Life In Amsterdam: A Modern Look At An Ancient City – Max Lang-Orsini

The city of Amsterdam has been grossly affected by the lockdown. The ancient city relies on tourism to keep going. With the onset of the lockdown, the famous cannabis cafes were closed down, social areas were sealed off, the famous Red Light District closed and hefty fines charged on anyone that is found breaking these rules. This has made life very hard for people like me.

My name is Max Lang-Orsini and this is how life has hit foreigners like me since the onset of Covid19.

COVID-19 – Amsterdam

Unfortunately, there have been three Covid19 waves in the city. Every time we thought the city was opening up, we were forced back to quarantine. Artists and curio sellers like myself found ourselves in a catch 22 situation where there were no tourists to sell our artwork to and no locals willing to take some. While the government came up with a few measures to help us cope with the pandemic, much of the assistance was too little, too late.

For the better part of the year 2020, I have been struggling to make ends meet, while one wave after the other led us to sink even deeper into the financial crisis. At the start of the Covid19 pandemic, there was fear that spread across the city. All of a sudden, we all felt dirty and vulnerable.

As the numbers rose around the world, the few friends I knew also took a hit. Two weeks after the first case of coronavirus in the country, I lost a friend and two more were hospitalised.

Our jovial city was engulfed into tears and horror as new numbers of the dead were read each day. I once had the flu and tonsillitis and was shell shocked when I went for a test. Luckily, I did not have the virus. On the other hand, the new regulations from the ministry of health created a shift in how things run around the city.

People were suddenly afraid of each other. The social gatherings where we would joke, hug and play with friends went suddenly quiet.

I remember visiting the local supermarket and it was crazy how no two people could shop next to each other. You even felt hard to pick a product on the shelf where you had seen someone return the product. At some point, I also stopped visiting the supermarkets unless it was absolutely necessary.

However, something happened. After the end of the first wave, people became less afraid of the pandemic. They had to be reminded each day that the virus was still around and taking more lives.

It is only after the second wave hit the people came back to their senses that the virus was around. Besides, the police had very high fines that made anyone think of breaking the rules to think twice.

The dark cloud had a silver lining too. The huge number of tourists that visited the country each day halted to a stop. We could, at last, breathe some fresh air and walk along quiet streets. It seemed we were having our city back.

People are now lobbying the government to put restrictions to cut the number of visitors. We are still struggling to make ends meet but are positive that things will get better. Some restrictions are still in place but much of daily life has come back to the norm.

Why You Shouldn’t Feel Bad for Looking After Your Mental Health

It is completely normal for people to feel stressed during this ongoing pandemic. In this time, most cases of mental illness arise and the results are often devastating. Remember that everyone is under pressure and it is your responsibility to make sure you stay sane and healthy.

Guilty Pleasures during a Global Pandemic: Why you shouldn’t Feel Bad

It is evident that people staying in quarantine have a socioeconomic and physical impact. These impacts affect the mental wellbeing of a person. However, keeping it positive and having no regrets about what you do is important for your mental health. You should not feel guilty about treating yourself to the finer things in life for the sake of your mental health.

Here are some of the reasons why.

The need to have better relationships

The first relationship you can have is with yourself. How you choose to treat yourself will ultimately impact how you will relate with other people. Treating yourself with respect is well deserved and it will determine the level of self-esteem you have. For this reason, it builds up the level of confidence you have in whatever you do.

Mental health is a determinant of a good marriage life. During a pandemic, this is the time that you fully spend time with your partner.

You may find some characters that may make you mad. However, finding ways to cope up with this issue will help you become mentally healthy. It may include taking an interest in art from people like Maxmillian Lang-Orsini.

After spending so many days away from his Irish family during the pandemic, he said, “Painting and other new hobbies have kept me sane. I think you maybe have to indulge yourself a little more than in other years, and just not feel so guilty about it.”

Increases discipline and develop a stronger work ethic

Due to increased stress levels, people become depressed, which is mentally disturbing for many people and it may cause dangerous effects. With a better mindset, the discipline you have at the workplace becomes stable.

On a day to day basis, it can increase productivity. It means that with discipline, you will have a change in work performance and not make you feel worse.

We’re all in the same boat during the pandemic. Sure, there are some people who have a better outcome than others. But if we remember to have a good care routine and push yourself to do something you could never have done pre-pandemic. Now is the time to do it.

Boosts physical health

Physical health is related to the mind. The more you engage in physical exercises, the more you become fit. With many exercises, the body releases endorphins responsible for people’s happiness.

Remember that the food you eat, the amount of sweat you pour have an important part to play in the wellbeing of your body and the brain. This can help you feel good as well as having a healthier looking body.

Doctors encourage being more active by going to the gym, hiking or biking to build up self-confidence. It will reduce cases of depression and anxiety popping up. This has been medically reviewed and proven to do so.

Although going to the gym now may not be possible. Home workouts are still an option.

To improve your quality of life

Controlling your life is important for you to live a stress-free life. People have many responsibilities in life. Due to this, it is inevitable to develop migraine, fatigue and muscle tension. Through managing the stress that life comes with, you will hand an upper hand in obtaining a better life.

There are various activities that you can involve yourself in to make it easier to maintain better lives. These activities may involve hobbies such as singing, dancing and taking part in good art from Maximilian Lang-Orsini.

Conclusion

It has been a tough year for everyone. It is important to reduce the impact that comes with the pandemic, especially mental health-related issues. It is everyone’s responsibility to take care of their body, mind and soul. However, you should not feel guilty about how you choose to make yourself better.

It can be by dancing like nobody’s watching or knitting a sweater. Do whatever makes you happy.

Has Coronavirus ruined Christmas for us all?

It’s been a year since the start of the global pandemic, which has changed people’s lives in significant ways. Most people were not expecting the pandemic to still be here by Christmas. Sadly, the situation keeps getting worse, and its impact on the holiday season is recognisable.

The Question is How Has Covid-19 Affected Christmas and Will We Be Able to Adapt and Survive This?!

The impacts of coronavirus on the Christmas holiday season are numerous. Below are a few;

Gatherings

The Christmas season is often characterised by family and friend gatherings. It is a time of the year when families come together to celebrate and have a good time. However, one of the most significant impacts of coronavirus is that it has led to movement and crowd restrictions. This was done to decrease and mitigate the infection rate by as much as possible.

Families cannot travel to get together. Even those families that live in the same state or city cannot risk spending time together because of the advice against crowding. Social distancing as explained by the public health is crucial, and unfortunately during the festive season, it still is.

To maintain the coronavirus pandemic, the prime ministers in most or if not all European Countries have told everyone to stay in a bubble when celebrating Christmas with close family or friends.

Most people, like Maximilian Lang-Orsini, who is ‘Heartbroken to be spending Christmas in Amsterdam, away from his Ireland and Germany-based family, but stoic and intending to enjoy a Merry Christmas in Amsterdam!’ have to deal with this. This is not how most people would like to spend their time.

Travelling

Most people love to travel and vacation during the Christmas season. However, this may not be possible this year because of the pandemic.

Travelling at this time is equivalent to putting your health and that of your family at dire risk. The most popular vacation locations in the world are currently in lockdown. If you are to go out, then don’t forget to wear a face mask.

Finances

The pandemic has had a significant impact on the economy of the world in general. Hundreds of thousands of people in different parts of the world have lost their jobs following the pandemic.

Due to the Coronavirus Strain, companies have had to shut down their operations and let go of a significant number of their employees and clients. This means that most families are currently struggling to make ends meet. The Christmas season is coupled with a lot of expenses.

Sadly, this year, many people have to change the way they celebrate because of financial challenges. So for some, Christmas Shopping will not be a thing. Despite this, we can still turn things around.

How can you adapt to the changes and still celebrate Christmas this year?

While the pandemic’s negative impacts are numerous, you don’t have to have a terrible Christmas. The best thing about human beings is that we are adaptable and can learn to make the best out of most situations.

After going through the pandemic for a year, most people have already started adapting to the problem. Below are some ways through which you can make the best out of the Christmas holiday despite the pandemic;

Quarantine beforehand

The best thing to do during this Christmas season would be to spend time with your immediate family and not risk being in a crowd. However, most people have gone almost a year without seeing their loved ones and friends.

If you have to see your family this holiday, the best thing to do would be to sacrifice some time in quarantine so that you can ensure the safety of your family when you meet. This means you will be able to have a get together while remaining safe.

Prioritising only the traditions that matter the most

It would help if you thought about the holiday and what matters the most. You can still keep some of your traditions, like putting up holiday celebrations and making special foods, while still staying safe.

Shop online

While you may not be able to go to the mall or the market to shop for gifts for your loved ones, you can still get them something special from online stores. Just make sure you do this early so that you don’t miss out.

Conclusion

Christmas is one of the best times of the year. Despite the pandemic, you can still have a good time and keep some of your favourite traditions. Just make sure you keep yourself and your family throughout the celebrations.

Living Working and Painting in Amsterdam during a Global Pandemic

Amsterdam is internationally known for its museums and galleries of international standards, making it a popular destination. The art market exhibits in Amsterdam are a great experience, particularly when you visit for a short period. Amsterdam’s biggest square is home to four of the museums that exhibit many Dutch masters and a great range of contemporary and modern art.

An Artist’s Perspective Of Amsterdam

Maximilian Lang-Orsini is an artist from Amsterdam, Netherlands, who paints from his imagination, giving insights on what living in Amsterdam is like. Through his blogs, he shares the sights and wonders you can experience in this beautiful country. This 25-year-old blogger enjoys duck herding, binge-watching box sets and gaming.

He is smart and creative and loves to share his experience of the beautiful Amsterdam through his paintings. He is such an avid gamer he even writes reviews on games. One of the games he has written a detailed review about is Dead By Daylight where he gives a survivors review.

Having attended college courses in Biology, Maths, Chemistry, and Design, and as a well-versed person in arts, Maximilian Lang-Orsini tells us of museums and other interesting sites that are a must-visit when in Amsterdam. Here are some of them:

Hermitage Amsterdam

Of all the sites mentioned in this article, The Hermitage Amsterdam has been opened the longest. It was first opened in 1683 as an older women’s home built next to the Amstel River. They host an exhibition based on the principal collection of Hermitage twice a year. From the Golden Age of the 17th Century, this museum displays the most nuanced portraits in one location.

Stedelijk Museum

The Museum of Stedelijk is the most iconic in the Netherlands for modern and contemporary art. It consists of unbelievable works of art by Piet Mondrain, Roy Lichtenstein, and Yves Klein. The museum also features architectural items, side by side, showing more than art.

Nieuwe Kerk

Nieuwe Kerk church is located on the Dam Square at the heart of Amsterdam. It is an old antique with a rich history as it is where the Dutch Queens and Kings settled in 1814.

Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is a tourist destination that is loved by many, and a must-visit if you are ever in Amsterdam. It was designed by Pierre Cuyoers and opened way back in 1885. This museum is home to 80 galleries that showcase over 800 years of golden age Dutch artistic cultural institutions.

Joods Historisch Museum

This museum is full of old Jewish based religious artefacts, painting, music, and photographs portraying an in-depth imprint of Amsterdam’s history. The Joods Historisch Museum has been in existence since 1987 and focuses on exhibiting Dutch Jewish culture.

FOAM

FOAM has been installed in a 17th-century canal building, a splendid photographic gallery. FOAM hosts frequent shows for the photography worms and turns the showcase into a new artist every few months. FOAM’s purpose is to encourage talented photographers who deserve to be focused on, in a wonderful and welcoming culture.

In Summary

Maximilian Lang-Orsini hopes that you gain great insights from visiting these museums and historical sites. He highly recommends them to enable you better experience Amsterdam’s art scene. Indeed, if you are an art lover and appreciate the rich history, Amsterdam is definitely the place to visit.