FAMILY LIVING IN THE NETHERLANDS

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Family Living;

- in Amsterdam

Amsterdam's thriving city life has much to offer expat families. Despite a reputation built primarily on nightlife, a busy restaurant scene, and a liberal attitude, Amsterdam's many public playgrounds, parks, facilities and activities geared towards children make it an ideal place to relocate and raise a family. This article describes the city's best places for expats with kids wishing to live comfortably, conveniently, and to make the most of their Amsterdam experience. Amsterdam is a city extremely well-equipped for kids, offering countless facilities, kid-centric activities, green areas and a liberal scattering of public playgrounds. However, while expat singles and couples tend to focus on finding housing in busy areas such as the historic centre, Jordaan and the Pijp, living spaces are typically small, canal house stairways are steep, and parking is limited. There are several areas of Amsterdam with more living space and great family accommodation, which are still close to the major parks and a short tram or cycle ride from the downtown area. Old South, Old West and the Rivierenbuurt, in particular, also tend to house a larger expat community, driven in part by their close proximity to the city's international schools. Old South is roughly demarcated by the Museumplein to the north, the Vondelpark to the west, the Beethovenstraat to the east, and the Amstelveenseweg and Stadionweg to the south. This is one of Amsterdam's most stylish districts and is priced accordingly. The Vondelpark, the city's large central oasis, is a haven for children and contains several playgrounds, a very child-friendly cafe, a small water play area for hot summer days, as well as a number of fields and paths for exploring. Old South offers big living spaces - a large percentage of which are single family homes with gardens and ground floor access - and no waiting time for parking permits in certain areas. The nearby Museum Quarter and an abundance of chic cafes, restaurants and boutiques make the area especially attractive, and the expat community here is extensive.

Vondelpark during winter

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Old West is situated directly west of the Vondelpark and extends to the Naussaukade in the north, the De Clercqstraat in the west and the Kostverlorenvaart canal to the south. Until recently, Old West was not so firmly established on the expat radar. However, recent regeneration efforts and an influx of money to the area have meant it is now a buzzing and sought after district. While not as traditionally grand as the Old South neighbourhood, the Vondelpark is also a quick trip away and further towards the De Clercqstraat there are several (enclosed) children's outdoor play areas and petting zoos. Families looking in this area can expect relatively smaller, multi-family houses when compared with Old South. Many still have typical Amsterdam (steep) stairways, but this is gradually changing as buildings are being redeveloped and upgraded. In Old West there is generally a wait to get a parking permit - at the moment the waiting list for on-street parking is approximately two years. The Rivierenbuurt is a large neighbourhood approximately bounded to the north and east by the Amstel River, and the Amstelkanaal and the A10 ring road, respectively, to the west and south. The Rivierenbuurt is slightly further outside the old city centre than Old South and Old West and is well-equipped for families. Houses are larger here and generally cheaper than those closer to the Vondelpark. The Martin Luther Kingpark, an abundance of smaller parks and quick access to the large Amstelpark just outside the ring road make this one of the greener areas of the city, extremely well-suited for children. Easy access to the highway also makes this a great place for commuting outside the city. Waiting times for parking permits vary: some places in the neighbourhood have a short wait, while in other places permits are granted immediately. Further afield, there are a number of neighbourhoods with spacious, single family living options. Watergraafsmeer, North Amsterdam and Sloten, for example, all

house more typical family-oriented, Dutch "city outskirts" communities. These neighbourhoods are traditionally considered less attractive to temporary expats because they do not provide the same unique old Amsterdam experience that areas closer to the city centre provide, but they do offer a chance to integrate more closely with Dutch society.

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- in Amstelveen Amstelveen is a quiet, green residential suburb located to the south of Amsterdam. This suburb is a leafy, prosperous, family-oriented which has a significant population of international residents. The largest group comes from Japan and the area is increasingly popular with expats from India and China who have displaced the Americans and Germans in the top four. Prices are slightly cheaper than Amsterdam but there's more family-style housing with gardens. The International School of Amstelveen is located here and the beautiful Amsterdam Forest provides a haven for dog walkers, cyclists, joggers and anyone looking for an escape to nature. Amstelveen has several large shopping centres and is well connected by public transport to Amsterdam's city centre and Schiphol Airport (10 minutes by car). Parking in the area is generally free and parking permits, where required, are typically available immediately. 'The Old Village' (Het Oude Dorp) is the ancient hub of the original settlement (1278) with the Amsterdamse Bos to the west and the town centre to the east. There's a mix of older detached houses, farms, terraced houses and apartments. Westwijk is a relatively new area of Amstelveen which is more modern and spacious and lined with small canals. The one central shopping zone in the centre of the neighbourhood preserves the feeling of a residential area. Larger detached family homes and villas are available here, in a green and tranquil setting that offers a lot of individual privacy. These are premium properties, so expect to pay premium prices.

“I'm glad I'm living in Amstelveen; it's greener than Amsterdam, but you

still have the advantage of living next to a big city.” G.B., Latvian,

Amstelveen”

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- in The Hague

The Hague offers a diverse set of neighbourhoods for expats relocating to the area to choose from. The city is divided into eight districts, each of which is further partitioned into different neighbourhoods. In general, the more prosperous areas are found in the northwest of the city, while less affluent areas are typically located in the south and east. Approximately 14,000 people reside in the Bomen and Bloemenbuurt neighborhood, located to the north-west of the center. Several parks are close at hand, as well as a number of sports clubs and recreational areas. The district consists of three neighborhoods: the Bomenbuurt, The Bloemenbuurt and Bloemenbuurt East. The Bomen-en Bloemenbuurt area is close to the sea and offers easy access to the city centre. The most important shopping streets are: Fahrenheitstraat, Thomsonlaan and Goudenregenstraat. This district is home to a variety of building styles, and especially the gables of the houses along the Laan van Meerdervoort and Beeklaan have been carried out with particular attention to detail. The Statenkwartier in The Hague is a neighborhood which evolved for the most part between 1900 and 1915. It is characterized by a diagonal street layout, with large squares at cross streets and a prevalence of Art Nouveau building styles. Many exteriors of houses, as well as the interiors, are elaborately decorated.

Some houses, for instance on the Statenlaan and Statenplein, have been placed under the protection of the "Netherlands Department for Conservation" (Monumentenzorg). Recently the entire neighborhood was named a "Protected Urban Area" (Beschermd Stadsgezicht).

Typical Statenkwartier view

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The Duinoord neighborhood was largely built in the early 20th-century with a mixture of broad avenues and stately town-houses, and narrower streets and family accommodation. Bohemian atmosphere and charming but typically smaller (than those in the Statenkwartier neighborhood) houses many of which date back to the late 19th century. The monumental character and pleasant combination of living and working makes this an attractive area to live.

Sweelinckplein, Duinoord

The Benoordenhout area is a stately, attractive residential neighborhood to the east of The Hague's center. The houses are typically spacious and comfortable, with a mix of villas, townhouses, family houses, and apartments. In the Nassau region of the neighborhood some townhouses (herenhuizen) have been converted to prime location offices. This district offers an interesting mix of urbanity and nature close to the city centre with easy access to the motorways and plentiful parking. This affluent area has a number of exclusive stores and boutiques, charming cafes and restaurants.

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- in Wassenaar Green oasis Wassenaar is situated to the north of The Hague and Scheveningen and to the south west of Leiden. It is known as one of the most beautiful villages of the Dutch North Sea shore area. The coastline of Wassenaar is over 8 kilometers long and covers an area over 60 square kilometers. Wassenaar has approx. 26.000 inhabitants, 3.400 inhabitants have a different nationality than the Dutch. Wassenaar is a village surrounded by dunes and a wooded area with many villas and mansions. Many of these houses use to be old estates, summer homes for wealthy urbanites. I addition to many wealthy residents offering shelter to companies and consulates, Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima have their house on the estate Eikenhorst. The town has a green and rustic character and hardly has any industry. There is a very nice and cosy center, restaurants and the American School. De Kieviet is another district in the municipaility of Wassenaar. The district was created in 1908 as a residential area southwest of Wassenaar, north of the Groot Haesebroekseweg and is near Meijendel. According to ‘Planet’ is De Kieviet the third district in the Netherlands with the highest millionaire rate. Directly north of De Kieviet is the Kieviets dune.

Futuristic building; American school in Wassenaar

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- in Hilversum The town is often called 'media city' since it is the principal centre for radio and television broadcasting in the Netherlands. Because of its attractive location, the city is surrounded by forests, moors and lakes (Loosdrecht), and at only 30 kilometres from Amsterdam, Hilversum has become the center of one of the most exclusive areas in The Netherlands called 't Gooi. Easy commute is possible by train; 20 minutes intercity to Amsterdam Central, 25 minutes intercity to Amsterdam WTC, 20 minutes to Utrecht Central and 20 minutes to Amersfoort. Most international corporate companies are located within these areas. Nike has its European headquarter located in Hilversum, which employs many expats. Hilversum is known for its spacious family houses with private gardens. International education is offered with two international primary schools and one international secondary school.

Nike headquarter Hilversum

- in Haarlem Haarlem is a beautiful old city, close to the beach, and only 15 minutes by train from Amsterdam Central Station. Haarlem, the capital of the province of Noord Holland, has a population of over 150,000 inhabitants. Haarlem offers varied accommodation and is more costly in the city centre. Living in the old city centre is popular, although houses tend to be smaller and less viable for families. Popular areas for families due to space and location of schools include Kleverparkbuurt, Leidesbuurt, Garenkokerskwartier, Bosch en Vaart, and Koninginnebuurt. The surrounding towns of Bloemendaal, Heemstede and Aerdenhout are also popular, although usually more pricey choices.

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- in Rotterdam There are plenty of neighbourhoods to consider in the city and surrounding villages, each with its own local highlights, hotspots and charm. Expats typically tend to settle in the city centre or one of Rotterdam's beautiful green suburbs. Many expats, for example, find their way to the trendy Kop van Zuid neighbourhood, the bustling Prins Alexander district, or can be found further afield in the exclusive Hillegersberg area. Prinsenland - Affordable expat housing Located in the bustling Prins Alexander district, this is an up-and-coming expat neighbourhood east of the centre. Prices here are relatively more affordable than downtown, and its child-friendly reputation attracts many families . The area is close to Rotterdam's largest shopping centre, the Alexandrium Shopping Centre, the Erasmus University Campus and several international schools. Ommoord / Zevenkamp - Child-friendly expat neighbourhood Ommoord/Zevenkamp is popular with expats thanks to its quiet, peaceful atmosphere. Child-friendly and green, this neighbourhood boosts numerous playgrounds and is well-connected to public transport. The city centre is 20 minutes away by metro, and the renowned Alexandrium mall is easily accessible. Maritime Quarter / NieuweWerk - Upscale expat apartments This upmarket neighbourhood is one of the country's most affluent. Luxury apartments, magnificently transformed warehouses, museums and some of the city's best restaurants line the streets surrounding the historic harbour. Rotterdam's main recreational area, simply called The Park, and the nearby Museum Park, lend a suburban feel to this central neighbourhood. While you will pay accordingly for the pleasure of living here, the breathtaking views over the Maas River and the central location may make it worth the expense. Hillegersberg - Upmarket expat living This beautiful, green suburb north-east of the city is extremely popular with expats with families and locals alike. House prices reflect its attractiveness and its chic, upmarket reputation. Several international schools are located here, and the commute to the city centre is a mere 10 minutes by public transport.

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