A field guide to getting lost in Amsterdam
May 18, 2009 at 11:09 am · Written by herbert · Filed under Nature, Rerlax, Socializing
If you arrive in Amsterdam and the sun is shining you should consider yourself a very very lucky person. Hence forget that you are a tourist and act as an Amsterdammer. How? Just enjoy every sunny second! A good way of doing it is relaxing in the parks:
The famous and central Vondelpark, with its film museum and nice bars on the water:
Westerpark with statues in the lakes and the former Gas-Fabriek: an industial building turned in bar and cinema.
The romantic and old Sarphatipark, in De Pijp.
Oosterpark, close to the Tropen Museum.
Rembrandt Park, more wilde, quite and relaxing.
Erasmuspark, in the West.
Amsterdam Bos: the Amsterdam forest, with its open air theater and its cheese farms.
And don’t forget to have some sex in the parks.
This blog is run by LivingAmsterdam.com, an initiative of Robin Travels to promote the Socially Responsible Tourism.
May 11, 2009 at 2:27 pm · Written by herbert · Filed under Art, Cinema, Movies, Socializing
The Movies is the oldest movie theater in use in the Netherlands and one of the oldest in the world.The first film presentation was given, in fact, in October 11th 1912 when the cinema was called the “Tavenu”, one screen with more then 200 seats. It was closed just two years later and was opened again after a year with the name of “Cinema Hollandia”. Since then it slowly decayed for several reason until the 50’s when it was restored as a ’second run’ theater, since it close again at the end of the 60’s. In the 70’s Pieter Goedings, a true art film-loving projectionist at De Uitkijk, bought the Hollandia and renovated it with the art deco interiors we can still enjoy today.
Located at the end of Harlemmerdijk, about 20 minutes walk from the Dam Square, with four auditorium and almost 400 seats, The Movies is mainly an Arthouse Cinema, or an “author cinema” with a palimpsest of selected no commercial movies. By the way there is a diverse mix of titles accessible for the audience and special festival programs.
Inside the place there is also a cafè/restaurant, “the Movies Wild Kitchen”, where is possible to consume a nice dinner or just chill out at the bar before or after the movie, having a nice relaxing chat with your friends.
Good belgium beers, french and italians wine, nice and friendly staff and the art deco interiors make the place cozy and pleasant.
Prices are not so cheap but regular for Amsterdam’s cinemas and cafe. If you think to stay a bit longer in the city you can buy the strippenkart movies, ten entrance for 65 euro, a not personal card you can share with your friends (for a maximum of four tickets for show) and the filmdiner (dinner + movie) from 27 euro for person.
For reservations call: 6386016 or visit the page on the web.
Doei
This blog is run by LivingAmsterdam.com, an initiative of Robin Travels to promote the Socially Responsible Tourism.
May 3, 2009 at 4:35 am · Written by Michele · Filed under Going out, Nature, Rerlax
Ducks!
These wonderful birds are the real citizens of this city. They are everywhere. Take your bike for a daily ride and watch them having a meeting in Vondelpark (where the usually discuss about foreign policy and coffee shops), along the river Amstel where they love to have water-picnic or into a painting of Willem Maris.
You can ignore them, think they don’t care you but this is not true! They miss you when you go back to your country inside that enormous duck called Transavia or KLM or whatever! Two weeks ago I risked my life for two of them: a mother with her baby duck were crossing a big street located in west Amsterdam: I parked my bike right away and I blocked the traffic. A dutch man smiled to me from his car: my mission was accomplisced. And… maybe you don’t believe… but I did the same thing in the highway A4 near Delft: I saved a mother with 6 chicks. But this is another story.
Anyway, in Amsterdam you will mainly find four different subfamilies of ducks or anatidae:
Other common birds crossing the dutch skies are: water chicks (Gallinula chloropus) and the Great blue heron, better known as “the pirate”.
If you are a fan of ducks like me, put your comment. QUACK!
This blog is run by LivingAmsterdam.com, an initiative of Robin Travels to promote the Socially Responsible Tourism.
April 28, 2009 at 5:47 pm · Written by wildraspberry · Filed under Going out, Shopping, Socializing
I generally associate markets to worm and sunny cities: when I think about a market.. well.. only places as Marrakesh, Jerusalem, the South of Italy cross my mind and a smell of spices follows my thoughts. That’s why when I arrived in Amsterdam and I found out that in the city there was a very “culture of the market” I got positively surprised. Despite the treath of wind, rain and grey sky that often affect the city, there are markets almost everyday, and they are generally incredibly crowded.
Every neighbourhood has its own market, and every market is somehow a mirror of the neighbourhood. I think that one of the funniest way to understand a city is to mix with its people during their ordinary and daily activities; it would be interesting to have a descriprion of the city considering just the people you meet at the market or the different kind of stands.
See for example the Jordaan Market: it has a bohemienne and retrò style but with a “chic” touch, as the houses of the neighbourhood and its inhabitants; it sells second hand clothes, but it defines them as “vintage”. There are organic-food stands, but with a kind of fancy and bizarre choice of products. The vegetables come from the farmers but they look as jewels. The strangest stand is the one which sells only salt: you would never imagine that the simple salt could have so many varieties, colors, tastes and origins.
Or compare it with the Mosveld Market, where you mainly find second choice cheap vegetables and typical arabic dresses: it represents a kind of border, as the neighbouhood itself is; a border between old and new, the city and the fields, locals and strangers. Try to get through the crowd of Maroccan women in front of one of the fists stand: you’ll never believe that they are all waiting for their watch to be repaired by an old and wrinkled Dutch man.
Here a short list, everybody is welcome to add more!
Albert Cuyp Markt
One of the biggest outside daily market in Amsterdam
Area: De Pijp; Albert Cuypstraat/Ferdinand Bolstraat
From Monday to Saturday 9.30 am – 5.00 pm
Jordaan Markt
Biological Fresh Food and handicraft on Saturday;
Second hand clothes and goods on Monday
Area: Jordaan; Noordermarkt
Open: Monday and Saturday 9.00 am – 3.00 pm
Lindengracht market
Next to the Jordaan market that sells almost everything
Area: Jordaan; Lindengracht
Open: Saturday 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Art Plein Spui
works of art, and second hand book market
Area: Centrum; Spui Plein
Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Waterlooplein Flea Market
On of the most famous and central markets in town. Second-hand clothing, new and used goods.
Area: Centrum; Waterlooplein
From Monday to Saturday 9.00 am – 5.30 pm.
Mosveld Plein Market
One of the cheapest markets of vegetables, tools and clothes.
Area: Noord; Mosveld Plein
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 9.00 am – 3.00 p.m.
Bloemenmarkt
Flowers, seeds, bulbs
Area: Centrum; Singel/Munt Plein
From Monday to Saturday 9.30 am – 5.00 pm
This blog is run by LivingAmsterdam.com, an initiative of Robin Travels to promote the Socially Responsible Tourism.
March 31, 2009 at 12:45 pm · Written by herbert · Filed under Eating, Shopping
Located beside the Vondelpark’ west entrance, in front of OCCI (Binnenpret’s concert hall), Pomo Rosso is an Italian take away shop where you can buy basic products from the south of Italy to prepare by yourself a good Italian dinner as well as many Italian typical dishes to take away (like pastas, stuffed and grilled vegetables and other many recipes) daily made by two friendly Italian’s chef.
You can also eat inside real Italian pizzas and saltimbocca which is a typical sandwich from Naples or, according to the weather, compose there your packed lunch for a relaxing time inside the Vondelpark.
Products: pasta (dry and fresh), oil, sauces, olives, mozzarella, cheese, ham and sausages, fresh fruits and vegetables, wine, limoncello and some desserts. Handmade pizza and bread.
Additional services: pizza delivery (but for the moment just in the west area and for medium/big orders); catering and Chef at home; periodical aperitif and products tastings.
Address: Amstelveenseweg 41, 1075 VT Amsterdam
Contact: www.pomorosso.nl
Tonino: +31 06 50417028
Elio: +31 06 128 987 99
open: 12 a.m. – 10 p.m. ; tuesday closed
transport: tram 1, 2
This blog is run by LivingAmsterdam.com, an initiative of Robin Travels to promote the Socially Responsible Tourism.
March 31, 2009 at 12:43 pm · Written by tokyorama · Filed under Going out, Shopping
During closing time in Albert Cuypmarkt, dozens of herons come by to seek some food left overs. Foto tokyorama
One of the biggest outside daily market in Amsterdam is located in De Pijp District in Amsterdam Oud-Zuid. The street and the market are named from Albert Cuyp, a painter from the 17th century.
This market began by the free initiative of a bunch of street vendors with hand carts, since when in 1905 the municipality decided to establish a free market to regulate and organize the business. Originally it was running only on Saturday until 1912 when it was decided to open it 6 days por week. Actually it’s still going from Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m. with 268 market stalls on both side of the street where is possible to buy anything: food, clothes, cameras, souvenirs, gadget, tools.
more info: www.albertcuypmarkt.com
Address: Albert Cuypstraat
Transport: Tram 4, 16 stop at Albert Cuypstraat, 24 stop at Albert Cuypstraat, 25 stop at Ferdinand Bolstraat.
Bus 356, stop at Van Woustraat
Open: 9.00 am-5 pm Mon-Sat
This blog is run by LivingAmsterdam.com, an initiative of Robin Travels to promote the Socially Responsible Tourism.
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