By Jasper George
Publication Date: 2026-10-30 19:39:00
One of the best parts of moving abroad is just stepping outside. When you live in Amsterdam, and you want to go to a trendy, new European restaurant, you can get there in 15 minutes (that is, if bicycle traffic isn’t bad). No eight-hour plane trip overnight. No bumpy Uber to the hotel with all your luggage. Just a quick bike ride because you’re already there!
But even being this close, I sometimes fall into the same habit as when I lived in the States. The KPop Demon Hunters were right: sometimes couch is best. That’s why on some days when I’m internally chanting couch couch couch couch couch, I pause and ask myself if I actually want to go out and experience all that this wonderful city has to offer.
And that spontaneous, adventurous, dare I say YOLO voice has been winning out more and more. And part of that is thanks to a Google Maps renaissance.
(Sorry, Apple Maps, I’m breaking up…