Amsterdam was one of the first places we stayed after beginning our digital nomad era, and I think that's part of why it stuck with us. At the time, we didn't know exactly what we were looking for yet. We just knew we wanted to spend more time living abroad, working remotely, and experimenting with a different kind of lifestyle. Amsterdam happened partly because the Airbnb prices were reasonable during the winter, so we booked a place in the city and figured we'd see what happened.
What happened was that we froze.
Most of my memories of that first trip involve walking along the canals completely bundled up, seeing my breath in the air, and wondering how Amsterdam locals casually biked everywhere in weather that felt freezing to us. But somehow the cold became part of the experience. The canals, narrow buildings, constant bicycle traffic, and cozy cafés gave the city a personality that felt completely different from anywhere we'd been before.
That trip also introduced us to something we'd end up loving about the city: the café and coworking culture. We found a great coworking office, spent long stretches working from coffee shops, and quickly realized Amsterdam is one of those places built for lingering. Some cities make you feel like you should constantly be sightseeing. Amsterdam feels more like a city designed for wandering slowly, stopping often, and watching the world go by.
Of course, we also did some of the classic Amsterdam experiences. We visited the Anne Frank House, explored the museums, and even took a Red Light District tour, where our guide casually explained that he'd actually met and fallen in love with his wife there. Amsterdam definitely has a way of attracting interesting stories.
Since that first winter, we've returned several times, including a quick stopover while traveling between the US and our summer home in Croatia. The funny thing is that even after visiting multiple times, our favorite activities in Amsterdam haven't changed much. We still mostly wander the canals, hunt down good coffee and pastries, and sit outside people-watching whenever the weather cooperates.
Amsterdam isn't really a checklist city for us. It's a city we enjoy experiencing. The canals, bicycles, cafés, walkability, and slightly quirky personality all combine into a place that feels distinctly itself. Even after multiple visits, I still feel like we've barely scratched the surface.