The Side Of AMSTERDAM They DON'T Show You (DE BIJLMER)

Amsterdam is one of the most well-known cities in the world. But often, people have a very narrow view of what you can do or see in Amsterdam. One of the places often overlooked in Amsterdam is de Bijlmer, and if people do hear about it, they are often advised to stay away from there for safety reasons. But is this reputation really valid or outdated? Watch me in this video spend a day in de Bijlmer, with my friend Dior who is born and raised there!

Follow on Instagram & TikTok: @exploringtheforeign

00:00 History of de Bijlmer
01:13 Introducing Dior
01:47 Amsterdamse Poort
02:00 Is de Bijlmer really a ghetto?
03:22 Shopperhal
04:53 How is growing up in de Bijlmer?
06:23 Ganzenhoef Market
07:13 How has de Bijlmer changed over the years?
08:01 Smeltkroes 2.0
10:04 Were you ashamed of de Bijlmer?
11:12 Holendrecht
11:56 What's the future of de Bijlmer?
12:26 Would you raise your kids in de Bijlmer?

#amsterdam #bijlmer #netherlands

[exploringtheforeign]

Through this experience, I was able to witness how unique of a place de Bijlmer is in the Netherlands. What's your view of/experience in de Bijlmer?

[daveydeboer]

I grew up there as a white kid, in my childhood there were places you shouldnt be in the dark but since some 10-15 years its been a world of difference from what it was. It brought me up in touch with a lot of cultures and im grateful to this day for the lessons i was taught by many. Also being able to speak and understand sranang (Suriname language) as a white man is very funny.

[ElMariachi]

I grew up in Zuidoost (Reigersbos) myself and the Bijlmer can't really be compared today: in the late 80s/early 90s it trully was a ghetto, all the grey flats, obscure garages, lots of graffiti in the subways and on the streets, junkies and dealers around Kraaienest/Ganzenhoef and even places the police rather avoided like Hoptille/Haardstede. But even then I never really felt unsafe because you simply learned the way of the streets growing up there. And in the end it truly enriched me as a person, all the different cultures; Antillianen, Surinamers, Afrikanen and the occasinal Dutchy like me, different foods, different people, different life styles. But the main thing I learned was the rest of NL saw the Bijlmer as an asocial place when in fact it was the most social place I've ever lived in, still grateful growing up there!

[peterf]

Heel goed! As an American trying to soak up Dutch culture, THIS is such an important part of the country. I don't have to tell you, so often these are the stories that don't get told, because somebody decided it's not important. It's important. So thank you Sam for telling this story.

[ItzSKYVlogs]

Whaaat!!!! That’s the Ghetto!!!! Man… they have trees, grass… shops!!! Man you go to my hood of Chicago.. and it’s abandoned houses, no grass… no stores.. maaaan…. This looks nicer than the city center of amsterdam!!!

Ayyye great video!!! Man! I need to go here sometime!

[cherylh.]

Great job Sam!! Keep highlighting all the great things about The Netherlands and its diverse people. At the end of the day, all the different cultures are amazing and should be celebrated. You’re a great spokesperson for what makes The Netherlands one of the must see countries in the world❤

[terrelmensa]

As a Ghanaian 🇬🇭 American 🇺🇸 every time I visit my friends in Holland, Bijmer they show me so much love. Great culture good food.

[DikWhite]

Interesting to see how de Bijlmer has developed over the years. I remember sitting in my Opa's car driving on the highway through the Bijlmermeer construction site en route from Badhoevedorp where Oma and Opa lived to Amersfoort where my aunt and uncle lived. The 1992 disaster was terrible but also a significant turning point for the neighbourhood. Looks quite cool now.

[Em-VR]

As a half Surinamese person that didn't grow up in the Bijlmer but moved there to live in a student appartment I didn't know what to expect at first but as soon as I set my first step I felt at home.
The Bijlmer is truly an amazing hub for people of different culture's to come together and the city center is a great experience in summer with people making music and enjoying good food

[worldofnuance]

Very cool to see a different side of Amsterdam. Growing up in America, I used to think that the kind of diversity you showed in places like Biljmer only existed here. But traveling to other countries like you has taught me that rich diversity exists elsewhere, too.

[Wielie]

Mooi om te zien dat je niet alleen de festivals en feesten in steden laat zien, maar ook reportages maakt met diepgang. Vroeger kwam je niet in de Bijlmer. Slechte naam. Nu kom ik er af en toe als ik naar de arena of ziggo dome ga. Het is eerlijk gezegd nog steeds niet mijn ding. Dat heeft niets met de mensen te maken maar mee alles met de modernere bouw. Ik hou meer van de oude binnensteden. Dank weer voor super interessante video met toffe mensen!

[BabzV]

Ik woon al 20 jaar in een flatje, bouwjaar '82 net als ik 😉, en heb veel buren met verschillende achtergronden.
Ik leef hier al zolang met zoveel plezier juist omdat er zoveel diversiteit aan culturen woont.

Dit is mijn thuis en zou het voor geen goud willen ruilen.

Thanks Sam, you're appreciated. 😊🌷

[McFrikandellenGamers]

Thank you for showing this side of the Bijlmer! Some lovely people in the video :)

[mikepictor]

I love this. I may be starting a new job in the Bijlmer area soon, so I loved getting a closer peek.

[ACwebseries]

Nice video. I’m originally from Los Angeles and live in Holendrecht. Zuidoost is the best hidden secret in Amsterdam. Life is simple and diverse and overall safe. As you pointed out, parts of the US, are far far worse. I lived in West Hollywood where you can be robbed when getting out of your car. Never had any major crime issues in Zuidoost. Zuidoost is also the gateway to picturesque towns like Weesp and Abcoude.

[leonkotler]

Great video man, really enjoyed it.
Top notch production quality and loved seeing a part of Amsterdam that I've never given too much thought to. Great guest too!

[LydiaLyon]

I have been in the Netherlands for some years now and spent most of my time living in de Bijlmer. I was instantly in love and still am, even though I moved a bit further away now. I made such lovely friends in the neighborhood and felt right at home. It's such a treasure that many here refuse to rediscover. That's okay. If you know, you know ❤

[djTLMtv]

It's always nice to see someone showcase other parts of Amsterdam. De Bijlmer is a great place to live. I grew up in the center of Amsterdam, but I've been living in De Bijlmer for the last 16 years, and it's where we've been raising our children.

It's funny: most of the people who speak about De Bijlmer in a negative way now have never been there. They just heard stories that mostly stem from way back, but they assume it's still like that. De Bijlmer was pretty rough in the 80s and 90s, but so was the center (Zeedijk, etc).

[Lilygirl]

What a nice area, colorful and clean, i wish i could smell the spices they use, big play area for the kids, another good video Sam...👍👍👍

[GerHanssen]

I have peculiar suggestion. Go to Eygelshoven, in Limburg. It is very near to the German border near Kerkrade. Please go there to the market on a saturday. On other days there will be no market. It is famous for decades in the environment. Far into Germany and Belgium.
You will find a market that is full of exotic people, but not like in Amsterdam, but with equally many nationalities. Yet, there they don't speak English, but mostly German. In reality you are in the Netherlands there. I think it is a very special multicultural place inside our country, that hardly anybody knows about.