Amsterdo November

EVENTS// ART & CULTURE// TECHNOLOGY // FASHION // CELEBRITIES // FILM // MAP & OFFERS Complimentary

november

AMSTERDAM STAYS GREEN

THE ARTIST BEHIND MAKING THE SUBWAYS IN AMSTERDAM LOOK PRETTY

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Photograph: Tim Collins - Amsterdam Photo Safari

in this issue:

AMSTERDAM OPPOSES WEED BAN

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Book Boutiques and Markets

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FILM REVIEWS

THE TASTE

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THE GOLDEN AGE

15 11

club nl

STREET OF OUR CITY

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16 STAGE AND SCREEN

WHATEVER ROCKS THE CROWD

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20 American Thanksgiving in Amsterdam

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the Amsterdo team Dear Amsterdam,

Before all leafs have fallen, there is lot of things happening coming month... The weed pass will not be taking effect in Amsterdam, the IDFA documentary festival, museum night & ... lots more Moreover soon in the first week of December Dutch hero Sinterklaas will be in town, a bit like santa claus but with highly controversial black slaves.

Movember is also on: a worldwide event that aims to raise awareness in Amsterdam about men’s health issues particularly prostate cancer.

Furthermore, as I eagerly await christmas and all the gifts, lets make the best of this month and save money to buy friends some presents in the big month!

INTERACT WITH THE WORLD AROUND YOU! Layar is a mobile app for discovering information about the world around you. Using Augmented Reality (AR) technology, Layar displays digital information, unsurprisingly called “layers” into your smartphone’s field of vision. We at AmsterDO like to embrace innovation, as well as support our local start-ups, we are very excited by our augmented edition, and would love to hear your views. Look out for the Layar Logo throughout the newspaper for more interactive media content.

After installing Layar scan this page with the app to see a welcome message from the AmsterDo Team.

You are AmsterDO

Publisher and Chief Editor

Baz Riachi

1. Go to get.layar.com to install the app on your smart phone.

chiefeditor@amsterdo.com

2. Look for pages and content with the Layar Logo

3. Open the app and press the ‘Tap to view’ button...

senior editor

4. ...and discover an amazing extra layer of content.

AmsterDO wants YOU!

Thisbe Casellini

Welcome to Amsterdam’s newest community newspaper!

We aim to provide a reliable source of news, opinion and insight into the depth and diversity of Amsterdam, whilst simultaneously providing visitors with a unique guide to the various levels of the city.

seditor@amsterdo.com

senior editor

Thomas Denicolai

senioreditor@amsterdo.com

art director

chief technology officer

grafix@amsterdo.com

info@amsterdo.com

business development and sales

photographer

sales@amsterdo.com

pics@amsterdo.com

Lou Buche

Michael Raciti

a joint venture with flyerman

Allesandro Sansottero David Cenzar

The team at AmsterDO come from all over the world and have a very mixed background, but one thing we all have in common is that we all love Amsterdam! We at AmsterDO don’t pretend to know it all. We don’t want this paper to voice the thoughts and opinions of a select group of people. We want this paper to be the voice of a city!

We want local writers, photographers, artists, organizations and businesses to all be a part of AmsterDO. Each month we will be holding parties and competitions for everyone who wants to get involved.

If you have an event, a story, some artwork, a good cause, a mission or a dream.... Please get into contact with us and we will share it with the city.

The AmsterDO Team - contribute@amsterdo.com

merl barends

M

erel Barends was born in a small town in the East (of the Netherlands). She was an earnest and imaginative kid. Also very nosey, and probably a little annoying.

The woods where she grew up, full of ancient oak trees and dark pines, triggered her imagination. The countless fairy tales that her mother read to her probably also helped.

At age 9 she finished her first novel. It was part of a trilogy that so far has been her only literary legacy. She also provided the illustrations.

After a happy childhood and a gloomy puberty, she decided to dedicate her life to the Arts. Because she had always loved to write, and had grown obsessed with film, she applied for Dramatic Writing For Performance at the HKU. She got in.

So she went to Art School in the Big City (well, Utrecht) with a pocket full of life experiences and a suitcase full of dreams.

Unfortunately, she never fell in love with the theatre. After reading a Zone 5300 (a comic magazine), she did however fall in love with underground comics. She bid Theatre School farewell, and went on to study Illustrational Design. Her graduation project was a graphic novella, The Difference Between Hard & Dark (available at www.blurb.com).

After graduation, Barends took her pocket full of dreams and her suitcase full of life experiences (!) and set up camp in Amsterdam.

Since then, she has devoted her time to writing and drawing, with a clear focus on writing and drawing comics.

Her work has been published by renowned publishers like Podium and De Bezige Bij, as well as by underground magazines.

She recently contributed to Filmfanfare (uitgeverij de Bezige Bij) and Orient X Press (free comic paper for Amsterdam East).

She also worked as a character designer in Guangdong (China) and wrote the screenplay for a feature film (the Road to Cádiz, 2009).

For GVB Amsterdam she illustrated the inside of one of the Zilvermeeuw-metros (line 54, Gein). She named it Gamayun, after a fortune telling bird from Russian folklore.

Barends has been working on her first graphic novel for quite some time now. It’s an ambitious & fairly personal book inspired by her brothers’ suicide.

She hopes to finish it some day. Until that day comes, she will keep drawing until her fingers blister. And after that, she’ll just keep going.

She has had an Artis-pass (the zoo) for the last couple of years.

She loves to go there and draw the fenneks, tamanduas and axolotls.

Each year, she tries to crash the Boekenbal/Ball of the Books.

This year she got in legally, since she was selected to design the decorations.

For the past eight years Barends has been living in the heart of Amsterdam, close to Leidsesquare. This summer, she found a house annex studio in Amsterdam East. She shares the new place with a very talented filmmaker, who also happens to be her lover. They are both owned by a small monochrome cat.

insight 3

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books boutiques and markets A

msterdam has been a haven for literary creatures since its beginnings. A dedication to a famous local writer, Multatuli, rests over the Singel canal bridge in the Jordaan. A favorite of Sigmund Freud, Multatuli (A.K.A. Eduard Douwes Dekker) lived from 1820 to 1887. His most famous work, Max Havelaar (1860), played an important role in reshaping Dutch colonial policy in the Dutch East Indies (now known as Indonesia). But maybe you’re looking for something a little lighter than trade embargos to unwind in the autumn evening? Amsterdam’s Het Spui area contains a surprisingly large selection of large, well-known book retailers including the American Book Center, Waterstones and the famous Athenaeum. While each of these shops is worth a look, I prefer the smaller shops where you can really get to know the staff and owners. Whether you’re visiting on holiday or a local who hasn’t yet found the place to quench your literary thirst,

look no further! Here are my top five favorite book boutiques and markets in Amsterdam to browse the afternoon away.

I’ll start in the quaint neighborhood known as the Jordaan on the west side of town. The English Bookshop on Lauriergracht (Tue-Sat 11:00-18:00) contains a wide variety of literature within a modestly sized space. New and best sellers abound! Stay a while and enjoy a tea and scone at the mahogany table or join the monthly book club. The staff is knowledgeable and engaging. On many Saturday nights, challenge yourself to Literary Quiz Night (19:00). They even offer walking tours for the insatiable bibliophile, where you’ll learn how and where famous Dutch writers composed their masterpieces.

About a twenty-minute walk southeast, you will find yourself at Het Spui, the square boasting the largest and highly trafficked bookstores in town. On Fridays, an open-air book market consumes the plaza. At De Boekenmarkt Op Het Spui (Fri 10:0018:00) you’ll find tents covering hundreds of used and rare editions not found anywhere else in Amsterdam. Ask the dealers if you’re looking for something in particular. Wares range from literature and coffee table books to comic books and children’s literature. Mostly in Dutch and other languages. Some English. Also on sale, you’ll find original and printed artwork and thousands of old postcards and oddball photographs -- a mustbrowse!

A ten-minute walk will take you to the final three favorite bookshops on our list. From Nieuwmarkt, make a right on Oude Hoogstraat and you’ll find the vaulted recesses of Kok Antiquariaat (Mon-Fri 9:00-18:00, Sat 9:30-17:00). This shop is a must see because it not only buys and sells a huge selection of used and rare editions, it also carries a wide variety of oddball antiques maps, posters, and advertisements. Here you can find books printed in a variety of languages and organized by

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topic from Music, Theology, Cartography, and Art, to Children’s Literature, Cars, Botany, and Travel. You’ll find it all under one expansive roof. Also for the typography-nut, check out the antique typewriters on display.

Also from Nieuwmarkt, walk south on Kloveniersburgwal and you can’t miss the blue and yellow sign that promises, “Used English Books.” The Book Exchange has sated the expat reader’s voracious appetite since 1978. It’s is one of my favorite nooks because you can find work by just about any notable writer. Carrying a wide selection of used English books from textbooks to paperbacks, you could spend hours browsing the stuffed cases. Three levels boast a wide range of subjects from Fantasy, Thriller, Detective, and Romance Fiction to Philosophy, Social and Political Science, and Psychology. The establishment also carries obscure, special editions, and rare books.

The staff buys books at a reasonable rate and is very helpful and friendly. Here they have an intimate relationship with each book they buy and will usually tell you off of the top of their head whether or not they carry a title.

Nestled in the Poort of some of the oldest University of Amsterdam buildings, the Boekenmarkt at Oudemanhuispoort (MonSat 9:00-17:00) represents the most venerable book market on our top five. From Kloveniersburgwal, make a right at an ancient-looking stone portal. Opened in 1879, the book vendors that line the pathway deal mostly in paperbacks, cookbooks, and posters, which are found in a variety of languages, including English. This is where students and professors alike browse for a little “light” reading. On the north side you can peek into the university’s law quad, have a seat at one of the benches that surrounds a scenic reflection pool, and crack open that dogeared copy of Max Havelaar. credit By Alaina Piro Schempp

6 this dam life AMSTERDAM OPPOSES WEED BAN - CANNABIS REMAINS AVAILABLE

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LOKAL MOKUM

he mourning tone amongst the 200 coffeeshop owners in the period between April and October was unavoidable.

Tourists were flooding in all with the same question, ‘is this really the last time I will get to smoke weed in Amsterdam?’. Businesses in the red district area were apprehensive about the impact of the drop in hostel booking, souvenir buying, bike hiring, pizza and cake craving visitors. Ok, this is a massively stereotypical rendering of a weed smoking tourist. But the fact remains, if the weed pass had been introduced in Amsterdam the typical stoner and the 62 years old retired lawyer who attends a coffeeshop with her niece for their first joint together would all be affected. And the businesses that sustain and profit from the activity would undoubtedly count their losses.

The ban advocating the sale of cannabis exclusively to locals, introduced in April 2012 by the Dutch Court and initially taking effect in Limburg, Brabant and Zeeland made news world wide.

Some tourists were indeed preparing themselves for the end of what seemed a very 1970s achievement. And locals were not ecstatic about having to register as a ‘weed smoker’ in order to gain access to it. Although Marijuana is not a legal substance, and it inhabits a grey area between acceptable and dodgy, its consumption is tolerated. The actual industry behind a coffeeshop is highly illegal; it is also a violation of the law to posses, buy or sell. But by following strict rules such as rigorous age checking, limited sale of five grams per person and barring the sale of alcohol, these establishments have been (mostly) successful at surviving by providing a more regulated, safer environment for a practice which inevitably cannot be stopped. They represent a haven for those who do not wish to purchase their soft drugs from a cunning individual who jumps out of a dark corner with a list of illicit drugs and no proof that your weed is actually weed. The counter argument backing the ban however stated that weed had become stronger and more dangerous and that drug tourism brought crime and traffic to bordering towns who saw their weekends ruined by tons of tourists on a quick drive-through in hope of purchasing their wacky backy.

But then a sigh of relief was echoed through the canals of Amsterdam. On the 31st of October The Independent reported that ‘ under a pact unveiled this week, cities can bar foreigners from weed shops if they choose. Amsterdam opposes a ban, saying it would hurt tourism’. Amsterdam is unique in the Netherlands for its unparalleled influx of on average 2 million visitors yearly and therefore has been claimed to present the law with a unique case. The city’s mayor Eberhard van der Laan also stated to the same newspaper his fears of the impact of the ban on criminality levels in the city. The news were welcome by tourists and business owners in the heart of Amsterdam, but the Mayor’s position only represents the city and not the country to which the nationwide law applies to. According to the News Agency Reuters ‘The two parties forming the Netherlands’ next government want to allow cities to circumvent the national ban implemented by the former government the justice ministry said there was no guarantee the law would change to accommodate Amsterdam’s concerns.’

source: weedquest.com

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STYLE

fashion of the month

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everal hundred years ago, during the Dutch Golden Age, present day New York was discovered, riches were brought home from the Far East, and Holland laid the foundation for the first stock market. The Dutch accomplished all of this wearing clogs.

Dutchies do not have fashion in their blood, like the French or Italian. That being said, things have changed since the 1600’s. There is an emerging sense of stark yet innovative design in the boutiques, and a retro, alternative-chic style seen on the streets of Amsterdam. For the stylish Dutchie, Amsterdam means vintage stores, eclectic clothing markets, and a touch of minimalism in design.

Street style in Amsterdam is anything but traditional.

This city is famous for pushing boundaries, and for better or for worse, this translates into fashion. Black ripped tights might be paired with military boots, jean shorts, and a vintage fur coat. Muted colors have been popular here for years, but with the color revolution, more reds and greens have started popping up between grays and blacks.

Dutch designers tend to favor simplicity, and clean lines, with a hint of drama and rawness. There is an industrial feeling in many of the uber hip boutiques, likeSPRMRKT on the Rozengracht, and music venues in the city, like Trouw, famous for its electronic scene.

Music is a very important element of Ilja Visser’s new brand and store: Ready to Fish. This boutique space has a surrealistic vibe, with an all-white interior, TV screens built into old furniture and computers for listening to the store’s compilation album. The style here is feminine, with a global aspect, and an element of fantasy.

Stylish, edgy Amsterdammers can be found wandering the small, intimate streets of the Negen Straatjes, where independent boutiques and stylish shop owners reign supreme. The Negen Straatjes reside in the neighborhood of the Jordaan, also home to the Noordermarkt, which is arguably the best vintage clothing market in the city.

Browse the pics below for some of my favorite spots. xx Helen Anne

pictures from http://damstyle.blogspot.nl/

pictures from http://damstyle.blogspot.nl/

pictures from http://damstyle.blogspot.nl/

pictures from http://damstyle.blogspot.nl/

pictures from http://damstyle.blogspot.nl/

8 FEATURE

meet the Fokkens

The tale of two of Amsterdam’s oldest prostitutes, and the truth behind one of them leaving the job L

ouise and Martine Fokkens have worked in Amsterdam’s red light district for almost half a century, and are definitely popular. However, they say that arthritis can really change things, especially at their age. But today, at the age of 70, they are celebrating the fact that they are some of the most experienced prostitutes on the territory of Amsterdam, with a film about their lives.

Martine may still be going full power, but Louise has definitely seen the end of it. Two years ago, she discovered she had arthritis and finally decided that she is hanging up the fishnets. Martine is the one who keeps the income going on now, as she relies on the inflow of cash from some of the more regular customers. The film is done by Gabrielle Provaas and Rob Shröder and it portrays their long and interesting lives for the general audience.

The two women began working ever since they were in their 20s, and they say how since the 60s everything has changed.

There have been numerous things, which they have had to adapt to, and this is what they talk about in the movie.

There is a voice-over from Louise within the movie, as she says exactly how they react to public opinions of their job and how they have acclimated to the constant changes.

Thinking of the changes, which have taken place during all those years, Louise recalls: ‘In the old days, the local copper would tap on the window if a girl was showing too much ankle, now the girls deal coke from their cubicles.’ She then explains how arthritis has changed her life significantly, and how she can no longer work, unlike her sister, who is still going on at full power.

One thing, which the girls stop particularly at, is the fact that they escaped the grasps of their pimps a long time ago. They actually opened up their own brothel and started the first unofficial prostitute trade union. This was one of the first such things seen in the world. However, this came with a price. Behind their smiles, there actually lies quite a horrifying story of pain and anguish, which they hide all too well.

Louise was actually the first one to start working, because her husband beat her out of home and told her that she cannot return until she made some money for him and their three chi ldren. In time, she started working at one of the popular brothels, and her sister joined in soon, as a cleaner.

But after a while, they made the assertion that together they will be able to make more money, ‘doing threesomes’. That gave the start of their cooperation.

But with the legislation of brothels in 2000, they had more problems. Instead of opening the business for all girls, who would like to participate, it opened a way for organized criminal gangs to operate at full capacity. This actually significantly reduced their daily income. ’There is no point working just for tax. That is why the girls are working from the internet and from home – you are less likely to be spotted by the taxman.’ This is one of the sisters said about the situation. It was definitely not easy for them. The sight of seeing their children going from one care to another, and the realization of their families about what they are doing for a living, definitely weighed heavy on them.

However, the two women arose from all of this and continue to ‘do everything together’ even until this day. With all the hard stuff behind them, they know that they have each other, and nothing will stop them now, just like nothing had stopped them in the past.

THE TASTE 9

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Restaurant Boog

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his new trendy hotspot created by Ralph Kint and co. is bang in the middle of the city centre, between the Spui and the Heiligeweg. A supreme location, it really livens up this sleepy but famous street. You’ll notice the hustling groups of locals frolicking outside enjoying a ‘borreltje’ most days of the week!

Inside is a classy mix of a high end bar and a bistro/café/ restaurant, where guests are actually encouraged to sit and eat their meals at the bar to make it a more relaxed sociable atmosphere.

eten drinken Handboogstraat 17-19, Sun-Wed: 11am-2am, Thu-Sat: 11am-3am, 020-2050940, info@boogetenendrinken.nl

Promotional Feature

It is a mix of simple minimalist dishes and carefully executed culinary talent, great stuff!

Breakfast through dinner and everything in between is served from the early hours of the morning until very late at night and the bar keeps its taps running even later!

A recent wintry Wednesday night the guys from AmsterDO enjoyed a succulent and hearty, traditional

‘Ossenhaasbiefstuk’ (Fillet of Sirloin) and an incredibly presented, mouth-watering ‘Zeewolf fillet’ (Catfish Fillet wrapped in Parma ham) alongside their very reasonable house white(Costa Azul Blanco). After the mains you can retire for a drink with dessert in the open fire-lit lounge area and relax on the very stylish and cosy couches.

Ralph(36) is really trying to create a pub atmosphere coated in a layer of chicness, it really works....a very chilled out ambiance with a hint of sexiness! The brains behind the interior design: ‘Robin Sluijzer’ had previously dressed the insides of places such as ‘Van Harte’ in the Jordaan spectacularly from top to bottom. He did just that in ‘Boog’, very modern and aesthetically sensational, from the oakwood cordial lounge area to the cleverly cushioned forearm rests at the bar its a great addition to his repertoire, not to mention the prices are easy on the pocket!

All in all they are keeping it fresh and making a quick mark on our great city, thanks and keep up the good work guys!

AmsterDO-The Taste

resturant information: LOCATION:

WEB:

CUISINE:

PHONE:

Handboogstraat 17-19 Fusion

TASTE & QUALITY

www.boogetenendrinken.nl 020-2050940

our rating

CUSTOMER SERVICE

INTERIOR

VALUE FOR MONEY

FINAL SCORE:

8.0

1 0 10THE GOLDEN AGE amsterdam in the dutch golden age:

When money already made the Dutch world go round T

he rule of capitalism, international trade and high levels of immigration. It sounds much like a contemporary scenario. But this was Amsterdam as it stood 400 years ago, in what it is known as the Dutch Golden Age. By 1615 Amsterdam was not only one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe but also one which thrived off a huge economic boom. This was the very reason behind and also a result of the setting that unfolded which saw urban redevelopment, boosting of the arts and even a new mentality towards religious tolerance in the city.

The Golden Age is officially dated from 1585 to 1672. It was at the end of the sixteenth century that many well to do individuals from the Jewish community settled in Amsterdam after fleeing the Roman Catholic Spanish and Portuguese allied areas where unlike the northern, independent provinces were not known for their religious tolerance. This northern Dutch region or as it was known ‘De Republik der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden’ (the Republic of the Seven Dutch Provinces)was recognized in the 1579 ‘Unie van Utrecht’. In the same treaty it was stated the right for every citizen to attain religious freedom, leading to the place being recognized as a haven of tolerance. And that was four hundred years ago!

Coming from a strong economical position these new settlers organised commercial trips to the East which eventually led to the foundation of the Dutch East India company in 1602, successfully trading in menial items such as textiles, tulip bulbs and spices. As its biggest shareholder and due to its strategic geographical position, Amsterdam became the most important point of ship trading in the world. read more on amsterdo.com, facilitating the money exchange between individuals and companies and again boosting the capital in the

city. The Dutch West India Company which was founded in 1623 only maximised the profitable trade of goods, slaves and management of the colonies in the American continent. Again, the capital gain of these activities was reflected in the growth of Amsterdam. The city which had grown from 30 000 inhabitants in 1572 to 105 000 by 1622 was a hit not only with wealthy merchants and those fleeing religious persecution but also the unmarried youth from nearby provinces, Germany and Nordic countries, grasping the opportunity of social mobility.

To accommodate these new elite families, a more affluent urban sensibility was called for. So three new expansive canals were born, Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keisergracht. More spacious than the medieval Warmoesstraat, these quays were more suited to the elites who necessitated ever bigger ‘town palaces’ to keep and display their material wealth.

Others whose profits were smaller, but who were also key players in the Dutch Golden Age such as carpenters,

craftsmen, tailors and general suppliers to the high society also settled in the area surrounding the canals, collectively with the three canals known as the Jordaan.

Amongst those living in the not-so-upmarket areas of the Jordaan were artists such as Rembrandt van Rijn,the most famous Dutch painter to have ever lived.

Rembrandt is a reminder and proof of the Golden Age’s biggest legacy, a Golden Age of Dutch Art. Also active in Holland around this period were Jan Steen, Frans Hals and Johannes Vermeer, all recognised alongside Rembrandt as Dutch Masters. Talent and a pictorial tradition aside, this flourishing of the arts, which also extended to literature was made possible by the rise of the urban upper class. With the capital means to invest in the utmost symbol of power and status this section of society supported the arts like never before.

Similar to all the commodities circulating in the market at the time art was also a profitable good, transported and sold across borders through the canals linking the Netherlands and out of the port of Amsterdam.

Streets of our City

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The history and character of Elandsgracht, situated in the popular shopping neighbourhood of the Jordaan proves to be a real reflection of the ups and downs experienced throughout the centuries by the city we know and love.

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uilt in 1613 when the whole area was developed around the new canals of the Prinsengracht, Keisergracht and Herengracht, its main purpose was to house the escalating population of the lower classes. These skilled craftsmen, tailors, carpenters, many of which were immigrants of nearby provinces and Nordic countries found a home in many of the then eleven canals, where they could provide services to the rising upper classes of the Dutch Golden Age. As time passed, the demand for homes in the street was so high that these small houses were converted (not in the contemporary sense!) into flats as families were crammed into tiny apartments in basements and attics.

The necessity to house the ever growing population with little resources and little time inevitably resulted in houses built with very weak foundations. This issue is one which Amsterdam, a city built on the marshes has always had to face up to with its sinking buildings.

Don’t be confused by the reference to ‘Gracht’ (meaning canal in Dutch) in the street’s name, this was indeed two rows of houses separated by a canal up until 1891, when the canal was filled in, in order to resolve issues of sanitation and the foul stench that was therefore carried through the canal. the fate of Elandsgracht in the 18th and 19th century was one of decline due to the very position of Amsterdam, which no longer was considered the epicentre of the world. Having been stripped of its 17th century prosperity also partly due to the the Dutch Republic’s wars with England and France, the more humble areas of Amsterdam saw increasing levels of poverty. And the bad smells that come with it. It was around the 1700s that the Dutch equivalent of Robin Hood, a certain Sjako, who like his counterpart is said to have stolen from the rich to give to the poor, built a network of hallways and tunnels known as the ‘fort’ in a former building between numbers 71 and 77.

The Industrial revolution which reached Amsterdam by the 19th century was not so kind to the lower classes who still inhabited Elandsgracht, who a few generation before had prospered humbly as craftsmen and labourers, now lived in poverty in a decrepit street. Like most places in Europe with the trauma and material impact of two consecutive World Wars which brought human suffering and lack of supplies to millions, Elandsgracht was not to be reborn until the Post- War period. Unaffected by bombings, Amsterdam did not have to worry about rebuilding a city from rubble but instead it could finally invest and improve its much loved streets. Plans to redevelop the area and Elandsgracht in the 1960’s were met with anxiety by local residents, who probably feared these little charismatic buildings being replaced by the horrific modern architecture of the time. Fortunately by the next decade the newly elected council member Hans Lammers agreed with the locals, and signed up to a conservation project instead.

Today, keeping up with the rest of this trendy area, the street is a brand in itself. It even has a swish logo featuring an Elk (as Eland means Elk in Dutch), a creature that is certainly a piece of natural design in itself. Rightly so, because nowadays Elandsgracht boasts with high end, original, independent shops, where love of good design and attention to detail are a prerequisite. From antiques to quality sneakers, from shirts for big boned men to delicate intricate lace, it is nearly as if those 16th century skilled craftsmen have moved back in.

1 2 112 2 CITY MAP & DISCOUNTS FITNESS

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WERTHEIM PARKPARK WERTHEIM WERTHEIM PARK

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10OOSTER PARK

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25 25 ALBERT CUYP MARKET ALBERT CUYP MARKETMARKET ALBERT CUYP

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www.amsterdamjewelcruises.com Singel 235, AMSTERDAM TEL:+31 (0) 20 422 1385

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THE SNAKEHOUSE AND SQUATTING

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he four storey building on 199 Spuistraat is located in the Tabak row, a cluster of squats running all the way down Spuistraat. The Snakehouse, as it is nicknamed due to the huge mural painted on its façade is a nugget of counter-cultural activity and which its 10 residents, nine of which are artists, have shaped into a welcoming hotspot of creativity. The exhibition space on their ground-floor is home to exhibitions by independent artists, weekly film nights (free of charge!) and theatre performances and open since march 2011 it has been a success amongst the local community. Upstairs, behind the colourful façade, is a set of studio-apartments housing artists from all walks of life who due to their low living costs have the time and means to create.

This set-up, which combines living and working space, is above all fruitful due to the community which it creates: a tight knit of artists who not only influence and inspire each other but who manage, maintain and improve their living spaces through cooperation and a rather democratic approach to problem solving. Being their own landlords, they hold monthly meetings where the latest issues are discussed ranging from fixing a broken window to the next court case that might see them evicted.

To me the giant painted snake was always playful, but not without a hint of prowess. This was indeed what I was to find out about this infamous squat when I accidentally walked into their ground floor exhibition space in the opening night of the art show Engagement. The objective was to write an article on the death of squatting so when I met Guy Pinhas, a photographer and musician who has been living at the address since it was squatted back in 1983 he laughed as he jokingly checked his own pulse. To Guy, who has been squatting for three decades even with all the ups and downs, the court cases, the changes in the law and the juridical victories, squatting undoubtedly still shapes his life and the city where he lives. To him squatting is more than just making it possible for a few groups of people to live for cheap (squatting is not living for free, as he reminds me, bills and maintenance costs are covered by the residents). Equally the practise underscores the fact that ‘having a house is a human right’. This is something that Guy links to the very foundations of the Squatter’s movement, which aimed at not only tackling homelessness by claiming empty houses but also by creating a discourse around housing rights and homelessness, by making it into a visible issue to the rest of the country.

The photo is painted on the floor as a reference to the recently evaluated price per square meter of the Spuistraat 199.

The heydays of the Squatter’s Movement in Amsterdam can be situated somewhere around 1980, just before the Snakehouse was first squatted. In those days Amsterdam is believed to have been home to 20 000 squatters. The movement had been growing since the 1960 as a way to tackle the post-war house shortage which saw thousands of young homeless people whilst houses stood empty and boarded up. The riots on the Coronation Day on 30th april 1980 going by the moto ‘No housing, no crowning’ was a divisive yet iconic moment shown in the 1996, Joost Seelen documentary De Stad was van Ons to have hindered the movement’s unity, as violent tactics used by a few of its members affected the general public’s image of the ‘squatter’. The following decades can be described as a slow decline, as the numbers of squatters living in the city fell drastically and its political influence decreased until 2010, when the numbers of squatters shrunk to around 1500 and a ban was introduced to make squatting an illegal act.

The Snakehouse is in a relatively strong position within The Wet Kraken en Leegstand (Squatting and Vacancy Law). The ban introduced in 1st October 2010 is not

retroactive, meaning that any new squats don’t stand a chance, whilst for an established squat it takes a lengthier process to evict residents who have made a true home in these otherwise empty buildings. As Guy concisely puts it ‘We’ve been here for almost 30 years and evicting us is not that easy mainly because its human aspect is not to be forgotten.’ However Guy’s downstairs neighbour, Mark Bakker, a film-maker who has been living at 199 Spuistraat for over a decade is quick to point out to the effect of the new law on the squatter’s morale: ‘ As a matter of fact, the change in the law has affected us instantly, because now we are considered to be breaking the law, we are criminals for living here’. This stigma, Mark goes on, has deeply affected their relationship with social housing company DeKey, who has owned the Tabak row since 2008. Unlike the romantic idea of the 70s and 80s of squatters inhabiting an exclusive, separate world, it seems like today’s squatters have to be less aggressive and more cooperative to reach their aims. It is through court, being in the good books of the council and by talking and co-operating with ‘people in suits’ that their existence is more likely to be protected. It is not about effectiveness Marks tells me, as their struggle is far from finished but about being part of a harmonious process.

To this his partner, Eva de Wit who has been living at the Snakehouse for four years adds: ‘ The difference is that we are not young and jobless, we are all independent working people that deal with people in suits all the time so we know how that world works and we know how to use this advantage to get ahead in it’.

In the court cases the squat has been involved in, DeKey’s profit-driven plans to use the building for a new uptown hotel or luxury apartments has not swayed the judges who see more potential in the Snakehouse’s role as an important player in the local community. Guy tells me

that there are very iconic bars in the area which have a strong, even personal relationship with the Snakehouse, including their neighbour, the popular Schuim Cafe and The Minds Cafe. The Bier Kooning, a respectable beer outlet just around the corner, used to even deliver beer to the squats around the area. And not just that, but even politicians have got on board with their cause as it was the case when the whole city council of the “Stadsdeel Centrum” led by Dingeman Coumou (Groen Links) and Luud Schimmelpennink (PvdA) voted unanimously for the Snakehouse to acquire a 900.000 euro subsidy to develop their creative projects. Being included in the 2007 ‘ Project 1012′ , an initiative by the municipality to reduce crime and ‘strengthen the unique character’ of the heart of Amsterdam, the Snakehouse ( and in fact the whole Tabak row) has not only acquired a grant to work on future projects but also been given the official status of a valued cultural slice of the city. Eva highlights their uniqueness within Project 1012, which also relocated prostitutes from the Red Light District area: ‘ This is different, this is working and living combined, so you have a more active social attachment to your environment, your neighbours and in addition what you do is reflected in your street’.

The Snakehouse strikes me as the epitome of the alternative view of Amsterdam, a view which places the social, cultural and historical beyond its well conserved architecture and its comical stereotypes of cheese eating, clog wearing milk maids. Borne out of the infamous Dutch ideals of tolerance and freedom, it is the countercultural, the subcultural, the hidden gems we will not find at the Rijksmuseum and the social movements that marked a generation that also strongly define this city and are to be found half way down a well known street called Spuistraat.

FILM REVIEWS

STAGE AND SCREEN 15 argo

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Check it out by Yahaira Reyes

Hey AmsterDo’ers, in this section we will give you the rundown of five movies to check out this month. In this episode, there will be no full reviews but just a few characteristics of each movie, a tiny bit of our opinion, letting you be the judge. Should you see this movie or rather just save the cash to buy yourself and your friend/ mate/date/girl/boy-friend/ 18 year old son a beer? Check and choose or better yet, watch them all!

the perks of being a wallflower

skyfall

The latest instalment of the Bond series comes with a couple of celebrations; it has been 50 years since Doctor No blew the minds of generation and established the perfect British spy in my our collective memory, celebration #1, Skyfall has now made in over $87.8 million in its first three days in the USA and continues to be sold out every day in the theatres in the Netherlands, celebration #2. So what can you expect to see in this Bond film: You’ve got, Beautiful Bond Ladies, two of them and one giving you a hint of what the next Bond film might bring; One remarkable and highly atypical villain like only Javier Bardem can bring to live; M in a more active role showing you just how deep her feelings for 007 go and Mr. Bond himself more dedicated to the mission this time; he is less conflicted about what he must do becoming finally THE James Bond, 007. Any reservations or discomfort fans had when Daniel Craig took this role have now, for sure, disappeared. Are you Curious? Check it out!

This coming of age film based on the novel written by Stephen Chobsky (he also directed the film) is beautifully directed with excellent characters that are reliable and bring the nostalgia of the 80’s and 90’s for those of us who grew up in that era. Logan Lerman is terrific as the main character Charlie as a freshman in high school after a traumatic event and hating every minute of the changes. He befriends Sam and her step brother Patrick (Emma Watson and natural talent Ezra Miller), and the plot advances with different subplots to make the film complete. This film is intense, sweet and powerful with Logan Lerman giving a strong and more developed performance that on his previous roles (sorry Percy Jackson), Ezra Miller almost stealing the show bringing, as in previous movies, an amazing sense of reality to his character while Emma Watson is undeniably removing herself from her Hogwarts past. This movie is beautiful.

Go ahead, check it out!

This new movie, produced by George Clooney and directed

by Ben Affleck (his third film after The Town and Gone Baby Gone) is based – Loosely – on the events that lead the Canada in strong cooperation with the CIA to free 6 escaped American Civil Servants out of an Iran in Turmoil in the 1980. Although the movie tried to stay faithful to the actual events and the people involved – an action which is shoved in our faces during the end credits including an audio recorded interview with former president, Jimmy Carter about this hostage crisis – it brought along with it a lot of criticism on how Canada and Iran itself are portrayed. Despite the criticism, the Film has been received with success by the critics and the public and why shouldn’t it?

Ben Affleck gives another outstanding performance as a Director, making the audience follow the story without being bored and even with some jokes at the Hollywood industry expenses; Affleck leads us to a nerve wrecking and intense rescue without abusing the cowboys against Indians formula. You’ll enjoy a movie and learn a bit of history, a win-win situation in our opinion. Check it out!

The campaign

ted

Pun after Pun after Pun this movie is, clearly, a longer Family Guy episode with the hot Mila Kunis which pleases the eye. Despite what the Teddy Bear in the poster might indicate, this is not a children’s film; every joke too racy for television is inserted, might I add greatly, into this film. Macfarlane actually makes you enjoy this movie by mocking girls’ accents, references to 80’s shows, toys and even bringing superhero Flash Gordon (actor Sam J.

Jones and my personal crush as a little girl) as a character in the film. Although some jokes felt as they ran a bit too long, in overall Walberg, Kunis and Macfarlane give funny and entertaining performances and this movie is worth watching. Finally, if you enjoy Family guy and are not looking for any ground breaking comedy style or if you just feel like being entertained for a couple of hours, this is a excellent option. So, whaddaya say? Check it out!

What’s not to love about this movie? Will Ferrell as Cam Brady and Zach Galifianakis as Marty Huggins as opposing candidates for the United State congress. The movie is different from most comedies about politics because it talks about a real issue in a relaxed way, making you laugh and imagining the dirty campaign these two pulled on each other could very well happen in real life politics (if it hasn’t already happen!). Will Ferrell is already seen as the good and funny George W. Bush, and Mr. Zach G. (I can’t type that name again!) is great as the innocent and perhaps a bit simpleminded civic man being led to the slaughter by the giant corporation throwing money at his campaign. Dylan McDermott is actually hilarious as the mysterious and fishy campaign manager of Huggins and even his two peg pucks will make you giggle. It won’t be in the movies for long now, so hurry and check it out!

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club nl

Club NL- Nieuwzijds Voorburgwal, 020-6227510, Central Location, 300 capacity, weekdays 11-3, weekends 11-4 (officially....)

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his December brings with it the momentous celebration of the 13th anniversary of Club NL! Yes it really has been that long, from its humble beginnings as a sparkle in the eyes of some young enthusiastic Amsterdammers it has evolved to the strong, sexy lounge club it is today.

The anniversary party takes place on Saturday 15th of December and is gonna be huge!

Back in the late 90’s Albert Papôt and 8 of his buddies crossed the Atlantic in search of inspiration and enlightenment! What they found when they got there was the divine guidance they needed to kick off the evolution that was to be: Club NL! The guys knew they wanted to open something different, something unique and exciting. On their travels round ‘The Big Apple’ they noticed that all the elegant and fancy 4 and 5 star hotels were starting to serve cocktails and long-drinks in the lobbies aimed at the trendy and hip communities that were starting to emerge and make their mark on the music scene of the late 90’s. These gatherings were accompanied by DJ’s playing lounge music and the chic, fashionable elite of the time. Not to mention a vast array of beautiful girls!

The whole concept excited Api(Albert) and his compadres; the idea of a cosy, warm, dark and elegant alcove was something new and different for Amsterdam, something up until now unheard of.

Amsterdam has always been and will probably always be 4 to 5 years behind the States in terms of musical trends and fashion, the lounge concept just didn’t quite exist in Amsterdam.......yet!

‘All we needed was a perfect location, somewhere with a bit of space we could work with cos if its too small it doesn’t work.’

(Api)

To this day, in Holland most bars have beer on tap, but in New York this trend had worn off a long time ago.....in the U.S of A all the young hipsters were drinking bottles

of beer or long drinks at the time.

This idea was taken on-board by the boys at Club NL and encouraged them to approach Heineken with the forethought of reducing the number of beer taps and starting to introduce cocktails, long drinks and bottled beer. Heineken believed in the dream! They actually took this opportunity to help launch the new ‘long neck’ bottle, it was the future.... and so a new breed of sexy, small and strong club was born with the support of Heineken and their new bottles.

Club NL was the result 13 years ago in the same location as it is today.

The way things used to be: Back in the day, Club NL used to be a bit different...it opened earlier to serve dinner with drinks at about 8, they brought food in from a notable local Thai restaurant called: Rakang Thai Restaurant Elandsgracht 31, 020 6275012 Clients were served food and drinks on the couches with

lap cushions from 8pm -11pm whilst the famed DJ’s created the relaxed, early evening lounge atmosphere with their background beats. After everyone was stuffed full of Thai food round 11pm and had moved onto their first cocktail the music was cranked up to something a little more up-tempo.....some sexy house music! This whole concept proved to be a huge success for 3 years, the lounge era was ever-present in Amsterdam and Club NL were the pioneers!

Nothing good lasts forever and................

About 10 years ago the lounge concept began to become a little dated, as we all know trends in music are fleeting and sadly you’ll miss them if you blink! When this started to happen Api decided to scrap dinner and open the doors at 11pm to dive straight into that sexy house feel hat had worked so well for them.

So, Club NL opened their doors in ‘99 as a lounge bar/ restaurant/sexy club and evolved into a night club that still retains a lot of the aspects that made them so unique.

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The minute you walk inside you notice the difference compared to other big clubs in Amsterdam, there is an unparalleled naughtiness that oozes into every pore of your body upon entering the den. The red smoky lights and dark contours impress the senses and remove inhibitions, a really special place.

The future Now Club NL have such an established network of partners and trusted friends, their agenda is full most of the time. They have about 12-14 organisations they work along side with to throw parties on a regular basis. So once or twice a month these groups organise their own parties and use Club NL as their chosen venue...a large variety of eclectic styles and music.

During the week Club NL can be seen more as a cool bar where you can dance but Thursday through Saturday they are that small, strong and sexy club we all love so much!

Club NL is unique in its style compared to other big clubs....the cocktails are great, the staff friendly and

always smiling. It is very intimate and the sound system is insane!

They make their mark in Amsterdam with their unique style and consistency, the words chic and elegant come to mind when thinking of Club NL, a subtle touch of debauchery creeps in....nights like the ex-pornstar night where Ron Jeremy was present are an unforgettable touch of Dutch.

To Api the music is very important, in fact paramount.

The feel is warm and sexy and thus the music must follow suit!

Now Club NL are starting to branch out to ex-pat and international clients via an ex-pat event organisation called ‘Laughing at potatoes’ and via their free one-day entrance tickets to guests staying in some of Amsterdam’s top 4 and 5 star hotels looking for a great night out.

Club NL has made its stand and is here to stay, thanks for the last 13 years and here’s to the next...

Party on!!!!

Cheers folks ;-)

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paradiso

studio 80

sugarfactory

Weteringschans 6 | www.paradiso.nl UPCOMING EVENTS:

Rembrandplein 17 | www.studio-80.nl UPCOMING EVENTS:

Lijnbaansgracht 238 | www.sugarfactory.nl UPCOMING EVENTS:

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, CLUB PARADISO PRESENTS:

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, STUDIO 80 PRESENTS:

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, SUGAR FACTORY PRESENTS:

Genre: Electro/ Indie | Time: 24.00- 05.00 | Price: € 10

Line up :Ripperton, Funk D’void, Anton Pieete | Genre: Electro/ Techno | Time : 23:00-09:00 |Price : Presale 1€ 3 / Doorsale 1€ 5 / Afterhour 1€ 0

Line- up: Eye D & DJ Hidden, Thrasher, Lucy Furr, Adi J, IS MC Swift

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, STUDIO 80 PRESENTS:

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, SUGAR FACTORY PRESENTS:

Kill all Hipsters

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18, CLUB PARADISO PRESENTS:

Fucked Up

Line-up: Canadian Band Fucked Up Genre: Punk/ Rockopera | Time: 21.30 | Price: € 10

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, CLUB PARADISO PRESENTS:

Het Klassenfeest Je Gala

Line-up: Dio, Twan & Willem, Geza, Sem Vox Genre: Eclectic Dance Music | Time: 24.00- 05.00 | Price: € 16

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25, CLUB PARADISO PRESENTS:

Shantel & Bokovina Club Orkestar Genre: Balkan Beat | Time: 20.30 | Price: €17.50

24 Hour Party People- Rejected Damnation Black Box

Line-up: Absurd & Raaf, Milan Meyberg | Genre: House | Time: 23:00 - 03:00 | Price: €6 / Free entrance before midnight

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, STUDIO 80 PRESENTS:

WKND

Line-up: Boris Werner, Tom Ruijg, AM&I, L’Atelier | Genre: Deep house, Tech House | Time:23:00-03:00 | Price:Free entrance before midnight

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, STUDIO 80 PRESENTS:

Linke Soep

Line- up : Layo & Bushwacka, Marco Resmann, Gunnar Stiller

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, CLUB PARADISO PRESENTS:

Bat for Lashes

Line-up: English Singer songwriter Bat for Lashes Genre: Indie | Time: 19.30 | Price: € 18

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, CLUB PARADISO PRESENTS:

Classic NoordLanding!

Line-up: Willem, Arnold

Genre: Alternative meets classic | Time: 23.30- 05.00 | Price: € 5

NOVEMBER 15, CLUB PARADISO PRESENTS:

Boss

Line-up:Flava, Switch, Mike Mercy Genre: Bassline, Hip Hop, R&B | Time: 24.00- 05.00 | Price: € 13.50

Genre: House | Time: 23:00-05:00 | Price: €13 / €15

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, STUDIO 80 PRESENTS:

Blah Blah

Line Up: André Galluzzi, Daniel Sanchez, Aike & Dickson Genre: House | Time: 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 | Price: € 15

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, STUDIO 80 PRESENTS:

Resident Night

Line-up: Von Till, Sein, Eric The Man, Chris Julien, Prunk Genre: House/ Tech House | Time: 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 | Price: 13/15

Genre: Drum n Bass, Hardcore | Time: 23:00 - 05:00 | Price: 1 € 0

Africa at Night

Line-up: Fredy Massamba (Live), Elvis, Bizzzle and Sonsy, Fulani and Scor.pi.o Genre: Afro Soul | Time: 5:00 p.m. to 0:00 |Price: € 10 / €

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, SUGAR FACTORY PRESENTS:

Hertz Live Edition

Line- up: Joop Junior, Jurwin Abbo, Thomas Finch, Gold Lock Genre: Techno | Time: 0:00 to 5:00 | Price:: € 10

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18, SUGAR FACTORY PRESENTS:

Wicked Jazz Sounds Club Night

Line-up: DJ Phil Horneman, DJ Jules de la Courgette, Rags (vocals), Quinten Huigen ( guitar) Genre: Jazz, Funk, Hip Hop | Time: 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 | Price: € 9,50 / € 7,50

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, SUGAR FACTORY PRESENTS:

Allnighter Warren Fellow and Terry Toner Line-up: Warren Fellow and Terry Toner

Genre: Techno | Time: 0:00 to 5:00 | Price: € 10 / € 12.50

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, SUGAR FACTORY PRESENTS:

Scallymatic Orchestra - Album Launch Genre: Jazz, Soul, Funk, Rock | Time: 20:00 - 23:00 | Price: : € 10

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, SUGAR FACTORY PRESENTS:

Girlesque

Line-up: DJ Shug La Sheedah, Les Suprême Bla Bla,, KinkyRinky Genre: Burlesque/ Live Electro/ Hip Hop | Time: 0:00 - 5:00 | Price: € 15 / € 12.50

WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY,OCTOBER OCTOBER17,17,CLUB CLUBESCAPE ESCAPEPRESENTS: PRESENTS:

WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY,OCTOBER OCTOBER17,17,CLUB CLUBPANAMA PANAMAPRESENTS: PRESENTS:

FRIDAY, FRIDAY,OCTOBER OCTOBER19,19,CLUB CLUBNLNLPRESENTS: PRESENTS:

Line-up: Line-up:Adi-j, Adi-j,Insom, Insom,Karimooo, Karimooo,Nymfo, Nymfo,Ravage, Ravage,Subculture Subculture Genre: Genre:Drum&Bass Drum&Bass||Time: Time:22:00 22:00--04:00 04:00||Price: Price:€7.50 €7.50

Line-up: Line-up:Sharam Sharam Genre: Genre:Trance, Trance,House House||Time: Time:22:00 22:00--03:00 03:00||Price: Price:€15 €15

Line-up: Line-up:Live: Live:Charles CharlesDavos, Davos,Miss MissMelera, Melera,Eelke EelkeKleijn Kleijn Genre: Genre:Minimal, Minimal,Techno Techno||Time: Time:23:00 23:00--05:00 05:00||Price: Price:€12.50 €12.50

Rough x Cheeky

Sharam and Friends · Night & Day

Miss Melera & Friends

WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY,OCTOBER OCTOBER17,17,CLUB CLUBESCAPE ESCAPEPRESENTS: PRESENTS:

THURSDAY, THURSDAY,OCTOBER OCTOBER18,18,CLUB CLUBPANAMA PANAMAPRESENTS: PRESENTS:

Line-up: Line-up:Sander Sandervan vanDoorn, Doorn,Firebeatz, Firebeatz,Julian JulianJordan Jordan Genre: Genre:House, House,Trance Trance||Time: Time:22:00 22:00--04:00 04:00||Price: Price:€17.50 €17.50

Line-up: Line-up: Delivio Delivio Reavon Reavon && Aaron Aaron Gill, Gill, Genairo Genairo Nvilla, Nvilla, Luciën Luciën Line-up: Line-up:Eric Ericde deMan, Man,Ferdinand, Ferdinand,Ramos Ramos Foort, Foort,Michael MichaelMendoza Mendoza||Time: Time:22:00 22:00--04:00 04:00||Price: Price:€15 €15 Genre: Genre:House, House,Techno Techno||Time: Time:06:00 06:00--12:00 12:00||Price: Price:€9 €9

escape

Sander van Doorn

Rembrandtplein 11 | www.escape.nl THURSDAY, THURSDAY,OCTOBER OCTOBER18,18,CLUB CLUBESCAPE ESCAPEPRESENTS: PRESENTS: UPCOMING EVENTS:

Be Bigger by Biggi · ADE Special

panama

Steel

Oostelijke Handelskade 4 | www.panama.nl FRIDAY, FRIDAY,OCTOBER OCTOBER19,19,CLUB CLUBPANAMA PANAMAPRESENTS: PRESENTS: UPCOMING EVENTS:

Toolroom Knights # Epic

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, CLUB ESCAPE PRESENTS:

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, CLUB PANAMA PRESENTS:

Line up:Paul Marc Benjamin, Zowie Joury, The €10 Tierra, Tierra, Paul Veth, Veth, Yonathan Yonathan Zvi Zvi||Impellizzeri, Time: Time:23:00 23:00--VJ04:00 04:00 ||Price: Price: €10 Fabulous Angels on stage

Line-up: Various Urban Artists

Line-up: Line-up:Andy AndyLeka, Leka,Biggi, Biggi,Jess Jess&&Miss, Miss,Marc MarcMacRowland, MacRowland,Mell Mell Reveal Genre: House | Time: 23.00 - 04.00 | Price: €10/ Studenten gratis

FRIDAY, FRIDAY,OCTOBER OCTOBER19,19,CLUB CLUBESCAPE ESCAPEPRESENTS: PRESENTS:

Line-up: Line-up:Mark MarkKnight Knight Genre: Genre:Techno Techno||Time: Time:23:00 23:00--05:00 05:00||Price: Price:€15 €15

Superstars Fedde Le Grand ADE Takeover

Line-up: Rufus Riley, Stevez, Mr. Ox, Dubdula

Line-up: Line-up: Hernan Hernan Cattaneo, Cattaneo, Jerry van Schie, Schie, NickWarren Warren Genre: House | Time: 23.00-Jerry 04.00van | Price: € 15Nick

Alesso ADE Takeover

Genre: House | Time: 23.00 - 05.00 | Price: € 16 Danney Line-up: Line-up: Alesso, Alesso, Raymundo, Raymundo, 22Muchlipstick, Muchlipstick, DanneyCanova Canova

Fullscale Fullscale ||Genre: Genre: House ||Time: Time:22:00 22:00--05:00 05:00||Price: Price:€20 €20 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25, CLUBHouse ESCAPE PRESENTS:

Braiwash XXL SUNDAY, SUNDAY,OCTOBER OCTOBER21,21,CLUB CLUBESCAPE ESCAPE PRESENTS: PRESENTS:

Sundaypeople · ADE Special

Line-up: Various Djs

Genre: Eclectic Dance Music | Time: 23.00-04.00 | Price: € 10

Guys, Guys,Franky FrankyRizardo Rizardo||Genre: Genre:House House||Time: Time:19:00 19:00--02:00 02:00 We All Love 80s & 90s

FRIDAY, FRIDAY,OCTOBER OCTOBER26,26,CLUB CLUBPANAMA PANAMAPRESENTS: PRESENTS:

#Epic

Time: 22.00 - 04.00 | Price: € 10/ €15

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, CLUB PANAMA PRESENTS:

Line-up: Line-up:Various VariousUrban UrbanArtists Artists TNF Genre: Genre:Urban Urban||Time: Time:23:00 23:00--04:00 04:00||Price: Price:€10 €10 Line-up: Primo, Pierre August, Saux

Genre: Disco | Time: 21.00-03.00 | Price: € 5

SATURDAY, SATURDAY,OCTOBER OCTOBER27,27,CLUB CLUBPANAMA PANAMAPRESENTS: PRESENTS:

Genre: Genre:House House||Time: Time:22:00 22:00--04:00 04:00||Price: Price:€17.50 €17.50 Episode

Genre: Genre:Classics, Classics,Disco Disco||Time: Time:22:00 22:00--03:00 03:00||Price: Price:€15 €15

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25, CLUB ESCAPE PRESENTS: Line-up: Line-up: Roger Roger Sanchez Sanchez

Line-up: Brian S, Frederik Abas, Kimberlee Ramirez, Mike Scott, MC Pryme

Line-up: Paolo, Mr Milano

WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY,OCTOBER OCTOBER24,24,CLUB CLUBNLNLPRESENTS: PRESENTS:

Roger Sanchez Presents Stealth

Genre: House | Time: 23.00- 05.00 | Price: €5

ThePoint Incrowd Two Zero Agency & The Sessions

SUNDAY, SUNDAY,Epic OCTOBER OCTOBER21,21,CLUB CLUBPANAMA PANAMAPRESENTS: PRESENTS: #

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, , CLUB PANAMA PRESENTS:

Line-up: Robert Feelgood, Troj, Pryme

Genre: Deep/ Tech House | Time: 23.00- 04.00

Genre: Genre:Techno Techno||Time: Time:23:00 23:00--05:00 05:00||Price: Price:€17.50 €17.50

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, CLUB PANAMA PRESENTS:

Line-up: Best hits from 80s and 90s

Line-up: Raymundo, Diephuis, MC Marboo

Perfume

Line-up: Line-up: Dave Dave Seaman, Seaman, Guy Guy Mantzur, Mantzur, Jody JodyWisternoff, Wisternoff, Murray Murray Genre: Tech House/ Techno | Time: 23.00- Late Mckee, Mckee,Pete PeteGooding, Gooding,C-Jay C-Jay||Time: Time:22:00 22:00--05:00 05:00||Price: Price:€10 €10

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, CLUB ESCAPE PRESENTS:

Brainwash

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, CLUB NL PRESENTS:

SUNDAY, SUNDAY,OCTOBER OCTOBER 21,21,CLUB CLUB NLNLPRESENTS: PRESENTS: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, CLUB NL PRESENTS:

Line-up: Line-up: Baggi Baggi24,Begovic, Begovic, David Penn, Shapeshifters, Shapeshifters, The The Cube Cube SATURDAY, NOVEMBER CLUB PANAMADavid PRESENTS:Penn,

SATURDAY, SATURDAY,OCTOBER OCTOBER20,20,CLUB CLUBESCAPE ESCAPEPRESENTS: PRESENTS:

Hurly Burly ADE Special

SATURDAY, SATURDAY, SATURDAY,NOVEMBER OCTOBER OCTOBER20,20,17,CLUB CLUBPANAMA PANAMAPRESENTS: PRESENTS:

Line-up: Soul Cartel, Marc&Marcus, Atmospheric Deep & Duyvo, Line-up: Line-up:Danny DannyJuvanice Avila, Avila,Deniz DenizKoyu, Koyu,Fedde FeddeleleGrand, Grand,MC: MC:Gee Gee Saxophonation,

Genre: Genre:Deep/ House Housetech/ ||Price: Price: €20 €20 House | Time: 23.00- 05.00 | Price: € 10 Genre: minimal

Nieuwezijds Vooburgwal 169 | www.clubnl.nl UPCOMING EVENTS:

SATURDAY, SATURDAY,OCTOBER OCTOBER20,20,CLUB CLUBNLNLPRESENTS: PRESENTS:

Genre: Urban | Time: 23.00- 04.00 | Price: €10

Asian Madness Crossover & Evolved Artists ADE Showcase Hernan Cattaneo b2b Nick Warren HouseRockers- 1 Year FRIDAY, FRIDAY,NOVEMBER OCTOBER OCTOBER19,19,23,CLUB CLUB ESCAPE PRESENTS: FRIDAY, CLUBESCAPE ESCAPEPRESENTS: PRESENTS:

club nl

Alalart

Line-up: Line-up:Fady FadyFerraye, Ferraye,Johnny Johnnyde deMol, Mol,Nhar, Nhar,Fady FadyFerraye Ferraye Line-up: Fountain, Jasper Goosen Genre: Genre:House, House,Techno Techno||Time: Time:23:00 23:00--05:00 05:00||Price: Price:€10 €10

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, CLUB ESCAPE PRESENTS:

Line-up: Line-up:Genairo Bad BadHabitZ, HabitZ, Charly Charly &&Nazzz, Nazzz, Evanti, Evanti,Mitchell Fausto, Fausto,Niemyer, Jim JimJustice Justice Line-up: Nvilla, Michael Mendoza, Gino Klift,Thilo, Mc D-Jay Phil PhilYork, York, Thilo, Wragg Wragg&&Log Log||Time: Time:22:00 22:00--05:00 05:00||Price: Price:€15 €15 Genre: House | Time: 23.00 - 05.00 | Price: €10

SATURDAY, SATURDAY,OCTOBER OCTOBER20,20,CLUB CLUBNLNLPRESENTS: PRESENTS:

1 9 19

We all love '90's Pump Up'80's the &Jam

Line-up:DJ Dennis The the Menace, Robert Feelgood Line-up: Line-up:Best Best hits hitsfrom from the80's 80's&&DJ90's 90's Genre: House, Hip Hop | Price: € 15

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18, CLUB NL PRESENTS:

1012

Club NL Invites

Line-up: Samuel Goldberg, Victor Badoux Genre: Minimal/ Techno | Time: 22.00- 03.00

Line-up: Line-up:Stefano StefanoRichetta Richetta THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, CLUB NL PRESENTS: Genre: Genre:Deephouse, Deephouse,Techhouse Techhouse||Time: Time:23:00 23:00--03:00 03:00

Stephano Richetta

Genre: House FRIDAY, FRIDAY,OCTOBER OCTOBER 26,26,CLUB CLUBNLNLPRESENTS: PRESENTS:

Sub

Time: 23.00- 03.00

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, CLUB NL PRESENTS:

This is True House Legends

Line-up: Line-up:Kadiks, Kadiks,Reuben ReubenAlexander Alexander Genre: Genre:House House||Time: Time:23:00 23:00--03:00 03:00 Line-up: Risk Soundsystem, Paul Sparkes

Genre: House | Time: 23.00- Late | Price: € 10

SATURDAY, SATURDAY,OCTOBER OCTOBER27,27,CLUB CLUBNLNLPRESENTS: PRESENTS:

Floorplay Vixens Galore

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, CLUB NL PRESENTS:

Line-up: Line-up:Paul PaulEerdehuizen, Sparkes Sparkes Line-up:Erik Mr Smith, 8BC Genre: Tech House |Time: 23.00Late Genre: Genre:House House||Time: Time:23:00 23:00--03:00 03:00 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, CLUB NL PRESENTS:

Genre: Tech/ Deep House | Time: 23.00- 04.00 | Price: €5 presale

Floorplay

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, CLUB ESCAPE PRESENTS:

Genre: House | Time: 23.00- 04.00

Miss Taylor

Line-up: Michael Mendoza, Brothers in the Booth, Gabi, Jochem Hamerling, Kez en MC Choral.

Genre: Tech House | Time: 23.00 - 05.00 | Price: € 10 presale

Line-up:Paul Sparkes and Guests

2 00

American Thanksgiving in Amsterdam

T

hanksgiving is a national American holiday celebrated annually on the third Thursday of November. This year, mark your calendars for 22 November 2012. Traditionally, this harvest festival celebrates the supposed day when the Pilgrims and the Native Americans sat down and broke bread in peace. I’m sure we all know that history tells a different tale of what went down back then, but we’ll skip the sobering history lesson for now. Today, Thanksgiving is about taking pause for one day and acknowledging that we have it pretty darn good. It’s in the name – giving thanks for our food, giving thanks for our friends, giving thanks for life’s little pleasures, like football (American-style of course).

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because in its current form, it’s not about presents; it’s not about religion, it’s not even about the silly decorations that often go along with the whole thing; it’s about food and sharing that food with your friends and family. Okay, and American football, it’s also about watching American football or at least having it on in the background while you cook. We are a simple people.

While you’ll definitely find a number of local restaurants that cater to the homesick expat, nothing beats a homemade meal and after two years here in Amsterdam, I think I’ve pretty much nailed down where to get the elusive ingredients.

Main course:

Usually turkey, maybe also ham, salmon, or tofu

Side dishes:

Mashed potatoes with turkey gravy Sweet potatoes or yams (candied or with little marshmallows) Sweet corn (on the cob or loose) Cranberry sauce Green beans (usually in a casserole, but come on, yuck!)

No Thanksgiving is complete without the main course, which is typically turkey – or some tofu variant of it (i.e. “tofurkey”). In the United States, turkey is a typical alterative to chicken especially in a delicatessen’s sliced meat counter. But for a dinner, you want to buy it raw of course, so let’s talk turkey. I usually order my meat from one of the outdoor weekly markets. Since turkey is kind of a rare bird here, you’re better off ordering it a few days in advance from one of the many poeliers (poultry butcher), just to be sure. I recommend Natuur Slagerij Rob Rijks because they slaughter fresh and you can also put an order in online.

For the side dish ingredients, check out the weekly or daily outdoor markets like Dappermarkt in Oost or Albert Cuyp Markt in de Pijp. White potatoes, sweet potatoes/ yams, fresh cranberries, green beans, and corn on the cob can be found at many of the produce vendors. For me, cranberries are always the hardest to find even though they grow cranberries in Friesland. If you’ve scoured the markets days in advance and still can’t find a specific ingredient, try a health food store like Ekoplaza or Markt.

This year, I’ll be spending my third Thanksgiving here in Amsterdam. Maybe there’s the wrong kind of football on the TV, but with the right ingredients and a kitchen full of friends, I’m planning on making this one another Amsterdam Thanksgiving Spectacular.

By Alaina Pro

Makkie: A Currency For The

G

enerations of urban planners, social workers and officials have broken their heads on the question of how to improve social cohesion in disadvantaged urban areas. Creating a currency for the local community may be an interesting solution. A great

example is ‘Makkie’, a new peer-to-peer economy in the Indische Buurt (Indian Quarter) in East Amsterdam that was introduced a few months ago.

How does it work? Neighborhood residents can earn ‘Makkies’ by doing a chore for their neighbors or local organizations. This can be anything, varying from fixing someone’s computer to volunteering at a film festival or painting a hallway. Every hour of work will earn you one Makkie. Makkies, which look like real money, can be redeemed for discounts on products at local shops, free movie tickets, fitness courses, you name it.

The Makkie website functions as a marketplace for peer-to-peer ser vices where locals can post an ad for help or offer their ser vices to others. The concept was introduced by Qoin, an Amsterdam-based company that implements and manages professional community currencies with the aim to reach sustainable economic growth, ecological balance, and social progress. Click here to learn more about community currencies.

Local Beat 21

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WHATEVER ROCKS THE CROWD A

recent poll ran by DJ Mag has crowned the Dutch Trance aficionado, Armin van Buuren the number 1 DJ in the world. The award was presented at the Convention Factory in Amsterdam, appropriately during the biggest electronic club festival in the world, the ADE. Despite van Buuren’s popularity which has seen him win the title four times in the past, the win comes as a surprise. Amidst a worldwide House music epidemic of an unprecedented scale, he has surely gone against all odds to kick David Guetta off the top spot. Maybe it is by sticking to what he knows that van Buuren has achieved his latest title as he tells DJ Mag ‘ I can’t change my sound. It would be too far away from my heart. I can’t do something I can’t love’. His position differs from fellow Dutchman DJ Tiesto, who has moved swiftly from Trance to Progressive Electro House and has scored the second place in the DJ Mag poll.

The co-existence of House and Trance in the electronic music world is something van Buuren sees as something of a window of opportunity. Talking to DJ Mag he explains the unexpected success of Trance music in 2012 ‘Maybe (it’s) because the focus has been on house music. It feels that trance is somehow more free.’ He briefly focuses on his new album which is due to be released in May 2013 “There are a few more safe tracks, and I’ve been road testing a few of the more trancey tracks off the new album, but making an artist album always allows you to experiment a little bit more.’ He has certainly been a busy boy this year, with his new title, new album and his radio show A State of Trance’s 600th episode Worldwide Tour preparations.

Also listed in the top 20, voted by 100 000 readers was eight other Dutch djs . Is dance music becoming one of the Netherlands’ biggest cultural exports? This is certainly debatable and may not sit well with everyone, but dance music as a product is a phenomenon elsewhere and in the country itself. As the Parool reported recently, there was a turnover of €587m last year from festivals and dance events, the fastest growth since the research was first carried out back in 2002. Agree with the voting ? Have your say about this on amsterdo.com

22

THE DAM REGULARS

AT WHISKEY CAFÉ L&B

If you are looking for an event a little off the beaten track – Look no further. Check out the ‘Dam Regulars’ for some real local events and a chance to mingle with some like minded people.

EVERY SUNDAY

‘ Easylaughs’ Comedy Workshop @ CREA

Café Cultural student centre for the University of Amsterdam Time: 15:00 | Location: Nieuwe Achtergracht 170 | Price: €30 for 4 work-shops EVERY MONDAY

Okido Yoga: Training for health, strength and mobility @ OT301

Famous squat which contributes immensely community activities. Check out their program!

Time: 19:00 | Location: Overtoom 301 | Price: €12

towards

EVERY MONDAY

Drag Bingo @ The Queen’s Head Pub

A night which everybody should experience at least once, if not regularly!

Time: 22:00-03:00 | Location: Zeedijk 20 | Price: €2.50 EVERY MONDAY

Sneak Preview @ Kriterion Movie Theatre Locally famous student-run theatreregularly!

Time: 22:15 | Location: Roetersstraat 170 | Price: €5 EVERY MONDAY

Cheeky Mondays @ Winstons Kingdom Time: Starting at 23:00 | Location: Warmoesstraat | Price: €7

EVERY TUESDAY

Open Mic Night @ Jet Lounge

Great venue, great vibe and totally acoustic.

Time: 21:00 | Location: Groen van Prinstererstraat 41 EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY

Noche Latina @ Candela

Grab a partner for a bit of Salsa dancing Time: 23:00-04:00 | Location: Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 85 | Price: Free before 12 EVERY SATURDAY

Organic Farmers Market

Organic Local Produce Time: 9:00-16:00 | Location: Noordermarkt, De Jordaan EVERY SUNDAY

Nude Swimming @ Zuiderbad

Not for everyone, but if you’re into it, well here it is, strip of a few layers and jump in!

Time: 16:30-17:30 | Location: Hobbemastraat 26 | Price: €3.30 Have you got a small local event or activity and want to let people know? Send us an email @ events@amsterdo.com

2 3 23

W

elcome to the largest whisky bar in Holland. Since 1971, Whisky Café L&B has specialized in rare alcoholic beverages that tickle your nose and warm your belly. When veteran bar tender, Léon Elshoff, took over as owner in 1984, L&B sold about 80 whiskies, already making it the number one whisky establishment in the Netherlands.

For decades, they have honored a tradition to offer new and unique tastes. It was even the first bar where you could buy a Duvel beer. L&B now sell and offer tastings of over 1600 whiskies. And that selection continues to grow.

In the 80s, Elshoff tells us, whisky was not widely available in the Netherlands. You could only get blended whisky (single malt mixed with grain whisky). Soon after Elshoff took over as manager and owner, new whiskies arrived on the shelves, and single malts gained in popularity. The assortment became bigger and better. Now, you can find just about any kind of whisky you are looking for. According to Elshoff, while other spirits such as vodka and rum have shown losses over the last few years, whisky has actually gained in revenue and popularity.

L&B is one of those brown cafés that help tourists understand the meaning of the Dutch word “gezellig.” Nestled on a side street off of Leidseplein, it’s not one of those noisy, touristy bars, where the music is too loud to hear your friends. Here, they cater to just about everyone: the young and old, tourist or local, and a decent population of expats. The staff offers specialized recommendations and can educate you on exactly what you’re drinking; most of them are dedicated students of drink who have worked at the café for 4 or 5 years. Prepare to talk shop if you’re a connoisseur.

Loek Fransen got involved with L&B about 12 years ago when they started doing private tastings for serious connoisseurs.

He’s another expert in whisky and a member of an elite whisky society in Scotland. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, you might catch a whisky tasting underway. About 5 years ago, L&B started hosting Whisky Weekends and this year the cozy establishment, which holds about 70 or 80 people, will host its 5th annual event. Attracting whisky aficionados from all over Europe and elsewhere, the 2013 event promises to be bigger and better than ever. For €35 you get to taste a lot of whisky – a lot of expensive whisky that you might otherwise be too shy to sample.

The bar itself has a history. Before it was the largest whisky bar in Holland, L&B was a grocery store and a bike shop, with the stairwell in the middle separating the two stores. In the early 70s, it was initially in the business of specialty beers, some whiskies, and snacks. Elshoff intimated that many customers think the 70s style is retro. “It’s not retro,” Elshoff laughed, “it’s typical 70s.” Well, not the dust, he admitted, “The dust is from the 80s.”

In keeping with the L&B’s tradition of bringing people together, Elshoff claims he has witnessed about 40 married couples that met for the first time at his bar. He also met his wife at the bar. It comes down to atmosphere. Where good friends and good drink are the destination. There’s no loud music, no guard at the door. It’s open from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. (weekends till 4 a.m.), just like a brown café should be.

But let’s not forget about the 1600 different whiskies. What kind of whisky would L&B recommend? Before giving advice, the staff uses a sliding scale to gauge a customer’s particular preference. According to Elshoff, “Most customers know what they want to drink…We have 1600 whiskies, but you have many flavors of whisky. But a lot of people do not know anything about whisky. So, we ask on a scale from 0 to 10, what kind of flavor would you like: nice, sweet, easy or more a mature, more pronounced taste?”

Come into the bar and you get to know the history of whisky too. Elshoff reminds us that there are two different types of whisky. Grain whisky and malt whisky. Malt whisky is made from barley in one distillery and matured in oak casks for at least 3 years. Most are 10 to 12-years-old. Grain whisky, made from corn (e.g. Jack Daniels) or some other cereal such as rye (e.g. Canadian Club), in its pure form is an industrial

alcohol and it’s not made to drink. It’s actually made to mix with single malt whisky, resulting in a blended whisky such as Jack Daniels, Canadian Club, Chivas Regal, and Johnny Walker. Pay attention to the age statement. Prices go up according to how old the malt whisky is and what proportion it is to the grain whisky.

When you think of where whisky comes from, you might think Scotland, which has hundreds of distilleries but there are even distilleries right here in the Netherlands (4 in fact).

In truth, you can make whisky just about anywhere as long as you have water, grain, yeast, and oak barrels. Color and flavor comes from the wood of the barrel. Cherry barrels are sometimes used instead of oak to add a sweeter flavor.

We were surprised to learn from Elshoff and Fransen that in Europe, Italy tops the list for most whisky consumed per capita, followed by France, Spain, and Greece. Although 92% of all whisky is blended, the single malt 12-year-old Glenfiddich sells over 9 million liters per year.

So what’s the absolute rarest whisky in the world, you might ask? According to Fransen, the most expensive bottle in the world is probably the 1926 Dalmore Single Malt Scotch.

Bottled in 2011, the 85-year-old whisky apparently sells for €250.000 a bottle. At L&B, however, the rarest bottle you will find is a 1967 Balvanie, bottled in 2000, right before its alcohol content threatened to go below the mandatory 40%.

You can taste it for a mere €240 per glass. Only 11 bottles left in the world give it a market price of £17.000 a bottle.

Can you actually save whisky once you open it? Fransen declares certainly not. “You don’t save whisky. Because if you walk out the door and a taxi driver pulls up while you look the other way, somebody else is going to drink that bottle and not you. So, take it while you can. Enjoy life because drinking a nice whisky—its an emotion—it has to do with the mood you’re in.” We here at AmsterDO agree. Proost!

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