If you're up for a drive (bike ride!) and want to go somewhere cheap, surrounded by students and the water, with a view of an old Russian ship that now flies a Cypriot flag, head out west.

Aan 't IJ serves up quality breakfasts, lunches and dinners and offers cheap drinks at nights. On sunny days, giant bean bags and lounge chairs crowd the open deck, around a massive fireplace (active at night if you're lucky). The restaurant/bar is located in the middle of very standard Dutch student housing -funky coloured balconys-, although some young professionals also reside in the area. Click on the link for directions, because if I told you here you'd only get confused. I still go often and dont mind the ride, but then again, I've got a couple of student friends on the boat (it's so big, you won't miss it!)