Choosing a Dutch City

my future neighbourhood?

I am currently in the process of applying for a working holiday visa in the Netherlands. If all goes well, I will be staying in the Netherlands for at least another year. This prospect is so exciting, and poses the question: which Dutch city shall I choose to be my new home? While living in the country on-and-off since May, I have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to visit many Dutch townships. While Hilversum is a great city, and has been wonderful to us, I think that it is time for a change. Of course, there is the obvious choice of Amsterdam. With it's canals, trams, beautiful gabled homes, and plethora of nightlife, it's the hub of the Netherlands. Another strong possibility is Utrecht, a smaller city situated in the central Netherlands. Utrecht is a university town, with gorgeous old canals and tons of museums! I have visited this city many times, and each time have fallen more and more in love with it. Then there are the less obvious choices of Haarlem and Alkmaar. These are typical scenic Dutch towns, smaller scale versions of the larger cities. Both are charming, close to the coast, and filled with beautiful Dutch architecture. This is only the beginning of my search into the Dutch housing situation, and I'm sure there will be more posts following this same thread. In the mean time, any suggestions and tips on where makes a great home would be greatly appreciated!