[Post published by Liviu on Liviu's [in Netherlands] Blog]
After having visited Van Loon Museum, I spent some time exploring a bit of North Amsterdam:
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Ferry Houthaven - Amsterdam Distelweg: The coolest ferry ever! So small, and cute! And very few people! I suppose one has to have some local skills, since both ends are not quite accessible to ordinary tourists ;) (ok-ok, I couldn't stop bragging a bit.)
The Distelweg industrial area: Classic industrial area, nothing to see except if you like factory buildings.
That bridge part of Distelweg, over some canal: under repairs for now. Oh well, I've seen it some long time ago when I first crossed the Ij river from Central Station to Buiksloterweg.
The area bordered by Distelweg, Distelkade and Ranonkelkade: Nice area, but there's nothing special except the very narrow paths between the groups of houses - it's like each group of houses shares one huge common garden.
Conclusions
There's nothing special about this specific area of North Amsterdam.
Friday, 18 June 2010
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Schapenburgerpad - awesome alley/path in the middle of Amsterdam, just South of Vondel Park
[Post published by Liviu on Liviu's [in Netherlands] Blog]
During a reconnaissance (it sounds so military-like, indeed) walk around Vondelpark on 9th of June, I encountered some kind of alley/path (just South of Vondel Park) that begged for some exploring - the name: Schapenburgerpad.
Schapenburgerpad: awesome alley/path, it's like going in the wild in the middle of the city. There's no pavement, just some kind of mud and sand and some stones, it's narrow, there's almost nobody going in or out, full of vegetation etc. Basically, it's one of those back&dark alleys, designed only for locals' access.
Curios what Schapenburgerpad means? Check out Google Translate.
Ok, it roughly stands for Sheep civilian path.
View Netherlands (by Liviu) in a larger map
During a reconnaissance (it sounds so military-like, indeed) walk around Vondelpark on 9th of June, I encountered some kind of alley/path (just South of Vondel Park) that begged for some exploring - the name: Schapenburgerpad.
Schapenburgerpad: awesome alley/path, it's like going in the wild in the middle of the city. There's no pavement, just some kind of mud and sand and some stones, it's narrow, there's almost nobody going in or out, full of vegetation etc. Basically, it's one of those back&dark alleys, designed only for locals' access.
Curios what Schapenburgerpad means? Check out Google Translate.
Ok, it roughly stands for Sheep civilian path.
View Netherlands (by Liviu) in a larger map
Monday, 14 June 2010
Museums for photography in Amsterdam: FOAM and Huis Marseille
[Post published by Liviu on Liviu's [in Netherlands] Blog]
6th of June: dark, cloudy, showers, light rain, rain, never-stopping-rain etc. - you know, the usual Amsterdam weather.
Foam_Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam
Admission: free for Museumkaart holders. Feel free to check the detailed price list.
Of course, there are lockers at the basement.
Pictures are not allowed :)) It's a museum for photography so why should one take pictures of their exhibited pictures, right? Anyway, I consider it a very weird approach for a museum about photography!
My opinion on FOAM
Some highlights of the current exhibitions, as they are linked on front page of the site:
The building: refurbished in a very artistic/cryptic manner on the inside - it's rather easy to get lost, but that is a feature here, not a bug, since I did feel the need of something to distract me and chase away the boredom.
Hint: climb to the attic, to the FOAM editions shop - forget about the shop, take a look at the view! It's great to see the surrounding buildings from up there!
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Huis Marseille - museum voor fotografie (en: House Marseille - museum for photography)
Admission: free for Museumkaart holders.
Of course, there are lockers at the basement.
Taking pictures of the exhibits is not allowed. However one is allowed to take pictures of the decorations and the architecture of the house, the garden etc. therefore one may take pictures of the house as long as one does not take pictures of the exhibits.
My opinion on Huis Marseille
I didn't understand / see the point of any of the exhibitions there (I don't even remember what the exhibitions were about).
Nothing touched me.
Sorry.
The house however looks cool. The garden is very small.
View Netherlands (by Liviu) in a larger map
Conclusions
Strangely, one may not take pictures of the exhibits in neither of these 2 museums, i.e. FOAM and Huis Marseille. Funny, isn't it? These are museums for photography, but one is not allowed to take pictures :D
Apparently I don't understand art with respect to photography.
I wouldn't recommend any of these 2 museums to ordinary people, i.e. people that lack a strong passion for art and/or photography.
However, I recommend you go to these museums just to see the buildings on the inside. Hey, if you have the Museumkaart it's free, right? Great!
6th of June: dark, cloudy, showers, light rain, rain, never-stopping-rain etc. - you know, the usual Amsterdam weather.
Foam_Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam
Admission: free for Museumkaart holders. Feel free to check the detailed price list.
Of course, there are lockers at the basement.
Pictures are not allowed :)) It's a museum for photography so why should one take pictures of their exhibited pictures, right? Anyway, I consider it a very weird approach for a museum about photography!
My opinion on FOAM
Some highlights of the current exhibitions, as they are linked on front page of the site:
- Ari Marcopoulos - It might seem familiar [short; long description]: some interesting landscapes, a very cool video with some skateboarders going down an alley at quite a high speed for some 9 minutes (the total length of the video was 10 minutes), people (faces, bodies or both)
- Paul Graham - a shimmer of possibility [short; long description]: This is supposed to be some sort of art, the artist's intention being to show common people, contract and expand time etc. I didn't understand it.
- Hans van den Bogaard - Collectie Vrolik [short; long description]: Quite interesting, especially if one is in the medical field. I bet the real Vrolik collection [wikipedia; uva.nl] is really cool and quite a treasure for medical doctors. However, I must note the overwhelming pictures of fetuses... couldn't they find any other pictures of exhibits to show, like the ones showing malformed human skeletons due to diseases? Oh, they also show pictures of fetuses of various animals, too just in case you wanted to ask...
- Foam_3h: Simon Wald-Lasowski – For your eyes only [short; long description]: I didn't get it, kind of disliked it actually.
The building: refurbished in a very artistic/cryptic manner on the inside - it's rather easy to get lost, but that is a feature here, not a bug, since I did feel the need of something to distract me and chase away the boredom.
Hint: climb to the attic, to the FOAM editions shop - forget about the shop, take a look at the view! It's great to see the surrounding buildings from up there!
View Netherlands (by Liviu) in a larger map
Huis Marseille - museum voor fotografie (en: House Marseille - museum for photography)
Admission: free for Museumkaart holders.
Of course, there are lockers at the basement.
Taking pictures of the exhibits is not allowed. However one is allowed to take pictures of the decorations and the architecture of the house, the garden etc. therefore one may take pictures of the house as long as one does not take pictures of the exhibits.
My opinion on Huis Marseille
I didn't understand / see the point of any of the exhibitions there (I don't even remember what the exhibitions were about).
Nothing touched me.
Sorry.
The house however looks cool. The garden is very small.
View Netherlands (by Liviu) in a larger map
Conclusions
Strangely, one may not take pictures of the exhibits in neither of these 2 museums, i.e. FOAM and Huis Marseille. Funny, isn't it? These are museums for photography, but one is not allowed to take pictures :D
Apparently I don't understand art with respect to photography.
I wouldn't recommend any of these 2 museums to ordinary people, i.e. people that lack a strong passion for art and/or photography.
However, I recommend you go to these museums just to see the buildings on the inside. Hey, if you have the Museumkaart it's free, right? Great!
Saturday, 12 June 2010
Museum Van Loon (Amsterdam)
[Post published by Liviu on Liviu's [in Netherlands] Blog]
Intro: After having visited 2 other old & classic Amsterdam houses, i.e. both Museums Geelvinck Hinlopen Huis and Willet-Holthuysen, it was time to visit Museum Van Loon.
4th of June: a very sunny and quite hot day. Indeed, unusual weather for Amsterdam.
Museum Van Loon (Amsterdam)
Although there aren't any lockers at the entrance, the assistant you give you a number and will store your things in their office, which is very fine.
Pictures are allowed, but, as always, no flash - make sure your memory card is empty, 'cause you shall need all the space.
My opinion on Museum Van Loon (Amsterdam)
It's a very nice museum: plenty of things to see; the garden is nice, too but quite small - check out the huge tree in the garden! The coach house cannot be visited for the moment, since they need to refurbish it first.
The museum is supposed to have been refurbished, but I've noticed cracks in the walls and ceiling, around the doors etc. I do not mind, in fact I really like it since it preserves the old atmosphere in my opinion, just that I've noticed this now because the other 2 old houses did not have any such cracks. I suppose Van Loon has been refurbished a long time ago or something.
The rooms at the ground floor: very nice.
On November 1st, 2005, Queen Beatrix and the Prince of Orange offered a lunch in the Red Drawing Room to both Russian President Valdimir Putin and his wife. Cool, eh?
The kitchen: very cool.
Also, at the basement there's a room where they play continuously a 10 minute video staring the last member of the Van Loon family who talks about the house.
The bedrooms at the first floor: very cool, especially those secret doors :D (No, visitors have no access there, but they are mentioned in the description and you can see them as they are obvious.)
There's also a second floor, they say, to which visitors don't have access - that floor accommodated the servants and access was done through some narrow and steep stairs, they say. Awesome!
View Netherlands (by Liviu) in a larger map
Conclusions
I recommend you visit Van Loon Museum (Amsterdam); it's worth the time and money.
I recommend you visit all 3 museums, therefore all these 3 old & classic Amsterdam houses, i.e. Van Loon, Geelvinck Hinlopen Huis and Willet-Holthuysen.
Intro: After having visited 2 other old & classic Amsterdam houses, i.e. both Museums Geelvinck Hinlopen Huis and Willet-Holthuysen, it was time to visit Museum Van Loon.
4th of June: a very sunny and quite hot day. Indeed, unusual weather for Amsterdam.
Museum Van Loon (Amsterdam)
- Official site for all supported languages (English version section)
- Description on the museum.nl
- Description on amsterdam.info
Although there aren't any lockers at the entrance, the assistant you give you a number and will store your things in their office, which is very fine.
Pictures are allowed, but, as always, no flash - make sure your memory card is empty, 'cause you shall need all the space.
My opinion on Museum Van Loon (Amsterdam)
It's a very nice museum: plenty of things to see; the garden is nice, too but quite small - check out the huge tree in the garden! The coach house cannot be visited for the moment, since they need to refurbish it first.
The museum is supposed to have been refurbished, but I've noticed cracks in the walls and ceiling, around the doors etc. I do not mind, in fact I really like it since it preserves the old atmosphere in my opinion, just that I've noticed this now because the other 2 old houses did not have any such cracks. I suppose Van Loon has been refurbished a long time ago or something.
The rooms at the ground floor: very nice.
On November 1st, 2005, Queen Beatrix and the Prince of Orange offered a lunch in the Red Drawing Room to both Russian President Valdimir Putin and his wife. Cool, eh?
The kitchen: very cool.
Also, at the basement there's a room where they play continuously a 10 minute video staring the last member of the Van Loon family who talks about the house.
The bedrooms at the first floor: very cool, especially those secret doors :D (No, visitors have no access there, but they are mentioned in the description and you can see them as they are obvious.)
There's also a second floor, they say, to which visitors don't have access - that floor accommodated the servants and access was done through some narrow and steep stairs, they say. Awesome!
View Netherlands (by Liviu) in a larger map
Conclusions
I recommend you visit Van Loon Museum (Amsterdam); it's worth the time and money.
I recommend you visit all 3 museums, therefore all these 3 old & classic Amsterdam houses, i.e. Van Loon, Geelvinck Hinlopen Huis and Willet-Holthuysen.
Thursday, 10 June 2010
Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam (Dutch Resistance Museum)
[Post published by Liviu on Liviu's [in Netherlands] Blog]
29th of May: a bit sunny in the afternoon, cloudy, windy, rainy in the afternoon/evening.
Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam (en: Dutch Resistance Museum)
Admission: free for Museumkaart holders. Feel free to check the detailed price list.
Of course, there are lockers at the entrance.
Pictures are allowed, but no flash.
My opinion
Quite a small museum overall, but nice. It is worth visiting. Very friendly staff also.
I find it funny for such a great colonial power that Netherlands has been to make a resistance museum. Resistance?! That sounds so weird for such a proactive nation.
There's a mention that roughly says the following: the Germans bombed Rotterdam, then threatened to bomb other cities as well, and The Netherlands surrendered 5 days after the war has started. So, let's rephrase: Germany bombed so well only 1 city that the whole Dutch army noticed it has become useless.
However, they admit at one point that the Dutch army hasn't been modernized properly since the beginning of the century. That's even more weird for The Netherlands!
I recommend you visit this museum after having visited Reijksmuseum and Tropenmuseum. Depending on your sense of humor, you might smile at times and say to yourself: Oh come on, guys, what happened to you? When did you get tired?
Note: Regarding WW2, Germany really scared everyone by conquering so fast The Netherlands, France (including the mighty Paris), Poland etc. Blitzkrieg ruled!
View Netherlands (by Liviu) in a larger map
Conclusions
I recommend visiting Verzetsmuseum. It is worth the time & money. I also recommend you visit this museum after having visited Reijksmuseum and Tropenmuseum.
29th of May: a bit sunny in the afternoon, cloudy, windy, rainy in the afternoon/evening.
Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam (en: Dutch Resistance Museum)
Admission: free for Museumkaart holders. Feel free to check the detailed price list.
Of course, there are lockers at the entrance.
Pictures are allowed, but no flash.
My opinion
Quite a small museum overall, but nice. It is worth visiting. Very friendly staff also.
I find it funny for such a great colonial power that Netherlands has been to make a resistance museum. Resistance?! That sounds so weird for such a proactive nation.
There's a mention that roughly says the following: the Germans bombed Rotterdam, then threatened to bomb other cities as well, and The Netherlands surrendered 5 days after the war has started. So, let's rephrase: Germany bombed so well only 1 city that the whole Dutch army noticed it has become useless.
However, they admit at one point that the Dutch army hasn't been modernized properly since the beginning of the century. That's even more weird for The Netherlands!
I recommend you visit this museum after having visited Reijksmuseum and Tropenmuseum. Depending on your sense of humor, you might smile at times and say to yourself: Oh come on, guys, what happened to you? When did you get tired?
Note: Regarding WW2, Germany really scared everyone by conquering so fast The Netherlands, France (including the mighty Paris), Poland etc. Blitzkrieg ruled!
View Netherlands (by Liviu) in a larger map
Conclusions
I recommend visiting Verzetsmuseum. It is worth the time & money. I also recommend you visit this museum after having visited Reijksmuseum and Tropenmuseum.
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
I voted AGAIN
[Post published by Liviu on Liviu's [in Netherlands] Blog]
Do you remember when I voted the first time?
Well, now it's the second time :)
If interested, feel free to check the website for these elections (in Dutch).
However, there were 2 elections held at the same time.
Side note 1: On 4th of June, I have also received a flier/advertisement in my inbox from VVD [wikipedia; official site] - Mark Rutte on the first page, of course, as all politics fliers display their party leader on the first page.
Hey, have these people understood that I am a regular voter (wherever I am living) and started courting me? ;) mmm, no. Actually most inboxes had such a flier inside. Hey, I'm a regular voter therefore I demand more attention! :))
First I confused VVD with PVV [wikipedia]. Remember that Geert Wilders (the leader of PVV, who wants to kick Romania & Bulgaria out of the EU among others) and also resembles Corneliu Vadim Tudor? My bad for the confusion.
Side note 2: now I'm part of the West District/Neighborhood, which has been reconfigured some months ago, in order to include some small neighborhoods like Kolenkit, Bos en Lommer, WesterPark etc.
Do you remember when I voted the first time?
Well, now it's the second time :)
If interested, feel free to check the website for these elections (in Dutch).
However, there were 2 elections held at the same time.
- Good news: I voted in the election regarding building a parking garage under the Singel canal, near Marnixbad. (I wish they would build some of these in Bucharest, too.)
- Bad news: I was not allowed to vote in the election for the House or council or whatever, 'cause I don't understand very well what that was all about from Google Translation.
Side note 1: On 4th of June, I have also received a flier/advertisement in my inbox from VVD [wikipedia; official site] - Mark Rutte on the first page, of course, as all politics fliers display their party leader on the first page.
Hey, have these people understood that I am a regular voter (wherever I am living) and started courting me? ;) mmm, no. Actually most inboxes had such a flier inside. Hey, I'm a regular voter therefore I demand more attention! :))
First I confused VVD with PVV [wikipedia]. Remember that Geert Wilders (the leader of PVV, who wants to kick Romania & Bulgaria out of the EU among others) and also resembles Corneliu Vadim Tudor? My bad for the confusion.
Side note 2: now I'm part of the West District/Neighborhood, which has been reconfigured some months ago, in order to include some small neighborhoods like Kolenkit, Bos en Lommer, WesterPark etc.
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
Exploring North Amsterdam: N of Ij, W of Ij-Tunnel, up to Vliegenbos
[Post published by Liviu on Liviu's [in Netherlands] Blog]
23rd of May: Another sunny day, but not that hot.
The area of North Amsterdam - N of Ij, W of Ij-Tunnel, up to Vliegenbos - is what I call a classic urban area, perfect for training one's exploring skills.
There's no reward, i.e. nothing awesome to talk about, just bits and pieces that make sense only to city passionate people (like me). You have to see, hear and feel all details - and even then most people will get bored.
It's a cocktail of everything:
As I said, perfect for training one's exploring skills.
Anyway, let me get you bored now:
The Ij-Tunnel: cool all the way from the point it reaches the surface up to the northest point of Noordpark.
W.H. Vliegenbos: forest-like park
It really looks like a forest, i.e. there are:
Noordpark: small, but nice
The benches have a really cool design.
Hoekschewaardweg and Nieuwendammerdijk streets are linked by some stairs.
Nieuwendammerdijk is very-very narrow.
View Netherlands (by Liviu) in a larger map
Conclusion
Visit this area only if you like to train yourself for urban exploring. Otherwise it will get you more nervous than rush hour traffic.
Expect nothing, just look around for the small details.
23rd of May: Another sunny day, but not that hot.
The area of North Amsterdam - N of Ij, W of Ij-Tunnel, up to Vliegenbos - is what I call a classic urban area, perfect for training one's exploring skills.
There's no reward, i.e. nothing awesome to talk about, just bits and pieces that make sense only to city passionate people (like me). You have to see, hear and feel all details - and even then most people will get bored.
It's a cocktail of everything:
- narrow streets, which seem very intimate
- normal streets
- stairs that link streets, e.g. Hoekschewaardweg with Nieuwendammerdijk
- the tunnel under the Ij it's highway style, with 3 lanes per way. The new North-South metro line has its tunnel coming to surface in the middle of this highway, after the highway tunnel has reached surface, with a station planned just between the 2 ways of the highway
- at times dirty
- there's a general feeling it's less organized
- at times poor houses show up
- industrial zones
- normal parks
- forest-like parks, i.e. W.H. Vliegenbos
As I said, perfect for training one's exploring skills.
Anyway, let me get you bored now:
The Ij-Tunnel: cool all the way from the point it reaches the surface up to the northest point of Noordpark.
W.H. Vliegenbos: forest-like park
It really looks like a forest, i.e. there are:
- many huge & old trees
- alleys with good pavement
- alleys with bad pavement
- muddy narrow paths connecting the alleys
- very small canals suitable only for the ducks (there are no geese or swans or seagulls)
Noordpark: small, but nice
The benches have a really cool design.
Hoekschewaardweg and Nieuwendammerdijk streets are linked by some stairs.
Nieuwendammerdijk is very-very narrow.
View Netherlands (by Liviu) in a larger map
Conclusion
Visit this area only if you like to train yourself for urban exploring. Otherwise it will get you more nervous than rush hour traffic.
Expect nothing, just look around for the small details.
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