‘I’m a foreigner, basically... I'm definitely not an expat or something like that’

'The sea is too cold and not blue, but the beach clubs are fantastic'

‘I plan to be here until I’m dead and buried. This is home’

'The Irish could do with being 30% more Dutch, the Dutch 20% more Irish'

‘It took me 10 years to learn Dutch – but language is only a small part of communicating’

'I still can't get used to how loudly Dutch people talk'

‘Amsterdam is not a city made for high heels, that’s for sure.’

'People go swimming in the sea even if it is snowing or raining'

'When the sun comes out, even when it’s 0 degrees, everyone goes outside'

‘I remember every bit of fleeing Afghanistan. It never leaves you’