The Hague/Amsterdam?

[Iheartginashoes]

My little sister has a new job in the Hague, and has to move in the next month or so.

She is late 20's, lives in London just now and is the original party girl.

Can anyone offer any advice on areas she should be looking at? I think she is kinda thinking Amsterdam but she's not sure. Somewhere safe, with wine bars and she will be happy.

Any advice would be fab

The Hague is very commercial and doesn't have a lot going on in terms of shops, restaurants etc. Amsterdam on the other hand, is FAB. It depends where she's going to be working really.

Sorry, shes working in the Hague I see. She should look into transport options. If it were me (I was the original London party girl before her - now semi-retired ) I'd go for the Dam without a shadow of a doubt.

Any particular parts of the dam that you would recommend?

My brother lived there for two years which is how I know the city. He lived near the Vondelpark, just off a road called leidsplein, which takes you right into the city. Areas around the Vondelpark are generally lovely.

That's really helpful thanks

I lived in Den Haag as a teenager and its lovely city.
You could live near Scheveningen (15-20mn from old centre, its a seaside bar/restaurant area, quite upmarket and with an expat community as the french school is nearby I think). Its all very family oriented though, might be a bit alienating for her. Its also all quite posh and proper. Expat communities tend to revolve around academia/diplomats etc...

As a young professional I would definitely recommend Amsterdam. Much more vibrant coming from London and many more opportunities to meet like minded young bachelors expats AND locals alike.
I lived there too with DH and our first DC when he was a baby.
I would have felt a bit "old" and alienated had I been in DenHAag, restricted to playgroups etc...Even with a young child, Amsterdam is a much more rounded life if you like a bit of fun & culture.

The commute into Den Haag central would be about 30mn if i remember correctly.The areas below are within 10-15mn by tram to WTC-Oude Zuid train station from which she can commute daily on the express to Schipol airport and DenHaag. Den Haag is tiny. I don't expect traveling on to work would take more than 10mn.

The area around Vondelpark.
South of Vondelpark basically al the area until Beatrixpark is very safe, upmarket, british school, nice delis etc...
The museumkwartier towards the Pijpe is trendier yet still totally safe
For a canal experience, the safest would be around the nintje startle/spui/jordaan.

This is of course depending on her budget! my last stint in NL was 2005, so can't advise on current costs of life.
At the time, It was a bargain compared to central London.

If she is a party girl then definitely Amsterdam and not the Hague. She has to make sure she is happy with the commute (door to door) though.

Anywhere in Amsterdam Centrum is safe especially compared with London. Areas around Vondelpark/Jordaan/Spui and basically within the 'grachten gordels' (the circles formed by the canals) are lovely but expensive.

If this is unaffordable she may need to compromise and live closer to the Hague and then spend her weekends travelling to Amsterdam for the night life. She can look into night trains to see what the options are (NS railplanner). Alternatively she can look into Rotterdam and to a lesser extent Leiden.