My husband and I have been to Amsterdam on several occasions, but never before had we stayed in De Pijp neighborhood. This is definitely where we will stay if Paul’s place is available, and if not, we will seek another place in the same location. It is lively and bustling, more with locals than with tourists, which is definitely an added bonus. We were at Paul’s place for eight weeks, so it was great to be grounded where we felt more immersed and could pretend for a minute that it was our home! We had our two toy poodles with us, so it was great to be on the ground floor for ease of letting them out. There is also a fabulous park right around the corner (the Sarphatipark), half of which is dog friendly. Get a cheap blanket, bring a bottle of wine, and chill out by the pond. No mosquitoes!
There are so many options for eating in the neighborhood—be sure to visit Sir Hummus. Also walking distance to Albert Heijn (grocery store), so if you want to prepare your own meal and stay in which we often did, this was done with ease. If you feel like ordering food and having it delivered, there are several delivery services that will bring you a great meal right to your door, with no charge.
Very close to the famous daily street market (except Sundays) the Albert Cuyp; nice to stroll through to grab a bite or do some shopping.
So easy to navigate into the city center and elsewhere via the trams. We normally rent bikes while there, but this time with our dogs, we decided to rely on the fabulous public transit system. (Which dogs are allowed on, no questions asked).
Paul’s place was tidy and just the right amount of space and the neighborhood was ideal.
One insider tip I wish we had figured out sooner—how to rent a private boat. Check out Boats4rent.com. For €90 you get your very own electric aluminum boat which can seat up to six people. You can also do a two hour tour for €60. I would suggest doing it on a weekday, as the canals are much less crowded. It is a gorgeous way to explore the city, and they provide you with a map/route to follow.
Paul is a magnificent host, and we actually hung out a couple times. It was extra special feeling like we had a friend in the city. Don’t hesitate to ask him any questions or for suggestions in general. He is an exemplary Airbnb host and went above and beyond to make our stay a special one. I’m happy to be back in my own home after having been away so long, but I definitely feel a bit forlorn for that wonderful city already!