Boogie!

The most swinging toilet of the city.

Amsterdam Noord

Separated from the rest of the city is Amsterdam Noord (Dutch for 'North'). This area lies on the other bank of the IJ-water. From the city of Amsterdam (by that I mean: the city center), Amsterdam Noord can only be reached by ferries, or by making use of the IJ-tunnel (which is currently closed). Of course there are other ways to get to Amsterdam Noord, but you'd have to take a detour.

It is said that people from Amsterdam Noord aren't really Amsterdammers, while the people of Amsterdam Noord are very proud to be from Noord, and would not change their house on the opposite bank of the IJ for a house in the 'real' city.

This picture is taken from the De Ruijterkade, on the side of the 'real' city.

Enterpreneurs

Because buildings alone do not make a city, I'm posting a picture of a little street musician today!

I saw this boy playing the djembé in front of the Zuiderkerk (Southern Church), between the Nieuwmarkt and the Waterlooplein. His smaller brother (or friend) was sitting by his side selling apples with sugar and cinnamon.

Hotel Amrâth

Part of the Amrâth Hotel, which is located on the Prins Hendrikkade, on a short walk from the Central Station.

The building represents an architectural tendency from the early 20th century called the 'Amsterdamse School'. Characteristic for the Amsterdamse School is the use of bricks as the principal construction material, and the decoration of façades with (again) bricks or natural stone.

Before this building was bought by a hotel keeper (in 2004), it was resident to several shipping companies, and later the local public transport company held office in it too.

Amsterdam Centraal

Amsterdam Central Station, platform 14a, early in the morning.

The Central Station was built in the 19th century, and is now for many their first encounter with Amsterdam: the stately architecture of the building, the vibrant atmosphere created by many people of great variety, the angry taxidrivers at the doorstep, the eternal renovation projects turning everything into one muddy pit, the bikes that are being dragged into trains trams and metros, the undecisive tourists with their big suitcases, the stressed locals on their way to their appointments, the fastfood stands because not many sit down to eat; probably no other building would give such an accurate summary of the city as does the station.

Vrankrijck

The better graffiti-work on a squatted house in the Spuistraat.

Despite efforts by the national government to legally forbid squatting, Amsterdam's squatters' community still seems to be holding strong. In some areas, squatters have even opened bars in their occupied houses, offering consumptions for fair prices. Without being a squatter myself (I feel a lot more secure paying rent), I have met quite some people who live in a house they 'occupied'. These people were always open-minded and decent, and I support their motives for squatting wholeheartedly (it's really difficult to find an appartment or a room within the city, while on the other hand, many houses have been empty for years). However, some violent incidents with squatters have given the community a bad name. One of the incidents took place in Vrankrijck, the house you can see on the photo. A squatter attacked someone in there, and later refused access to the rescue units who came to save the victim's life. The victim did not survive. As you can see, this is truely a house with a story.

Sint Olofssteeg

Picture taken in the Sint Olofssteeg, a sidestreet of the Zeedijk, in the oldest part of Amsterdam.

As you can see, this is a bike-path, although many people walk through the alley as well (often not knowing that they're actually on a bike-path, something Amsterdammers can get really pissed off about, especially since it's usually the tourists who make this fatal mistake). Clearly visible on the photo are the typical façades of the typical old-Dutch houses as they were built in the 17th century, with a beam and a hook at the top so that heavy packages could be hoisted up to the attick with a rope (this system is actually still being used). Do also pay attention to the sky, since even the sky in this picture is as Dutch as it can get.

Oosterpark, ingang Linnaeusstraat

A scenery shot from the Oosterpark, with in the background the church tower of the Muiderkerk.

Basically every district in Amsterdam has its own park. Out of all these parks, the Vondelpark and the Westerpark are probably the most famous. The Vondelpark is touristy, the Westerpark is home to several cultural institutes (like a cinema, and several galleries) and also hosts an annual concert festival (in summer). The Oosterpark is less well-known, and therefore a lot quieter. The only thing that has brought the Oosterpark some fame, is the high amount of drug addicts who roam around the asphalt paths that encircle the peaceful ponds and grassfields.

On the day that I took this picture, a drug addict walked onto the grass where I was sitting on, and threatened to step with his right foot onto the face of someone who was sunbathing.

Mother and child?

I can't really tell what this is. But it shows that it pays off to look above sometimes!

I assume this is part of an art project going on in the Red Light District (although I took the picture somewhat outside the district). To reduce the crime rate in the area, many brothels with insufficient documentary had to hand in their licence to the local government, leaving many of the windows empty behind which women would usually seduce men into their peeskamertjes (/ cribs). Instead of refilling them with what the District is famous for, young artists got to use the peeskamertjes as an art exhibition area.

Sint Antoniebreestraat

Picture taken in the St. Antoniebreestraat, in the east-side of the center.

Although the St. Antoniebreestraat definitely forms part of the old city of Amsterdam, you won't find many classical buildings in this street. Several decades ago the city council had the plan to destroy half of the old town to create a network of modern highways and metro-rails to ensure a better connection with the rest of the country. However, protest against the plans was so heavy that the council eventually cancelled the project. One of the first streets to be 'adapted' to the new plan was the St. Antoniebreestraat. Graffities and abundant colour-use on the façades do make the street look lively, though!

Agnietenkapel

Picture of the entrance gate to the Agnietenkapel, to be found in the oldest part of the city (on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal).

Built in 1470 as a chapel for a perticular franciscan nun's order (the Agnieten), the Agnietenkapel had a religious function until the catholic-protestant alteration of Amsterdam took place in 1578. As from that moment on catholicism couldn't be practiced publicly anymore, the nuns left their chapel and the Agnietenkapel lost its religious connection. In 1631 the building became the cradle of the University of Amsterdam, which is still the owner of the kapel today.

(I confess I did look up the years mentioned in this post :P)

Beurs van Berlage

On the photo you can see details of the Beurs van Berlage, a building you will find right in the middle of your walk from the Central Station to the Dam square.

De Beurs van Berlage was finished in 1903 and first functioned as a merchant center. In 1985, when the merchants had already long left the building, the city council decided to convert de Beurs into a 'Palazzo Pubblico' (I guess the Italian name had to contribute to the elegance of the building...?). In the northern part now practices the Dutch Philarmonic Orchestra, while the southern part is residence to a cultural association. The 'palazzo' is so 'pubblico' that I've never seen it from the inside.

Here comes the summer

Photo taken on one of the rare hot summer days we get in this country.

Because many people lack a garden behind their houses, many seek refuge in the parks when the weather is finally good. Barbecues, bottles of wine and instant-salads from supermarket Albert Heijn are all over the place, and everybody is having a good time. This picture was taken in the Westerpark, on the same day that Lenny Kravitz was giving an open-air concert there (hence the many people gathered on the dyke in the background; they hoped to see something of the recital, though I highly doubt if they could). In the foreground are two children who spent the entire afternoon riding through an artificial and shallow canal with their crossbikes.