Amsterdam · Perspectives · The Hague

5 reasons why I’m moving out of Amsterdam

Yes, I know it sounds crazy.
And having my instagram handle being @AmsterdamnedDane and the three Amsterdam-X’es tattoo’ed on the side of my ribcage, you can imagine that it might not be the most ideal situation for me.

But here is why it is:

1.  I CAN AFFORD TO LIVE ALONE.
   I’ve been living with a roommate – or housemates – since I was about 20. Now, 10 years later, I feel the need to live on my own. And with the budget I have, it’s simply not possible to get my own apartment in the city of Amsterdam.
   
2.  I CAN BUILD MY OWN HOME.
   Had I decided to keep on living in Amsterdam, with one or more housemates, it’s more often than not in a room that is (partially) furnished, in an apartment that is completely furnished. I have been very grateful to live where I live now, but at the end of the day, I would still open the door to someone else’s apartment, and sleep in someone else’s room, surrounded by someone else’s stuff. And that’s just not making me as happy as I know I could be.
3.  I CAN CREATE MY PERFECT HOME OFFICE.
   A lot of my work demands countless hours by a desk, or at least on a computer. Because of the reason mentioned above, there’s never been space to create the perfect work environment, causing me to struggle especially with a lot pain in my back. Since I’m literally starting from scratch, I can now create my own little work sanctuary that will make me want to spend more time doing the things that I love. And speaking of things that I love..:
4.  I CAN BUILD MY OWN STUDIO.
   One year ago I picked up photography (Thank you René – for this and for everything), and I’m still learning everyday, getting closer and closer to understand what exactly makes me click. Who knows what will come of having the space to be able to experiment even more?
   
5.  I CAN TAKE A STEP BACK.
   Since I fled the rural south of Denmark to live and thrive in the capital city of Copenhagen, I’ve always sought to be at the center of where everything is happening. I am, or rather have been, the personification of FOMO*. Probably because I grew up somewhere where literally nothing happened.
   Today, I might have to face the fact that besides the positive influence it has had on me to move to Amsterdam, it has also surrounded me with temptations and indulgences that I admittedly have difficulties resisting. Nothing is bad in calculated amounts, but I am starting to worry that my math may be off. So moving out of Amsterdam will hopefully make me reevaluate my priorities and find the peace I need to do the things in life that really make me happy: To create.

So there you have it.
My five biggest reasons to move out of the city that has given me (and will keep on giving me) so much. I honestly hope that I will have the chance to move back some day.
But who knows what the future will bring? So far, I haven’t even been able to even know what next month will bring, let alone the future. And you know what? That makes everything slightly more interesting.

For now, it will be bringing me a much needed breath of fresh air –  in The Hague.

* FOMO = Fear Of Missing Out: Fear of not being included in something (such as an interesting or enjoyable activity) that others are experiencing. [source]

March 20, 2018