At this point, I’ve been studying abroad in Amsterdam for about a month. I’ve learned so much about Dutch culture just by being in the city and being surrounded by it, especially the biking. The Dutch have a vibrant and unique cultural heritage that is truly present in every aspect of the city and the country. I want to share some of the aspects I have experienced firsthand in my time in Amsterdam so far.  

Biking! 

One of the first things that I learned about the Dutch is that they ride bikes everywhere. I was doubtful of the number of bikes that would truly be here when I arrived despite seeing them in almost every picture ever taken of the city. However, when I arrived in the Netherlands, I quickly learned that the sheer number of bikes everyone claimed existed was not hyperbolic at all. After seeing so many riders within just a few hours of being in the city, I was very excited to take on the Dutch streets while riding my very own bike to feel like a true Amsterdammer. 

Biking through the farmland to get to the beach in Texel! 

My first experience of biking was a bit stressful. A couple of my friends and I went to a busy neighborhood to pick up our bikes and quickly encountered the challenges of biking in a big city. It was an overwhelming experience to have to reacquaint myself with biking and simultaneously learn all of the rules of the road in the moment. That journey tested me in more ways than one but being with my friends made it worth it. 

After that bike ride, I was hesitant to try again in a busy neighborhood. Despite my nerves about getting back on the bike, I came up with the solution of going short distances with some of my friends. Luckily our neighborhood is not very busy so biking short distances to places like Jumbo, Albert Heijn, and local restaurants allowed me to improve my biking skills in a much more relaxed environment. Now that I’ve had my bike for a while, I can confidently say that it’s not as difficult as it looks, but it definitely takes some getting used to. It’s a very unique way to see the city and allows me to get to so many places faster than walking, much cheaper than the metro. 

Soccer! 

I love soccer. I have always been a huge fan of my home team, Inter Miami, so when our onsite staff, Frans and Chiara, told us we would be attending the Netherlands vs. Germany soccer game, I couldn’t wait! 

When the day finally came, I was impatiently waiting all day. The game began at 8:00 p.m. but I had a Dutch language class that ended at 8:30 p.m., so a small portion of the group and I were a little late. While standing outside the stadium, I could hear the excitement of the game going on inside the arena as I waited in the security lines outside the stadium.  

The Sea of Orange packed the stadium for the Netherlands vs. Germany game! 

As soon as we cleared security and were headed up to our section on the escalator, a goal was scored. Even though none of us could see what was going on, the explosion of cheering from the stadium made all of us so much more excited to see what was going on. When we finally got to our seats, we could see the game was tied 1-1. The first half continued to be intense and unfortunately, Germany was able to score on us, leaving Netherlands fans to go into the break on edge with our team down by one.  

Unsurprisingly, the second half of the game was incredibly tense. The Dutch team was playing their hardest and unfortunately, so were the Germans. Thankfully, we were able to break through the German defense and score a goal, finally tying the game. Everyone in the stadium was on edge as the clock ticked down, but neither team was able to score. With both teams tied after official time ended, three minutes were added. I was on the edge of my seat, along with the sea of orange around me, as we watched both teams battle for the tie-breaking goal in the extra minutes. Unfortunately, despite both teams playing the best they could, the match ended with a tie score.  

The experience of going to the game was absolutely amazing. Cheering on the Netherlands team surrounded by so many fellow fans was such an unforgettable experience, and I loved seeing how excited and committed everybody was. Everyone at the game was fully decked out in orange, with face paint and sometimes wigs to match. Going to the game definitely achieved the goal of making me feel like I was back at home but with a Dutch twist. 

Canal Cruise! 

The canal cruise is probably the epitome of a tourist activity in Amsterdam. The canal is the venue for so many Instagram pictures and is one of the most iconic aspects of this city. I couldn’t wait to go on the canal cruise, despite it being a “tourist activity.”  

One of the many sets of canal houses and bridges that make up the iconic cityscape of Amsterdam. 

The canal cruise began near the Rijksmuseum and took us around the city to see all the iconic landmarks but in unique ways. Frans brought us traditional Dutch snacks such as Borrelnoten and ham and cheese-flavored chips to try while we were on the cruise, which made the experience feel more, for lack of a better word, Dutch. While on the cruise, so many people waved at us as we passed by, and we even saw a man swimming in the canal.  

Westerkerk Church’s clocktower from the canal. 

While we were on the boat, the city looked so beautiful, especially since the sun was going down. Being on the tour was such a unique way to see the city and we got to explore parts of it we had never been to before, even though we were just passing by. The whole experience was just so unforgettable, an experience unique to this city.  

The serenity of the canal just before sunset.