Thesentinelamsterdam 6 13

vol. 6 #13 – 2 July 2013

The Sentinel Amsterdam

Integrity, heart, humour

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WELCOME TO CROATIA culture

BEING in bruges

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in this issue

perspectives - p.26

culture - p. 62

Welcome to Croatia

Dam in 60 mins: Broek in Waterland

Being in Bruges

‘Consider a visit to this land of great light and regular lightness’

A landscape plastered with windmills, boats and lots of nature’

An extremely desirable destination for culture and gastronomy rangers’

trends - p. 92

health and well-being - p. 98

technology - p.100

Revelations 007

Heat

User interface

‘From secret agents down to military personnel and clerks’

‘It is important to refresh your summer maintenance checklist’

‘PRISM enables “collection directly from the servers” of Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook and other online companies’

more travel - p. 48

amsterdam city life - p. 85

star beer guide - p. 87

Croatia: Local & Lush

Bring back

Lupulus Blond

sentinel recommended - p. 88

spotted - p. 90

film - p. 91

Where is this in Amsterdam?

Room2c

perspectives - p. 94

Useless joy

The Sentinel Amsterdam

E-mail: sentinelpost@gmail.com Website: www.thesentinel.eu Contributors: Sam van Dam, E.D. Muntrem, Valeria Scimia, Andrei Barburas, Dirkje Bakker-Pierre, Evelina Kvartunaite and Simon Joseph

Editors: Gary Rudland & Denson Pierre Design, realisation and form: Andrei Barburas & No-Office.nl Webmaster: www.sio-bytes.tumblr.com Webhost: Amsterjammin.com

The Sentinel Amsterdam does not intentionally include unaccredited photos/illustrations that are subject to copyright.

If you consider your copyright to have been infringed, please contact us at sentinelpost@gmail.com.

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Welcome to Croatia, what took you so long?

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‘The positive hype regarding Croatia, in particular, should be broadcast much louder’

By Denson Pierre

Now here is an area of the planet that is full of surprises. Even though most adult Amsterdammers do retain something of a mild, latent, foreboding towards the Balkans, due to pertinent history, both long past and chillingly recent, a high number still visit the region and ever more ought to. It is fair to say that the positive hype regarding Croatia, in particular, should be broadcast much louder, in fact. The Sentinel was invited for a few days of savouring, education and updating just before the Mediterranean summer peaked. We shall touch on a few fun and cultural Croatian aspects over the next two issues, which should be enough for you to consider a visit to this land of great light and regular lightness.

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‘Croatia rolls under you as a thing of beauty and lushness’

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‘Floating as it is in the crystal clear, blue-green, reflective, Adriatic Sea’

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series of books, never mind an issue of The Sentinel, but suffice to say it was some experience to be within a walled city with all its labyrinthine streets and acoustically dynamic stone walls and passages reverberating to the a cappella singing of male-voice collectives, seemingly all day and well into the evening.

A cathedral towers above and our own hotel, on our first night, could not have been more centrally located.

In fact, given the warmth of the night, our open As soon as the cooler and cloudier northern skies clear windows idea had to be reversed, as during the late to make way for the view below of this pleasing night the tourist numbers only ease but do not cease climatic zone, Croatia rolls under you as a thing of altogether. With this area also having an interwoven beauty and lushness (unseasonably heavy rains have entertainment district, rowdy carousers and student also afflicted and/or benefitted this perspective). travel groups sounded like they were right in our room, Mountains, hills, lakes, aqueducts, wind farms and bent over, screaming into our ears. The resonance and then countless islands and islets reveal themselves as amplification of ancient stone. We fought back by you sweep toward land and then on to Split. I stare agog closing the double-glazed windows. at the wild coastlines, cliffs and water-sports facilities ringing great swathes of the stunning panorama, Having fully enjoyed the fresh breakfast in the early floating as it is in the crystal clear, blue-green, morning calm, which could not have been more reflective, Adriatic Sea. different to the bustle and pleasant noise of the old city on the previous afternoon and evening, we head across Of the many people I have known to have visited the bay to the island of Brac. As soon as we start the Croatia, and Split in particular, no-one ever mentioned ferry crossing (c. 45 minutes) it became clear that a fair that the centrepiece and core of the city is an ancient, number of passengers were a bit ‘enthusiastically’ fortified, retirement castle that belonged to a one-time dressed for the warm weather (23+˚ C). It had been rainy Roman Emperor (Diocletian). If you were to wander only a couple of days previously, so visitors and locals around old Split unguided you would be wasting an alike appeared to be on the verge of being fully opportunity to chart some of the 1700 years of undressed with a few women in particular displaying recorded, unbroken history of civilisation that has the lightest and skimpiest means of shielding their existed in this region. Luckily for us, we had the ‘dignities’. We later learnt that during summer weather pleasure of instruction by a tour guide provided by almost every accessible cove on Brac tends to become Tourism Croatia. The details could probably furnish a basking points for naturalists. No surprise then to sense My wife and I flew from Amsterdam to Split, via Zagreb.

This is a painless connection and Croatian Airlines do a very good job, using modern aircraft, although somehow, even though all four flights on the round trip were booked at the same time, we were unable to be seated together on three of the legs. Maybe the seat booking software randomises once the planes are fully booked and desk staff are too timid to be flexible.

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‘An opportunity to chart some of the 1700 years of recorded, unbroken history of civilisation that has existed in this region’

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‘Head across the bay to the island of Brac’

We eventually arrive at the cute and appealing waterfront town of Bol. This is a fantastic place to stay and use as a base, if you want to spend a couple of days exploring and enjoying this substantial island with a great deal to do and see. It was to our great benefit once more that we had a ‘total local’ guide who was able to drive us around all that could be seen in the time we had, and also take us to a high lunch in the most lovely of family restaurants (Konoba Kopačina), which serves the most luscious of Mediterranean fare and also overlooks a limestone (‘marble’) quarry which, with its bleached golden appearance, could almost be mistaken for a sculpture on a massive scale, set in the overgrown, wild, adjacent hills.

It was hard to leave the tour of the island but we had yet to get to the resort we would overnight at and sample the fun and engagement it offers to the type of visitors who prefer this type of accommodation and activity centre. The Hotel Kaktus is part of the complex and has not just a fine, stony beach at its rear but an olive grove and an entire ‘city’, as the owner’s son Joey explained while directing us just beyond the gates. The

resort itself contains everything less active guests could possibly need to keep them busy for a considerable stay.

Beyond the perimeter, we found a couple of nice bars which again reminded us that it is possible to directly plan a visit to Croatia, in the knowledge that the people involved in the hospitality industry are first class in their attitude and professional application to the job.

Enjoying a vodka and fizzy lemonade long drink for the equivalent of €1.50 also makes it clear that relaxation in Croatia remains incredibly affordable.

Overall, and by the time you read this Croatia will have acceded to the European Union, I cannot wait for those Croats who choose Amsterdam as a city for further study or economic adventure to descend and join the ranks of our own huge tourism and hospitality sector (amongst others), and remind Dutch and other international employees what great service delivery and a positive attitude can mean in an era of definite economic and easy psychological stress. I have more to say by way of a thank you to Croatia but, for now, having been shown such a culturally and environmentally great time there, all I will say is welcome to the EU and I hope you did not find the wait too long.

Partners on these two days: vestibulpalace.com konobavaros.com watermanresorts.com

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the excitement of passengers as we approached the impressively beautiful island. Interestingly, the islanders are not overly keen on this stripping off practice, given that too many naturalist tourists tend to not only express their freedom in and around the designated beaches and areas, but seem to forget that although the native, traditional population is small, they are also not known to have anything to do, as a group, with nudism.

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‘It was to our great benefit once more that we had a ‘total local’ guide’

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‘Directly plan a visit to Croatia, in the knowledge that the people involved in the hospitality industry are first class’

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‘All I will say is welcome to the EU’

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classifieds

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Je moet er geweest zijn.

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Authentic and full of surprises. That’s Mechelen. Hospitable and honourable. That’s the people of Mechelen. Come and experience the city’s urban charms for yourself.

Authentic and full of surprises. That’s Mechelen. Hospitable and honourable. That’s the people of Mechelen. Come and experience the city’s urban charms for yourself.

photography © Milo Profi

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Mechelen Mechelen

perspectives

Dam in 60 minutes!

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Broek in Waterland

By Sam van Dam

perspectives

‘Forget the trials and tribulations of life in the big city’

A relaxing mix of houseboats, sheep, cows and horses creates an appealing atmosphere that engulfs me as I slowly pedal on, listening to the sounds of the birds of all varieties circling in the air above me. The notorious Dutch bike speed-racers zoom by in their lycra costumes but even they barely disturb the peace. As I pass the sign that announces the beginning of Broek in Waterland, a deep feeling of rest and relaxation settles upon me. I easily steer my trustworthy steel companion to the centre of the beautiful village, past the occasional Asian tourist, camera in hand, trigger finger on the shutter button. I head towards the church, where a movie crew is preparing a shoot. I park my bike under a tree and enter the church, which offers an interesting mix of modern and ancient elements. At the entrance there’s a brand new VVV tourist information computer display, right opposite a sign that looks like it’s been there for hundreds of years, stating the opening hours

of the church. Inside, a stylish coffee machine and a second-hand book market catch my eye; things I did not expect to find in the spiritual and physical centre of this charming little community.

I have a pleasant chat with the lady running the book sale, the proceeds of which go towards preserving and restoring the church, and enjoy a delicious cup of coffee while admiring the beautiful frescos that cover the entire ceiling. I feast my eyes on the many religious artefacts populating the walls, floor and everything in between. There are many mysterious items that only devoted churchgoers understand and these give me a pleasant hint at the guarded and protected feeling in the presence of divinity the locals must experience when attending a Sunday service; a feeling we hardened city slickers lack. Afterwards, I sit on a bench by the water, basking in the glory of a quiet, sunny afternoon, surrounded by silence and occasional biking tourists, making their way through the narrow streets.

Following the advice of the lady taking care of the church visitors, I take a little round-trip of Broek and discover one beautiful old-style house after another, equipped with hidden gardens that seem to call out to me to take a break and rest for a while between their green walls.

History is in the air and I feel like I’ve biked through a time warp, into a long-forgotten land where nothing has changed for centuries. When I finally return to the square outside the church, I have a chat with the movie crew and we all agree that Broek is an extremely charming place that makes you forget the fast-paced excitement of the city. With a deep sigh I say my goodbyes and get back on my bike but, instead of steering it in the direction of Amsterdam, I head away from Sin City, deeper into Waterland, towards Monnickendam. But that’s a different story and one that I will tell you about in our next issue. Stand by for more tales from the lovely countryside of the beautiful Netherlands.

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This time we’re taking another trip up North, back to the wonderful Waterland and Broek in Waterland, to be exact. The Journey starts at the IJ ferry, which is always a splendid ride that only takes a few minutes and, to the utter delight of every traveller, operates free of charge. Once on the other side of the water I simply follow the ever-present road signs for cyclists that guide me through the north of Amsterdam, past a landscape plastered with windmills, boats and lots of nature, which make me start to forget the trials and tribulations of life in the big city. I follow the waterside path until I arrive at the main road that channels traffic into the Waterland area. I soon make it to the small street that leads towards Broek, where kids swim in the open water and the world seems a better place. It almost makes me wish I lived here.

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‘Rotate 360 degrees to take it all in’

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‘A sign that looks like it’s been there for hundreds of years, stating the opening hours of the church’

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‘History is in the air and I feel like I’ve biked through a time warp’

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‘Broek is an extremely charming place that makes you forget the fast-paced excitement of the city’

perspectives

‘I head away from Sin City, deeper into Waterland, towards Monnickendam’

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classifieds

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www.yourtuliptour.com

For complete and world class tours of Prague Packages include: • Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children) • Literary Prague • Prague Architecture through the ages • Religion and the city • The old city at night *These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists.

Day segments and rates: PR: 08:00-12:30hrs / AG: 13:30-16:30hrs / UE: 17:30-21:30hrs All sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult.

Group size upper limit = 8.

Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25%. Family package rates are negotiable.

Contact:

Jaroslav Cernosek +420 602 228 797 Mail: jcernosek@centrum.cz

JC Tours

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Local & Lush

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The simple joy of eating in Croatia

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‘Almost everyone you meet has their own vegetable garden, where they grow aubergines, courgettes, peppers, lettuce, tomatoes and so on’

By Antonia Egon

Farm shops are still a great way to buy locally grown vegetables for a lot less than they would cost at one of Amsterdam’s many nature shops. If you think organic food is expensive in Holland then you haven’t yet seen the prices for organic AND local food. The logic seems to be: the ‘better’ or more ‘conscious’ the food is, the more expensive it is and people who care about their own health, as well as that of the planet and the human race as a whole, will pay what is needed. And don’t even think about buying something at the new breed of ‘stylish’ nature shops, where you also pay for the feeling of being a superior human being to all the other ‘normal’ shoppers.

After this long intro, I would like to finally introduce Croatia and the food that was offered to us there. This wondrous country has a humongous coastline and somewhere around 1,024 islands, bright blue skies, a crystal-clear azure sea, white-pebbled beaches and a whole lot of sunshine. Almost everyone you meet has their own vegetable garden, where they grow aubergines, courgettes, peppers, lettuce, tomatoes and so on. Many also have a few olive trees from which they press the fruit for their own olive oil and prepare their own tasty olives. When it is time to plant seeds, they chat with their neighbours to find out what they are growing and grow something else, so they can

swap produce at harvest time. They don’t use pesticides, just because they don’t. It was explained to us that they are simply not needed.

The small family restaurants where we were treated to fresh, grilled, local vegetables, covered in locally made olive oil, fresh home-baked bread, wonderfully juicy locally grown olives and flavoursome wines made from the grapes growing on the slopes of stony hills in the surrounding area were a delight every single day we spent in this beautiful country. The flavour of the sunshine came straight out of the most scrumptious courgettes we’d ever eaten. No matter how simple the meal or out of the way the restaurant, there was always a wide and generous choice of delectable local vegetables to eat, with dishes like tomato rice, roast potatoes, pasta aglio olio and another local favourite, crushed potatoes with fresh chard. Croatia is a paradise for vegetarians.

At the more upscale establishments, we were served dishes like red cabbage risotto, fresh gnocchi, homemade tofu, marinated beetroot, filo packages of local fig and walnut or carrots and almonds, and other delicious dishes prepared with great enthusiasm and love for food. The great range of beautiful, locally made cheeses, sausages and dried hams made from the exclusive, local breed of pig and fresh, locally caught fish prepared with great feeling for taste and simplicity also make this region a wonderful place for food lovers, in general.

Every single meal is a joy and there is plenty to try: from dried figs to locally produced alcohol in many different flavours and, lest we forget, the best cherries ever, just picked off the tree that very morning.

It was great to be in a place where fresh, local produce is so widely available and so utterly enjoyable.

Everything you eat is in perfect harmony because it comes from the same soil and grew in the same air under the same sunshine. It all has that magical, indefinably special taste you experience when eating food that is grown within eyesight.

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There is a growing trend in the Netherlands, and especially in our small city on the Dam, which involves the eating of organic and locally grown food. This is something that has existed on a really small scale since I was a toddler but back then it was only the socalled “People with hand-knitted goat’s wool socks” who were busy with organic or macrobiotic local food. They would jump on their bikes and venture out into the countryside to buy their groceries direct from the farmers and local producers, while working on their fitness at the same time.

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‘Fresh, grilled, local vegetables, covered in locally made olive oil, fresh home-baked bread, wonderfully juicy locally grown olives and flavoursome wines’

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‘We were served dishes like red cabbage risotto, fresh gnocchi, homemade tofu, marinated beetroot, filo packages of local fig and walnut or carrots and almonds’

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cafe/bar travel review

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‘The atmosphere is conducive to chats and hilarity’

‘Every single meal is a joy and there is plenty to try’

cafe/bar travel review

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classifieds

Get advice on housing, rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam

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www.wswonen.nl/english

we are looking for: - Account Manager Market Media - (Internship) International Marketing Executive www.consultancymarketmedia.com

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Artist? Thinker?

Here are some of our local partners.

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demerkplaats.nl Enter (click) to learn why they work with us.

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culture

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‘Almost overflowing with Michelin-starred restaurants’

Being in Bruges

As a small city, Bruges is an extremely desirable destination for culture and gastronomy rangers. It is a complete UNESCO gem for historical preservation reasons and is almost overflowing with Michelin-starred restaurants (no less than three with threestars), as well as a substantial following pack covered by other reputable culinary and dining experience rating organisations.

To be there on assignment with Tourism Belgium for The Sentinel, ably led by Tourism Bruges, had more of a holiday feel for me, as the material I love to write about and photograph is in abundant supply in this fully integrated and historical city. In terms of visiting somewhere showcasing European historical culture in a nutshell, there can be no better destination than Bruges. The old city is compact and layered with such a multitude of detail that a history boffin could easily spend weeks here on study holiday. For the rest of us, it is a bit like being in a living, open-air museum with rides in the form of wonderful cafés, chocolatiers and eateries, always a very short distance from where you stand admiring the architecture and absorbing the welcoming atmosphere. Then there are the picturesque canals with head-challenging bridge heights to traverse by boat.

This just leaves the people in this luxuriant part of Belgium. A calm pride seems to flow through them and they are the gentlest and most helpful of the lowlanders I have had the opportunity to mingle with and seek instruction from, thus far. This spirit was well and truly embodied in the content and approach of my guide (and communications director) from Tourism Bruges, Anne de Meerleer. Truth be told, after about five minutes in each other’s company, with her knowledge and humour and my interests and openness, it started to feel like one of those ‘intelligent dates’ you may have had at one time or another. With this template psychologically inputted, it was easy to be walked through much of the city’s history, the social concerns of its residents and to learn a thing or two about the true local favourites. What a pleasure it was to stroll around with her over four hours, or so. Sore feet, as an after-effect of having walked the cobblestone marathon, were a small price to pay.

Next morning, however, I came to realise that I (and you) would have been better advised to begin the entire Bruges experience by visiting the amazing Historium.

This state-of-the-art attraction is of the highest quality and appropriateness to this city. It sets out, using a rather syrupy love story as a creative platform, to show 1435 Bruges in a detail never before regenerated, via a sensory tour containing installations, animatronics, olfactory seasoning of the air to replicate that of the time and, most impressively, a high-definition projected movie with super CGI that brings 15th-century Bruges back to life in the very room you are standing. A

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By Denson Pierre

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‘In terms of visiting somewhere showcasing European historical culture in a nutshell, there can be no better destination than Bruges’

All of the sensory experiences and food would not be in such balance if they were not lubricated by excellent A-class beers, which abound in this ‘must visit’ city.

Having done a tour of the local, micro-brewery sensation that is the Halve Maan, an even greater high-point was meeting Kris Veireman of the beer emporium Café Rose Red (another enlightened suggestion from Anne). I am not sure if I have ever before come across someone as passionate about the very best of beer. The taps at Rose Red flow with an excellent, self-contained taste tour, so you do not even have to consider studying the encyclopaedic drinks menu and beer listing. If your timing is fortunate (or you call ahead and ask politely), you could, like me, be given a tour of the amazing combined cellar of the monumental buildings now housing Rose Red and its hotel. You will not see a better selection of the very best of European beers than those being farmed and cared for by this young man. He makes his city proud as a curator of fine brews. It was nice to see that even the owner of the aptly named, inspiringly designed and truly cosy hotel at which I was staying (Heritage Hotel) was present among a group of local business leaders enjoying the Burgundian ambiance (and a few of the yeasty beauties) at Kris’s place, which they also invest energy in transmitting.

I was passed an official copy of the movie In Bruges by Anne, as it seems that the movie does capture some of the essence and beauty of her city. I am now likely to watch this film, despite my previous apprehensiveness, thinking that Hollywood might have twisted the real vibe of this great city to suit its simplistic, comedic ends. I am convinced however, that, even after I have watched the movie and compared notes with others who have been to the city, I will find some way to be back much sooner than later, as it has truly impressed me and I know there is more to do and discover. I just loved the way I felt being in Bruges.

Partners on these two days: www.hotel-heritage.com www.bruggecitycard.be www.brugge.be www.kurtspan.be www.historium.be

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fantastic attraction, especially if you are interested in historical detail and have ever wondered what certain objects and buildings that have long disappeared may have looked like.

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‘It is a bit like being in a living, open-air museum with rides in the form of wonderful cafés, chocolatiers and eateries, always a very short distance from where you stand admiring the architecture and absorbing the welcoming atmosphere’

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‘It was easy to be walked through much of the city’s history, the social concerns of its residents and to learn a thing or two about the true local favourites’

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‘I will find some way to be back much sooner than later’

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amsterdam city life

: K C A B G BRIN Shopping with service

By Denson Pierre

Imagine my ultimate dismay when, just previous to the above trip, I decided to make one of those once every few year trips to a department store. I reasoned I could get a good quality travel bag/case to replace the one I had used to a frazzle over the past eighteen months.

Although the Turkish general shops that abound in the city sell a reliable range of travel accessories, I was thinking about going up-market and heeding the old Dutch saying: you buy cheap, you buy twice. I set myself a budget of €100 for a carrier of the size permitted as hand luggage on commercial passenger jets (56 x 45 x 25cm).

I was accompanied by my wife on this shopping expedition and I imagine that without her promptings I might not even have gone. Our research indicated that V&D was the best of the quality shops in the city with a range of carriers that could interest me. True to form, I was able to isolate a trolley bag/case I could live and travel with that came in flush on budget within a couple of minutes. Even truer to form, and maybe why shopping always seems to be more hassle than it is worth, after paying for the case, still admiring the fine, reinforced, synthetic but strong outer casing, I realise that the sales clerk is simply handing it over to me, having removed the security tag. I delay my next move

for a couple of seconds, waiting for hers. I expected that, at any moment, she would reach for a plastic (or other) bag and hand it over to me, so I could secure this new, unblemished purchase.

The bag never came and the young woman, now in chorus with her colleague, quite blankly stated that they had no bags to fit this rather standard size of popular product, which they sell at premium prices. In disbelief I asked further if it could be that it was just their station at which the unavailability of the bag was an issue. Surely I could not be expected to criss-cross the regularly rainy city with a brand new, empty case flapping off my bicycle. With nonchalance I was told I could try the men’s department one floor down. Here I was greeted with the same uselessness and a display of the tiniest ‘largest size in the store’ carrier bag I have ever seen.

All of this was too much and I felt it was time to return the product and ask for my money back. Back at the purchase station we are again dismissed with the news that returns can only take place at the customer service desk in the basement of this massive, multistorey building. There we find a queue and still no carrier bag large enough to contain my purchase and rescue the deal.

V&D appears to not have carrier bags capable of holding at least 10% of its stock, even though most of the larger items are not unreasonable in size. It was the same at HEMA but at least they had an outlet very close to where I live, so I was able to get a very sturdy replacement case for just €29.99.

Please bring back service linked to known logistical challenges in offline retail.

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My recent trip to Croatia, a country that incredibly ranks among the world’s top 20 for numbers of visiting tourists, reminded me of what Amsterdammers should not really have had to get used to: bad service. This is not just the case for hospitality establishments but every single kind of business that still involves human interaction as part of its activities.

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Star Beer

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The Sentinel Star beer guide

By Denson Pierre

Lupulus Blond (Triple) (8,5% A.B.V.)

‘Savoured on occasions when only the best of the best will do’ 87

Simply put, taking some of the truly top-line beers can be a little like drinking a magic potion. This is a beer right at the very top of the list, in terms of taste and experience.

Correct storage and serving temperature are of essential importance. Although this beer is positioned in the high-alcohol-content category, this will not be forefront in your mind as you are instead consumed by the aromas and flavours emanating from this beautiful, pale-golden brew.

At a certain point, given that beers are so properly excellent, comparisons are not useful. This particular brew should be

savoured on occasions when only the best of the best will do. A truly outstanding beer that fills you with wonder at how such a delight could ever be brewed and what might happen if you believed in magic and attempted more than a couple in one session.

Available in kegs and bottles.

Lupulus blond is brewed by Les 3 Fourquets, Bovigny, Belgium/Luxembourg.

recommended

CafĂŠ Parck 24/06/13

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ende Recomm

We find the best, most fun, most typical, exciting, or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you; an easy way to feel like a local.

To be seen and tasted

To be seen and tasted

Fun, Drinking & Music

Cafe de Toog 1890’s grandeur fashioned into Amsterdam-West, grand, brown cafe-restaurant-cool. Classy drinks and meals.

Nicolaas Beetsstraat 142 hs Amsterdam www.cafedetoog.com

Parck Great fun, beautiful people and simply the best bar food in town!

Overtoom 428 Amsterdam www.cafeparck.nl

Mulligans Irish Music Bar Amsterdam’s best address for live Irish music: Five (5) nights a week! Check our agenda for upcoming sessions.

Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdam www.mulligans.nl

To Be Seen and Tasted

Connoisseurs Delight

To Be Seen and Tasted

Cafe restaurant Edel Cafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch, dinner or to simply enjoy a drink.

Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam.

Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdam www.edelamsterdam.nl

Incanto A restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen.

Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with great feeling for nuance.

Amstel 2 Amsterdam www.restaurant-incanto.nl

Café Kostverloren Café Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon, an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room.

The large terras is great for sunny days.

2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdam www.cafekostverloren.nl

Fun, Drinking & Music

Connoisseurs Delight

Neighbourhood cosy

Café Oporto Café Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam ‘brown cafe’. Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike, they offer televised sports, wifi and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits.

Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdam www.cafeoporto.net

Planet Rose The first Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands, specialised in Jamaican cuisine. The menu features a daily changing selection!

Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdam www.planetrose.info

Zest Zest is fine food, warm atmosphere and classy drinks with regular semi-acoustic (live) music and DJs (Thursday to Sunday).

Amsterdam’s newest and freshest!

Bilderdijkstraat 188 Amsterdam www.facebook.com/clubzest.nl

Fun, Drinking & Music

Connoisseurs Delight

Fun, drinking and music

Bax A cosy and friendly local café with a focus on special or interesting beers and good quality food. Open 7 days a week with a professional kitchen offering a lunch and dinner service.

Ten Katestraat 119 Amsterdam www.cafebax.nl

Opera Prima Patisserie Bistro Traiteur The best place in town for lunch, exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering, both private and corporate!

Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdam www.operaprima.nl

Gollem Gollem’s Proeflokaal, Gollem and Gollem II represent the best addresses serving the fullest range of top Belgian, Dutch and international beers in Amsterdam.

Overtoom 160-161 www.cafegollem.nl

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spotted

Where is this in Amsterdam?

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Answer to: sentinelpost@gmail.com

room2c

Room 2c film Christine

By dpmotions

(1983)

If it was ever possible to have an evil automobile then Stephen King’s story about one, as directed by John Carpenter, leads you to worry about people who claim to love their cars. Fun scares, 1980s caricatures and a fine soundtrack to boot. An enjoyable and well-paced thriller.

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Scanners (1981) Super-intense telepathics with murderous abilities abound in this curious tale from the pen of director David Cronenberg.

This is fiction at its cinematic best, with superb make-up and effects. A rollercoaster ride through pseudo-science that is sure to make the pressure build up in your head.

By dpmotions

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trends

trends

Revelations 007 ‘Coming down so hard on the leakers that other aspiring whistleblowers become even more scared’

By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre

We can’t even imagine the amazing amount of things that are being kept from us, the general plebs, by governments and related authorities, just like we can’t imagine the immensity of Mexico City’s largest garbage dump or what the nearest neighbouring solar system would look like. It must be mountains and mountains of information and a lot of people are working very, very hard to keep these data mountains growing higher than Mount Everest, and are quite successful at it too.

Who hasn’t watched some of the James Bond movies growing up? They’re all about secret services and 007 wasn’t the only one; he was just one number in a long list of glitzy, irresistible dudes doing just exactly what we are communally pissed off about now: keeping secrets secret. Is it just because we don’t get to see the shiny cars and the luscious babes that all of a sudden we no longer approve of things being done without us knowing? Should everyone know everything?

It is a growing phenomenon, probably enforced by the speed and size of the global internet and the ease of sharing information with millions in the blink of an eye (this would count for my UPC connection but I am sure they have something better at the CIA). All of a sudden, insiders (from secret agents down to military personnel and clerks) seem intent on unveiling mysteries like the world has a right to THE TRUTH, just because it is out there. And the great thing is that it is actually achievable to leak the most sensitive information to the rest of the planet. This can happen so quickly that the baddies who have all the power only notice when it is too late and people in high places are being caught with their drawers down.

Meanwhile, I am sure that even what has been leaked is not the worst of it by a long way, and many beads of hot, wet, nervous sweat are being produced at the moment by many, many shit-scared people all around the globe, trying to work out how to stop this trend. At the moment, it seems like they are trying to do this by coming down so hard on the leakers that other aspiring whistleblowers become even more scared than the ‘concealers’ and give up trying. Who knows what type of secret tactics some 00 is developing at the moment, while sharing a bed on the French Riviera with a stunningly beautiful Russian goddess with hidden, lethal abilities.

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An interesting trend coming to us from the big thing known as ‘the world’ is something that could turn out to be positive, if the Americans don’t nuke it. I am talking about the staff of the US military and the CIA, or other related, semi-secret but seemingly very closed institutions, revealing highly confidential and embarrassing information held by the powers that be to the world at large.

perspectives

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Useless Joy

‘An armada of slow-motion ridiculousness turns those puttering along into temporary royalty’

‘Boating, for the most part, still places the male of the species in charge’

By E.R. Muntrem

When the boating season gets going here in Amsterdam, things just get hilarious. On sunny summer days, friends (and friends of friends) board vessels of every Dr. Seuss design, load them up with drinks and snacks, and cruise around canals with ‘let’s not exactly not bump into one another’ their only principle of navigation. Houseboats are an ever-present in the water and sightseeing flatbeds constantly ply their trade but, once sloops packed with fifty partiers, skiffs holding a family and tugboat-like vessels rented out for dinner fill the circuitous waterways, an armada of slow-motion ridiculousness turns those puttering along into temporary royalty. The tourists who

wave from a bridge out of giddy delight get an equally giddy wave back. “Useless joy,” my friend Annemiek calls it.

The worst thing you can say is that it is all a little bit decadent and silly and white. Down on the water, the troubled Moroccan population is under-represented for sure. You get a whiff of the rich people’s playground provided by most cities but the water is only a few feet away and the guy standing at the wheel or sitting by the engine – the ‘captain’ manning his mini ship – is really just the guy who invited you to his backyard barbecue.

Boating, for the most part, still places the male of the species in charge. And no-one seems to object. He’s nominally responsible and the party spreads out around him; a buddy or two passing the beers or handling the music. And naturally he and his crew

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‘De facto city sewers, Amsterdam’s canals are not quite toxic enough to kill you if you fall in’

‘The canals in Amsterdam have aged well and are the backdrop for beauty and work and life’

demonstrate the same sense of balance and style Amsterdam natives so often show on bikes; an acrobatic walk up to the prow, a duck for a bridge, the transfer of supplies or passengers from one vessel to another are handled with the usual blasé competence and good cheer life lived on calm waters and safe bike paths seems to breed.

as if they want to kill themselves on the way back out of the water. Taking the plunge is not a rite of passage, just a mistake and certainly this dip offers no appeal to the tourist. The canals have achieved a lovely line of forbidden fruit appeal, beauty you can appreciate without missing the clear warning: look but try not to touch. Sometimes I imagine the canals being so crystal clear you could see to the bottom or swim in them freely. At that point one is not in a city but in Versailles and before you know it heads are coming off.

American men may own bigger engines or work hotter fires but the variety of places in which they can demonstrate confidence or convey lack of worry is narrower; more often a private affair or a public disaster. In the US we love to raise our stakes, the likelihood for hubris raised with them.

Once the busiest main streets in the world and always de facto city sewers, Amsterdam’s canals are not quite toxic enough to kill you if you fall in. On the biggest party days (Queens/Kings Day and Gay Pride) someone invariably does fall in; usually guys and usually looking

Much of our life today takes place on screens. We are all equal, all friends. And when we think of technology we often hope it will save us with some unheralded new trick. But it’s worth considering how each new invention will last over time. One old technology, the canals in Amsterdam, has aged well and is the backdrop for beauty and work and life.

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classifieds

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health & well-being

– ‘Try to stay away from sugary and fizzy beverages, alcohol and coffee’ –

Heat 98

By Evelina Kvartunaite

Even though the Netherlands is not exactly tropical and sunny days in abundance have been put somewhat on hold, we’re probably planning to travel to warmer and sunnier climes, so it is important to refresh your summer maintenance checklist.

cover as much of your skin as possible, in order to avoid burns.

Sunscreen – It’s very important to find one that works for you. Make sure you cover all skin areas exposed to the sun and reapply when needed. Depending on the SPF you have, just follow the instructions on the package. If possible, try to stay away from direct sunlight, especially during the sun’s peak hours.

Food – People tend to eat less naturally in hotter places. Even so, try to have balanced meals and make sure you eat enough fresh food; introduce more vegetables and fruit to your diet.

Little things can sometimes make a big difference and these will certainly benefit your health and mood.

Enjoy the sun responsibly!

Hydrate – Don’t forget to drink lots of water or herbal tea. Try to stay away from sugary and fizzy beverages, alcohol and coffee, as these work as diuretics and load your body with unnecessary toxins.

Light clothes – Try to wear as light garments as possible, made from predominantly natural materials, such as linen, cotton or natural silk. Lightweight, light-coloured and loose-fitting clothes are best in hot conditions. If you stay out in the sun, make sure you

– ‘Lightweight, light-coloured and loose-fitting clothes are best in hot conditions’

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– ‘Try to stay away from direct sunlight, especially during the sun’s peak hours’

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technology

‘Even the AIVD (Dutch Secret Service) gets information from PRISM’

User Interface 100

After PRISM?

‘If someone’s sitting at Google watching what you’re doing, you’re caught’

By Andrei Barburas

In case you haven’t been following the news over the past few weeks, PRISM is a system the NSA (the US National Security Agency) uses to gain access to the private communications of users of nine popular internet services. Access is governed by Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which was enacted in 2008.

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper tacitly admitted PRISM’s existence in a blog post on 6 June 2013. A classified PowerPoint presentation leaked by Edward Snowden states that PRISM enables “collection directly from the servers” of Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook and other online companies. On a more local level, even the AIVD (Dutch Secret Service) gets

information from PRISM. So far, all the companies mentioned in PRISM have categorically denied Snowden’s allegations. A rather short debate was held in the European Parliament about the involvement of the members’ governments in PRISM and, even if the British representatives did defend the tapping, the Dutch representative Sophie in ‘t Veld was among the few who were outraged.

Can you be fully safe and private?

In theory, yes, but it comes down to a combination of protection and security through obscurity. Even if the NSA is sniffing your ISP’s networks and getting your private information from the service providers you use for e-mail, social networking and web searches (to name a few), there are a few things you can do. The problem with all of them is that they increase the

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‘The majority of people have nothing to hide but that doesn’t mean that their life and privacy should be an open book’

complexity of your activities on the web exponentially with each one you embrace, and they fall down quickly if you’re actually a real target for investigation. You can use disposable SIM cards and phones but, in the majority of EU countries, you are required to provide identification when you buy a prepaid SIM card. Also, if the people you are calling or texting are monitored, then your efforts will go to waste. The same applies to disposable e-mail addresses. If you’re thinking VPNs, they are your best option but there’s a big BUT: VPNs will protect you from someone monitoring your traffic but not from someone monitoring the service you’re using, which is the issue here. Encrypting your way to Google is great if someone’s watching your communications to and from Google, but if someone’s sitting at Google watching what you’re doing, you’re caught.

hand, your judgment matters as well. In 2009, Eric Schmidt, currently the Executive Chairman at Google, uttered a million dollar sentence: “If you have something that you don’t want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.” The majority of people have nothing to hide but that doesn’t mean that their life and privacy should be an open book. In a Twitter conversation I had with Sophie in ‘t Veld, we came to the conclusion that if PRISM turns out to be accurate, what happened is pretty much ‘Reverse Democracy’; the majority are suffering in order to catch a potential minority.

Now it’s your turn…

What is your take on PRISM? Do you care? Does/will it affect your online activities? If so, in what ways? ###

Bottom line If you think about it, there’s not much you can do about it. You can’t go completely offline but, on the other

Sources: The Washington Post, The Guardian, Lifehacker, NBC, The European Parliament.

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CZECH REPUBLIC STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT!

www.czechtourism.com