Salsa is very popular in Amsterdam. Not only is there a large Latin-American community in Amsterdam, but the Dutch also love taking their salsa classes (there are many salsa dance schools) and for the people from old Dutch colony of Surinam, the moves just seem to come naturally. Salsa parties in Amsterdam are always attended [...]
When summer (finally!) arives in Amsterdam, what can be nice than taking a dive in natural water? Outdoor swimming in Amsterdam is possible in 5 heated swimming pools in the city. But Amsterdam is a city of water and there are many spots you can take a swim in natural water. In the North, [...]
What to do a rainy day in Amsterdam? Are you tired of museums and coffee shops? A fun thing to do in Amsterdam is going to see a film at one of Amsterdam’s art house film cinemas. These film theatres are generally cheap and they are located at interesting venues. Art film houses in Amsterdam [...]
The first jazz musicians who arrived in Amsterdam were black American soldiers, jammin’ away with this strange music that no-one had ever heard before. Cotton Club at Nieuwmarkt and Casablanca at the Zeedijk at the Red Light District were the first bars that hosted live jazz Amsterdam. In 2012, a brand new jazz bar opened: [...]
Cocktails is not a Dutch Thing. You can get a good cocktail in Amsterdam, but you have to know where to go. Here are 10 decent cocktail bars in Amsterdam (in random order) from cheap to very expensive. 1. Café Vesper Café Vesper, located at Haarlemmerstraat, within 20 minutes walk from Central Station is [...]
Club Roest (‘rust’ in Dutch) Amsterdam is a new bar and city beach on Oostenburg, one of three so called Eastern Islands that held industrial shipyards, steamboat harbours and steam engine factories more than a century ago. Roest captures the industrial feel of the former function. Its large outside terrace with laid back atmosphere, the [...]
The neighbourhood just east of the centre, near Waterlooplein is called Plantage or the Amsterdam Jewish Quarter (Jodenbuurt). Jewish immigrants lived here from the 16th century onwards. Only 28.000 Amsterdam Jews out of 120.000 survived the Second World War. The few buildings they left behind: the Portuguese Synagogue, the Holland Theatre and the Jewish Museum, [...]
It’s that time again: crazy hats, funny accessories and orange t-shirts appear in the street of Amsterdam. Holland is getting ready for the orange football craze that accompanies the European Football Championship 2012. 10 facts you need to know when you are visiting Amsterdam during these crazy times. 1. Orange fever In Holland we [...]
Just West of Central Station Amsterdam lay three peaceful islands. These ‘Western Islands’ are wonderful for a beautiful 1,5-hour walk. Starting at the Westerdok, a completely reconstructed docklands area where you find the latest in architectural fashion we walk west via the remarkable ‘Silodam’, an old industrial complex, transformed into apartment buildings, to the islands [...]
Enjoy a walk around Flevopark, located on the eastern boundaries of Amsterdam, a green area along a large lake, connected to the IJ. Sit down and relax at the quiet terrace of distillery ‘t Nieuwe Diep, a former pumping station and try one of their self brewed gin (Jenever), liquor or vodka. Construction of Flevopark [...]
The origins of Chinatown go back to the year 1910, which makes the Amsterdam Chinatown the oldest Chinatown in Europe. The first Chinese arrived in The Netherlands around 1900 on ships of the Dutch VOC. They worked as sailors, stokers in particular, on large steamships. Most of them came from poor areas, such as the [...]
Dutch fast food chain Febo sells fast food in a unique way: it keeps its products warm in small compartments of a vending machine. All you do is put coins into the automat and open the door to your tasty snack. No waiting in line, no waiting until your order is ready, Febo is the [...]
Amsterdam is preparing its stages for this summer’s outdoor festivals 2012. Check out this list of all the summer music festivals around Amsterdam in 2012: house, techno, electro, reggae, dub step, minimal, tech house, trance, roots, soul, hip hop, rap, world, theatre, dance performances and delicious food festivals. More information about indoor music festivals, check [...]
Finding a flat in Amsterdam is not the easiest thing. Most houses in Amsterdam (some 50%, 200.000 Amsterdam apartments) are social rentals. As a newly arrived foreigner it’s difficult, if not impossible to make your way into this social system. Here is a list of 6 different ways to finding a flat in Amsterdam. We [...]
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