Both cities have canals, both cities have histories, both cities hava a great social lifes...

My city                                  by Sophie ten Bokkel Huinink

Amsterdam vs. Istanbul

Bosphorus to ‘Canal Belt’
Both cities have water, lots of water. Although the canals that run through the whole city centre of Amsterdam are very nice we have to admit the Bosphorus is more impressive. You can do a boat tour in Amsterdam, drink wine, eat cheese and wave to people who are passing by. The whole trip might take two hours and then you have seen it all. When you hop on a boat at Eminönü you can practically spend a whole day on a boat, drink çay, eat toast and not see any people passing by because it is simply too far to see details on the quay. Both boat tours have their charm and both are worth the money, namely 6-10 YTL in Istanbul versus 15-25 Euros in Amsterdam.

Turkish Kebab to ‘Food from the Wall’
Istanbul loves kebab and we love kebab. On every street you can find kebab huts. As soon as you go from Taksim square to Istiklal you can find the world’s biggest Döner Kebab conglomeration. Amsterdam does not offer tons of fast food restaurants or cafeterias but it does offer something else: the ultimate description of ‘self serve.’ It is called ‘food from the wall’ and it is literally that. For takeaway snacks there are snack bars with rows of little windows in a wall. The food is prepared in the back and uploaded into individual compartments. To get a snack simply insert some Euros and pull the little door open. Food ranges from burgers to fries to chilli condiments on the side. It is always crowded, there is no seating so you just stand with other people around eating your ‘food from the wall.’

Istiklal Caddessi to Kalverstraat
Shopping shopping and shopping again. Istanbul’s busiest street is comparable to the Kalverstraat in Amsterdam. Hundreds of people finding their way with big bags stuffed with clothes and accessories. Running people, screaming children, nice vintage shops and sweet side streets. Either you love it or you hate it.

Beyoğlu to Dam Square and Pijp
Beyoğlu is said to be the soho of Istanbul. All week, the district is packed with natives and tourists alike. You can find second hand and designer shops, beautiful house facades, the fish market and the famous Istiklal. Beyoğlu is the perfect neighbourhood to feel the atmosphere and customs of the city. It is bubbling, young, and versatile. Amsterdam has Dam Square and Pijp where a bit of the same atmosphere can be sensed. These two areas, less big but not less crowded, offer a good combination of tasting the city’s mood.

Simit to Stroopwafels
Simit is the omnipresent street food of Istanbul. It is available everywhere, all the time. In bakeries and on the streets. In Amsterdam you can follow your nose and find a stroopwafel seller. Supposedly invented in Gouda, Netherlands, the 18th century stroopwafel, mistakenly called waffle sometimes, is one of the most consumed Dutch cookies. A good stroopwafel can be bent without breaking and has a thick but not overdone layer of caramel in between. Simit and stroopwafel are different in taste but both make a good anytime snack.

Kadıköy local market to Albert Cuyp market
Kadıköy with its small outlets, chaotic streets and passage full of shops is crowded but pleasant. The immense local market on Tuesday and Friday sells among others, fresh fruits, nuts, fake brand clothes, kitchen gear, underwear, porcelain and fabrics. The famous Albert Cuyp market in Amsterdam is a smaller lookalike.  Though, for Amsterdam it is the largest and busiest market and it is legendary for its variety – aromatic stalls selling Dutch cheese, olives, herbs and spices. Clothes and other goods are on sale too, often cheaper than anywhere else. If you want to experience the ‘real’ Amsterdam at its cultural best, you are in the right place. The surrounding area teems with cosy cafes and eateries, many with exotic flavour as well as stylish shops and bars.

Secret Garden to Suzy Wong
Gizli Bahçe, or Secret Garden, is literally a secret, hidden in the busy streets of Nevizade, Taksim. Fans of Istanbul’s Nevizade buzz might prefer to go into this place and find themselves in a different experience. Make your way up the dingy stairs of a 19th century apartment to the Secret Garden. The music is loud (usually dance, trance and funk) but not deafeningly so. Amsterdam’s Suzy Wong is an electric bar with period furniture and chic oriental theme. A bar with a lot of red and black, mix of Eastern chick and French bordello. It arguably serves the best cocktails in town whether you prefer a Vodka based apple Martini or a simple Scotch on the rocks. Suzy Wong offers luxurious surroundings for a private gathering or a stylish place to kick start your evening. It is arguably more ‘high society’ than Secret Garden but the lovely atmosphere feels a bit the same.

Babylon to Paradiso
We all know Babylon. Considered one of the best music clubs in Istanbul; it mostly features live music performances but it is also an outstanding cultural centre. Paradiso is the temple of modern music in the Netherlands. Housed in a converted church just off Leidseplein, it offers concerts and atmosphere in town. Although pop music has created the fame of Paradiso, lots of different events take place during the day and night; hip hop, modern classical music, jazz concerts, multimedia festivals and more. Both places are for people of all ages who love music and like to have fun.

Princes Islands to Dutch polder
Istanbul hosts fifteen million inhabitants in this warm city, whom all try to fight their way through Istanbul’s famous traffic jams. When you are sick of this you can always hop on a ferry and spend a day or weekend on one of the Princes Islands; no traffic and limited pollution. Not unlike Istanbul, locations in Amsterdam are very well connected to each other by metro and are easily accessible from outside the city. But the Dutch capital also copes with traffic problems and bad air quality. Amsterdam does not have Princes Islands but it does have unique qualities of the Dutch polder landscape in the direct surroundings of the city. It is accessible for those who admire it for its beauty or out of cultural interest.