I’ve written this article upon a special request from Emily Martens, a Magazine Journalism student at the University of Suderland (UK), who’s creating her own project, called ‘Xplore’. Emily invited me to write about places that aren’t typically intended for tourists, that my friends and I would visit. This feels like going ‘back to the roots’ of this blog. I like the idea that I can help younger folks out there make the most of their travelling time. For me, the cliche that states that the best things in life are free lives up to the expectation. This doesn’t come without some creativity at times. That’s when these tips might come in handy. Here’s a little intro, for the ones who are here for the first time…

Hi there!

“I am Ana V. Martins, an Amsterdam based actress turned blogger and content creative. I am Portuguese and I have been living here for 6,5 years now. I’ve created ‘Amsterdive’ in 2013, and the blog really came out of my unconditional love for the city. I often had people visiting, so one of my first posts was “Routes for you to get lost in Amsterdam”, which was intended as a written guide for friends and family. This way I didn’t have to repeat everything again and again. ‘Amsterdive’ is a hub to all my passions: arts & culture, sustainability, creative & conscious living, all within the ‘Amsterdam kingdom’.

Turning your budget into an asset 

Properly discovering a city doesn’t require big amounts, and being on a budget only makes us more creative in the ways that we navigate and interact with environments and people, which is all the more enriching. I can’t tell you how often I had to challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone when travelling because of money restrictions. However, these restrictions turned out to be a gift as I often had to rely on people’s kindness and generosity for places to sleep and guidance in my route. I always stay at friends or use couchsurfing when I travel – and the last one brought me some of the most transformative and joyful experiences of my entire life. This made me get closer to my friends and, I feel, to humankind. I mean, at least that’s how it starts to feel when you befriend complete strangers almost overnight. So, my first suggestion for you to immerse yourself in a foreign culture has to be: use couchsurfing. Even if you don’t want to sleep at a stranger’s place or you can’t find a host, you can always go for a walk with a local. Having a local friend is the best way of getting to know a culture and – you’ve guessed it – it’s completely free. As for Amsterdam, there’s plenty to do without you having to spend money – or very little! 

Experiencing Amsterdam like a local

|| A stroll around the NDSM (free ferry ride included!) ||
(free)

NDSM – Werf  & Ij-Hallen

The NDSM is a cultural free haven in Amsterdam North that was born in a former industrial shipyard. You can take the most left-hand ferry behind the central station in order to get there, and it runs every day until 03.00. The ride is lovely and totally free of charge. Once there you can do a street-art tour – start with the huge image of Anne Frank, an art-work by famous graffiti-artist Cobra. You can also visit ‘Art City’ which houses ateliers of artists in the former shipyard wharf. In case you want to have a drink, I’d recommend the marvellous cafe Noorderlicht which overlooks the IJ canal. Also, this is the area where the biggest European flea-market takes place, the Ij-Hallen. The entrance to this market costs 5 euro but the price of clothing starts at 1 euro! Check the markets dates online.

|| A storytelling evening at the Mezrab ||
(donation based)

Mezrab
Veemkade 576

The Mezrab is a cultural centre that hosts storytellings every Friday evening on a donation basis. Once you get there, take a seat around the carpet, grab a nourishing homemade soup (for five euros) and marvel at the English spoken stories, told by tellers from different provenances and walks of life. My favourites are “My True Story” every second Friday of the month, and “The Original Merzab Storytelling Night”, every third Friday of the month. 

|| A lunch at MAOZ vegetarian ||
(5 euro)

MAOZ Vegetarian
Leidsestraat 85
Damrak 40
Muntplein 1
Albert Cuypstraat 67 

Another perfect place to eat a veggie meal is MAOZ vegetarian. This is nourishing street food at its best. For five euros you get a yummy pita falafel with all the veggies and toppings you could wish for.

|| A dinner at MKZ ||
(5 euro)

MKZ
Eerste Schinkelstraat 16

Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the MKZ team of volunteers cooks a delicious three-course meal for which you pay only five euros! MKZ is a community kitchen with a very relaxed atmosphere, where it is easy to strike a conversation with the locals. There is no table service here, and you’re expected to wash your own dishes. Reserve your spot from 17.00 on via +31206790712.

|| A dancing evening at Pacific Parc ||
(free entrance before 23.00)

Pacific Parc
Polonceaukade 23
Cultuurpark Westergasfabriek

Pacific Parc is the perfect place to go for a meal, for a drink, or dance the night away with the locals. That’s right, Pacific is both cafe, restaurant and nightclub, and the prices are very reasonable there. The place has a young and creative vibe, it is easy to meet people, and if you arrive before 23.00 the entrance is free. Also, there are usually live rock/punk/funk/afro concerts in the weekends (check their agenda online). This venue is located in the Westergasfabriek complex, a former late 19^thcentury gas factory turned cultural hotspot, in the middle of the Westerpark, a beautiful green area which makes for a well-spent afternoon during the warmer season. 

|| A ping-pong night at OT301 ||
(free)

OT301
Overtoom 301

A ping pong night is this exquisite event where a bunch of folks get together to play ping-pong, drink beers and listen to music. The excuse is the ping-pong, the result is a cheerful international environment (at a former squat turned cultural association), where you get to listen to a dj set, meet other folks and have the (ping pong) time of your life.

|| A concert at the open-air stage in Vondelpark ||
(free)

Openluchttheater
Vondelpark

If you come to Amsterdam during summer, know that there are free live concerts and shows almost every day at the Openluchttheater, in the most famous of Amsterdam parks: the Vondelpark. Check their program online; there are different types of music, theatre, dance, opera, you name it. And, since you’re in the open air you can bring your own booze.”

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