@bipbip

Pros: -Great airport for connections to Africa and South America. -Has some really beautiful views. -Great fruit and fish. -Native Portuguese people are generally friendly and helpful. -Wonderful moderate climate (better than Spain) Cons: -The dirtiest major city I've seen in Europe. Filthy buildings and dog crap everywhere. -Unsafe - most other women I spoke to said they feel unsafe walking alone here (being leered at, whistled at and followed by the mostly immigrant men is a common occurrenc

Housing is an issue (so cost of living is high) but the city is beautiful and summer in Amsterdam is hard to beat with all the cultural activiies and music festivals. Would not want to live in the actual city center (inside the "grachtengordel") but have been living in East for over 2 years now and aside from the price (and size) of apartment life is just good here. Biking everywhere is bliss. Winter can be cold though.