I had a lovely time and Gijs has a lovely, lovely place. Actually, it's the whole building that's surprising, a bit like a tiny village of its own. What to expect: the apartment is minimalist but done with lots of good taste and unlike many minimalist spaces, it is cosy (wonderful colors, a dining table from reused wood I'm still envious of, inviting connection to the outdoor). The kitchen is not just pro forma ... it's an actual kitchen in which one can cook meals (and it even has a dishwasher). The apartment also has a washing machine and a dryer (great for refreshing stuff after coming in from the rain). The apartment is easy to access on public transport or on foot from the centre and it's a pleasant, very typically Amsterdams neighbourhood. Don's miss the oldest operational saw mill ... you'll see its sails turning when you lean out of the door. What not to expect: there are no silly knick-knacks in the apartment so when you're packing your things, you don't have to worry about some item of yours disappearing among dozens of things which belong to the apartment. In short, it's a great home-away-from-home.