CURRENT MISSION

Looking for a new appartment

ABOUT ME

We are a couple. I (Jeroen) was born and raised in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. My girlfriend (Maisa) grew up in Surinam, south America and came to Holland in 1992.

Jeroen: I'm 39 years. My sign is leo and sometimes (;)) I 'll lead the way and set out directions, but as in the animal world male leo's can be lazy and waiting for the things to happen.
I am a bachelor of law and I work as a legal aid in a community-centre. Besides that I like to work out and to relax (sauna, massage, wat-sji-gong), read a good book (detectives, thrillers, travel), go out to bars/dancings, chill in the park or a terrace and ofcourse travel

My best travels are travelling around with a backpack and see different places. Greece, Bolivia and Panama are the most beautiful countries I've been with lovely people. Although every country has its own charm.

Maisa: I'm 35 years. I'm interested in a lot of things, buth when I understand those, I can loose interest. I like music: afro-Carribean-salsa-brasilian, etc.
I always like to travel and in a couple of months a dream of mine comes true, when we are going to south america.

Besides this I'm a master in law. At this moment I work for a temp agency and looking for a job.

PHILOSOPHY

Jeroen: my philosophy comes from Shakespeare:
"If all the year were playing holidays,
To sport would be as tedious as to work;
Bu when they seldom come, they wished-for come,
And nothing pleaseth but rare accidents."

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Couchsurfing is an excellent idea to get to know other people and other cultures in a different way. If people stay in a hostel most of the time the only people they meet are other travellers/people on holiday and those working for that hostel. It's the real world, but still people don't get to know locals and their customs. Besides that the only things the hostel is telling people is the main attractions of the city and nothing else. If people stay with a couchsurfing-host that might be different.

Because it's not always possible to stay at our couch or even not at another couchsurfing-host we have some tips for that unfortunate guest of Amsterdam. To have some idea what to do in and around Amsterdam the coming weeks, just scroll down.

Hostels in Amsterdam
www.hostelworld.com/hostels/Amsterdam
www.timorplein21.nl/hostel.php
www.hostel-meetingpoint.nl
www.shelter.nl
www.hostels.com/findabed.php?ChosenCity=Amsterdam&ChosenCountry=Netherlands&Search=1

Campings in Amsterdam
www.campingdebadhoeve.nl (north)
www.vliegenbos.com (north)
www.campingamsterdamsebos.nl (south-west)
www.gaaspercamping-amsterdam.nl (south-east)
www.campingzeeburg.nl (east)

Eating in Amsterdam
The most famoud food-critic of Amsterdam, mr Johannes van Dam writes every week his review of local restaurants in daily newspaper "Het Parool" and with that he scores them as well with a number:
www.parool.nl/parool/nl/35/Proefwerk/integration/nmc/frameset/proefwerkkaart.dhtml
Café Het Pakhuis, Voetboogstraat 10- 12. Tel: 020-6250856
Tapas restaurant Mano a mano, Hugo de Grootplein 6. Tel: 020-6880044
Ethiopean restaurant Queen of Sheba,1e Nassaustraat 32. Tel: 020-6888954
Chniese restaurant www.newking.nl Zeedijk 115. Tel: 020-6252180

Drinking in Amsterdam
(student cafe) www.cafedekoe.nl
(Beer Cafe) De Zotte www.de-flux.org/dezotte/
(Dance + Drink) Pacific-parc www.pacificparc.nl Haarlemmerweg 8, Tel: 0205974458

Movies in Amsterdam
www.biosagenda.nl/films-bioscoop-bioscopen_amsterdam_10.html

When the sun shines you can have a great time in one of the many parks in Amsterdam, such as Vondelaprk, Westerpark, Sarphatipark, Oosterpark and Flevopark. Almost every weekend you have a chance to see artists performing for (almost) free. Besides that you might even consider doing some juggling or dancing yourself.

Speaking of dancing
Dancing in Amsterdam
www.melkweg.nl in the citycentre: Lijnbaansgracht 234a near Leidsplein
www.escape.nl in the citycentre located at Rembrandtplein
www.zaal100.nl close to the citycentre located aan De Wittenstraat 100
www.club-8.nl in the west of Amsterdam located at Admiraal de Ruyterweg
www.timorplein21.nl

If you still don't know what to do, where to go or you want to have a different experience try the friday-night meet-up of Couchsurfing Amsterdam. Every fridaynight starting around 9:30 pm you have a chance to meet other couchsurfers and hosts at Cafe-tapperij D'oude Herbergh at Handboogstraat 17-19

What to do in august-september:

august 28th - august 30th
start of the cultural season in Amsterdam
www.amsterdamsuitburo.nl/uitmarkt

june 6th - august 29th
every saturday summernight you can visit the Amsterdam Zoo (artis) and have a picknick, tour, theatre, etc
www.artis.nl/zoomeravonden

august 7th - early september
free open air movies (original and subtitled) at Stenen Hoofd and Studio K
www.plukdenacht.nl

sept 8th - sept 13th
fre open air movies at Bijlmer bios at Anton de Kom plein
ww.bijlmerbios.nl

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

We hosted:
Xiaoman from Penang, Malaysia
Cordula from Leeuwarden, NL and Julia from Muenchengladbach, Ge
Adrien from Newcastle, UK
Janiele from Salvador, Brasil
Zdeno and Vera from London, UK

We were hosted by
Vanessa from Belem, Brasil
Janiele from Salvador, Brasil
Peter from Ciudad del Este, Paraguay
Menno from Zaandam, the Netherlands

I (Jeroen) and Maisa's sister (Rachida) were hosted by:
Stefanie in Augsburg, Germany
Beatrice in Mainz, Germany

I (Jeroen) and Maisa's sister (Rachida) had some drinks and talks with Heidi from Wiesbaden, Germany and her friend

We had a great evening out with Tabita and cousin

Interests

• animals
• books
• dancing
• dining
• beer
• working out
• sauna
• drinking
• clubbing
• movies
• traveling
• juggling
• music
• backpacking
• snowboarding
• sports
• law
• parks

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

both; Travelling south america for 6 months

Jeroen: seen the grave of the real Sinterklaas in Bari, Italy
joined operation "provide comfort" in Iraq in '91

Maisa:
My vacation to euro 2004 in Portugal and further to Marocco.
As a tropical girl taking snowboard lessons

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Iraq, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, San Marino, Spain, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Netherlands

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