I wish I had known this my first week in Holland:
Do not stand on the red brick bike path, as the person may not stop on time! Yes you will get run over even if you think this is picture perfect moment.

Getting around town

• Paper metro and tram schedules are available at larger stations such as Central Station and Station Zuid (South)
• 9292 App, GVB App, NS App, CityMapper App - helps= you navigate the buses, trams and trains
• Get an OV chipcard – Openbaar Vervoer Card (Public transport card). You can buy an “anonymous” card at places like AH (7 Euros) and load it up at special machines located around town. Note that these cards do have an expiration date. You can also get a Personal OV Chipcard, which will automatically upload once you go below a certain sum. (Very practical, but it does require a link to your bank account)

US television programs

• Slingbox – box you attach to your USA cable box and enables you to watch US TV on your laptop. If you have a VPN, that should work as well.
• Products like Netflix, Hulu, etc. will work here, though you may have different selections available than when you were in the US.

Shopping
There is a “mall” in Buitenveldert called Gelderlandplein. It has a large Albert Heijn supermarket with free underground parking. It also has many handy shops for everyday needs.

• Action = Kmart, Dollar Store
• Apotheek = Dutch word for Pharmacy. Here you can get your prescriptions
• Big Bazar = Dollar Store
• Bijenkorf = Nordstroms
• Blokker = Target
• Douglas - Sephora (all things cosmetics, perfumes, soaps)
• Ekko Plaza = Health foods/vitamins
• ETOS = CVS (no Rx)
• Gamma= Home Depot
• Hema = Target with everyday wear
• ICI PARIS XL - Sephora (all things cosmetics, perfumes, soaps)
• Karwei = Home Depot
• Kijkshop = Catalog store. Good for every day items
• Kruidvat = CVS (no Rx)
• Marqt = Whole Foods
• Media Markt = Best Buy, Circuit City
• PC Hoffstraat – is like Rodeo Drive in LA, just smaller
• Praxis = Home Depot
• V&D = Sears, JC Penney
• Wibra = Kmart
• Xenos = Pier 1 import, Dollar store
• Zeeman = Kmart

Grocery Stores
Albert Heijn (AH) and many other supermarkets and shops do not accept credit cards.

• Albert Heijn = supermarket
• Aldi = discount supermarket
• Boni = supermarket
• Coop = supermarket
• DekaMarkt = supermarket
• Dirk van den Broek = supermarket
• Ekoplaza = organic supermarket
• Hanos = kind of Costco
• Jumbo = supermarket
• Lidl = discount supermarket
• Makro = Costco
• Spar = supermarket

Supermarket munten are free at Jumbo. Munten are tokens the size of a €1 coin, which can be used to release the shopping cart without worrying about having the required change. AH, Hanos, Jumbo and David Lloyd Gym all have munten available. Sometimes they have them sitting by the cashiers. It never hurts to ask.

Membership cards

• Museum card (Museumkaart) - worth the money. It gives you free entrance to many Dutch museums, including the Rijksmuseum (National Museum). Card is valid for one year.
• Movie abonnement (subscription)
  Club Pathe - Blockbusters
  Cineville - Art House Locations
• Hanos is like Costco
  AWCA members get free membership by showing your AWCA Badge at the front desk, then filling out the necessary paperwork.

Culture

• If a Dutch person gives you a gift, open it right away. It is considered impolite to put it away for later.
• Write nice notes to let your neighbors know you have arrived and invite them over for a drink.