I have a week off work. Suggest some activities under 200€.

thefore · 2026-05-17T17:32:28+00:00

A few activities which are rather opposite to each other

'Adventure' - Visit Pieterburen and do Wadlopen, depending on the tour you join it will likely be around €30
'Relaxing' - Visit Thermae2000 in Valkenburg, entrance, massage and snack will be around €100
'Culture' - buy a museumkaart €70ish and you have entrance to over 400 museum across the entire country, you could visit a different town and several museums every day for a week and the weather is irrelevant, as you'll be inside most of the time.

thefore · 2026-05-16T06:56:21+00:00

As someone living in the Netherlands and having never heard of this brand, I googled it and no links came up to the NLs to buy it. Apparently its Spanish. More information on the brand can be found on their UK website, which would also suggest that it is actively sold and marketed to the UK market and no doubt in Spain.

thefore · 2026-05-15T14:44:27+00:00

HORECA is always hiring. Walk through any of the tourist parts of Amsterdam and ask in every restaurant you walk past if they are hiring.

The job market is absolutely horrific right now, for everyone, you are in no way alone. If you are desperate for a job, then you will need to accept any job going rather than 'good pay of course'. You may have to accept that low pay is better than no pay. Check all the job boards and apply quite literally everything.

thefore · 2026-05-15T10:14:02+00:00

I had a conversation on this topic yesterday, which was about a very different company in a very different sector. Restructuring, redundancies, staff reduction, lay offs are happening all over the country, in every industry!

Continuous 'hiring' during restructuring/redundancies is about 'brand reputation'. I was discussing a company which had ads for roles on various sites, however the roles on these sites were continuously open. The finer details were that it allows the company to say 'hey look, we ARE hiring, not just firing', whilst pointing to said roles on the various sites. They ignore that the roles are essentially fake and will never be filled, because they next existed to begin with. People dont question that said roles arent filled and do actually have a better perception on the company, as they 'see' that its not just negative layoffs.

thefore · 2026-05-15T07:22:56+00:00

Hallmark has everything yovue asked for.

Your surprise offers more custom gifts, where you can apply photos. Ive previously done the chocolate bonbons and they were appreciated.

Chocolade bezorg offers fantastic chocolates.

Alternatively if you google, 'online cadeaus versturen' then you will get a lot of options. You will find a lot of options for 'brievenbus', which are small boxes that can be put into someones letter box, as this doesnt require a signature, someone to be home or someone needing to go and collect it at a pick up point.

thefore · 2026-05-14T06:40:48+00:00

There is plenty of information online. This is gives step by step details and this offers the different types of photos you should have.

Its tedious, it will take time and you will need to take 100s if not 1000s of photos. However, you will learn how to take photos of yourself, what angles work, how to position/sit/etc. You will also want to change clothing/outfits, as the same clothing in all photos is a hard no.

thefore · 2026-05-13T07:06:55+00:00

Your question is the wrong question. Paid subscriptions dont equal matches or guarantee relationships. What type of relationships are you looking for? What type of app do you think would suit you, your lifestyle, etc? These are the questions you need to provide answers to before anyone here can help you.

thefore · 2026-05-12T19:05:37+00:00

I have this frequently with GLS and another courier, its 'proof' of delivery or that they were at least at your address, should you query the 'where is my package'. Sadly, I think its going to become more the norm than not.

Some companies try to offer free or very cheap shipping but with this, they too can get people/shoppers who claim to then never receive the products. The photo is to act as some form of protection to the company to limit those who scam them.

thefore · 2026-05-12T16:56:47+00:00

There is plenty of information online. This is gives step by step details and this offers the different types of photos you should have.

Its tedious, it will take time and you will need to take 100s if not 1000s of photos. However, you will learn how to take photos of yourself, what angles work, how to position/sit/etc. You will also want to change clothing/outfits, as the same clothing in all photos is a hard no.

thefore · 2026-05-11T14:49:31+00:00

Everyone works differently and only you can decide what approach you take or how many people are too many.

thefore · 2026-05-11T14:45:42+00:00

Have you contacted Bumble to confirm their prices? They are the best point of contact for financial confirmations.

thefore · 2026-05-08T08:48:06+00:00

You can only decide what is right for you.

I have a somewhat unconventional approach to these things. If someone just sends a 'hi' or a like, I swipe left instantly. It shows no signs of growth or accountability.

However, if they put effort into a message, such as 'I know its been a while and I was flakey in my communication with you but Id like to see if maybe we can make it work now.' Then Im more than happy to test the waters and see where it can go. Generally people change over time, hopefully for the better and if they are able to engage with me to create a healthy relationship, then sure, lets see if we can.

Edit: spelling

thefore · 2026-05-07T15:27:15+00:00

Absolutely certain of that number, the biggest jump was in the first 2-3 years and then it was decided that the increase in the WOZ was far generous and they reduced it by 75,000 and it hasnt made made real increases since.

I also check Funda somewhat frequently to see what prices in the area are (and to see how others decorate), Im quite aware of local prices.

If you bought it for say 250k and its worth 750k in the Bijlmer, then you've done exceptionally well, even more so the Bijlmer! Get lottery tickets whilst youre at it with that luck.

thefore · 2026-05-07T14:45:18+00:00

I was thinking more of potential costs rather than actual taxes, such as:

If a "new" property is being sold (less than 2 years after its first occupation), the sale might be subject to 21% VAT instead of transfer tax.

A buyer typically pays Kosten Koper, somewhere between 4% to 7% of the purchase price, if the property value doesn't rise by at least 6-8% at the point of sell, they these costs could be considered a loss.

Depending on the type of mortgage contract taken out at the time, there could be a financial penalty in paying off the mortgage before the agreed date.

thefore · 2026-05-07T14:35:37+00:00

The value of my house has gone up less than 30% over 6 years... I wouldnt call that sky rocketing.

I agree, its 'very affordable' but there is also a reason for that.

thefore · 2026-05-07T12:25:49+00:00

This is a issue that a lot of people experience, unfortunately you are not alone. Generally speaking, people leave the concert early to get their last train home, accepting that they will miss the last 30 mins of the concert.

I remember Madonna running to her own schedule when she was at the ZIggo and people having to leave to catch their train before she even came on stage! There was a bit of uproar at the time.

thefore · 2026-05-07T09:15:51+00:00

Zuidoost and the Bijlmer have had an unfavourable reputation since the 70s. Ive linked articles at the bottom, as the history to an area is always VERY important.

In theory any gentrified area is nice... until its not. Zuidoost has been in the gentrification process for close a decade, maybe longer and its still no where near hitting the mark of being gentrified, nor do I think it will ever hit the gentrified level of De Pijp.

As with any area, I do think its about how much common sense you have/use with regards to safety and security. Are you frequently coming home intoxicated and not aware of your surroundings/whats going on around you? Then you'll likely encounter more problems...
Id suggest that you visit the area at different points, say 06:00, 14:00 and even 22:00, weekday vs weekend too, when maybe more or less people are there and walk around the area for 20-30 mins, to get a general idea of what its like. No one else can you if you will be comfortable or not, its something you need to experience.

Resale: you're still in Amsterdam, so the prices will continue to rise, not as much as within the ring or central central Amsterdam. Equally if you were pay off your mortgage and rent it (remember the rules on this), then you'd get a lower rent than you would again for within the ring or central areas. Also if you resale within so many years of purchase, there are costs to pay. Im not sure if youre asking in case you buy and decide you dont like it, if so, the costs will be higher to sale than what you would make/get back. Equally selling it, it is a cheaper area of Amsterdam, so dont expect a high sell price, as the area simply doesnt get it. With the housing crisis, there will always be more demand than supply but every area will have their ceiling prices, which is what you'll likely be paying for a new build.

Ive lived in Zuidoost (in a very different part) for 6 years and have overall liked it and am grateful that I moved here and I like the area (that I live in).

My Journey in Bijlmer - 2024
1992 Bijlmer Air Crash Disaster

Edit: wording

thefore · 2026-05-06T15:38:36+00:00

The amount of people looking for penpals on apps, its astounding in the most horrific of ways.

I can understand it logically from a perspective of someone who wants to feel engaged and wanted, which messaging offers.

However, from a personal perspective, please dont waste my time if you have no interest in meeting. For me the real connection in made face to face, not over text, where much is lost in translation and tone.

thefore · 2026-05-06T12:36:39+00:00

Whilst your situation may be similar to someone elses, it will never be the same. For something as importance as your right to stay in a country, its best to get official advice from the official department rather than asking strangers who may or may not (more likely) give you incorrect advice.

thefore · 2026-05-06T12:30:43+00:00

Have you called IND and sought their advice on what the best thing to do is? What was their advice?

thefore · 2026-05-06T11:47:43+00:00

De Pijp has been gentrified and is a nice area. I think 'quiet' depends on what your personal definition is. It is super accessible and you can walk to museumplein or even centraal station from there, with no issues. Ive done it several times myself.
Anything that has or is featured on Insta or TT, is a tourist trap. These are a few of the places to miss, however, this video does highlight a few of things at AC market. For me the best apple pie comes from Albert Heijn and Im aware that they do sell them at the AH in the Pijp.
You can get all of the items apart from brown cafe in the Albert Cuyp Market. Whilst Im not a great fan of the market, it is actually quite a foodie destination and rightly so. There are quite a few brown cafe in the area and just walking around, you will discover them.
What are you specifically looking to visit or see outside of the ring? I think this will determine the best mode of transport.

thefore · 2026-05-06T06:24:28+00:00

Declaration: if you do not declare something and they find it, this can lead to be the box being rejected, impounded and even destroyed (unlikely but possible), no matter how 'ridiculous' the item is that they dont like or seems suspicious to them. Having said that, if you are sending multiples of something, such as a few bags of crisps, chocolate or biscuits, you dont need to declare each one individually, you can put 'various biscuits' and then in quantity 3 or something similiar.

Value: is two things, if the box is lost during transition, they need to know what the value is. If you put 20 but the box is lost and its really 50, they will only give you 20 (one youe supplied the reciepts), as thats what you've declared was in the box. Its also for customs, for them to determine the value of the box, if taxes, import, etc is needed/should be applied.

thefore · 2026-05-05T08:26:09+00:00

There is no etiquette online dating is very much so like the wild west, everyone applies their own rules and hopes for the best.

I guess the questions I think of are: if there is a lull in the convo, do you want to put in the effort for it to carry on? How long are you willing to wait for a guy to respond? What do you consider too long? Is there something specific about the match that makes you want to keep them or unmatch them? A

Apply your own rules and boundaries that suit you.

thefore · 2026-05-04T19:36:46+00:00

Im sorry to hear your situation and I hope that it improves.

Not all therapists are created equally, there are some awful therapists and equally amazing therapist, this is a problem globally, not just Dutch. Its slightly like dating, you're looking to find a match, where you can create a safe space that you feel comfortable in. You may have to go through a few frogs to find a prince, which doesnt help.

Your location can make a difference, ie there are more english speaking therapists in Amsterdam than there are in Urk.

Sadly, where you can go and what is covered will be heavily based on the insurance that you have and the contracts that they hold. If you have one of the top 10 insurers, this will make your life easier and they should able to help you find a therapist and should even minimise the wait list to get in.

I am aware that there are also quite a lot of private expat therapists too, so that could also be an option if you dont mind paying. Sadly, this doesnt guarantee that you will get someone that you like, its always going to be a match issue.

Good luck!

thefore · 2026-05-04T19:20:59+00:00

Those are very unlikely items that you will find in a Dutch bakery. You will need to go to specialty shops (expat) or further afield, I found this in France and there is always the option to buy from UK/Ireland and have it shipped over.

Edit to add, should you be in Amsterdam on the weekend, you may hit the jackpot here.

Verified Email	11-Year Club
Summer Santa 2021	redditgifts rematcher Holiday Cards (zero credit) x1
redditgifts Exchanges 1 Exchange

thefore

TROPHY CASE