience from dating apps, possibly.

So, what now?

We asked all of our interviewees for advice to give those still looking for love this Valentine’s Day, especially on dating apps. Well, they all agreed that true love is a balance between idealism and realism. Be brave and put yourself out there, but also be careful and think before deciding on any option you have. No one knows what you want better than you! And if you’re feeling unlucky, or unwanted, never despair – “There’s someone out there for you, keep on going, even if it’s not this Valentine’s Day there’s always next year. Don’t give up on love if you don’t get what you want now,” concluded Michael.

This article was originally written for BGMT.nl and you can find it here.

It’s lockdown and what else is there to do, but explore some authentic grocery stores from a different country? There is quite an abundance of them in and very close to Amsterdam due to the large expat community around the capital of The Netherlands.

Personally, going to a particular culture’s grocery shop seems as the second-best thing to do after visiting that country or culture. You can even make it into a challenge with your friends or for a date. How about going to one of these (and thus, supporting smaller local shops rather than big chains) and cooking up one dish from that culture?

And here is my list of favorite international grocery stores in the vicinity of Amsterdam. If you have suggestions or additions for more, do let me know in the comments!

For more ideas on beating the lockdown blues and doing something exciting around Amsterdam, you can check out my previous article.

Africa

Abyssinia African Grocery store delivers many handmade products, hair care products, clothes as well as foods from East Africa.

Argentina

Argentinian store La Reinita in Amsterdam West offers a range of typical pastries and groceries.

Asian

There are quite a few Asian supermarkets which offer a variety of foods from all over the continent. The most popular ones are the Hong Kong Superstore and the Amazing Oriental. Here I would also like to mention Tijn’s Toko as it provides a wide assortment of Asian, American and other groceries.

Balkans

I may be from the Balkans, but only recently I discovered from some Australian friends this Balkan grocery store. I love it when this happens! It’s called Prijatelji (I believe it means ‘friends’, but there are Serbian comics under the same name). Please, correct me if I am wrong! It is a wine cellar and focuses on cheeses and other snacks.

Brazil

One Brazilian store is Finalmente Brasil in Amsterdam West. It seems that many international grocery stores are concentrated in that area of the city. Moreover, it’s a great place to get ingredients for brigadeiro!

British, American, Australian, South African and New Zealand

The native English-speaking community is probably the largest group of expats in The Netherlands hence why there are a lot of options for grocery stores. Many of these also do deliveries alongside their physical stores. The most popular ones are Kelly’s Expat Shopping, A Taste of Home and Die Spens (for solely South African foods).

Bulgaria

Call me biased, but since I am from Bulgaria, I had to include 2 of the grocery stores I know of. Actually, this is how the idea for this article came to be. You can find some Bulgarian cheeses, wines, yoghurts, sweets and more at Bulgarije shop and Kapriz.

India

Do you fancy an Indian curry with authentic ingredients? Well, you can visit these stores for a great selection of Indian groceries – Little India and Authentic India.

Israel

My Israeli friend recently showed me the typical Gold Star beer and I was interested in where one can purchase it. There apparently is a JUMBO with an Israeli food section here. Additionally, if you feel like having some typical baked goods, bakery Laromme has some great ones and it is also very close to the abovementioned JUMBO.

Italy

Apart from the native English speaking community’s grocery stores, Italian stores are also all-around Amsterdam. Many people love pasta, Italian olive oil and cheeses, wines and more, so the popularity is justified. Two of my favorite are Casa Del Gusto and Terre Lente.

Japanese

I am putting a separate section for Japanese foods though some of their groceries can be found in the Asian stores referred to above. Japanse Delicatessen Atariya delivers anything Japanese you could think of!

Mix

This section is for supermarkets with a mix of foods from around the world. Both De Volkskruidentuin and Bario Market have good reviews. If you are in the neighborhood, why not check them out.

Spain

Looking for a Spanish deli? Look no further, Ibericus Amsterdam offers some great fresh meat choices and more.

Russia

There are also a few Russian grocery stores. Blin has anything from Russian matryoshka dolls to cheese and beer. Another one is Mini Mix Amsterdam, which the name may not suggest so, but it does have products from Russia, Eastern Europe and Armenia.

Turkey

Turkey may be last in this alphabetic list, but Turkish delights and more are not to be missed. Efe Food bakery delivers a range of baklavas and breads, whereas Nuri Genco is a typical Turkish grocery store.

---

Enjoy exploring some authentic products from all over the world. Have I missed your country/culture? Let me know in the comments!

Article not published yet.

---