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Comment by pg | Hacker News Reader

I've always felt Amsterdam would make a good startup hub. It has the right sort of atmosphere. Civilized without being pretentious.

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The startup scene _is_ growing into a hub actually, although some elements (e.g. capital) are hard, others easier (hiring, advice).

That feels like an honor coming from you, thanks. Have you been in Amsterdam often?

How is it growing in a hub exactly? Where do all founders of successful startups hang out? There are some startups out there in Amsterdam, but there are many in other cities too (Utrecht, Delft, Enschede etc.). Amsterdam is definitely not a clear winner as location to found a startup among cities in Holland.

How is it growing as a hub exactly? Did you actually read the article? ;)

Luckily Appsterdam is not limited to Amsterdam. This isn't a pissing match between Dutch cities. It's about international branding. Appschede doesn't sound as good. Most people associate Delft with pottery. Americans have never heard of Utrecht.

As far as most people are concerned, these places are features of Amsterdam. But if you're in the Netherlands, we're a train ride away, and you're always welcome to come up for an event or a meeting.

Utrecht, a whole city to buy your art supplies.

One initiative doesn't make it a hub. If you found a startup in Holland, there are plenty of other cities which are suitable to found. The distances are sort of close, so the reasons why you HQ your startup in the valley are not exactly applicable to Amsterdam, you get the same benefits in most other big cities with talent.

You are right it is not a pissing contest, but you mention exactly what Americans (or other foreigners) would think. Most foreigners don't know much about Holland and see everything as a sub-urb of Amsterdam. They don't know where the local talent is, where the good universities are, where (local) people want to live. Don't forget that Dutch people think Amsterdam is as cool as foreigners do.

Don't take me wrong, Appsterdam is a cool initiative, but to me it sounds like something by foreigners, for foreigners.

It's not by foreigners for foreigners. Our attendees, and our volunteers, are about half expat, half local. Appsterdam will be a benefit to App Makers around the world, and also a tremendous boon to the Netherlands.

There's Stikk (stikk.nl), de Balie, Singel 146, Rokin75, TNW crowd (incl thenextweb.com, twittercounter, paydro), de Waag and Pakhuis de Zwijger and of course Sofa just getting bought (they leave but still... ;-), not to mention all the different places where startups are renting offices together (marvia, cardcloud). I've seen quite a few awesome things (products, people and deals) in A'dam and it's only getting better.

I've only visited for real once, about 5 years ago. We borrowed a friend's apartment near the center for about a week. I don't think I've seen anywhere else where people live so well.

We'd love to invite you over to get to know the startup scene here better. What does it take to steal PG away from YC for a day or two?

Wouldn't say that hiring is easier in Amsterdam... It's always hard to get real good developers and when pusing out a job vacancy, most responses are from non Dutch developers who want to work in Amsterdam (not that is a problem).

Do a YC Europe and have your regional headquarters in Amsterdam.

PG, say what: hook up with Rockstart.com in Amsterdam, help build the greatest startup machine ever and come visit your new friends as often as you like! :)

Thanks Paul, I think you hit it right on the mark.

The startup community there has been building up steam the past couple of years — and it has become more and more organized. I'll definitely miss hanging out with all the talented people back there.

Worth another visit imho. ;)

- Dirk (one of the Sofa founders who's now moving to Palo Alto)

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