This is where I stayed in Amsterdam

Part of the cultural experience during my trip to Amsterdam and Dusseldorf last week was staying at a real Dutch apatment with a real Dutch host - my new friend Erwin. He has a unique taste in interior design and has furnished his place all by himself - ended up being a very cozy and tasteful apartment.
An advice for future travelers - whenever traveling, it is always better and more interesting to arrange accomodation with a local, rather than just booking a hotel for a couple days. You feel like you really belong and not just visiting, plus as a bonus you get to hear a lot of amazing stories from your host about how people live and their cultural habits.