Amsterdam Magazine no 12 - August 2011 by Amsterdam Magazine

€4.95

Yes, I’m free!

beyond windmills, wooden shoes and weed

m a g a z i n e

Let Your Gay Pride Colours Shine!

Knock Knock

Inside a frat house Interview

Diana ross’ twin sister

Hottest gay bars

Bowie, lennon and Blondie Through the lens of Brian Duffy And: IJscuypje - Restaurant Xinh - Erotic Museum - Fashion at the Hollandsche Manege - Pimp my Bike - Upcoming and much more!

august 2011

28 13 14 19 66 24 48 52 37 61 69 80

71 82 40 17 56

62 7 8 9 23 38 72 76

featured Gay Pride 2011: Paint the city pink! interview

Unlocking the city: Artists unite! Meet the Dutch: Diana Ross’ twin sister Word on the street: A cultural meltdown Foreign exchange: Dressing the Dutch

reportage

Knock Knock: This is what a frat house looks like pimp my bike: Let the animal kingdom rule getting around: The Hague, city at sea

reviewed

amsterdam eats: Xinh, Vietnamese street food gone fine dining Magnified: IJscuypje museum check: Let’s get erotic wet your whistle: No-frills Belgian tavern Zotte

Column

Sex and de Stad: Gay Pride Framed: By Thomas Schlijper

Fashion

The horse whisperer

ART & Design

Made in holland: Another picnic table Expo: Bowie, Lennon & Blondie by Brian Duffy

the guide Dutch A-Z

the regular

letter from the editor get social! heads-up: News from the city

more...

dutch treat: Liquid gold The Ten: Best gay bars captured: What you missed last month upcoming: Events that mustn’t be missed

17 5

letter

With 50,000 copies distributed each month, Amsterdam Magazine is the largest free English-language magazine in the Netherlands. Amsterdam Magazine is distributed at hundreds of locations in Amsterdam including many hotels, popular tourist attractions, restaurants, bars and shops. For those on their way home or just passing through Amsterdam with a connecting flight, we are freely available at all four Schiphol airport lounges. Amsterdam Magazine is published monthly by: Amsterdam Magazine BV Herengracht 423 - sous 1017 BR Amsterdam The Netherlands +31 (0)20 8461690 info@amsterdam-magazine.com www.amsterdam-magazine.com twitter: amsterdammag facebook: amsterdammagazine Publishers: Linda Korver Wouter Wijtenburg Cees van der Steenstraten

Letter from the Editor

Little Britain’s Dafydd Thomas is not the only gay in the village!

Editor in Chief: Mathilde Hoekstra mathilde@amsterdam-magazine.com Art Director: Linda Korver linda@amsterdam-magazine.com Deputy Editor: Karen Loughrey karen@amsterdam-magazine.com Sales and Account Executive: Kris Soehawan kris@amsterdam-magazine.com Content Producer: Sarah Moore sarah@amsterdam-magazine.com Social Media: Sarah Moore sarah@amsterdam-magazine.com Fashion Director: Tommy Hagen fashion@amsterdam-magazine.com Interns: Tim Hilhorst tim@amsterdam-magazine.com Catherine Smyth catherine@amsterdam-magazine.com We’re open to any kind of internships! Email your request to linda@amsterdam-magazine.com Contributors Morgan Currie, Michiel Döbelman, Severine Donkelaar, Allison Guy, Tommy Hagen, Brandon Hartley, April Jumelet, Meinke Klein, Blair Larkin, Mike Peek, EvertJan Pol, Benjamin Roberts, Sergey Ripinski, Thomas Schlijper, Arun Sood, Marieke Verhoeven, Marieke van den Berg, Lauren Wissot Special thanks to Alberte, Honey Chang, Emelye Crehole, Fabian, Geert, Annet Gelink, Geoff J.Kim, Marco, Hollandsche Manege, Martijn Savenije, Minso, Minyoung, Ulla Models, Nina, Nate Pennel, Dutch Diana Ross, Seven, Sofie, Vincent Valk, Gallery Addie Vassie, Hadrien Zerah, De Zotte Advertise with us! To find out on how you can get your message across to 100,000 international tourists each month, reach us by email at: sales@amsterdam-magazine.com or call our office on: +31 (0)20 8461690. Want to become a distributor? Amsterdam Magazine is published monthly (50,000 free copies). To discuss becoming one of our exclusive distribution locations, please contact us at info@ amsterdam-magazine.com.

ÆÆ The word ‘gay’ refers to a person who is attracted to the same sex ÆÆ ‘That’s so gay’ means that something’s stupid ÆÆ The original meaning of the word ‘gay’ was ‘joyful, carefree’ or ‘bright and showy’ ÆÆ Some people call homosexuality a mental illness ÆÆ If that’s the case, even Bert & Ernie are mentally ill ÆÆ Just like Oscar Wilde (R.I.P) ÆÆ In fact, 60% of people have had a gay sexual experience ÆÆ 10% of the male population is gay (according to Alfred Kinsey) Do you want to know how many queer boys are living in Amsterdam? Visit the Gay Pride festival and I’m sure you’ll get a good idea. Missed the fun? Catch up by reading our featured story. I wish you a gay old time!

Mathilde Hoekstra, Editor in Chief

Distributed for free in the Netherlands Recycle this magazine by passing it on! Printed on FSC certified paper --------------------------------------------------------© Amsterdam Magazine B.V. 2011 Amsterdam Magazine is a registered trade name and publication. Neither the trade name nor the format may be used and/or reproduced, in any form by third parties. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of Amsterdam Magazine or its publishers. Amsterdam Magazine accepts no responsibility, legal or otherwise, for the accuracy of its content. ---------------------------------------------------------

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When we’re not busy making funky fresh magazines, we like to get social with our readers online. Besides chatting, gossiping, debating and flirting, we also like to give away prizes. Join our Facebook or Twitter page to get hold of any of these great giveaways!

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/amsterdammag Rachelkae: Just dropped off my fiets for some @ amsterdammag pimpin. Can’t wait to see what the artist makes of it. GuardianTravel: Big thanks to our #Amsterdam city guide contributors @AMS_unlike @unfoldamsterdam @ amsterdammag @amsterdamfoodieis.gd/1iQRyR Astrid Faber: It is nice to learn more about dutch girls if you are a dutch girl yourself!! hahaha!! Anita Kalmane: Still open? Will pass by in a few min... Btw, did you hear about yesterday’s comedy show in Toomler, where the British woman read out some parts of the article about Dutch women!? Michael Perfect: talking about zoo, thanks for a great day at artis AmsterMagz! Amsterdam Magazine > Grab a copy of the latest issue here (during office hours there’s a display outside) 12√ Vapiano > Goods Pastas, salads, and pizza all ranging from 5 to 8 euros. More of a casual dining experience but cheap tasty food with a view of the water. Our favourites: pasta carbonara 4√ Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam> ”One of the best views of the city not to mention an ultra cool modern library. Go to the top floor, order a hot chocolate and enjoy the view.” 19 √ Sexmuseum > “If you’ve got a spare €4 in your pocket, and a few drinks in your body, there are worse ways to escape the rain than the Sex Museum. “ 6√ IJscuypje > Try their appel taart flavour! 6√

heads-up

Heads-up news from the city

By: Evert-Jan Pol

Paying by bank card in taxis soon possible

Within a few months passengers will be able to pay with their bank cards in all taxis operated by Taxicentrale Amsterdam (TCA). Last month TCA began installing a system in its taxis that will make this possible. Currently customers can only pay by credit card or with cash. By facilitating payments with bank cards the taxi company hopes its drivers will have to carry less cash, which should improve safety. The installation of the new system will cost several million euros (€1,500 per taxi). Source: Parool

Amsterdam canals in Copenhagen? Copenhagen is considering constructing a ring of canals, just like the one in Amsterdam. In early July the heaviest rainfall in 400 years caused a lot of damage to buildings in the centre of the Danish capital. An Amsterdam-style canal system would be the solution. Karen Elleman, the Danish Minister for the Environment, has granted permission for Copenhagen to construct canals, basins and flood plains. An environmentaland construction expert, however, doubts that this will be possible because construction would require the demolition of many buildings. Amsterdam’s 17th-century canal ring has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1 August, 2010. Source: Parool Photo: Evert Jan Pol

Van Gogh Museum

closed for six months

The Van Gogh Museum will be closed for six months from October 2012 for renovation works. This is necessary to be able to guarantee the condition of the building and the long-term safety of both visitors and the artworks. During the renovation, the highlights of the museum will be on display in the Hermitage Amsterdam including 75 paintings by Vincent van Gogh. The Van Gogh Museum attracts 1.5 million visitors each year, making it the most visited museum in the Netherlands. According to director Axel Rüger it’s ‘essential’ that the museum opens again in 2013, as it will celebrate its 40th birthday that year.

Tropical forest At Royal Artis Zoo visitors can now walk among monkeys, iguanas and other animals in the ‘tropical jungle’. The Monkey House, which dates from 1909 and the Bird House (1910) have undergone renovation and been transformed into a tropical forest. It’s filled with 300 plant- and tree species and diverse animal life, including birds and fruit bats – the largest flying mammals in the world. ‘We hope that the public has the courtesy to not touch the animals’, says director Haig Balian. According to zookeepers the monkeys won’t normally bite. The reopening of the Monkey House and Bird House is the first step in a major renovation of the zoo which will be completed in 2014. Source: Parool

Source: Parool Photo: Van Gogh Museum

heads-up

Heads-up news from the city

New event area

There is a new event area in Amsterdam: the Land van Bosse (Bosse’s Land). It’s located in the Amsterdamse Bos (Amsterdam forest), measures ten acres and can accommodate 20,000 visitors. Approximately 70% of the site will be used to host events such as festivals, concerts and markets. The rest will be preserved as a natural area. ‘The Land van Bosse may relieve other locations in town,’ says Judith Pieters of the Amsterdamse Bos. ‘Who knows, some day we might even host the parade here.’ The Land van Bosse is named after the farmer (Bosse) whose cows and sheep used to graze there. The land has been deserted since he left. Source: Parool

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Badminton World Cup in Amsterdam The Dutch Badminton Association wants to bring the 2014 individual badminton world championships to the Netherlands. The association will soon submit a bid that features Amsterdam as the host city. If successful, the event will probably take place in the Ziggo Dome, a new concert hall currently being built next to the Amsterdam ArenA. ‘The tournament would be a unique opportunity for Dutch people to watch the best badminton players in the world’, says Dutch Badminton Association Chairman Ted van der Meer. The successful country is expected to be announced in November. Source: AT5

Pedestrians get priority

Amsterdam residents stay put Amsterdam has become more attractive to residents since last year, according to a survey of 1,656 people by the city of Amsterdam. The number of families that plan to remain in the city has increased in recent years. When people decide to move, they prefer to stay in Amsterdam if possible. Options for moving within the city have also increased during this time. And the planned construction of new houses will ensure that more people can continue to live in Amsterdam.

The city council recently decided that pedestrians should get more priority in Amsterdam. Political party GroenLinks initiated the pedestrian-friendly proposal. Councillor Fjodor Molenaar thinks it’s becoming increasingly difficult for pedestrians to get around town. They often have to fight their way around obstacles such as antisocially parked bicycles, and when roadworks are taking place there is often less pavement available. It is not yet known what types of measures will be taken to address this problem. Source: Parool Photo: Christa Richert

Source: Amsterdam.nl Photo: Lavinia Marin

heads-up

The Dutch and their bikes... a match made in Holland No one really knows who first designed the modern bicycle. Rumour has it that a pupil of Leonardo da Vinci sketched one in 1493, but others dispute this. The earliest proven claim dates from 1817 for the Drais, a pedal-less machine powered only by a person’s feet on the pavement. Unsurprisingly, riders’ boots wore out rapidly, and the Drais fell out of fashion. The bicycle went then went through many incarnations, including the rather dangerous ‘high cycle’ of the 1870s (in the design shown); and by the 1890s bicycles had become reasonably affordable in Europe. They were widely adopted by the working classes, but in the Netherlands the slogan ‘Everybody on the bicycle’ meant their use spread throughout society, satisfying Dutchies’ view of themselves as sober, hardworking people. Postmen, policemen and even the Dutch army used bicycles.

view and purchase unique Ripinsky-designed products at www.zazzle.co.uk/ripinsky.

heads-up

Heads-up news from the city

By: Evert-Jan Pol

Antique tourist trams back in town

Hermitage most popular among Amsterdam citizens The most popular museum among Amsterdam residents is not the Van Gogh Museum or the Rijksmuseum, but Hermitage Amsterdam. This is one of the conclusions of a cultural survey by the city of Amsterdam. Last year 27% of the 1,100 adults surveyed had visited the Dutch branch of the world famous Hermitage in St. Petersburg. The Van Gogh Museum was in second place, followed by the Rijksmuseum. Queen Beatrix and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev officially opened the museum on 19 June, 2009. The millionth visitor walked through the doors just one year later, making it one of the top attractions in Amsterdam.

This summer, the tourist tram will be taking to the tracks in Amsterdam once again. On Sundays in July and August, between 12.00 and 16.00, tram 20 will make five trips past the city’s main attractions. The used trams that will be in operation date from 1929 and 1950. ‘We also have one from 1914, as a reserve,’ a spokesperson for the organisation said. Tram rides are not exclusively for tourists, locals can go for a ride too. It’s been nine years since the last tourist tram was operational in Amsterdam. Source: Parool Photo: amsterdamsetrams.nl

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Source: RTV N-H Photo: Luuk Kramer

24-hour entertainment

Do you think going out for just a night is simply not enough? Soon you could be partying and dancing all day, too! Mayor Eberhard van der Laan wants to give ten hospitality locations in Amsterdam permission to remain open 24 hours a day, as long as they don’t cause a nuisance. This plan is part of the ‘Hospitality Vision 20112014’. There are currently no hospitality facilities with a 24-hour licence and the city thinks that’s a shame. According to the spokesman for the mayor several entrepreneurs have already showed interest, some of which are from abroad. Source: ANP Photo: Alessandro Paiva

Amsterdam drops on list of expensive cities Amsterdam has dropped on the list of most expensive cities for expats. The Dutch capital is placed at number 50 this year on the list compiled by consultancy firm Mercer. In 2010, Amsterdam was at number 35 and in 2008 it was even higher up at number 25. Mercer researched the cost of living in 214 cities. The study included the prices of housing, transportation, food, clothing and household items. Luanda in Angola is the most expensive city, followed by the Japanese capital Tokyo and N’Djamena in Chad. Moscow is the fourth most expensive European city. Life for expats is cheapest in Karachi in Pakistan. Source: ANP Photo: Jorge Vicente

unlocking the city

Art Sty

unlocking the city

le!

Allow our clued-up ’dam dwellers to help you unlock this city! In this issue, contemporary art curator Annet Gelink gives us the inside scoop on living the artist’s life. BY: SARAH MOORE

Annet Gelink [48] founder of Annet gelink gallery annetgelink.com

How does the contemporary art scene in Amsterdam compare to other cultural capitals? This is a difficult question because at the moment the Dutch art scene is quite strange. Amsterdam is very good at developing new talent in art, design and advertising, but people tend to go off to New York or Berlin once they are established.The most important thing in the Dutch art scene is the galleries, that’s where the exciting work is showcased. But, as with any city, the art scene is always in flux. What’s your favourite neighbourhood for buying and viewing art? The Jordaan, where we are located, is a more established neighbourhood and offers older galleries. De Pijp and the Amsterdam-Noord are the fresh new spots for interesting artwork. Many artists have moved their studios to the north because there is more space and a different energy there. In the north, Nieuw Dakota and Motive Gallery show great work and ZINGERpresents and Juliette Jongma in De Pijp are worth a look. What is your favourite museum? I tell everyone to go to the Stedelijk because if you’re interested in contemporary art, it’s still the best choice. It’s being renovated at the moment, but that also means it’s not too crowded so you can take your time with each piece.

Where do artistic types like to hang out? W139 is an artist-run gallery space with lively art openings that turn into fun parties in the evenings. I think going to concerts is as inspiring as going to an exhibition so I suggest the Bimhuis for great live jazz music. It’s an incredibly beautiful venue. Occii is also a great hangout for alternative types. It started as a squat and has a sauna, live bands and affordable vegan dinners. OT301 is great for film screenings and also offers its own ‘Artists With Attitude’ exhibitions. How do artists preserve culture in this city? There are many non-profit art spaces that help keep the artist community thriving. Smart Project Space in the west offers film screenings and has a great restaurant. Kunstverein is a franchise art space that also runs in Milan and New York. They have lots of fun art-related events such as getting artists to create their own food recipes for an exhibition in your mouth.

Opened in 2000 by Alicia Framis, Annet Gelink Gallery is a prominent international gallery on the Dutch art scene and has gained an international reputation by promoting young international artists.

meet the dutch

I consider myself an actor, not a drag queen

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meet the dutch

The Dutch

Diana Ross What started as a joke at a family party has grown into a world class act. The Dutch Diana Ross has been imitating the American diva for more than 20 years. By: Marieke Verhoeven

t was the combination of a Diana Ross concert and a family gathering that led to the creation of the Dutch Diana Ross. ‘I wasn’t planning to become a Diana Ross impersonator at all,’ the Dutch Diana Ross (who wants to keep her real identity secret) says. ‘Back in the eighties, someone took me to see Diana Ross and I was blown away by the show, the costumes, the lighting...everything. So when my parents were celebrating 25 years of marriage a few weeks later, I spontaneously offered to impersonate her.’ To her surprise, the impersonation act was a huge success. ‘A friend, who worked in the entertainment industry, asked me if I was interested in imitating Diana professionally. After some consideration, I decided to go for it.’

photo: rudesign

Vacuum in heels

To become a worthy impersonator, the Dutch Diana Ross started doing intensive research. ‘I’m a perfectionist, so I wanted my act to be perfect before taking it on the road. I practised miming, learnt about light and sound, and studied the diva herself of course.’ The training payed off, because word of her act travelled fast. Before she knew it, the Dutch Diana Ross was playing at the famous club IT! and even won a drag queen competition on TV. ‘First I had my doubts

about participating in that show. With all due respect, I don’t consider myself a drag queen. I see myself as an actor, who happens to put on a female costume. It’s not like I vacuum my living room in heels, I just wear women’s clothes to work!’

It takes a diva to know one

Those costumes are an important part of the act though. ‘Diana loves to wear dramatic dresses on stage. So I make my own variations on her outfits and have a costume designer put them together.’ All in all, it takes the Dutch Diana Ross – who has been performing almost every weekend for the last 20 years – a few days to prepare for a show. ‘I start about two days in advance with putting my repertoire together. Since Diana hasn’t released a new single in ages, it’s sometimes a challenge to keep it fresh. But you can do a lot by mixing it up.’ The Dutch Diana Ross does her own hair and make-up. ‘It takes a few hours, but I now know exactly what I need to do to make it look flawless.’ After arriving at the venue, she always has her road manager check the lights, sound and stage. ‘People sometimes joke that I’m as much of a diva as Miss Ross herself. But I feel it’s essential that everything’s perfect. For example, if the lighting’s not right, I just look like a man in a dress.’

Meeting the real Ross

Besides appearing at the Gay Parade every year (‘People go crazy for me there, it’s great!’) the Dutch Diana Ross also opens for big Dutch acts such as Marco Borsato and Trijntje Oosterhuis. A recent highlight was performing with the former singers of The Supremes, the group that made Diana Ross famous. ‘That was amazing. Their manager was really impressed by me and was even thinking of having me perform in the States.’ The two divas have also met on several occasions. ‘Whenever Diana performs in Holland, I always sit in the front row, all dressed up of course. It has turned into a ritual, I sit there and at some point she gets me on stage and we have a little chit chat. Even though it’s happened a few times now, I’m still speechless when she’s standing in front of me and holds my hand.’ A dream would be to have a one-on-one conversation with the legendary singer, who is very private and hardly ever gives interviews. What would the two divas talk about? ‘I’m really curious to know how she copes with this business. The entertainment world is crazy, even I experience that. I wonder how she’s managed to stay sane for all these years.’ dutchdianaross.com

made in holland

Another Picnic Table By: Morgan Currie

Move over IKEA. Thanks to the ingenuity of Amsterdam-based designer Jair Straschnow, you now can get your hands on self-assembly furniture that doesn’t wind up in the dump after a few years of use. Straschnow’s Grassworks series features space-savers made from bamboo laminate sheets with interlocking parts that can be assembled with simple, mechanical fastenings and minimal use of glue and screws. His intense exploration and reconfiguring of traditional joinery techniques took place over 2009 and 2010 and yielded some clever results. The picnic table pictured here, for instance, was playfully designed to split into separate seats and allows the option of a comfortable backward-facing low-seating position (the table was produced in collaboration with Wouter Nieuwendijk). Straschnow studied industrial design at the Holon Institute of Technology and did postgraduate work at the Applied Arts Department of the Sandberg Instituut. His focus on bamboo comes from an appreciation of its unique physical properties: while equal to any hard wood, bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth and can be harvested again and again from the same stalk – making this collapsible furniture a sustainable and elegant solution to garden picnicking. Grassworks won the 2010 Brit Insurance Designs of the Year Award (furniture category).

word on the street

Amsterdam is known for its great cultural festivals in the summer. But if it’s up to the Dutch government, the cultural sector will be seriously downsized in the coming years. How do these international students feel about the threat of a cultural meltdown? By: Marieke Verhoeven Photography: Sarah Moore

Word on the street Fabian (24) & Marco (25) From: Zurich, Switzerland Profession: Students (economics)

How are you enjoying Amsterdam so far?

Marco: ‘It’s our first time here and we love it. The weather has been really nice, so we’ve been chilling at the Vondelpark and biking around town.’ Fabian: ‘We did visit the Red Light District of course, that was a must see for us. Even though we knew about it, it’s still weird seeing those girls sitting in the window. And he (ed., laughs and points at a third friend, who does not want to be photographed) found out it’s quite expensive!’

What are you up to next?

‘Without culture it would be less interesting’

Fabian: ‘No idea really, we might go to Madame Tussauds or the Anne Frank House. Or just bike around the canals, which are beautiful. But first, we’re going to get something to eat, because we love all the different food here.’ Marco: ‘And we want to hit a club tonight. We were at the Melkweg yesterday, but it was Tuesday and not much was going on. So tonight we’re looking some more action.’

How do you feel about a potential cultural meltdown in Amsterdam?

Marco: ‘In general, I don’t feel very strongly about it. I like going out, but I’m just not that opinionated about other cultural stuff.’ Fabian: ‘But it would be bad of course. Culture is part of a city, just as much as the architecture. Without it, it’s a lot less interesting.’

word on the street

‘It’s very sad for the city’

Alberte (18) and Sophie (18) From: A small town in Denmark Profession: College students

How are you enjoying Amsterdam so far?

Alberte: ‘We just arrived yesterday and it’s our first time, but we love it! Everything is within walking distance and the architecture is really nice.’ Sophie: ‘It’s funny, because the locals

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remind us of the Danish in the way they look and dress. So we immediately felt at home!’

good here. And the nine streets area, with all the cute boutiques.’

What are your plans for the coming days?

How do you feel about a potential cultural meltdown?

Sophie: ’We’re staying at a hotel now, but are going to stay with a guy we met through couch surfing tomorrow. That way we can really get some insider tips about the city. It’s our first couch surfing experience, so I’m curious to see what happens.’ Alberte: ‘Our mission is to visit all the flea markets, because we heard they’re really

Alberte: ‘It’s very sad for the city, because culture’s one of the main attractions for tourists. If you cut down on culture, you might indirectly be missing income from tourists as well.’ Sophie: ‘As for our own cultural plans, we definitely want to visit some festivals this week. But just being here is already a cultural experience!’

word on the street

‘They sell great books on Spui’

‘It’s important to invest in cultural institutions’ Minso (22) & Minyoung (20) From: Seoul, South Korea Profession: Law students

How long have you been in Amsterdam?

Minso: ‘We just have one day here. We’re doing a tour of Europe in three weeks and have already been to England and Belgium. Tomorrow we’re leaving for Prague. It’s a tight schedule, but we don’t have a lot of time!’

What are your plans for Amsterdam in one day?

Minyoung: ‘Well, we want to visit the Flower Market, the Anne Frank House and the Royal Palace on Dam square. And after that we’ll see if we have any time left to do more.’ Minso: ‘It’s nice just walking around here, the architecture and canals are very beautiful.’

How do you feel about a potential cultural meltdown?

Minso: ‘That would be very bad! I don’t visit a lot of theatres or concerts, but I really enjoy going to museums and galleries. It would be a great shame if I couldn’t do that in the future.’ Minyoung: ‘It’s always important to invest in cultural institutions, it’s part of what makes a country unique.’

dutch treat

Dutch Treat

Beer BY: Allison Guy

You may have already sampled some Dutch treats. If you’re brave you might have even tried a kroket or pannekoeken. But what about dutch beer?

Beer-battered kibbeling

ow that summer has arrived, there’s no better way to kill off brain cells than by spending an afternoon drinking in the sun. In the Netherlands, that means lounging with a glass of the country’s famous beer. Three breweries dominate the beer scene in Holland. Grolsch and Bavaria might be big, but the mega-brewery Heineken has cornered 50% of the hops-and-malt market. Along with Amstel beer, Heineken also owns Brand, the oldest brewery in the Netherlands. It opened its taps in 1340, right when the Black Death was making the population reconsider the phrase ‘eat, drink and be merry’. The medieval spirit still remains in Koningshoeven Brewery, run by Trappist monks. It’s one of seven remaining Trappist breweries in the world – Belgium is lucky to have the other six – and churns out the aptly named La Trappe beer. With its light, crisp taste, pale lager is the king of beers in the Netherlands, making up 95% of all production and woozy consumption. Each year, the country produces about 2,300 million litres of beer, enough tipple to fill the Great Pyramid of Giza. Although half of that production is exported, Holland happily quaffs the remainder. The average Dutch person knocks back around 77 litres of beer each year, or about 220 cans. Admirable restraint when the offerings are so tasty!

s Try thi ! at h o m e

Beer geeks will not be disappointed by the scene in Amsterdam. While Heineken might not be the height of sophistication, several bars, such as the well-known Gollem, offer dozens if not hundreds of more obscure beers. If you’d prefer to go straight to the source, Brouwerij ‘t IJ offers the only tour of a working brewery in Amsterdam. With its organic beer and postcard-perfect windmill, ‘t IJ is one of the most unique places to get plastered in the city. Be careful with the high-alcohol brews, though, boozing and biking is not as easy as you might think.

Brewing Dutch beer is best left to the experts, but anyone can fry up a batch of kibbeling. This dish of deep-fried cod chunks, usually served with garlic sauce, is a popular snack in Dutch seafood stores and at markets. Here, the recipe uses a beer-based batter for extra flavour.

For the batter: 130g flour 140g cornstarch 1 can of beer, preferably lager 1 egg 1 tsp salt For the fish: 1.4 litres of canola oil 600-700g of cod, cut into chunks Salt and pepper Whisk the ingredients for the batter in a bowl. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, and no longer than 30 hours. When the batter is ready, pour the oil into a large pot, and heat until the temperature reads 190C. Pat the fish dry with paper towels, and season with salt and pepper. Toss the fish pieces into the batter, take out with tongs, and deep-fry in the oil. Cook for about five minutes, or until the fish is golden brown. Remove from the oil, and drain them on paper towels. Serve with garlic sauce or lemon slices.

Eet smakelijk (Bon appétit!) 23

knock knock

Knock knock This is how Amsterdam lives Parties, pranks and peculiar traditions: this fraternit y house opposite the Hermitage Museum prett y much fits the stereot ype. But it’s got some serious history, too. Residents Maarten (22), Coen (22) and Constant (21) show Amsterdam Magazine around. by: marieke verhoeven | photography: sarah moore

bove the door of the canal house on the Nieuwe Herengracht, the sign reads Honesto et Bono Excallamus. This translates into ‘in the honest and good we excel’ and the initials H.E.B.E. form the name of this fraternity house. ‘Our fraternity is over 110 years old and traditionally we’re known as the literary society,’ Maarten explains. ‘Hence the slightly pretentious name.’ >

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‘it’s hard combining intensive studying with society life’

knock knock

‘A girl got really angry once when her mascara was frozen’

‘This house is not just for the residents, but for our members,’ Maarten explains. ‘That means residents with large rooms have to clear out their stuff once in a while for parties or other activities.’ One such resident is Constant, who occupies the huge front-side room on the first floor. Constant explains (while eating noodles from a pan): ‘I take out all of my things, even the bed. If I don’t, it will be floating in beer when I

But this 17th-century canal house had a rather different function before the frat boys moved in in 1946. Maarten: ‘It used to be a home for elderly Portuguese Jewish men. In WWII the residents – not only men at that time – were all deported.’ A memorial tablet in Hebrew serves as a reminder of the house’s history. ‘During the war it was removed, but together with the city government we restored it in 1995.’

come back!’ During the ‘hazing’ period in September, when new members are introduced to the fraternity, the house can get pretty packed. Coen doesn’t mind the lack of privacy during this period. ‘It’s part of the deal when you live in a house like this. Most guys leave when they’re starting their master’s or an internship, because it’s hard combining intensive studying or a job with society life.’

Bed floating in beer

Captain Kitty Litter

The house might have a tragic past, but there’s nothing sad about its current state. A tour of the countless rooms, covered in fraternity relics, makes one thing clear: the 16 residents like to have fun. From the TV room with at least ten couches to the cosy kitchen with its large dinner table, all spaces are built for big groups.

Living with 16 boys and having people over all the time calls for some rules. Maarten is pretty much in charge when it comes to keeping the house in shape. ‘First of all, we have a cleaner who comes around three times a week to clean the kitchen, shared rooms, bathroom (ed., the boys have only one) and toilets.’ But the youngest residents also each have their cleaning task, Maarten grins. ‘Like Captain Kitty Litter, who cleans the kitty litter and Tate Over Date, who checks if the stuff in the fridge is still good.’ And how about female visitors? Maarten: ‘There’s no real rule when it comes to girls sleeping over, but they do run the risk of being pranked.’ Constant laughs. ‘When girls leave their bag in the kitchen, it could “accidentally” end up in the freezer. A girl got really angry once when her mascara was all frozen.’ Coen also recalls a recent incident with a female visitor. ‘This girl, who probably drank a little too much, had to use the toilet at night. But she couldn’t find it, so she went outside in the guy’s boxers and a T-shirt to pee in the canal. And guess what: she locked herself out.’ The stories are countless, and Maarten thinks that’s what makes living here so unique. ‘If you talk to old members at reunions they still recall what happened in this house. I think that’s pretty cool.’

Celebrating Difference Amsterdam Gay Pride will once again paint the city pink from 30 July through 7 August. What began as a single-day event in 1996 is now a world famous, week-long festival filled with culture, parties and of course the exquisite extravaganza that is the Canal Parade. By Mike Peek Photo: Martijn Savenije

FEATURED

t all started with the Gay Games, a variation on the Olympics organized by the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community. First held in San Francisco in 1982, the Gay Games are open to participants of any sexual orientation with the aim of bringing together straights and LGBTs: mutual understanding is far more important than competition. When Amsterdam was selected to host the 1998 edition, the Dutch organisation wanted to make a mark. And what better way to astound the world than to take one of our most recognisable features (the canals) and play with the cliches by sending a bunch of dancing drag queens on a boat trip? The Gay Games committee asked Gay Business Amsterdam (GBA) to make it happen. The first gleeful parade of LGBTs floated through the city in 1996, creating a worldwide buzz two years before the games started. While the Gay Games themselves proved to be a financial disaster for Amsterdam, the Canal Parade was an instant success. From 1999 onwards more and more festivities were added, which eventually resulted in the Amsterdam Gay Pride as we know it today. After ProGay took over the baton from GBA in 2006, they tried to give the Gay Pride event more social importance. They got the mayor of Amsterdam and members of Dutch government to participate in the Canal Parade for example, showing their solidarity with the gay community. ProGay’s efforts paid off: in 2008 the Amsterdam Gay Pride was voted the best in Europe and the Canal Parade now attracts more than half a million people, making it the city’s second-biggest party of the year after Queen’s Day.

Why the extravagance? Following a week filled with cultural activities, sporting events and parties, the Amsterdam Gay Pride reaches its climax on Saturday 6 August. Ignorant visitors are in for a shock: during the Canal Parade all the stops are pulled out and Amsterdam transforms into a swirling mass of extravagance. Famous boats include those of Mr. B. Leather & Rubber (I’m sure you can picture that one) and many others full of outrageously dressed LGBTs. The reason be-

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hind the exorbitance is quite simple: like other carnivals, the Canal Parade is about hardcore partying and showing off how good you (can) look. The added dimension here is freedom: the parade celebrates gays’ rights to be who they are and to dress as they damn well please. A lot of heterosexuals come to watch the Canal Parade and party just as hard as the crowds on the water. There are still folks who are not too keen on gay affection in public, however. I talked to a friend of mine who regularly participates in the parade and he described the event as an ‘outlet’. He feels as if his presence is not always appreciated in daily life. During Gay Pride he doesn’t have to worry about what people might think. He’s among peers and can be proud of who he is, act like he wants to and be cheered on rather than booed.

the canal parade was an instant succes

All together now The Canal Parade is no longer just an over-thetop cavalcade though. ProGay describes itself as an organisation ‘committed to the achievement of the social acceptance of homosexuality through visibility’. The slogan of this year’s Gay Pride is ‘All Together Now’, which has a double meaning. It indicates the joint ambition of both gays and straights to eliminate the discrimination of homosexuals once and for all; but it also hints at the segregation within the gay world. Not every gay man is crazy about dressing up like a woman and not every lesbian fancies wearing a strap-on dildo to work. In other words: the traditional image of the Canal Parade does not agree with all homosexuals.

FEATURED

A history of Prides Amsterdam is certainly not the only city in the world that hosts a Gay Pride. Neither was it the first. The origin of these worldwide events lies in New York City. Homosexuals, especially transgenders and transvestites, were systematically harassed in the United States as recently as the 1960s. In the wake of other minorities’ struggles for equality, like the African-American Civil Rights Movement, homosexuals continued to face charges simply for being themselves. The turning point came on 28 June, 1969. During a routine police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, officers wanted to clear the place and arrest patrons who were in drag. It didn’t go so well. The gays fought back and the whole operation escalated. The Stonewall riots started a media frenzy and created a feeling of urgency among the gay community: now was the time to push through. Several activist groups sprung up and in 1970 the first Gay Pride was held to commemorate the riots, not only in NYC, but in Los Angeles and Chicago as well. A year later, several other cities joined in. These days, there are countless Gay Prides all over the world. Some still bear the demonstrative character of their New York predecessor, others (like the Amsterdam Gay Pride) are more celebratory in nature. But even the queerest queens of the Canal Parade are showing off because others like them couldn’t.

not every lesbian fancies wearing a strap-on

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FEATURED

Some critics therefore accused the parade of being a freak show. But as I mentioned earlier, ProGay worked hard to give the event some real meaning. One of its goals was showing that the gay community has many other subgroups besides drag queens. Nowadays there are also boats with immaculately dressed gays working in business for example. And this year the Ministry of Defence will sail along for the first time, carrying out its ‘do ask, do tell’ policy: gays are more than welcome in the Dutch military.

Gay decay Amsterdam has long been a gay-friendly city. Homosexuality was decriminalised here as early as 1811 (!) and in 1927 the first gay bar opened. We built the world’s first gay monument in 1987 and in 2001 the Netherlands was the first country to legalise gay marriage. But despite Gay Pride’s ever growing popularity, Amsterdam’s reputation as the gay capital of the world has taken a serious hit in the past couple of years. The ‘everything goes’ atmos-

phere of the late 1990s waned as the number of gay-bashing incidents increased. Young Muslims especially are notorious for attacking LGBTs who dare show their affection in public. Some gays have even grown wary of holding hands while out and about. A couple of examples: in 2008 gay model Mike du Pree was dragged down the catwalk by a group of Muslim boys who beat him up and broke his nose. Ironically, du Pree was modelling for a fashion show that promotes the tolerance of gay people. A year later Hugo Braakhuis, founder of ProGay, was attacked at Rembrandtplein when he kissed a friend goodbye. Nightlife ain’t what it used to be either. Legendary clubs like Roxy and It have disappeared. And last year several famous gay cafés on the Reguliersdwarsstraat closed after their owner, Sjoerd Kooistra, committed suicide following a string of financial problems... Depressed yet? You shouldn’t be, ‘cause things are about to take a turn for the better.

Amsterdam’s reputation as the gay capital of the world has taken a serious hit

Pink resurrection Both Amsterdam and the Dutch government are keen to restore the city’s image as a gay haven. The first move has been made: ahead of Gay Pride three major gay cafés on the Reguliersdwarsstraat reopened simultaneously. With this new and improved centre for homosexual nightlife, Amsterdam wants to put itself back on the map. There’s still a long way to go though: a couple of hip bars are not enough to catch up with cities such as Berlin, Barcelona and Tel Aviv, which have surpassed Amsterdam as top gay destinations in the last decade. What’s important now is for the city to come down hard on gay bashers and to create a favourable climate for those who want to invest in

FEATURED

Amsterdam wants to put itself back on the map new gay events and institutions. Talks about a gay museum are underway and the International Gay Chamber of Commerce wants to open a branch in Amsterdam. That’s not only good news for homosexuals, but for the city as a whole. A tolerant, diverse city attracts more tourists and more businesses. Not to mention it makes for a nicer place to live. Amsterdam has a unique gay heritage. With the right infrastructure and the right state of mind, it’s only a matter of time before the city reclaims the title of world’s leading gay capital.a

Gay Spotting

route gay pride canal parade 6 august 2011

start 14:00

Your gaydar will probably have no trouble spotting queers during Gay Pride. In fact, your straightdar may face more of a challenge. But why is it that some homosexual men are so easily distinguishable in a crowd? Because they walk like women, you might argue. Or because they giggle like girls, dress in pink clothing, talk like they just... Sorry, I got carried away there for a moment. It’s interesting though: why do some gays act effeminate? The only real ‘explanation’ is a biological one. Research suggests that some foetuses are exposed to fewer androgens (like testosterone) during pregnancy than others. Fewer androgens may cause a male child to have more female characteristics. This is not a defect of some kind, nature just likes to vary when fabricating babies. It’s something you’re born with, like sexual preference. Does that mean all effeminate boys are gay? No, but there IS a strong correlation between the two. Studies suggest that upwards of 75% of boys who are seen as extremely effeminate are in fact homosexual. And the effeminate often have a taste for extravagance. This touches on an everlasting argument. More reserved gays sometimes accuse flamboyant fairies of stalling gay emancipation with their over-the-top behaviour. Can’t they just act ‘normal’? The fairies are having none of it though. In fact, they accuse their rivals of hypocrisy. Homosexuals have fought for a long time for the right to be who they are. And now the exorbitant ones should adjust their attitude because it offends other gays? Puh-lease! Not to be outdone, these ‘other gays’ claim the whole Pride act is mere insecurity, a form of egocentric attention seeking. What’s there to be proud about anyway? Homosexuality is congenital, not some sort of achievement... Like I said: an everlasting argument.

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amsterdam eats

amserdam eats

Xinh

In pursuit of culinary delights beyond bitterballen and frites, our expat foodie visits Xinh: Vietnamese street food gone fine dining. BY: hungry in holland

‘Xinh is one of the more captivating restaurants to open in the last year’

inding good pho in Amsterdam is about as easy as finding sunshine. To my surprise, I was lucky enough to find both when I recently snagged the last table on the terrace at the Jordaan’s newest Vietnamese restaurant. Though Xinh describes itself as ‘authentic street food’, the interior proves otherwise, offering a chic and modern vibe that blends in with the upscale but cosy neighbourhood.

Haute Street Food Far from Amsterdam’s Chinatown, where most authentic Asian street food is found, I began to question whether this sleek restaurant could actually churn out ‘authentic’ dishes. Thankfully, my scepticism proved unwarranted as the first dish was served. The starter of beef carpaccio (xinh bo tai chanh) – a slither of beef with hints of Asian basil and fresh mint – contained a refreshing mix of herbs and subtle spices that perfectly complemented the tender meat. The goi tom shrimp salad resembled an Asian ceviche, and was just as elegant and delicious: a martini glass filled with shrimp, pork, sweet chilli dressing and vegetables. The tasting sampler consisted of three different rice dishes; lemongrass chicken, dancing beef and caramel pork. Though they all tasted great and the meat – especially the dancing beef – was of great quality, they are the type of ubiquitous dishes that can be ordered at any pan-Asian restaurant. Those in search of something a little more adventurous should stay away from the tasting course and try one of the more uniquely Vietnamese treats. Go Pho Bo To sample the extent of Xinh’s authenticity, I ordered the classic pho bo beef soup, a popular dish in Vietnam. The soup – filled with sliced beef, boiled beef and balls of beef – was made from a deliciously satisfying homemade stock. It’s also worth remembering not to overlook the specialities section. The highlight of my evening by far was the Vietnamese crêpe (banh xeo), a panfried egg-based crêpe filled with bean sprouts, shrimp, pork and other fresh vegetables, accompa-

The Outcome F Happy Taste Buds? Customer Service Interior Value for Money

Final Score:

§§§§4 §§§§4 §§§§2 §§§22

8.2

Round-Up Cuisine: Vietnamese Neighbourhood: Jordaan Atmosphere: Fine Dining Price pp: €25 to €50 Open: Tues - Sun 11.00 - 22.30, Mon 18.00 - 22.30 Public transport: Tram 7, 10, 17 Credit cards accepted: Yes Wheelchair access: Yes

nied by a pineapple chilli dipping sauce. The combination of sweet, savoury and spice was extraordinary and the uniqueness of the dish itself makes it worth trying. Thoroughly satisfied by the culinary offerings, I washed it all down with a Vietnamese iced coffee, the perfect sweet and refreshing after-dinner drink. Xinh is one of the more captivating restaurants to open in the last year, offering authentic Vietnamese food in a sophisticated setting. Each course was served promptly and presented in an elegant and tasteful manner. The waiting staff were attentive and offered detailed descriptions of each dish, occasionally suggesting personal favourites. Sitting out in the sun, slurping up pho and sipping on iced coffee was certainly enough to keep me satisfied. While you might not be lucky enough to sit on the terrace in this unpredictable weather, you’re guaranteed to eat well either way.

What others said: Iens.nl: “This Jordaan eatery is a poor substitute for the real thing” - jeff1 Tripadvisor.com: “Excellent Service, Authentic Vietnamese Food, Tasty Wine!” - Heidihoonthego

Xinh Elandsgracht 2 +31 (0)6 240308 xinh.nl

the ten

GAY BARS

As you may have heard by now (i.e., by reading this far into our Gay Pride issue), Amsterdam is one of the most gay-friendly cities on the planet. In addition to bookshops and saunas, there are dozens of gay/lesbian bars and discos to choose from.

By: Brandon Hartley

The Reguliersdwarsstraat, with its upscale lounges and restaurants, is considered to be *the* gay hub of Amsterdam, but there are plenty of other spots to seek out that lie further off the beaten path. From mild to wild, Amsterdam has it all, regardless of whether you’re in the mood to hit the town in Prada, black leather or a comfy pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Here are a few of the most popular spots in town.

PRIK Despite the name (which means ‘bubbles’ in Dutch. Nice bilingual double-entendre, no?), Prik is one of the more chilled lounges in the city. This beloved locale regularly wins awards for ‘Best Gay Bar’, not an easy victory for any establishment in a city with Amsterdam’s reputation. Prik is a great place to kill an otherwise boring Sunday afternoon or to soothe your wounds following a rambunctious night out. There’s an outdoor terrace and nearly 30 cocktails on the menu. After dark on the weekends, however, its laid-back atmosphere is temporarily interrupted by live DJs who invade the space with a mix of pop, funk and electronica. Prik’s cosy interior and dance floor fill up fast so be sure to arrive early. Spuistraat 109 - prikamsterdam.nl

2 3 4 Club Rogue

Café Vivelavie

This one’s a posh discotheque specialising in dance music and old-school tracks. It draws a young, well-dressed crowd of gays and lesbians eager to hit the floor beneath the purple lights and glittering chandeliers. There’s an extensive cocktail menu but the wait to get in can be long on weekend nights around midnight. Club Rogue stays open until 5:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

Locals and foreigners have flocked to this art-deco lesbian bar since it opened its doors in the early ’80s. Like Prik, its relaxed vibe turns vibrant after prime time. During daylight hours, Vivelavie’s patrons prefer to kick back with a cup of coffee or tea inside or out on the terrace.

Amstel 178 - clubroque.nl

argos

This local institution has welcomed Amsterdam’s gay community and out-oftowners alike for more than 50 years. A popular spot for bears and leather fans, it’s guys only. Sorry, ladies, but boys will be boys. Argos’ reputation precedes and exceeds itself. The tales surrounding its private booths, glory holes and ‘sling room’, complete with mirrored ceiling, are enough to give your conservative relatives back home a heart attack. Head’s up: the club’s dress code calls for leather at the weekend.

prik

Warmoesstraat 95 - argosbar.com

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Amstelstraat 7 - vivelavie.net/index-eng.htm

vivelavie

rogue

the ten

Café ‘t mandje

CLUB ChuRCH

Reportedly the oldest gay bar in the Netherlands and one of the first in the world, Mandje first opened in 1927 during an era where homosexuals were forbidden to kiss in public. The proprietress, the openly gay and boisterous Bet van Beeren, kept the place hopping until her death in 1967. Her younger sister Greet took it over until she was forced to close it in 1982. Mandje wasn’t gone for good though. Greet kept the space mothballed and preserved until her niece agreed to reopen the café in 2008, eager to maintain as much of its nearly century-old charm as possible. Considered an important landmark, the Amsterdam Historisch Museum contains a replica of the bar. If Mandje’s history alone wasn’t enough to warrant a visit, it’s not a bad little place to sit with a pint for a bit.

One of the crazier spots in Amsterdam, Club Church attracts the cruise crowd like moths to a flame. Head here if you’re looking to dance (or play) until the break of dawn. There are two floors of fun, with different theme parties and DJs on a rotating basis, along with showers, private cabins, slings and toys scattered throughout. Recent events have included naked dance nights, slave auctions, oil wrestling and a men-only Fight Club-themed party for guys into the rough stuff. What would Tyler Durden make of this?

‘t mandje

Kerkstraat 52 - clubcurch.nl

Zeedijk 63 - cafetmandje.nl

LUdwig Another local institution, Ludwig (formerly April’s) shouldn’t be left off this list. At the time of press, it was slated to reopen with a large celebration in July. Now renamed for ‘Fairytale King’ Ludwig II of Bavaria, this new, rejuvenated version of an old favourite is unlikely to disappoint. In its previous incarnation, parties commonly spilled out into the street. One of the biggest gay bars in the city, if not the biggest, it has three bars and an outdoor terrace. The new owners hope to draw a hip, international crowd. Reguliersdwarsstraat 37 - cafeapril.eu

club cHurch

QUEEN’S HEAD

Saarein

Drag queen Dusty, along with her partner Johan, run this bar where kitsch and Dutch history mingle like singles on a Saturday night. Located in an old canal house, the interior of the Queen’s Head harks back to an age when pantaloons and powered wigs were still in style. The bar looks out over a canal in the heart of De Wallen and is a great spot for people watching. Be sure to check out the proprietress’ infamous Tuesday night bingo sessions. Zeedijk 20 - queenshead.nl

Saarein is another bar with plenty of history that dates all the way back to the 17th century. Once upon a time, Saarien was ladies-only but new ownership has welcomed guys in as well. It draws mostly an older crowd but the whippersnappers tend to turn out on the weekends. Apparently, ‘the only lesbian pool table in town’ can be found in the bar’s basement. Elandsstraat 119 - saarein.info

getto

saarein

Getto

Here you’ll find a lounge up front, a quieter restaurant area in the back and the highest number of mirror balls per square foot of any bar, gay or otherwise, in Amsterdam. The menu is loaded with burgers named after famous drag queens, as well as a variety of vegetarian dishes. Along with some great eats, the bar hosts dance nights and rotating art exhibitions. Getto’s website also includes a few video games starring Elvis, its adorable, yet mysterious, café cat. Warmoesstraat 51 - getto.nl

De Hollandsche Manege Vondelstraat 140 +31 (0)20 6180942 dehollandschemanege.nl

the

,horse< whisperer

The Hollandsche Manege is a magnificent stable just a stoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s throw from Leidseplein. Back in the day (1882) it was the starting point for the rich and famous before taking a stroll in the Vondelpark. Nowadays itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s open to all kinds of visitors that are into horses. Photography: Meinke Klein Styling: April Jumelet Make-up: Severine Donkelaar @ HOO Hair: Tommy Hagen for Tommyztoko.nl @HOO Model: Nina @ Ulla Special thanks to: The Hollandsche Manege

Jacket: Helmut Lang Blouse: Femke Agema Trousers: Marloes Blaas Ring: Jutka & Riska

Salmon-coloured swimsuit with golden buckles: Vintage blouse: Jutka & Riska Episode (vintage clothing) â&#x201A;Ź10 & Riska Vintage skirt: Escada at Jutka Necklace: Ring: RiverOtazu Island

Lace top: Comma Leopard swimsuit: Black skirt: Monki Silver skirt: by Gottex â&#x201A;Ź109.95 Pleated River Island Necklace: Otazu Gloves: Roeckl

Dress (worn as a skirt): H&M Crocheted top: Stills Boots: Sanita

Top: Saint Tropez Skirt: Margiela via SPR+ Boots: Jutka & Riska Pumps: Zara

Production & Concept: Tommy Hagen Assistant Photography: Simone Klomp Styling: Inge de Lange Make Up: Anita Jolles Hair: Tommy Hagen for Tommyztoko.nl & HOO Green and yellow swimsuit: Dress: â&#x201A;Ź199.95 Rodebier Roidal Earrings: Otazu

Assistant Hair: Karline Verstegen Courtesy of Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam

Tunic: Helmut Lang at SPRMRKT Harness: People of the Labyrinths Socks: American Apparel Necklace: Jutka & Riska

pimp my bike

Some people are riding around on a monster of a vehicle. Amsterdam Magazine is here to help them out! BY: arun sood photography: sarah moore

HONEY CHANG, 22

‘Maybe the artist can take inspiration from the animal kingdom’

careful,’ she says. ‘In Eindhoven, I was used to really quiet cycling and it was a lot more relaxing to bike around with nobody in your way. I’m used to the Amsterdam pace of life now, but it can still be hectic at times.’

t’s not uncommon to see unsuspecting tourists frantically dodging the bikes that race around Amsterdam’s bustling centre. The bicycle rat race takes a little getting used to, even for Dutch people from different areas of the Netherlands. When Honey Chang first moved to Amsterdam from Eindhoven in 2009, she was slightly taken aback by the frenzied manner in which cyclists speed around the city. ‘The cycle lanes are really busy here, and I remember constantly having to look around and be

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TRANQUIL NORTH Honey, who moved to Amsterdam to study trade management, lives in Amsterdam-Noord. She has to take a free ferry every day to get to university, which offers a welcome escape from the busy cycle lanes. ‘The ferry is a nice, tranquil escape from the city,’ she says. ‘Some people complain about living in the north because they have to take a ferry every day, but I actually find it quite therapeutic.’ In addition to enjoying the benefits of her daily ferry trip, Honey also believes the north is one of the best places to live in Amsterdam, primarily due to its recent cultural growth and development. ‘I’ve been living in the north for around two years and have already seen it change considerably,’ she says. ‘There are so many new bars and restaurants popping up and there are lots of organised parties. The art community is also really big, making it an even more interesting place to live.’

Geoff J. Kim

The Pimping Artist

‘One man’s waste is another man’s treasure’

pimp my bike

‘I always wanted a pony as a child’

As Honey recently passed all her exams with flying colours, Amsterdam Magazine decided to reward her by getting our pimpin’ artist to work his magic on her battered old bicycle. When asked if she would like any particular theme to be incorporated into the new design, Honey looked back to her childhood for inspiration. ‘I always wanted a pony as a child but never got one,’ she says. ‘So maybe the artist can take inspiration from the animal kingdom in some way. I’ll leave it up to him to interpret that!’ NINJA ART This month’s artist, Geoff J. Kim, is originally from San Francisco and came to Amsterdam to pursue his dream of becoming a mixed-media visual artist. Geoff realised his abilities as an artist from an early age and even managed to develop an entrepreneurial side through his art in school. ‘I was the only kid in school who could draw good cartoon characters,’ he says. ‘So I used to do things like draw the Ninja Turtles for classmates in exchange for sweets. By doing these small things from an early age, I began to realise that art was the best way to express myself and my personality,

so I pushed myself to get better and better.’ Geoff is currently working on a collection of collages and is set to have a series of gallery showings in the coming months. According to Geoff, Amsterdam is not only inspirational for him as an artist, but also very welcoming and accepting of his art. ‘I think Amsterdam is a great place for artists because there is a great appreciation for good art here. It probably stems back to the historical significance of the Netherlands being a small country with such a rich art history. People are more respectful of artists than in some other cities I’ve been to.’ BONE BIKE In addition to his collages, Geoff is also a strong advocate of ‘recycled’ art, where artists use old bits of junk and unused materials to create something new. ‘I’m really into the idea of recycled art,’ he says. ‘Making something new out of what is considered to be “nothing” is a great feeling. It’s almost a microcosm of how our society works on a larger scale. One man’s waste is another man’s treasure.’ Geoff decides to incorporate an element of recycled art into Honey’s bike and begins by scouring the streets for

unwanted objects. After finding a cylindrical, unused car part, he decides to form a skeletal frame around the bicycle. Keeping Honey’s suggestion of animals in mind, he forms a spine down the back of the rear mudguard and the bike begins to resemble an old fossil. Finally, he paints the remainder of the bike bone-white and adds two additional ‘horns’ to the handlebars. Upon seeing her newly pimped bike for the first time, Honey begins to laugh. ‘I really like it, maybe I can use those horns to butt my way through all the traffic on the cycle path. It might not be a pony, but I’ll certainly stand out from the rest of the crowd.’ She hops on her bike and cycles off with a smile.

Would you like to have your bike pimped completely? Email us at info@amsterdam-magazine.com and we’ll see what we can do!

getting around

Binnenhof

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getting around

The haguE City at Sea

The Hague is a city of many faces with plenty of old-world charm. It’s not all about international law and the Dutch government, you know... By: Mike Peek

f you didn’t know better, you could easily mistake The Hague for our capital. Queen Beatrix lives and works here (at two different palaces, naturally) and the city is home to the Dutch government. In fact, the Binnenhof with its imposing administrative buildings is where The Hague originated. Count Floris IV of Holland constructed a modest castle there in the 13th century and unknowingly founded what was to become the epicentre of political power in the Netherlands. So why isn’t The Hague the Dutch capital? Because our first King, Lodewijk Bonaparte, thought Amsterdam had a more metropolitan vibe and no one cared to revisit his decision later on. History can be very simple sometimes.

Many faces I’ve always found The Hague to be a city of many faces: rough around the edges, but undeniably dignified at the same time. The centre in particular has a lot of old-world charm. Take the Lange Voorhout for example, one of the city’s most famous streets. Perky trees and exquisite houses give it a very dignified vibe not easily found in Amsterdam. It’s an absolute pleasure to walk there. A bonus is the free exhibition Den Haag onder de hemel (until 7 September), showcasing

some interesting sculptures by Chinese virtuosos. The contrast between art and setting is formidable. Other blasts from the past include the Mauritshuis, adjacent to the Binnenhof. This museum features hundreds of paintings from Holland’s golden 17th century, such as Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer. The 16th-century Paleis Noordeinde, where the Queen holds office, is located in the city centre as well. Unfortunately, it’s not open to the public. Beatrix doesn’t like snoops. Like I said though, The Hague has many faces. Exiting the train station, you’ll see a lot of modern skyscrapers housing ministries and businesses. Be sure to visit the city hall in this area. The architecture is worth a look in itself, but until 25 August you can also marvel at the exhibition of ancient Chinese clothing and the modern haute couture it inspired. China is hot, apparently. The Hague is perhaps MOST famous for being a centre of international law. The Vredespaleis houses the International Court of Justice, among other institutions, and offers guided tours (Monday to Fri-

getting around

day, hourly between 10.00 and 16.00) if you’re interested. For lighter entertainment you could drop by Madurodam, a miniature city displaying buildings from all over the Netherlands... What’s that? You’re getting tired? Let’s go to the beach then! Scheveningen Cliche alert: when Dutchies want to have some fun, we grab a foreigner and have him or her pronounce ‘Scheveningen’. Malicious pleasure guaranteed, as the sch-sound is an insurmountable obstacle for most visitors. I figure that in return for all the laughs, it’s only fair for me to explain what Scheveningen is all about. Here we go: up until the 18th century Scheveningen was a poor fishing village at the mercy of the mighty North Sea. Every now and then parts of the settlement would get washed away, forcing people to rebuild their sub-standard houses. Those were sad times, folks. But the times they were a-changing. As The Hague expanded towards the coast, Scheveningen got acquainted with an industry far more lucrative than fishing: leisure. Small bathhouses were erected for wealthy locals looking to chill avant la lettre at Scheveningen’s fine beach. The tourism factor remained relatively modest until the Kurhaus opened in 1885. Built in the style of the Italian Renaissance, this pompous hotel changed the face of Scheveningen forever: a dandy seaside resort was born. Mass tourism These days, there’s nothing dandy about Scheveningen. Visitor numbers exploded after the Second World War, evoking the usual mix of mediocre restaurants and inflatable crocodiles. It’s certainly not without charm though. Roaming along the boulevard or the famous pier is enjoyable and the mingling of tanned beach boys and God-fearing messengers is fascinating at least. Scheveningen also has a small Sea Life aquarium, a casino and some museums. Yet every time I visit, my eyes are automatically drawn to the Kurhaus, still standing as a lone reminder of the era before mass tourism. Guess I’m a hopeless romantic.

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The mingling of beach boys and God-fearing messengers is fascinating v

Getting There Direct trains to The Hague leave from Amsterdam Centraal twice per hour (.11/.41). The journey takes 51 minutes and a return ticket will set you back â&#x201A;Ź20.40. There are daily guided tours of the Binnenhof if you want to learn more about its history. Photos: 1: Scheveningen beach, 2&3: Noordeinde, 4: Nieuwe Kerk, 5: Stadhuis, 6: Mauritshuis, 7:Vredespaleis, 8: Skyline at Centraal Station

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Few celebrities of the ‘60s and ‘70s escaped the lens of legendary

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Brian Duffy (1933-2010). Credited as one of the innovators of the revolutionary ‘documentary’ style of fashion photography, he achieved notoriety with his iconic images of stars such as David Bowie, John Lennon and Blondie.

Gallery Vassie Until 20 August Open: Wed to Sat, 13.00 - 18.00. By appointment only. Entrance: Free Langestraat 47 +31 (0)6 85724797 www.galleryvassie.com

david bowie / aladdin sane album cover

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JEAN SHRIMPTON

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john lennon

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pirelli calendar

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IJSCUYPJE shop

ant the inside scoop on Amsterdam’s most popular ice cream parlour? Catch

it while you can, because when the weather gets colder, the food gets hotter as Ijscuypje becomes Stamppotje, serving up hearty dishes made with mashed potatoes.

By Arun Sood It’s always nice to meet people who spend their lives doing something they truly love. After spending a few minutes with Edwin Koeyer, it doesn’t take long to notice that he’s passionate about ice cream. While most of us simply love to eat it, Edwin has devoted his life to perfecting different recipes and now owns the most renowned ice-cream shop in Amsterdam. Edwin originally opened IJscuypje as a small ice-cream stand on the Albert Cuypmarkt. It became so popular with locals from all over town that they kept pestering him to open more shops in different neighbourhoods. Quite remarkably, there are now seven branches of IJscuypje scattered throughout the city, with more expected to open in the near future. Perhaps the secret of such success lies in the fact that Edwin is still passionate about what he does. ‘The first time I tried making ice cream, something magic happened’ he

says. ‘I love the product, not the business. I’m constantly striving to make the best ice cream possible by changing recipes and experimenting.’

imported from Madagascar and Indonesia, and the real specialty item is the pistachio imported from Italy.

The Dutch Way

While IJscuypje certainly satisfies icecream lovers in the summer, it also caters to customers during the colder months. From October onwards, IJscuypje transforms into Stamppotje, a shop that serves traditional Dutch mashed potatoes and steaming hot stew. It’s advisable to wait until you’ve finished your ice cream before diving into the hearty winter food. ‘It’s not healthy to jump straight from ice cream into hot potatoes,’ laughs Edwin. ‘We usually have a short break to prepare for the colder months.’

Part of Edwin’s mission is to revive the traditional Dutch way of making ice cream, ensuring the tradition stays alive. ‘When the Italians came to Amsterdam with new recipes and lots of flavours, the Dutch way of making ice cream was lost,’ says Edwin. ‘We are now the only shop in Amsterdam that sells traditional Dutch ice cream’. While Italian recipes consist of milk, water and sugar, Dutch ice cream is made with

Mashed potatoes replace ice cream, but the philosophy remains the same slagroom (full-fat cream straight from the dairy) and thus takes on a completely different texture. ‘The end result is that the texture is creamier and softer. There’s no crystallisation inside and it’s much richer.’ Edwin also ensures that he gets the best ingredients possible for the different flavours. Two strains of vanilla are

Winter Warmer

Mashed potatoes might replace ice cream, but the philosophy behind the food remains the same: ‘I try to offer a delicious product that harks back to my Dutch heritage in some way,’ Edwin explains. ‘Most importantly, I just like to see people happy… good food usually has that effect’.

IJscuypje Prinsengracht 292 Haarlemmerdijk 14 Eerste van der Helststraat 27 Amstelveense weg 218 Bilderdijkstraat 46 Buitenveldertselaan 84 +31 (0)6 25088876 ijscuypje.nl

Dutch a-z North’. One hundred kilometers of canals (or grachten in Dutch) divide the city into smaller islands, connected by beautiful historic bridges. The most famous canals are the Herengracht, Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht. A canal tour is a great way to view the city from a different angle. The canals were created centuries ago and were often used for transporting goods.

Every issue Amsterdam Magazine covers the whole alphabet to help you understand what the Dutch are all about.

* 11 Cities Tour Although the Dutch love to complain about cold winters, they forget all about their grudges once the canals and lakes are frozen over. Let the ice-skating begin! [see Ice skating for more info] When the ice is thick enough (15cm), the largest speed ice-skating competition can take place. The ‘11 Cities Tour’ (Elfstedentocht) is a rare event because most winters are not cold enough. The last tours were in ‘85, ‘86 and ‘97. The tour is held in the Friesland province and the 200km course goes through 11 historic cities.

What’s Holland without cheese? Being the largest exporter, Holland offers many varieties of this yellow delicacy, such as Gouda, Edam, Maasdammer and Boerenkaas (farmer’s cheese). Make sure you take some of that gold back home!

12th century, Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world.

B Bicycles Some claim that there are more bicycles than people in the Netherlands. In Amsterdam, you will often see cyclists weaving nonchalantly between pedestrians. Renting a bicycle in Amsterdam might be a great idea to explore the smaller streets, but be careful if you’re not used to riding one!

Bitterballen Quite similar to the Kroket [see Kroket for more info], these little snacks are often served on special events such as birthdays, sport events or during business meetings. Of course, a beer perfectly complements this hot snack. Make sure you dip it in mustard before eating!

Clogs Ask anyone; “What’s typical Dutch?” and they often say wooden shoes. These shoes, also known as clogs, are actually no longer worn by the Dutch, but are still a popular souvenir. Originally, the wooden shoes were worn because of their protective features and were actually quite warm to wear since they were lined with hay.

If you’re searching for a hot, steaming coffee don’t be fooled; coffeeshops in Holland offer their customers something totally different. These coffeeshops will sell you (small) amounts of grass and you can smoke a joint on the premises, but only if there’s no tobacco inside, since the smoking of tobacco inside public places is banned. A small fact: it is actually illegal to sell weed, but not punishable, making it quite easy to get your stash.

D Delftware A Amsterdam Amsterdam is the capital and the largest city in the Netherlands. The city has a population of 1.4 million - quite impressive considering it began as a fishing village. In the late

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Boerenkool [see Stamppot for more info]

C Canals Amsterdam is sometimes referred as ‘Venice of the

Drop Black candy, it doesn’t sound nor look attractive, but the Dutch love it! Also known as liquorice in English, Dutch drop comes in hundreds of flavours and shapes. Most varieties will taste sweet, but some can be quite salty, so beware, it’s an acquired taste.

Dutch Treat

Coffeeshops

3 kisses In most cultures it’s common to greet a friend with a kiss (or two). The Dutch however, like to add one extra. These three kisses are actually air kisses; the lips should not touch the other person’s cheek. Oh, and to avoid akward situations: men don’t kiss eachother!

Cheese

done to prevent the country from flooding? Well the Dutch are very skilled at water management [see Water Management for more info] and dykes are one of those solutions. A dyke is a long wall or embankment which prevents water getting from one side to the other.

This is typical blue and white Dutch pottery that originated in the city of Delft. The original tinglazed pottery was made from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

Dykes A very large part of the Netherlands is actually below sea level, so what can be

Ah, the Dutch Treat; we all use it from time to time. Being known as penny-pinchers, the Dutch prefer to split the total bill at a restaurant and only pay their part. The Dutch Treat is also known as Going Dutch or the Dutch Date.

E Efteling Why go to Euro Disney when the magic is right here in Holland? The Efteling is Holland’s largest theme park, with fairytales around every corner. You can meet Little Red Riding Hood, trolls, elves and creatures you’ve never even seen before. There are also plenty of adrenaline rides, so it’s fun for the whole family. The Efteling is located in the south of Holland (Kaatsheuvel). Go to www. efteling.com for more info.

F FEBO Got a sudden craving for a crispy kroket or frikandel? [see Kroket or Frikandel for more info] Find a FEBO outlet and make sure you’ve got some coins on you. The FEBO is a fast food chain of automatiek restaurants, where you can buy your snacks from a wallmounted vending machine.

Frikandel This typical Dutch snack is shaped like a large sausage, but it’s rather different to the average sausage. It’s made from minced meat, deep-fried and

often eaten in a bun (broodje frikandel) or at least with a mixture of sauces. A frikandel speciaal is quite a popular variant; chopped onions together with mayonnaise and ketchup (or curry sauce) is placed in a frikandel that’s been cut open. A frikandel can be bought in a snack bar (fast food restaurant) such as a FEBO [see FEBO for more info] and is a typical party snack.

boterham (toast) with hagelslag.

Haring (herring)

G G (the pronunciation) Notable in the Dutch language, is the pronunciation of the letter ‘g’. Non-natives often struggle with this strange gurgling sound. In the northern and western parts of Holland, the letter ‘g’ is pronounced louder, a so-called ‘hard g’. In the other parts a ‘soft g’ is more common.

Gay marriage The Netherlands legalised gay marriage back in 2001, making it a popular destination for gay couples due to the tolerant attitude. Every first weekend in August, the popular Amsterdam Gay Pride event is held, attracting hundreds of thousands of gay and straight visitors. The most interesting part of this event is the canal parade, where a variety of themed boats sail along the canals.

Gezellig The Dutch word gezellig cannot be translated in any other language and is used in various ways. It means something like cosy, friendly or nice, but can also refer to time spent with loved ones or being very sociable. Things that can be gezellig are; hanging out with friends, a bruin café, drinking coffee with the neighbour or even a nicely decorated room in the house.

Going Dutch [see Dutch Treat for more info]

H Hagelslag Cloggies eat a lot of bread. They eat it at breakfast, lunch and sometimes dinner. Hagelslag is a typical Dutch chocolate topping that is sprinkled on toast (preferably white) with a thick layer of butter. Children in particular are quite fond of

This typical Dutch scenario is often quite repellent to outsiders: a raw shiny silver fish, covered with chopped onions, is held by its tail and is dangled over to the open mouth. With head tilted back, the fish is eaten (again, raw) and often a second one will follow. Yes, the Dutch love fresh haring every once in a while. A haring in a white bun is also quite popular. If you’re brave enough to try, go out an find some Hollandse Nieuwe catch between May and July; this is the best type of herring.

Heineken If you’ve never heard of Heineken, you must have been living under a rock. This brand of beer is world famous and originated the Netherlands. In Amsterdam you can visit the Heineken Experience to get to know everything you could possibly want to know about this golden liquid.

HEMA This Dutch department store with favourable prices has become quite hip in recent years. With more than 400 stores in the Netherlands, HEMA (Hollandse Eenheidsprijzen Maatschappij Amsterdam / Dutch Standard Prices Company Amsterdam) offers everything from homeware to clothing, office supplies to delicious sausages (rookworst) [see Unox for more info about rookworst].

Hyves Ever tried to find a Dutch friend on Facebook? This can

dutch a-z be quite hard, because most of the Dutch are already quite busy maintaining their social networks on Hyves.nl. You might want to sign up there if you want to stalk that Dutch chick or dude.

I Ice skating Ice skating is a popular winter activity in Holland. Though the Dutch love to complain about cold weather, once the ice is strong enough, they will get their skates out and take to the ice. In larger cities, small skating rinks will be created to offer a safer alternative to natural ice. These small rinks are often quite gezellig [see Gezellig for more info] and you can enjoy a hot cocoa and other delicacies at the rink side. Speed skating is also a very popular sport in Holland [see 11 Cities Tour for more info].

[see Kibbeling for more info]. The

word ‘lekkerbek’ can also imply a person who really appreciates food.

M Mayonnaise This emulsion of oil, vinegar, lemon juice and egg yolk is often served as a dipping sauce for fries or chips.

N Nachtwacht (Night Watch)

The most famous Dutch painting, by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1642 [see Rembrandt for more info] is actually called The Company of Frans Banning Cocq and Willem van Ruytenburch. The picture is a group portrait of a division of the civic guard and is renowned for its size (363 x 437cm). You can see the Nachtwacht in Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum.

J Jonkie This Dutch gin (also referred to as Jenever) is a strong (35%+) liquor made in Holland and Belgium. There are two types of Jenever; old (oude) and young (jonge). The difference is not in age, but in the distilling techniques.

K Kaaskop

Kibbeling Cloggies are fond of fish and often treat themselves to a little fish snack. Kibbeling consists of deep fried chunks of cod topped with spices. These nuggets are served with specific sauces and taste quite similar to a lekkerbek [see Lekkerbek for more info].

Kroket The Dutch may not be famous for their haute cuisine, but they sure know how to snack! When you’re near a snack bar or a FEBO, go grab yourself a kroket; a crispy, sausage-shaped meat roll filled with (hot!) minced meat. The taste is quite similar to bitterballen [see Bitterballen for more info] and should be served with mustard and, if preferred, in a white bun.

Lekkerbek is deep fried cod and literally means ‘tasty beak’. The taste is quite similar to kibbeling

Amsterdam

Nieuwjaarsduik On January 1, thousands of people take a dip in the icy sea at Scheveningen, wearing nothing but a bathing suit, to celebrate the start of the new year. Afterwards, a hot pea soup provided by Unox [see Unox for more info] is truly a well deserved treat.

O Oliebollen

Known in English as the ‘Dutch doughnut’, Oliebollen are traditional Dutch treats that are especially popular around New Year. The deep-fried dough is often covered in powdered sugar and comes in different varieties. In the holiday season, oliebollen stands pop up around the country to satisfy the winter dessert cravings.

Orange

L Lekkerbek

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P Pannekoeken (Pancakes)

These Dutch pancakes are slightly different then the American ones; they’re thinner and larger in size. Also various ingredients may be added to create surprising flavours. You can eat a basic pancake with ‘stroop’ (sugar beet syrup) or powdered sugar or go for the traditional ‘spek’ (bacon) pannekoek.

Poffertjes These mini pancakes are a traditional treat and taste quite similar to pancakes, but have a firmer and spongier texture. Typically, poffertjes are served with powdered sugar and butter, but other toppings are also available.

Prostitution

(New Year’s Dive)

Kaaskop is a (not so nice) nickname for a Dutch person. It literally means ‘Cheesehead’.

When visiting Holland during the European Cup and World Cup football, or on Queen’s Day [see Queen’s Day for more info], the streets and people will be wearing their national colour with pride.

Orange is the national colour of the Netherlands. The association originated from the name of the royal family ‘Oranje-Nassau’.

Holland is a very open-minded country and legal prostitution is not hard to find. Brothels and red light districts are often touristic sights. In these red light districts, women are displayed behind windows, where you can pick your favorite and negotiate the deal. Typically, red light (or purple light for darker ladies) is switched on to show the passerby that there is sex for sale. When in Amsterdam, ‘de wallen’ area is a must-see. [see Wallen for more info]

Q Queen’s day Queen’s Day celebrates the birthday of the Dutch queen and is held on 30 April (unless that’s a Sunday, in which case it’s celebrated the day before). It’s not actually the birthday of the current Queen Beatrix, but her mother, Queen Juliana, but the tradition remains. This day is known for its ‘free market’ (vrijmarkt), where everybody is allowed to sell things on the streets. The streets and the people are coloured orange [see Orange for more info]. It’s probably one of the most gezellige [see Gezellig for more info] times in Amsterdam.

R Red Light District [see Wallen for more info]

Rookworst A typical Dutch sausage, made

with ground meat, mixed with spices, which is stuffed into a casing. While it literally means ‘smoked sausage’, it’s not truly smoked. This sausage is a typical ingredient of stamppot [see Stamppot for more info] and is often bought from HEMA [see HEMA for more info] or the supermarket. Unox is also a popular brand of rookworst [see Unox for more info].

S Sinterklaas While Christmas is widely celebrated in the Netherlands, children generally look forward to Sinterklaas more. This yearly Dutch feast is celebrated on December 5 and holy man Sinterklaas (who has a lot of similarities to Santa Claus) is the central character. The holy man and his helpers the ‘Zwarte Pieten’ [see Zwarte Piet for more info] will sneak through the chimney and leave behind jute sacks filled with presents for wellbehaved children.

Stamppot When it’s getting chilly outside, the Dutch like to eat stamppot for dinner. Stamppot is a mixture of boiled potatoes and vegetables topped with gravy and served together with meat such as rookworst [see Rookworst for more info]. Popular stamppotten are Boerenkool (farmer’s cabbage), Andijvie (endive), Zuurkool (Dutch sauerkraut) and Hutspot (potatoes mixed with onion and carrot).

T Tulips If you come to the Netherlands in the spring, you can’t miss the tulip fields in the countryside. The Dutch love their flowers and the tulip is their most prized possession. Home to the world’s largest tulip garden, Keukenhof is a nice place to see the colours and varieties of tulips.

U Unox This consumer product brand is presented as something typically Dutch. Their rookworst [see rookworst for more info] is often eaten during winter times and Unox is a prominent sponsor of the 11 cities tour [see 11 Cities Tour for more info] and the nieuwjaarsduik [see Nieuwjaarsduik for more info].

South Holland. The 19 historical working windmills are on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list and are among the most popular tourist destinations in the country.

Wooden Shoes [see Clogs for more info]

V VOC

(Dutch East India Company) The VOC (Vereenigde OostIndische Compagnie) was a chartered company established in 1602. It was the first multinational company and the first that handed out shares. For decades this monopolistic concern dominated the global spice trade, transporting spices using large ships (you can see a replica ship at the Scheepvaartmuseum in Amsterdam). The VOC representatives used violent methods to gain respect from the native population. In the first years of the 1800s the VOC slowly fell apart.

W Wallen De Wallen is the largest and most famous red light district in Amsterdam. It is a network of alleyways and canalside buildings where approximately 300 windows are used by prostitutes [see Prostitution for more info]. The prostitutes sit behind a window in a room with a red light. This is a major tourist attraction in Amsterdam and the area also includes a number of sex shops, peep shows, and a sex museum.

X xxx You might presume that the triple X sign represents the erotic scene in Amsterdam. Well it could. But when you ask a Dutch person what XXX means, they will probably say three kisses [see 3 Kisses for more info]. The XXX is quite similar to the American xoxo (hugs and kisses). These three letters are also to be found everywhere on the streets of Amsterdam, such as on amsterdammetjes (steel bollards). In that case the crosses are part of the city’s crest, and are actually Saint Andrew’s Crosses - not that sexy, but of historic value.

Y Yiddish Many words from the Amsterdam dialect originate from the Yiddish language. Examples are mazzel (lucky), mesjogge (crazy), nebbisj (unlucky person), achenebbisj (poor, messy) and koosjer (in order, all ok). Before WWII, Amsterdam was home to a large group of Jews whose mother tongue was Yiddish.

Z Zwarte Piet Water management Since large parts of the Netherlands are below sea level, the Dutch have become very inventive when it comes to keeping the water out. Their systems are utilised globally and range from dykes and dams to well-engineered automatic floodgates.

Windmill The Dutch are famous for their windmills and have a long tradition of using windmills for land draining, corn milling, saw milling, and more. There are currently 1200 windmills that still survive today. The largest collection of windmills are located at Kinderdijk in

(Black Pete)

Sinterklaas’s [see Sinterklaas for more info] companions are loved by children. The funny looking characters with colourful costumes and blackened faces are subject to much debate. Foreigners are often shocked by their appearance. While it is a very old tradition, the fact that their faces are covered in black make-up and they are Sinterklaas’s helpers is unacceptable to some.

Foreign Exchange

dressing the Dutch Dutch fashion events organiser Martijn Machielse and English designer Philip Stephens talk about their loves and loathes in Dutch and British fashion and compare Londoners and Amsterdammers in the style stakes. By: Catherine Smyth

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foreign exchange

M: People ask me what I think of Amsterdam Fashion Week. In my opinion, Amsterdam Fashion Week has gone one route, and that is commercial. Now, there’s nothing wrong with being commercial, but it’s not my route. I think when you’re dealing with creativity and with fashion, and you want to show something new, when you want to make a statement, it’s more important to focus on that rather than the commercial side of things when you want to create a fashion platform. P: I also think Amsterdam Fashion Week is quite national isn’t it? You don’t have many international press members and buyers attending, but I guess if they don’t provide something that’s of interest then they won’t come to visit. There are Dutch designers... Viktor and Rolf are Dutch aren’t they?

‘The Dutch don’t seem to make an effort’

Viktor and Rolf are very internationally oriented; I still think there’s a difference between English conceptual designers and Dutch. I’ve had British designers with Dutch press, and it’s just a completely different way of looking at things.

Photos: Team Peter Stigter

Martijn Machielse (left) is the Creative Director and founder of the Amsterdam-based organisation Mynth Events, the company that produces ‘Boutyq’: a catwalk show beyond a catwalk show where designers can get help with PR, buyers, showrooms, contacts and sponsors. This may sound quite commercial, but according to Machielse ‘Designers are artists.’ And yes, they happen to wanna make a living out of their profession.

it would look bizarre. It’s cool Burberry’s come back to London, it adds that ‘cool Britannia’ thing - and McQueen’s best shows are always in London. There’s just that energy, a certain relevance. London’s very grungy when it comes to street style, sometimes overly so. Too much detail’s not my style, personally I like to have one garment of impact - and that’s why I love Unconditional. In London it’s all about accessorising, but too much is too much! In Amsterdam, I find the boys are very protectively dressed, not daring at all - and they should be because they’re beautiful. I find the thing in Amsterdam that hits me is just how it’s so beautiful, it’s magical - I think that there’s a lot of beauty here, real beauty, the interiors, the lifestyle, the pace of life... We went out clubbing in Paradiso last night and it was interesting to see what everyone was wearing - they don’t seem to make a lot of effort. Paris is very bourgeois, London’s more dishevelled, less polished - I suppose there’s a faster pace of life. Life is definitely more pressured in London and that comes out in different ways. I suppose the impression people have of here is that everyone’s a bit stoned.

I don’t think Viktor and Rolf would choose to show in Amsterdam, I mean, there wouldn’t be much point for [them] to do their show here although I think there’s a lot to be said for supporting your home country; it’s a good thing, and I think sometimes a collection has more relevance in its own location than it would do abroad. I think if Chanel was shown in London

Philip Stephens (right) is the London-based Head Designer of the label Unconditional. He likes people to feel better in themselves and is convinced that one of the main reasons to get dressed is not to stay warm and protected, but to feel sexy and attractive. ‘Heavy women have still got great cleavages.’

museum check

Erotic Museum The Erotic Museum is smack bang in the throbbing heart of the Red Light District, bookended by sex shops and droves of men gaping at the ladies behind the windows. The museum greets the world with an orgasmic mannequin of a Dutch milkmaid riding a bike with a pedal-powered dildo. It advertises five floors of titillation, although one floor is occupied by a commercial gallery that sells pictures of porn stars dressed as saints. Piped-in R&B and Peruvian panpipes gets patrons in the mood, though I’m stumped as to what that mood should be.

The first floor is brightly lit, crammed floor to ceiling with paintings and prints, and filled with mirror-backed display cases. The collection of sex-themed items is roughly grouped by time period or nationality, although most of it consists of erotic souvenirs you might pick up on a spirit quest to Bali. Evidently the sexy nun figurines left the curator a bit loopy; several labels had no relation to

‘Evidently the sexy nun figurines left the curator a bit loopy’

By Allison Guy

Hadrien Zerah, 24 FRANCE

I prefer the Sex Museum, but this was funny too. The Sex Museum has more porn than erotic things; this one is much more soft. I liked the cartoon here. It’s amazingly vulgar, even the way they talk to each other. I didn’t like the masochism room too much. I think it’s a bit expensive in relation to the quality, but cheap for a museum.

Steven and Geert BELGIUM

It’s nice, but we thought it was bigger or something. We were expecting more explanation. The cartoons were funny, they were nice. The BDSM upstairs, that was not our thing. The price was seven euros. For Amsterdam, that’s not too expensive, but for this thing, it’s too much.

the object described. Luckily it’s possible to find some interesting artefacts among the bric-a-brac. There’s ‘Macaura’s Blood Pulsator’, the granddaddy of vibrators from the 1880s, and a handful of Picasso prints that more respectable museums tend to keep in storage. Beatles fans might be interested in John Lennon’s erotic drawings, even if the sketches themselves aren’t worth more than a ‘hmm’. CARTOON CAPERS On the second floor there are a few cases of explicit books and old porn, but the vibe soon segues from historical to hallucinatory. The walls are painted with garish murals that from a distance look like primary school decoration, until you get closer and realise that the characters are having ‘adventures’ Walt Disney never even dreamed about.

Emelye, 32, and Nate, 40 UNITED STATES

This was our first time in Amsterdam. We thought the museum was really interesting. We liked seeing all the Betty Page stuff and the turn of the century vintage erotica. The cartoons were really creepy. We thought the room of erotic art was neat, we suggest they should expand on it. The price was reasonable for Amsterdam.

museum check Visitors can pull up a toadstool seat and watch hardcore animations from the 1930s. I was hoping to see Snow White and her seven miniature men, but had to settle for an animated cat and his quest to get it on with his human girlfriend. For my greatgrandparents, apparently, cartoon bestiality was a real scream – either of horror or of laughter. LEAKY ROOF The last exhibit switches from the Betty Boop era to the reign of fetish queen Bettie Page, featuring an exhibit of a leather dungeon in the attic. The display of bondage gear may feel scandalous, but it’s outstripped by any S&M outfitter you’ll see on a stroll through the Red Light District. Follow the sound of trickling water to find a mannequin peeing on a glass panel overhead. It gives new meaning to the phrase ‘a leak in the roof’. The Sex Museum near Centraal Station is, bigger, cheaper and quirkier, but the Erotic Museum can’t be beat for location. Not many other places in the world give a better education about the commercial side of human sexuality than the district’s alleyways packed with females, she-males and live sex shows. If you’d like a living demonstration of the museum’s displays, the same company operates the Casa Rosso theatre next door. Some windows in the Erotic Museum even sport a stained-glass version of the Casa’s pink elephant mascot, perhaps trying to entice timid museum-goers to try out the real thing. It might feel delirious, but for an erotic museum, it’s a fantasy low on imagination. Erotic Museum Oudezijds Achterburgwal 54 erotisch-museum.nl

The Verdict: Value for money: 2.5/5 Waiting time in line: Non-existent Entrance: €7 Comments: A less entertaining but less hardcore cousin to the Sex Museum on Damrak, the Erotic Museum benefits from its location in the centre of the sex trade in Amsterdam. The museum features a haphazard collection of erotic art and artefacts that’s light on history or context. Highlights include a bizarre riff on old-fashioned cartoons, a mannequin peeing on a skylight, and a surprisingly tame S&M dungeon. A gift shop on the ground floor sells a selection of mass-produced penis paraphernalia suitable for bachelorette parties.

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Wheelchair friendly: No. The museum is accessed by a narrow staircase. English friendly: Most labels, if you can find them, are in English and Dutch. Child friendly: Really, really not. Teenagers have probably already seen all of this stuff on the internet, but it’s not an experience they will want to share with mum and dad. Museum hours: Open Monday through Thursday from 11.00 to 01.00. Open Friday through Sunday 11.00 to 02.00. Address: Oudezijds Achterburgwal 54 Website: erotisch-museum.nl

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Sex and de stad

Confessions of a Prostitute What’s it like to be a working girl? Lauren, an Amsterdam professional, reveals her deepest secrets.

This issue: GAY PRIDE. - By Lauren Wissot -

A former Dutch colony recently made the news when it took a giant leap into the 21st century. More than four decades after the Stonewall Riots – the Greenwich Village rebellion that sparked America’s gay rights movement – New York City has finally been granted the right to allow same-sex couples to marry. (This makes New York state the whopping sixth state to do so – after less trendy places such as Iowa, famous not for civil rights but for corn.) So this Gay Pride I’d like to extend my congratulations to all those New Amsterdam couples that no longer have to travel to the old country for a marriage licence, as they’ve been doing for the past decade. Now American homos can be just like the straight folk and travel here to see what legalised prostitution and drugs look like. (If you have the Euros I’ll give the tour.) New York lesbian g And in honour of this year’s proud festivities I’m going to take a big risk and finally come out of the closet – not about my sexuality but about my beliefs. Truth be told, I am against gay marriage. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled whenever any minority makes strides, but every time I see a same-sex couple with their fashionable kiddies I can’t help being reminded of what writer Fran Lebowitz (a New York lesbian with the wit of Oscar Wilde) has to say about allowing homos to marry and to join the military, the top twin causes of the American gay rights lobby. ‘Are you kidding me?…The two

most confining institutions on the planet. Usually a fight for freedom is a fight for freedom – this is the opposite!’ Amen, sister.

‘I’m thrilled whenever any minority makes strides’ Bisexual transvestite from Senegal g I’m not just against gay marriage – I’m against all marriage being linked to any aspect of human rights. Why should a person’s lover be allowed to emigrate to be with him, say, and not that same person’s single brother? The minute you grant exceptional status to one lifestyle choice (and marriage is a lifestyle choice) you undermine another. In fact, I’ve never understood why a minority, rather than aping the majority, doesn’t demand that the majority follow its lead instead. For the freedom that Lebowitz is referring to is the freedom to be different – to be accepted for who you are, not who you love or for how you choose to live. And most importantly, to be free from shame – one of the most powerful weapons of mass control known to mankind – so that one day a single bisexual transvestite from Senegal working as a hustler will be afforded the same respect as the white lesbian couple with the cute toddler in tow. Now that’s real rainbow pride.

captured

If there’s a party going on, special reporter Michiel Döbelman is there. Make sure you don’t miss out next time!

CAPTURED By Michiel Döbelman/Savage Productions

18 hrs festival The first indoor and outdoor festival in Holland that went on for 18 hours straight, 18hrs Festival was a co-operation between hosting partners Click, Bar27, Linke Soep and Plak. Balkenhaven Zaandam

9 July >

Photos: link2party.nl | defotomeisjes.com

Basement Boutique

A new disco colour-blocking party with Jeff Solo, Mr Wix, The Magician, Beesmunt Soundsystem and Few Kids On The Block. club air

< 15 july Photos: Dennis Bouman

captured

Celebrating the start of Amsterdam International Fashion Week, this party featured DJs Secret Cinema and Joost van Bellen, a catwalk show and a Moment of Fame for the winner of the ‘Holland’s Next Fashion Victim’ contest. Westerunie

1 july >

Amsterdam

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Photos: Nilo Perez

The unofficial opening party of Amsterdam International Fashion Week

captured

Russian Standard Amsterdam Party

Photos: Nilo Perez

A party with an all-female line-up (DJs Claire, Sheila Hill, Vika Kova) where 300 VIPs arrived in limousine vans. roest

< 8 july

Michiel Dรถbelman has deep roots in the Amsterdam nightlife scene. As creative director of Savage Productions / Headline he has organised events for brands such as Amsterdam International Fashion Week, BlackBerry, Armani and many others. www.savage-productions.nl

upcoming

By: Blair Larkin

/AUGUSTGIGS Friday 1

The Jayhawks, Paradiso A blend of country, folk, rock and impeccable guitar work. 19:30, €28 + membership Polvo, Paradiso Influential American indie noise rock band. 20:00, €15 + membership

Monday 1

Good Charlotte, Paradiso The multi-platinum rock band drop by Amsterdam. 20:30, €25 + membership Crystal Stilts, Melkweg American noise pop band. 20:30, €11 + membership European Union Youth Orchestra, Concertgebouw 20:15, €34

Gogol Bordello, Melkweg Gypsy punk band from New York. 20:00, €21 + membership

Tuesday 2

Photo: Peter Stigter

Amsterdam gay pride It’s August which means it’s time for the annual Amsterdam Gay Pride festival. The largest gay event in the Netherlands runs from 30 July to 7 August and boasts a wide array of events including parties, film, art exhibitions, theatre and sporting events. The festival peaks on Saturday 6 with an extravagant carnival-style canal parade which sees hundreds of boats cruising from Westerdok harbour along Prinsengracht and up the River Amstel. When: 31 July - 7 August Where: Various locations Admission: Varies weareproud.nl

Warren Haynes, Paradiso Guitarist, singer and Gov’t Mule member stops by Amsterdam for a solo show. 20:30, €25 + membership Jello Biafra and The Guantanamo School of Medicine, Melkweg Politically charged punk rock from the American band. 20:30, €18.50 + membership

Wednesday 3 Chad VanGaalen, Bitterzoet Canadian indie rock/folk musician who is touring on the back of his fourth studio album Diaper Island. 20:00, €12

Thursday 4 Sunny Reggae Thursdays, Melkweg A night of reggae, dancehall and other Caribbean music. 23:00, €6

Friday 5 Grant Lee Buffalo, Paradiso After breaking up in the late nineties, the Americana-tinged rock band Grant Lee Buffalo have recently got back together for a limited tour. 20:30, €20 + membership Time To Shine Soundclash, Melkweg Semi-finals of the European DJ contest. 22:30, €25 + membership Major League, Melkweg A night of drum and bass with Aphrodite, Black Sun Empire and Drumsound & Bassline Smith. 23:00, €15 + membership Philip Catherine, Concertgebouw 19:30. €17

Saturday 6

Photo: Uitmarkt

UITMARKT The biggest cultural festival in the Netherlands is taking place this month at Museumplein, Leidseplein, Vondelpark and various museums and theatres around the city. Uitmarkt attracts around 500,000 visitors every year and features more than 450 performances from 2,000 artists. With theatre, film and live music ranging from hip-hop to jazz to classical, this festival truly promises something for everyone. When: 26-28 August There’s even something for the kids with Where: Various locations Uitmarkt Junior in Vondelpark offering Admission: Free performances, workshops and activities amsterdamsuitburo.nl for the little ones.

Amsterdam

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Monday 8

The Doors Alive, Melkweg The Doors tribute band comes to town to commemorate Jim Morrison 40 years after his passing. 20:00, €22.50 + membership ICP Orchestra, Bimhuis Improvisational jazz from the talented Dutch orchestra. 20:30, €18

GAY PRIDE CANAL PARADE See page 28 for more information about this event Washed Out, Bitterzoet A mix of chill wave and synth pop with sombre, filtered vocals from the American producer. 20:00, €10 I Am Kloot, Paradiso English indie rock band touring on the back of their latest release Sky at Night. 20:30, €16 + membership Corvus Corax, Melkweg This eccentric German band play neomedieval music. Expect a lot of bagpipes and bizarre costumes. 21:00, €16 + membership Bombino, Tolhuistuin Exciting Tuareg guitarist from Niger. 20:00, €10 Michiel Borstlap Solo, Concertgebouw 20:15, €34

Tuesday 9

Wednesday 10 Dulce Pontes, Concertgebouw A mix of pop, folk and classical from the Portuguese singer/songwriter. 20:15, €24

Thursday 11 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Paradiso A mix of jazz and hip-hop from. 20:30, €12.50 + membership Sunny Reggae Thursdays, Melkweg A night of reggae, dancehall and other Caribbean music. 23:00, €6 Pieter Wispelway, Concertgebouw 20:15, €21

Friday 12 Closer, Melkweg Featuring Applescal, Cardboard Motel, Distant Drummers and more. 23:00, €10 + membership Ruben Hein & Friends, Tolhuistuin An evening with the talented Dutch singer/ pianist with special guests. 19:00, €10 Eef van Breen, Concertgebouw Trumpeter Eef van Breen will bring an evening of jazz. 19:30, €17 Hugh Masekela, Concertgebouw A special show with South African trumpet legend Hugh Masekela. 20:15, €24

Saturday 13 Ellen ten Damme, Concertgebouw 20:15, €21

Sunday 14 Suicidal Tendencies, Melkweg The hardcore punk/crossover thrash band is building anticipation of their first album in more than ten years. 20:00, €22.50 + membership Paavo Jarvi, Concertgebouw 20:15, €24

Monday 15 Sinead O’Connor, Paradiso The Irish singer/songwriter comes to Amsterdam to promote her new album Home. Support from Klerkx and the Secret. 19:30, €35 + membership

Tuesday 16 Maria Markesini, Concertgebouw A mix of modern jazz, folk and pop from the Greek singer and pianist. 20:15, €28

upcoming

Wednesday 17 Fishbone, Paradiso Expect an entertaining show from the self-described jazzy ska-gospel punk rockreggae band. 21:00, €16.50 + membership Paper Route, Paradiso American indie rock band. 20:00, €10 + membership Face to Face, Melkweg Pop punk band Face to Face are touring after recently releasing their first album in almost ten years. 20:30, €18 + membership

Thursday 18 Katchafire, Melkweg After starting out as a Bob Marley tribute band, Katchafire have gone on to create their own roots reggae sound and have released four albums of original material. 22:00, €12 Po’Girl, Paradiso Accordians, banjos, dobros, harmonicas, pianos, guitars and drums are just a few of the instruments this folk/country/jazz band make use of in their exciting shows. 20:00, €12.50 + membership

Friday 19 Heavy Metal Kings, Melkweg Don’t let the name fool you. Heavy Metal Kings are actually a hip-hop duo made up of Ill Bill of Non-Phixion and Vinnie Paz of Jedi Mind Tricks. 21:00, €17.50 + membership Bittereinder, Paradiso Lighthearted, melodic hip-hop from the South African group. 20:30, €9 + membership Omar Souleyman, Paradiso Syrian musician Omar Souleyman makes dance and party music heavily influenced by Arabic, Kurdish and Turkish sounds. 22:30, €19 + membership Old Bridge Quartet, Tolhuistuin 19:00, €10 Chopin Meets the Blues, Concertgebouw 21:30, €17

Satuday 20 A Tribute to Motown, Concertgebouw A tribute to Motown with Edsilia Rombley and Cor Bakker. 20:15, €24 Rotterdam Takeover, Tolhuistuin 16:00, €10

Monday 22 Cage The Elephant, Melkweg The chart-topping alternative rock band bring their explosive live show to Amsterdam. 20:00, €14 + membership

Tuesday 23 Deftones, Paradiso A mix of alternative metal, experimental rock, dream pop and art rock from the grammy-winning band. 19:30, €32.50 + membership Shonen Knife, Paradiso Japanese female pop-punk band formed in the eighties. 21:00, €15 + membership

Wednesday 24 The Avett Brothers, Paradiso Country, bluegrass, punk, pop, folk and rock ’n’ roll all packed into an intense yet soulful show. Support from My Jerusalem. 19:30, €17 + membership The Ex, Paradiso After starting out as an anarchist punk

band in Amsterdam in 1979, The Ex has evolved significantly and now plays experimental punk with influences ranging from Turkish folk to Ethiopian music. 20:00, €12 + membership Off! & The Bronx, Melkweg A night of punk rock from American bands Off! and The Bronx. 20:30, €17 + membership Mini Mansions, Bitterzoet Indie rock band founded by former Queens of the Stone Age member Michael Shuman. 20:00, €10

Thursday 25 Best Coast, Paradiso Fuzzy, lo-fi surf rock from the American trio. 22:30, €15 + membership

Friday 26 Poppe, Enver, Kwasi and Badderman, Melkweg 19:00, €15 + membership Francien van Tuinen, Concertgebouw Singer Francien van Tuinen pays tribute to legendary Dutch jazz singer Rita Reys. 19:30, €17

Saturday 27 Voltt Loves Summer, NDSM Wharf Electronic music festival featuring Loco Dice, Scion and Tikiman, Henrik Schwarz, Minilogue and more. 11:00, €39 SENA Performers Pop Award 2011, Melkweg Competition featuring 13 bands from around the country. 20:00, Free Serge Lama, Carre 20:00, €21-€58

Photo: Pluk de Nacht

pluk de nacht The Stenen Hoofd (The Stone Head) on the harbour in Amsterdam is the perfect place to sit back in a comfy beach chair and enjoy a film. Thanks to Pluk de Nacht, this month you can do just that. The annual open-air film festival brings a selection of unreleased independent films, documentaries, animations and shorts to a huge screen on the harbour to give the public a chance to see cinema that doesn’t make it to When: 4-13 August most of the big theatres. In addition Where: The Stenen Hoofd to film there will be art projects, Admission: Free parties and other festive activities, plukdenacht.nl and best of all, it’s free!

Sunday 28 No Use For A Name, Melkweg Light and slightly poppy melodic punk from the Californian band. 21:00, €15 + membership Eric Vloeimans, Concertgebouw 20:15, €24

Monday 29 Arcade Fire, Heineken Music Hall The orchestral indie rock band are touring after a successful year which saw them win a Grammy for Album of the Year. 20:00, €45 Cold Cave, Bitterzoet Experimental synth-pop group from the States. 20:00, €11

Tuesday 30 Wild Nothing, Paradiso American indie-pop one-man band created by musician Jack Tatum. 20:00, €12 + membership The Rapture, Melkweg American rock band that mixes influences of post-punk, acid house, disco and electronica into their sound. 20:30, €16 + membership

Wednesday 31 Jimmy Cliff, Paradiso The Jamaican reggae legend who helped popularise reggae around the world graces the stage at Paradiso. 20:30, €25 + membership Roosbeef, Paradiso This unique Dutch band plays melodic pop music with a raw edge. 20:00, €12.50 + membership

Photo: Angela Sterling

liteside festival The sixth edition of the LiteSide Festival is taking place at Cultuurpark Westergasfabriek this month. Every year the festival has a different theme with this year’s being: ‘an individual is determined by the expectations of others’. Within this context the festival will When: 19-21 August present an exciting programme Where: Cultuurpark Westergasfabriek of live music, theatre and dance, Admission: Varies art exhibitions, workshops, films litesidefestival.ning.com and dance parties.

upcoming

Photo: Peter Griffin

/GAYPRIDEGIGS 4 TO 7 AUGUST

GRACHTEN FESTIVAL This annual festival (which attracted 45,000 visitors in 2010) is a musical journey through special locations. Ever heard of the House, Garden and Rooftop concert series for example? Here you can enjoy a When: 12-21 August classical concert in a private canalWhere: Amsterdam (canals, north side apartment! (20 August). But and south axis) beware, locations won’t be revealed Admission: Varies until that very morning. grachtenfestival.nl

Photo: Voltt

VOLTT LOVES SUMMER Voltt Loves Summer returns to the NDSM Wharf on 27 August for the sixth edition of the festival. The former shipyard provides the perfect location for this relatively small festival which will bring some of the best rich house, electro and minimal music to Amsterdam. This year’s line-up includes the likes of When: 27 August Loco Dice, Scion, Henrik Schwarz, Where: NDSM Wharf Minilogue, DJ Koze and many more Admission: €39 and promises to be a great day for volttlovessummer.com electronic music aficionados.

Amsterdam

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Thursday 4

Saturday 6

Pride Opening Party Club Fuxxx 23:00 - 04:00 Popcorn! - Bump 17:00 - 01:00 Gay Pride Opening - Westermarkt / Homomonument 18:00 - 23:00 GreyPride - Paleis van de Weemoed 20:00 - 00:00 Homophonix - Paradiso 22:00 In Bed Is Het Fijn Toeven - Betty Asfalt Complex 20:30 - 00:00 Open Air Pink Cinema - Nieuwmark 21:30 - 00:00 Pink1094/1095 - Studio-K 20:00 - 00:00

Pink Pride Party - Bump 17:00 - 03:00 Canal Parade - Prinsengracht / Amstel 14:00 - 18:00 Gear Night - Club Fuxxx 23:00 - 05:00 Female Sensations - Club Rain 22:00 - 04:00 Gay Pride Amstelveld - Amstelveld 13:00 - 00:00 PinQradio Live - Westermarkt 17:00 - 23:00 Italo Elite Homogenic - Club Up 23:00 - 04:00 Margreet Dolman - Betty Asfalt Complex 20:30 - 00:00 Rapido XL - Heineken Music Hall 22:00 - 07:00 Street Party - NoirBlanc - Rembrandtplein 14:00 - 00:00 Outdoor Pride Party - Saarein2 13:00 - 00:00 Secret Garden Oriental Party - COC 23:00 - 05:00 White After - The Queen’s Head 04:00 - late Street Party - Zeedijk 17:00 - 00:00 Street Party - Amstel 14:00 - 01:00 Gay Especial Latin Caribbean - Reality 14:00 - 01:00 Street Party - Reguliersdwarsstraat 14:00 - 01:00 Street Party Women - Vivelavie 14:00 - 01:00 Bear Necessity - Odeon 23:00 - 05:00 Danserette - Akhnaton 22:00 - 04:00 Celebrate - Club Air 23:00 - 05:00 U.L.T.R.A.S.E.X.Y. - Paradiso 23:00 - 05:00 White Party - Melkweg 23:00 - 05:00 (Z)onderbroek Extra - Club Church 22:00 - 05:00

Friday 5 BLUF Meeting - Argos 22:00 - late AM:2:PM Saturday morning after- Club Home 05:00 - 09:00 BNN Homo 100 3FM Live - Rembrandtplein 16:00 - 20:00 Club Dirty Boys / Horny Together - COC 20:00 - 04:00 Dance & Cruise - Club Fuxxx 23:00 - 05:00 Drag Queen Olympics - Westermarkt / Homomonument 19:00 - 21:00 Gay Pride Vrijmibo - Amstelveld 16:00 - 23:00 Girlesque Pride - Paradiso 23:00 - 05:00 Drag Dance - Westermarkt / Homomonument 21:00 - 23:00 Manoeuvre Choir Concert - Oude Lutherse Kerk / UvA 20:30 - 22:00 Pink Ladies on Stage - Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam 19:00 - 22:00 Mr Gay Netherlands - Rembrandtplein 20:00 - 00:00 Roze Oosterpark - Oosterpark 18:00 - 21:30 SuperMartXe - Club Air 21:00 - 05:00 Wat een heerlijk hete dag - Betty Asfalt Complex 20:30 - 00:00 Streetparty - Zeedijk 19:00 - 00:00 Drag Playback Show - Amstel 18:00 - 01:00 Gay Especial Latin Caribbean - Reality 19:00 - 01:00 Street Party - Reguliersdwarsstraat 19:00 - 01:00 Street Party Women - Vivelavie 19:00 - 01:00

Sunday 7 Cruise XL - Club Fuxxx 23:00 - 04:00 Happy Landings T-dance - Bump 17:00 - 01:00 Dykes on Bikes Motorcycle Tour - Stadionplein 10:30 - 15:00 Gay Pride Hangover Picknick - Tolhuis 13:00 - 00:00 Pride Closing Party - Rembrandtplein 14:00 - 23:00 Rapido - Paradiso 15:00 - 02:00 Nude Club Amsterdam - Argos 15:00 - 19:30 Morning After/ Rapido - Westerunie 01:00 - 09:00

column

Sex and de stad

Confessions of a Prostitute What’s it like to be a working girl? Lauren, an Amsterdam professional, reveals her deepest secrets.

This issue: GAY PRIDE. - By Lauren Wissot -

most confining institutions on the planet. Usually a fight for freedom is a fight for freedom – this is the opposite!’ Amen, sister.

‘I’m thrilled whenever any minority makes strides’ Bisexual transvestite from Senegal g I’m not just against gay marriage – I’m against all marriage being linked to any aspect of human rights. Why should a person’s lover be allowed to immigrate to be with him, say, and not that same person’s single brother? The minute you grant exceptional status to one lifestyle choice (and marriage is a lifestyle choice) you undermine another. In fact, I’ve never understood why a minority, rather than aping the majority, doesn’t demand that the majority follow its lead instead. For the freedom that Lebowitz is referring to is the freedom to be different – to be accepted for who you are, not who you love or for how you choose to live. And most importantly, to be free from shame – one of the most powerful weapons of mass control known to mankind – so that one day a single bisexual transvestite from Senegal working as a hustler will be afforded the same respect as the white lesbian couple with the cute toddler in tow. Now that’s real rainbow pride.

wet your whistle

De Zotte Tired of guys who get bottle service at nightclubs and the noise called music that accompanies them everywhere? What you see is what you get at De Zotte; an intimate affair with a vast array of Belgian beers. By: Brandon Hartley Photography: Sarah Moore

o it’s a Friday night and you’re in Amsterdam. Sure, you could drop a fistful of euros on a cover charge at one of the city’s discotheques or you could shift your gaze in an entirely different direction. De Zotte is the polar opposite of sleek clubs like Jimmy Woo and Escape. This no-frills Belgian tavern in Centrum isn’t the place to head if you’re in the mood for flourescent cocktails or jackhammer techno beats. Regardless, you’ll be hard pressed to find a place to sit on a busy weekend evening around midnight. The space occupied by De Zotte has served as a pub for decades, if not longer. Once a spot favored by retirement-aged punters, it’s been co-opted in recent years by a much younger crowd that prefers chatting over dancing the night away. Its dark wood interior and ancient tables look like they were magically transported from a centuries-old tavern on the outskirts of Antwerp.

Beer, Here! A perfect sanctuary for beer aficionados, De Zotte offers more than 150 bottles that all hail from the Netherlands’ southern neighbour, ranging from gentle blondes and whites to hardy stouts. The only deviation on the list is the cherished local staple Amstel. Be careful before you make a selection and feel free to ask De Zotte’s knowledgeable staff for advice if you’re unsure of what to order. Otherwise, you might wind up with a super-sweet Timmermans Kriek that tastes more like fruit juice than a proper lager. Not that I’m speaking from experience or anything. Honest! You can’t go wrong with abdijberen (abbey ales) such as Augustijn, Cuvee de Ciney Brune or Floreffe Blonde.

In addition to a ‘beer of the week’, De Zotte’s also has a rather impressive food menu. Starters include a Trappist cheese plate with country bread, Belgian pâté and tomato-Affilgem soup. There’s a ‘dish of the day’ and a ‘vegetarian quiche of the day’ but the lamb fillet with rocket pesto is a great option for omnivores. If you’ve got room left for dessert, give the profiteroles with warm chocolate sauce and ice cream a shot. A truly Belgian affair Belgian flags and old advertisements for Trappist beers line the walls but the most eye-catching bit of decor is an odd chandelier that hangs above the bar. It lies dark and dormant until closing time, at which point one of the bartenders flips a switch. Going from unobtrusive to blazing in three seconds flat, this puppy’s capable of blinding stragglers eager to linger over their pint glasses into the wee hours. It’s a passive-aggressive method to clear out the place but it’s definitely effective.

A perfect sanctuary for beer aficionados; there are over 150 bottles to choose from

All in all, De Zotte is so Belgian that if you were to drive a steak knife into the bar it would probably bleed a tasty combination of Côte d’Or and Westmalle Dubbel. And, if it did, you can bet that the tavern’s regulars would line up with their glasses, eager for a sip.

De Zotte Raamstraat 29 +31 (0)20 6268694 dezotte.nl

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Framed!

BY THOMAS SCHLIJPER

11 July, Tweede Boomdwarsstraat ‘Don’t worry, we’ll be back in December. Just checking the roof.’

Amsterdam

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Every day Thomas Schlijper takes a picture. Check out his blog at www. schlijper.nl and see what the beating heart of Amsterdam looks like. Here’s a sneak preview!