Key Takeaways
What this piece is about
Living in Zwanenburg while working in Amsterdam: how it feels, and where to grab coffee or a reliable desk.
Why the location works
Quiet streets, short hops to the city, and enough local spots to break up the day.
Where to set up
Five nearby cafés for light work and three workspace options for focus days, plus one official video that helps with daily travel planning.
Story & Details
The place
Zwanenburg sits between Amsterdam and Haarlem. It feels like a village: low houses, small gardens, and a friendly main street. Shops and parks are close by. The canal and open views keep the pace slow while the rail line keeps the city close [1].
The daily rhythm
Many residents commute to Amsterdam. The rail network ties Zwanenburg to the capital in minutes. Planning is simple: the national rail app and planner show real-time options and door-to-door routes. Commuting becomes a routine, not a puzzle [2][3].
Cafés for a change of scene
Scratch Cafe is a cosy bakery-style stop for a morning session. Café De Buren is more social and suits quick meetings or idea jams. TIO’s is a small, calm room for an hour of email. Just over the canal, CoffeeJeep in Halfweg offers specialty coffee in a bright setting, good when you want to move but not travel far. Big Bread Kitchen in Halfweg adds space, steady food options, and a lunch-plus-laptop vibe [4][6].
Workspaces when focus matters
On heavier days, beyond Republica Campus in Amsterdam-Noord delivers a full coworking setup with desks, meeting rooms, and a creative scene. Closer to home, the lounge at Hotel Zwanenburg works as a quiet corner if you are a guest or a paying customer. In nearby Lijnden, business-park hubs provide practical desks and small offices with easy parking—useful when you want structure without heading into the city [7][8].
A simple travel helper
An official rail video explains the core app features at a glance. It is public, global, and easy to watch. It makes day-to-day planning smoother and reduces the friction of moving between village and city [5].
Conclusions
A balanced setup
Zwanenburg gives calm streets and quick city access. With a handful of good cafés and several workspace choices, the area supports both light and deep work. The result is a steady rhythm: quiet at home, culture and meetings within reach.
A working week that breathes
Start local, switch to a focus desk when needed, and ride the rail for city time. It is simple and it works.
Selected References
[1] Municipality of Haarlemmermeer — official site: https://haarlemmermeergemeente.nl
[2] NS (Dutch Railways) — Travelling with NS (official guide): https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/travelling-with-ns
[3] NS — Journey Planner (official): https://www.ns.nl/en/journeyplanner/
[4] CoffeeJeep — official site: http://coffeejeep.nl
[5] NS — “De NS-app kan meer dan je denkt” (official video, public and unrestricted): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHkejPFscO0
[6] Big Bread Kitchen Halfweg — official site: https://www.bigbreadhalfweg.nl
[7] beyond Republica Campus — official workspace info: https://www.wearebeyond.work
[8] Hotel Zwanenburg — official site: http://www.hotelzwanenburg.nl
Appendix
Café
A small, informal venue serving coffee, pastries, or light meals; suitable for short laptop sessions or meetings.
Commuter town
A residential place where many people travel daily to work or study in a nearby city.
Coworking space
A shared workplace offering desks, Wi-Fi, and meeting rooms, typically paid by day pass or membership.
Flex desk
A non-assigned seat available on a first-come basis within a coworking area.
Lijnden
A nearby business-park area with flexible offices and easy road access, used by freelancers and small firms.
Randstad
The urban belt that links major Dutch cities and surrounding towns, including Amsterdam and Haarlem.
Zwanenburg
A quiet village in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer, close to Amsterdam and Haarlem, known for residential streets and straightforward transport links.
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 