Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Dutch term or phrase:
arbeidersverdieping
English translation:
working-class flat; working-class tenement
Dutch term
Netherlands
Professional translations | web editing
Native in: Dutch (Variants: Netherlands, Flemish) 
Works in: English to Dutch, Dutch to English, Italian to Dutch, and 2 more.
arbeidersverdieping
Feb 3, 2015 21:50: Michael Beijer changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/46440">Luuk Arens's</a> old entry - "arbeidersverdieping"" to ""working-class flat (UK English)""
Proposed translations
United Kingdom
Experienced technical/patent translator
Native in: English (Variants: British, US)
Works in: Dutch to English, Flemish to English, English to Dutch, and 2 more.
working-class flat (UK English)
"Areas > Amsterdam neighbourhoods > Amsterdam south > De Pijp
Formerly a working-class neighbourhood, today De Pijp is home to a multicultural community and one of the city's most famous markets. The colourful sights and many fragrances of the Albert Cuypmarkt are sure to delight and the area teems with a variety of charming restaurants, cosy brown cafés and trendy bars that will dazzles your senses and flood your taste buds
…
Innovative architecture
Architecture enthusiasts can see some of the finest examples of Amsterdam School structures on and around P.L. Takstraat, with its complex of working-class flats known as arbeiderspaleizen (‘workers’ palaces’). These flats were designed in the early 20th century to provide housing for the labourers who worked in the nearby diamond industry and brewery." (http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/visiting/areas/amsterdam-neighb... )
Google image search for: P.L. Takstraat + De Pijp reveal:
http://www.artzuid.nl/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Amsterdamse...
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/2707910.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/P.L._Taks...
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/2707868.jpg
etc.
A well-known housing expert, by 1936 she was renowned for her writing on the design and furnishing of the working-class flat and her work on two blocks of model flats, …
The singer Georges Brassens went awol from the BMW works in Bavaria and holed up in a Parisian working-class flat, where he entered into a ménage à trois so durable that he contined to sleep with Jeanne le Bonniec until 1966.
Netherlands
TR is the most intimate act of reading.
Native in: Dutch
Works in: English to Dutch, Dutch to English, Dutch
see suggestion below
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Note added at 54 mins (2015-02-01 21:31:18 GMT)
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Die huisjes in de Pijp dat waren echt pijpenla's met nauwe trappetjes.
Je hebt geen portiekwoningen in de Pijp.
Gewoon een deur die op de straat uitkomt met daarachter een smalle trap naar de 'pijpenla's.'
De benedenwoningen hadden een eigen deur.
upstairs apartment in a low-income neighbourhood
Having grown up in a narrow/cramped upstairs apartment in the low-income neighbourhood 'De Pijp',
I don't think you can, or need to, explain where the name 'De Pijp' comes from, all in this one sentence. It's not essential to the story and readers will get the picture.
United Kingdom
Fast, accurate and creative translator
Native in: Dutch 
, English
Works in: English to Dutch, Dutch to English
Grew up in a small working class tenement...
Lijkt me het duidelijkst.
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Note added at 20 hrs (2015-02-02 17:25:29 GMT)
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Zoe look: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/tenemen...
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Note added at 20 hrs (2015-02-02 17:25:53 GMT)
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Zie!
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Note added at 20 hrs (2015-02-02 17:26:09 GMT)
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Ook!
Discussion
"Stel dat mijn ouders op zo'n akelige arbeidersetage hadden gewoond in de Pijp, en stel dat ze na de oorlog verhuisden naar Sloten om zich te ..." (http://www.amsterdamcentraal.nl/archief/2012/10/24/eigenheim... )
Volgens mij hoef je geen letterlijke vertaling te geven maar een algemene omschrijving van de woonsituatie, of dat nu een portiekwoning of een arbeidersverdieping was, is niet de hoofdzaak.
De Pijp is vrij uniek in zijn soort:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Pijp
like a labourers cottage in the UK, but not a cottage ;)
related terms/concepts:
arbeidersbuurt, arbeidersdorp, arbeidersfamilie, arbeidershuis(je), arbeiderswoning, etc.
Van Dale NL/EN:
arbeidersbuurt =
working-class / blue-collar neighbourhood
(pejoratief) wrong side of the tracks, wrong side of town
arbeidershuisje =
in stad: working-class house
op het land: working-class / labourer's cottage
arbeiderswijk =
working-class area
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another option would be to rewrite it using something like "He grew up on a working class street in…"