Great store on the Kalverstraat near the Spui. Extensive collection of English language materials on several floors. Helpful staff will guide you through the eclectic collection. Lots of fun, ex-pats can always find something to read.
The Treehouse is their venue around the corner on the Voetboogstraat, which has open mike nights and a gallery with showings of art.
Phone: 020-535-25-73
The John Adams Institute provides an independent podium for American culture in the Netherlands. For three decades now, we have brought the best and the brightest of American thinking from the fields of literature, politics, history, technology and the arts. Love it or hate it, the United States plays an important role in the world: what happens in the US is of continuing relevance for the rest of the world, and we provide a window onto that.
The John Adams Institute was founded in 1987 by the cooperation of the West India Foundation of Holland and New York’s Dutch American West India Company Foundation to promote lively debates and lectures in historic venues within old Amsterdam.
This non-profit organization is dedicated to preserving the historic links between Amsterdam and New York City in particular, and the U.S. as a whole.
Located in the West India Huis, which was once the headquarters of the Dutch West India Company, the John Adams Institute holds a series of approximately eleven lectures or talks every year. These lectures have proven to be popular, and have sold out in advance many times. The speakers tend to be world-famous guests such as writers, artists and scientists with profound viewpoints.
The institute was named for John Adams, former president of the United States, who is also a former resident of Amsterdam. Adams was the first ambassador to the Dutch Republic from the U.S., and enjoyed a life of culture here in Old Amsterdam collecting and reading books, hobnobbing with European royalty and furthering U.S. interests here in the Netherlands.
Info:
Located in the West-Indisch Huis at Herenmarkt #97.
Four theaters, a lounge and restaurant with other meeting spaces make up the wonderful all-new Film Museum of the Netherlands. Formerly in the Vondel Park, this stunning modern architectural marvel is now across the Ij from the Central Station in Amsterdam.
The EYE collection dates back to 1946, when the first predecessor of EYE was founded: the Nederlands Historisch Filmarchief. In 1952, this became the Dutch Filmmuseum; since 2010 we are EYE.
However, EYE does not exclusively acquire and preserve films, but a range of different materials – from movie posters to projection equipment. The focus is on films and objects that say something about Dutch film culture; a copy of virtually all Dutch films that come out each year is included in the collection.
Use the map below to find your way to the new building.
Comfy, cozy and on the Leidseplein. In the American Hotel. Hiply extravagant, but worth it. Music, drinks, food.
On the Waterlooplein is the modern City Hall and Nationale Opera & Ballet (Muziek Theater) complex, which looms over the Inner Amstel River.
Aside from all the city’s business, this place is for the arts, and regular performances of ballet, opera and classical music are offered. The seasonal series of tickets make this affordable, otherwise it can be pricey – but all of Amsterdam society will be out for these performances, which should make for an amusing experience.
Theater Hall, Cafe, Internet Cafe, meeting place extraordinaire! Right on the Leidseplein – where it’s happening at night in Amsterdam with a hundred restaurants, nightclubs, bars and coffeeshops within a block or two – and of course the Melkweg and Paradiso are right nearby as well.
Phone: 020-624-2311
In the Nieuwe Markt area is an ancient apothecary and drugstore named Jacob Hooy at Kloveniersburgwal #10. Operating on this spot since 1743, the shop offers medicinal herbs and various natural remedies. The staff is on hand to help you with explanations of the herbs and their uses, and will help you find what you need.
Check out the barrels and drawers all labeled in Latin with their contents. Now imagine the wonderful aroma of all those dried herbs and flowers – you can sneeze, wheeze or shout with glee – but you will definitely notice it. In fact the interior of this shop is nothing but wall-to-wall drawers, barrels, and jars of herbs, salves, and other personal care items.
Jacob Hooy is also noted for their licorice, in all sorts of shapes and sizes. They say the selection of the sweet sticky black stuff here is Amsterdam’s best, except maybe for the sticky black stuff in the coffeeshops, but that’s another kind of “candy.”
Jacob Hooy offered all sorts of items in the past that we don’t consider medicine today – note the jars with names like OPIUM and TABAK.
This area of Amsterdam was always a market, especially for herbs and spices relating to medicine. Across the courtyard in the fanciful castle named the Waag, Dutch physicians operated a theater for the public dissection of human corpses. This rather grim practice no longer takes place over there, it’s now an internet café and restaurant! Before that the area was known as St. Anthony’s Gate, until the 1600’s when the city tore down it’s perimeter walls.
Huis Marseille is a monumental old canal house on the Kaizersgracht which is now the Foundation for Photography.
Opened to the public on 18 September, 1999, there are four large exhibition rooms on different levels inside.
The Huis Marseille Foundation is based in the 17th century house on the Keizersgracht to which it owes its name. There is a stone tablet on the facade, with a map of the harbor of Marseille, dating back to the French merchant who had the house built in 1665.
Info:
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Phone: + 31 20 5318989
Situated in the heart of Amsterdam’s red-light district, Het Paleis van de Weemoed, is an old style theatre restaurant full of charm, nostalgia and romance A full evening’s entertainment includes a top quality 4-course meal intersperced with a parade of cabaret stars and wonderful musicians. “The Palace” can be compared to a “30’s Spiegel Tent Dance Salon, the Cotton Club or a small version of the Moulin Rouge. It presents an international programme but remains intimate. Come and enjoy an evening of fine dining and imaginative entertainment.
The Palace is situated in the historical Old Town of Amsterdam. Our 17th century canal district (“Grachtengordel”) is even on the Unesco World Heritage List.
From April 1st our terrace is open on sunny afternoons. Please come and enjoy Amsterdam life with a diner, or dinershow and a drink.
The popular Blokker chain of stores can be found in most every shopping district in Holland. They sell a good range of household items, focusing on kitchenware, house cleaning utensils, small electronics, plastic goods, seasonal items, gifts and various sundries.
Check out their weekly flyers for specials.
Prices are good but be prepared for crowded tight aisles jammed packed with merchandise and shoppers.
There’s a big three story Blokker on the Nieuwendyke, but most are smaller neighborhood stores like the photo above.
One of my favorite Blokker’s is on Beethovenstraat, in Amsterdam, it is located in the map below, and also found everywhere through Holland.