Amsterdam is a picturesque city: canals replace streets, and, as in other Dutch cities, bikes rule, since the the city planning disallows a sophisticated and comprehensive public transport system. As the city is covers a very small area, locals are never far from their destinations, and can get to most places by cycling.
This, coupled with the fact that the Dutch work ethic tends to be characterized by self-motivation and autonomousness, has made for a healthy coworking scene. Spaces tend to have high attendance rates and the concept is comparatively well known, and there is a space to suit all professions and budgets.
Located in the prestigious museum district, the fairly new Deskowitz caters to the environmentally conscious in particluar, though naturally all are welcome. Completely self-furnished by the founder, coworkers work entirely on sustainable materials. Desks are constructed from pressed paper and recycled wood, as is the enormous telephone booth members step into for private conversations. In terms of security, Deskowitz is still sustainable, and borrows the security cameras from existing buildings; namely the U.S. embassy located directly opposite.
Beside the Rijk Museum bearing the official slogan 'I AMsterdam', the tech scene has produced a new term: Appsterdam. Members of this movement come together for regular meet-ups, at which they present projects and pitch ideas, as well as welcoming well-known guests from around the world. In addition, each Wednesday they host a lunch at Glimworm HQ, where everyone involved in the tech scene is welcome.
Another organization bent on fuelling and strengthening Amsterdam’s IT community hosts weekly meet-ups at Debalie coffee house, centrally located just around the corner from the Hard Rock Café. Directly above the café sits Bovendebalie, a curated coworking space, whose members are hand-plucked from the meetings on a suitability basis. The space is incredibly popular and has quite a long waiting list, which may partly be explained by the free communal lunch held daily at 12:30.
Further North is Maykinmedia, (yet) another space for web developers. Although it is not an official coworking space, Maykinmedia features the same amenities and a community of freelancers. The absolute highlight is the conference room, situated in an English cottage garden, in which many a business or project contracts have been signed.
Further North again, in Jordaan, one finds the Hub Amsterdam: one of the first coworking spaces to open in the Dutch capital. The Hub is located in Westerhuis, a former school building dating back to the early 19th century. For this reason, the large rooms and big windows make for an open and well-lit workspace. Further, the colorfully tiled entrance hall is a treat for any tourist's heart.
The Westerhuis, in combination with several other tenants in the creative economy, has the Tussen de Bogen area into Amsterdam’s creative hub. The Amsterdam franchise operates like other coworking spaces in the Hub network, and thus its members are part of a worldwide network of social entrepreneurs.
Ten minutes away on foot and still in Tussen de Bogen is Workspace6. This inviting workspaces is tucked into the railway arches, and has an agreeable balance of openness and privacy, with semi-transparent partitions between workspaces. Ecclectic and colorful art decorates the walls, and helps to establish a creative atmosphere. Permanent members are treated to comfortable white-leather chairs, reserved with name badges. Workspace6 hosts small events such as ‘bring your own projector’ and table tennis competitions, organized in concurrence with another local business network, aptly named The Pong Network.
At the opposite end of the city are two of De Werkkamer sites. The facilities are somewhat dignified, and the target audience is very different to the previously described coworking spaces. De Werkkamer amenities are limited to the most fundamental equipment. Nor is there a community manager or a host, with members having access to a smartcard: ‘We want to give new families, who have to transform their home studies into nurseries, the opportunity to work in peace and quiet,’ said Rob van Bodegom, one of the four founders of the workspace. Together with a real estate company they are working on further expansion.
Not far from De Werkkamer lies a coworking space on the opposite end of the spectrum, being entirely community-driven. The founders of Lev Kaupas offer their members - including students and people looking for a career seachange - a space in which they can realize and workshop their ideas.
For two years, Lev Kaupas has been located in Funenpark, an architecturally unique project that in 2011 was awarded the ‘New Amsterdam Building Prize’. It is a model European workspace, providing the perfect balance between home, work and relaxation.The meeting room on the top floor offers plenty of space with large windows and a terrace, and treats visitors with a majestic view.
In addition to these spaces, there are several others which provide meeting rooms and buzzing creative communities. Beehives organizes everything you need to work comfortably and efficiently, whether it be legal services or a hairdresser. Two of their three facilities currently have waiting lists.
Also in multiple locations, Spaces offers desk space, meeting rooms and event space, catering from two to 200.
Werk- en Denklab's workspace is as common and shared as they come, with long communal tables in a clean and comfortable atmosphere, perfect for independent workers looking for a flexible desk.
Holland too is known for its ‘free working’ model of coworking. Amsterdam is no exception. These workspaces, such as BounceSpace, offer a powerpoint and a workplace on a first come first serve basis. They are financially sustained through meeting room hire, which are exorbitantly priced but in high demand.
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