Geef mij maar Amsterdam

Friday Dec 08, 2006

Geef mij maar Amsterdam, dat is mooier dan Parijs.
Geef mij maar Amsterdam, m’n Mokums paradijs.
Geef mij maar maar Amsterdam, met zijn Amstel en het IJ,
Want in Mokum ben je rijk en gelukkig tegelijk.
Geef mij maar Amsterdam.

Oh give me Amsterdam, it is more beautiful that Paris,
Give me Amsterdam, my Mokum [slang for Amsterdam] paradise.
Give me Amsterdam, with her Amstel and the Ij,
Because in Amsterdam you're both rich and happy.
Just give me Amsterdam.

After 10 years, and with some sadness but no reluctance, I'm heading north to Sweden, following in the footsteps of Henrik Hybertsson, but hopefully with rather less disasterous consequences.

I may not be both happy and rich, but happy certainly, very happy, and I'll miss this place. The Dutch are many things and their officiousness is often mistaken for arrogance by foreigners (not that I'm inclined to generalise you understand). But if they are always ready with an opinion, they are also a sanguine and playful bunch.