Tag Archives: Amsterdam

Blokker

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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.

Vakbondmuseum or the Stichting De Burcht

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The Diamond Window

The Vakbondmuseum is also known as the Stichting De Burcht. You’re asking why?

Well this building is so interesting that if you have any interest in architecture that you must visit.

Designed by the founder of the Amsterdam school of Architecture, Hendrik Petrus Berlage (1856- 1934), who was a forceful figure on reshaping Amsterdam into what we see now in the 21st Century. The building was created for the thriving diamond industry whose capital was in Amsterdam at the time. Now the National Trade Unions Museum (or Stichting De Burcht) has its home here.

The museum’s website offers the following description: “Inside, you’re under the illusion that you have entered the covered courtyard of a Mediterranean palace. Sunlight streams down through a double roof of yellow and white glass and, passing through glass floor tiles, penetrates as far as the basement. The walls are of yellow, white and blue glazed brick and are relieved by vaults, columns and balustrades. An enormous hanging lamp high in the glass cupola, dominates the most beautiful of Amsterdam’s staircases. In the stylish rooms, you can enjoy paintings by Richard Roland Holst, stained glass windows, wooden panelling and furniture designed by Berlage himself. You can explore as high as the tower room that offers a view of the impressive cupola construction. In the high tower, you will see a lighted window pane in the form of a diamond.”

Museum Het Rembrandthuis

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The facade of the Rembrandt House and Museum

The Rembrandthuis Museum is where the famous painter established his own studios here in Amsterdam, and lived with his family from 1639 to 1658.

He eventually left after declaring bankruptcy, and the home has been restored with approximations of it’s original furnishings based on an inventory of his possessions from that time.

Most of the building is devoted to his daily life from the time, and is of course, filled with paintings and art.

Part two of the museum is the new museum wing, where you will find exhibition rooms. The museum shop, the entrance to the museum café, the auditorium and the Rembrandt Information Centre are also located in the new wing.

On the fifth floor is the Rembrandt Information Center, where you can research on DC-rom, in books and other publications. By appointment only.

Tropenmuseum

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Inside the Tropenmuseum you can stroll around the courtyard of a Javanese house, roam through noisy Arab streets, or find yourself in a thunderstorm in the middle of the African savannah. You may also relax to the authentic music of a South American jukebox – or listen to the gripping life story of a tropical rainforest-dweller.

Our visit coincided with the Batik exhibit showcasing the art form’s techniques, history and styles through the ages. Hundreds of examples of fine Batik, antique photos and dozens of displays showcase the regional origins of patterns, the different uses of Batik cloth, and more modern interpretations using the batik method.

I really appreciate the attitude of the museum and many exhibits, which review the negative impacts of human development upon these regions, and offer useful suggestions for preserving and restoring these ecosystems. This museum is highly recommended for tourists, students and children. In fact there’s a Children’s (Kinder) Museum too!

The Tropen Theater has excellent productions, showcasing ethnic music and culture from around the world, but like the museum, highlighting the former Dutch colonies of Indonesia, Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles.

NEMO Science Museum

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New Metropolis is the huge greenish hulk arising over the entrance to the Ij Tunnel leading north out under Amstedam’s harbor. N.E.M.O. as it is called here, is a technology museum, exhibition space, meeting center and venue for events. The building was designed by the Italian Renzo Piano, and it does look like some futuristic ship’s hull rising from the harbor of Amsterdam.

The highlight is the high technology museum, with an amazing display of interactive scientific wonders to delight all ages. Other exhibits come and go in the large interior.

Also here are a number of rooms for use by public and private organizations for conferences, parties, etc. The Glass Ballroom can hold up to 800 people, the NEMO theater seats 300, the Lumiere Filmhall seats 199, the Da Vinci Hall holds 80, the Columbus Foyer holds a maximum of 500 people, and the ultimately swanky “Captain’s Cabin” with it’s brass trim and nautical decor holds 25 very special guests. (They are currently asking around $1,000 per day to rent just this one room.) Of course, they’ll rent you the roof as well! Which I gather could hold up to 2000 revelers.

Scheepvaart Museum

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The Scheepvaart Museum is the Netherlands Maritime Museum, located on Amsterdam’s harbor in the National Naval Depot, a former arsenal of the Dutch Navy that is over 300 years old.

The collection within tells the story of the maritime past of the Netherlands. Outside the Museum is a permanent berth for a replica of the Dutch East Indiaman “Amsterdam,” which is great fun to explore with guides in period costumes telling you about life aboard ship in the old days.

If you’ve got a binnacle at home, or a ship’s bell mounted somewhere, you’d be happy to spend hours wandering through this place. It’s fun even if you don’t have one.

Info:
Easy access by public transport: from Amsterdam Central Station 5 minutes by bus, line 22 or 32; or only a 15 minute walk.

De Engelbewaarder

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de Engelbewarder (The Guardian Angel) Jazz Club and Bar

The name of this bar/cafe means “Guardian Angel”. Popular with the literati since the 70s it now serves up food and cool jazz music (on Sunday) to compliment the booze. The menu offers a good choice of items including appetizers like deep-fried calamari (recommended) and cheese fondue.

The canalside seating in nice weather is very popular, although you can’t really hear the music well from outside. Inside it’s usually very crowded, standing room only, and very smoky, especially on Sundays.
Good mix of people, Dutch regulars, expats, and some tourists. Sunday is the most popular day when jazz musicians jam from around 4pm to 7pm.

Pathé Arena Theater

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I recently visited the Pathe Arena theaters to see a new movie (Goldmember) on the day of its release in the Netherlands. As usual, I went during a weekday afternoon. Why? Because not only did I get a nice discount, but the theater was almost empty (like about 8 people in the biggest theater!). I like that!

The seats are ever so comfy here. The red ones in the largest theater are well-padded and wide, with wide arm rests and lots of legroom. No more cramming your legs against the seat in front!

The sound system was awesome, but didn’t seem to work 100% with the movie I came to see, perhaps because it wasn’t filmed in a compatible mode. I counted at least 30 speakers that I could see.

I really like coming here for the reasons I’ve mentioned, and I would come here more often, if they didn’t only show the latest Hollywood-hyped, factory-made movies. What’s wrong with screening something alternative once in awhile? Well there’s certainly no shortage of theaters in Amsterdam showing non-mainstream films.

The only other gripe I have is that the popcorn we got in the afternoon was stale (and encrusted with salt) from the night before. Someone should be shot for doing this. Stale, overly salty popcorn is inexcusable. Let your employees take it home at the end of the night instead, please!

I’ve seen movies in the smaller theaters at the Arena, and they’re all top quality, and airconditioned. Plus there’s no smoking, and usually no pause in the middle of the feature.