The Sentinel Amsterdam vol. 5 #17 by Consultancy Market Media

vol. 5 #17 – 02 October 2012

the sentinel amsterdam

Integrity, heart, humour

feature

Culture

BRUSSELS: EUROPE’S CAPITAL PersPeCtives lifestyles travel oPinion

review teCHnology art film

GREEN AMSTERDAM (WEST) musiC trends reCommended sPort

Contents

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.

CONTENTS

In this issue feature

P. 04 culture

Brussels: Europe’s Capital

Green Amsterdam (West)

‘This pulsating and politically vital city’

‘The local green-fingered and eco-conscious creative traders were granted a licence’

trends

p.74 sport

Up, up and away?

p. 46 perspectives

P. 58

Round and round ‘Having a bike is fun, healthy, ecological and it brings back the child in you‘

p. 84 more:

The Gold Room

‘Where can we send an SOS?’

ECO TRAVEL p. 18 France: Architecture to nature travel Australia’s next virgin

p. 36

Café/BAR Review Pater’s Vaetje

p. 64

star beer guide Duchesse de Bourgogne

p. 66

BRING BACK Late night terraces

p. 69

RECOMMENDED

p.71

Spotted p. 72 Where is this in Amsterdam? Film Review: Room 2c p. 73

ColoPHon The Sentinel Amsterdam e-mail: sentinelpost@gmail.com website: www.thesentinel.eu Contributors: Valeria Scimia, Eva Haan, Simon Owusu, David King, Dirkje Bakker-Pierre 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 Cover image - © Dennis Bouman

Technology TechBit: Sio-Bytes

p. 78

sport On the Volley

p. 80

CLASSIFIEDS

FEATURE

Brussels: Europe’s Capital ‘The heart of Europe, in the most important of administrative senses’

By Denson Pierre

To bring a little balance to our reporting on Belgium in 2012, Tourisme Belgie voor Wallonie & Brussels made sure we got everything aligned from the core. The Sentinel was invited to Brussels to gain a fresh perspective on the city truly at the heart of Europe, in the most important of administrative senses. Together with my wife, we would explore how a typical city weekend break could be enjoyed there and how it contrasts slightly from life in Amsterdam and even the rest of Belgium.

FEATURE

‘The resident diplomatic and European Parliamentary political set has influenced the feel of the city by settling their families and numerous support staff’

Brussels emanates an immediate big city feel as soon as you step off the NS HighSpeed train from Amsterdam Central (2.5 hours, faster by Thalys). There is a greater sense of haste and, as soon as you leave the station, wide avenues and sweeping roads identify it clearly as a driving city. As you cast your eyes over the architecture, this immediately presents itself as that of a mature city, in no way as quaint as Amsterdam or other Flemish cities and towns. That said, the walk from the station to one of the most magnificent squares of gilded buildings in Europe (The Grand Place) is just a few short minutes. Just as this square offers an eclectic set of architecture (restored in the 18th century) for the eyes, your ears soon begin to recognise the mingled sound of many languages being spoken by passers by. Not all are tourists; many are, in fact, international residents. Brussels is the administrative capital for all things European Union. With so many member states (27 plus another six on the road to full membership), languages and cultural mannerisms, the resident diplomatic and European Parliamentary political set has influenced the feel of the city by settling their families and numerous

support staff here. The city feels how I imagine New York or Washington DC must feel, in parts – a sort of global convergence zone. Our press trip was supported by a typically well-thought-out type of city guiding. They use a system of ‘greeters’, who are not the formally meticulous guides you tend to meet on such trips but educated locals who actually volunteer (in the main) to show people around their home town. As such, they make sure you absorb the city as if experiencing it through the eyes and olfactory senses of someone who has known it all their lives. No nuance is missed and our own greeter, Isabelle Ghislain, managed almost effortlessly to spend four hours with us enjoying her city, when the arrangement was for just two. There is so much detail and fun here, on all social, architectural and commercial levels. Brussels is busy and bustling, if late starting in the morning. We were also invited along to pass comment on the cuisine offered throughout Euro Capital City and a couple of examples are highlighted elsewhere in this issue and that to follow. Suffice to say that, given the heavily French-

‘They make sure you absorb the city as if experiencing it through the eyes and olfactory senses of someone who has known it all their lives’

FEATURE

‘Waterways developed over the centuries allowed vessels carrying the fruits of the sea right into the city centre‘

influenced feel to the culture, the food is of very high quality. What is striking is the vast amount of seafood available, given that Brussels is reasonably far from the sea. Waterways developed over the centuries allowed vessels carrying the fruits of the sea right into the city centre, and that taste and tradition typifies the mealtime specialities on offer. The smells of the city are not at all fishy, though, as wafting in on the air is the constant sugary essence of waffles. So many waffles and they all look delicious. Kiosks and parlours selling homemade ice cream are also particularly visible and very well patronised. This sweet toother’s paradise also excels in quality chocolateries and is, in fact, considered ‘The chocolate capital of the world’. Arguably the very best chocolate studio of them all is Pierre Marcolini and a visit and nominal purchase is highly recommended, even if a great many other high-end chocolate masters, hogging the frontline, offer a quality and range of chocolates unrivalled almost anywhere else. Do not be surprised to come across huge sculptures made from edible chocolate, either.

A snapshot of Brussels fills you with the sense that Europe is working alongside the peculiarities of its countless regions and their muttering discord in a time of great stress. If solutions to the quagmire of economic and political uncertainty across Europe are to be found then it is from here, and only here, that the details will be worked out. On the Saturday morning we were lucky enough to witness part of an exclusive ceremony involving Belgian-Moroccans, born within the city, having the privilege of being married in the church on the Grand Place, complete with traditional North African ululating and all. Around the back, we also came upon a visiting troupe from an outlying town in traditional masquerade costumes, being led through the streets by dancing giants on their way to the Manneken Pis/ le Petit Julien. This diminutive statue must be the most photographed monumental object in Europe. Tradition and an interwoven community spirit dominated my impression of this pulsating and politically vital city.

‘This sweet toother’s paradise also excels in quality chocolateries‘

FEATURE

eCo travel

France: architecture to nature By Denson Pierre

Part two of my journey to France continues where the previous issue left off, highlighting how sustainable methods can work very well alongside conventional commercial objectives. Having spent a comfortable night at P’tit Déj Hotel (www. ptitdej-hotel-iledere.com), on Ile de Ré, Poitou Charentes, bright and early the following morning we were back in the classroom, so to speak, as we visited the Eco Label-awarded and very stylish Les Vignes de la Chapelle. While its dining and lounge areas, freshly laid-out breakfast buffet, splendid grounds and obligatory swimming pool were all undoubtedly fi ne, what impressed us most was the fact that we were in an entirely ‘green’-designed complex. While many businesses try to cut back here and there, to reduce resource and waste impact, here was an example of how it is possible to plan for the longer term, making profit via more gradual and integrated means. This produces the peace of mind of knowing that your company is a leading light within the progressive, sustainability movement.

Hotel Les Vignes de la Chapelle has such innovative, yet simple benefits to its design and landscaping that I was left wondering why all smaller hotel and houses throughout the many regions of the world with similar climates are not built using the same principles. The hotel does not need air-conditioning (one of the world’s greatest energy spilling processes), since it was built with the majority of its units facing south, enabling massive solar panels to heat water for use throughout the complex. To aid cooling, the architect has shielded most of the units from direct sunlight/heat by using the natural landscape and permanent foliage. In the upper areas, where the sun could peep through, wooden louvres are used to supply shade, allowing cooler air to circulate… Very clever. At night, it takes very little effort to keep the rooms at comfortable temperatures, since the walls and interiors have not heated up too greatly during the daytime. All of the decorative plants throughout the beautifully landscaped gardens are either indigenous to the region or need relatively little water to remain healthy and vibrant.

‘What impressed us most was the fact that we were in an entirely ‘green’-designed complex’

eco travel

‘The hotel does not need air-conditioning (one of the world’s greatest energy spilling processes)’

Rain water is collected from the conduits ringing the roof and is used to water the plants. Any excess water is stored in a large tank, as the region is prone to very arid periods of only intermittent and insufficient rain. On a modest scale, this little hotel has shown me the best example of an integrated, conservation-minded complex I have so far seen on my travels. It demonstrates that the entire sustainability concept is less about not doing certain things, but more about cutting back on and being smarter with energy and irreplaceable resource consumption. It must be a source of great satisfaction to achieve this aim while still running a profitable business.

Following lunch at the breezy and flavoursome seafood restaurant l’Océan, we took a 20-minute ferry crossing to the next island: Ile d’Aix. Upon arrival, you would be best advised to procure yourself a bike from one of the many affordable rental options readily at hand. The island was described by one of my colleagues as an open-air museum. It sparkles in the sunshine and is very popular with young families, having the right mix of activities and being handy enough in size for tourists of any cycling ability to explore and circumnavigate in just a couple of hours. Of greater interest to our press group was a visit to the La Nacre museum and workshop.

Only a very short drive away is the gorgeous, fortified town of St Martin de Ré. We would have liked to spend longer here, as it turned out, but our various group members had different objectives on this stint (photographers and storytellers demand different input from guides). Our guide turned out to be living proof that Europe works on most of the important levels. She was German born and raised, and ultra-travelled, until she met a local man and settled here many years ago. She conducts tours in the five languages in which she is fully fluent and was a genuinely funny and informative person to have met with so little time available to delve into the history of this small but interesting place. I would certainly like to return, find her and hear the rest of the story of why some market traders and hawkers were so belligerent about the presence of journalists taking photos in their midst.

Musée de la Nacre is pretty much unique in Europe and certainly a leader in the fashioning of large sea shells from tropical waters (+26˚C), and fragments thereof, into fine and attractive jewellery and ornaments. Seeing how craftsmen turn dull and naturally discarded shells into such kaleidoscopic, polished pieces of art adds a new dimension to this long-running family business. This is a great stop to make during your exploration of the island and its many other treats. Although this report on Ile d’Aix was made towards the end of the summer season, we were assured that a visit in winter also offers its own, unique attractions. The ‘tourist’ booths, horse riding, and ice cream vendors may be missing, but a good many people live here all year round and are sure to offer you a warm welcome.

‘The entire sustainability concept is less about not doing certain things, but more about cutting back on and being smarter with energy and irreplaceable resource consumption’

eco travel

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The island was described by one of my colleagues as an open-air museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Seeing how craftsmen turn dull and naturally discarded shells into such kaleidoscopic, polished pieces of art adds a new dimensionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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Classifieds

classifieds

travel

Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next virgin

travel

‘Things are on the up and life is good’

By Eva Haan

Spring has sprung in Melbourne! Slowly, but with silent determination, more and more trees have started awakening from their winter sleep (together with the people, I think) in the city that has become my current home. The winds that, at the beginning, tried to literally blow me away and cut through to the bone with their coldness have switched to warmer ones, bringing with them good old hope that, weather-wise, things are on the up and life is good. It has been almost three weeks since I moved here and I must say I do not regret my decision one bit. The time has been filled with the usual hazards that await when you move to a new city for more than just a few weeks. Firstly, I had to get myself a local bank account; easy enough as I just had to choose which one was best for me, go in, sign some papers and a couple of weeks later, the confirmation arrived at my address. Something happened at the bank, however, which confirmed once again how nice people can be here: the bank teller, who I had only just met and to whom I’d spoken only a few words with about my plans, without asking offered to help me find a farm job (which I need to do for three months if I want to stay here for a second year) via a friend of his who owns one close to Melbourne. So, in addition to the big smile on my face stepping out of the bank, I now had a bank account and another useful contact for when it is time to do some physical labour in a field somewhere. My second important task was to apply for a Tax File Number (TFN), which everyone who works here must have. This can be done online and it will arrive at your ‘home’ address. After that it’s time to concentrate on finding a job. I had decided beforehand that I should get a part-time bar job, which would leave me enough time to do other things of

interest for which I haven’t really had the time or the energy before. As usual with me, things didn’t quite work out like that. After one trial shift in one of the bars I was supposed to call back, I realised that, for now at least, I am very much done with bar work and need to do other things here to be happy and make the most of this trip. Through my friend and housemate, I found a weekend job doing promotional work, handing out brochures and welcoming people to a display village of what might be their future homes. It is nothing overly exciting but it does mean that, moneywise, I can breathe a bit more easily, because there will be some coming in again soon, instead of just going out. What is interesting here, I have found, is that it is much more inspiring to go out there and try things you haven’t done before, for whatever reason, and be successful at it. You worry less and do more. Any time you’re broke and need some quick money, unless you’re just lazy or utterly stupid, you can find a job. My first thought after arriving in Melbourne was that this place feels more like a home than just another big city. The more time that has passed, the greater confirmation I have had of this. Perhaps it’s because the weather changes as quickly as it did in Amsterdam and you never know what awaits you when you leave the house, meaning you should always be prepared for a sudden storm or a chance to throw on a bikini and work on your tan. Or maybe it’s all the entertainment and fun things this city has to offer: St Kilda beach with all the funky little bars and nightclubs around it; the Royal Botanic Gardens for a nice picnic; the city centre with its hidden lanes that take you to the coolest cafés and shops; graffiti art decorating walls on a professional level; the huge Queen Victoria’s Market, where you can spend hours buying the freshest fruit and all sorts of delicacies from around the world; and so on. These are the most memorable places I have been in the past couple of weeks but I know it’s only the beginning. There’s so much more to discover and I, for one, could not be more excited.

travel

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I now had a bank account and another useful contact for when it is time to do some physical labour in a fieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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travel

‘Any time you’re broke and need some quick money, unless you’re just lazy or utterly stupid, you can find a job’

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travel

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;You should always be prepared for a sudden storm or a chance to throw on a bikini and work on your tanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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classifieds sport

classifieds

Mechelen

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.

culture

Green Amsterdam (West) By Denson Pierre

Remarkably, the Ten Kate market is 100 years old! Over a three-weekend period, starting on 15 September, there have been additional and traditional stalls standing on the now (recession effect) tremendously busier market. It is a celebration! Also, on the weekend of 15 September, the local green-fingered and eco-conscious creative traders

were granted a licence to hold a mini music and craft festival just around the corner from the food and fresh goods market. The Sentinel was fortunate enough to interview various stall holders, to learn of their future-positive outlooks for the city, record their suggestions and sample their wares. If a green revolution can start anywhere in Amsterdam, it would seem that the West has the opportunity to be at its vanguard.

culture

classifieds

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JC Tours

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perspectives

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bicycles rule the streets of the Netherlandsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Round and round

PersPeCtives

‘Amsterdam is also where the most bikes are stolen’

By Valeria Scimia

Most people who are asked what is man’s greatest invention would probably reply that it is the wheel. It allowed people to move quicker with less effort and made it possible for them to manoeuvre large objects that it would otherwise not have been possible to move. By inference, we could therefore assume that mobility has always been one of man’s top priorities. Mobility has retained its importance to this very day, as our fast-paced lives require great ﬂexibility and, in most cases, the necessity to move easily from place to place. Whereas in most cities cars are the main form of transportation, bicycles rule the streets of the Netherlands.

PersPeCtives

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Paint your bike in a distinctive way, so that thieves are put off by the chance of it being easily recognisedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

PersPeCtives

‘In Amsterdam, a bike has more than monetary value; it represents freedom’

Amsterdam is particularly bicycle rich and almost everybody owns one or more. It must be said, though, that Amsterdam is also where the most bikes are stolen. Sadly, I know very few people who have not suffered this fate at one time or another. It’s a shame when you have bought a brand new conveyance, only to have it stolen within the fi rst week. Many websites and articles suggest various creative ways to prevent your bike from being stolen but I have to say that, in my experience, they are mostly ineffective. One of the suggested options is to paint your bike in a distinctive way, so that thieves are put off by the chance of it being easily recognised. I had one that I painted in so many colours it looked like a clown’s bike, yet it was stolen from a very nice area of the city, where it’s unusual for this to happen, not long afterwards. I was disappointed. I have tried placing stickers, coloured patches and bags on my bike, and they stole those, too. The only bike that lasted a reasonable amount of time was neutrally coloured and no-one appeared interested in it. One time, I even left the keys in the lock and only realised the next morning, by which time it was gone. I was disappointed and angry at myself but, later that day, someone knocked on my door with my keys, saying they had found the bike and were asking everyone in the street if they owned it. The man who had found it, took it and rang people’s bells was someone living in social housing on my street. Many of them are ex-bums who used to steal bikes in the city. He even told me that he had only decided to try returning the bike because he found it on the street where he lived and did not want to have trouble with the neighbours. I was amazed by my luck and, even if I don’t yet know what it proves, I do know that that bike lasted longer than all of those I tried to camouflage.

I have not yet found a better way of preventing thieves from stealing your bike than using more than one lock anytime you are going to leave it longer than 10 minutes anyplace. I’ve had so many bikes stolen in this city that I started to become paranoid. When they can’t take the bike, it seems, they always take something else, usually the latest addition to my beloved transport. They took the basket, the lights, they tried to break the dynamo, they took the reflectors, the bell, the bags, seat cover… everything! Piece-by-piece, time after time, if you have something nice on your bike, you’ll learn to either secure it in the best and scariest way possible or to bring it home with you and forget about the thieves. Apart from all the bad, it’s always a nice sensation when you get yourself a new bike. Whether it’s really new or second-hand doesn’t matter when it’s yours and it takes you everywhere you need to go anytime you want; that is real freedom of mobility. Just remember to be careful since, in Amsterdam, a bike has more than monetary value; it represents freedom. Listen to the local Dutch people; some good advice is to spend a fair amount on locks and avoid buying the cheap ones. Buy a chain that is made of compressed iron, which is way more difficult to break; get a back-wheel (Axa) lock and don’t scrimp on that either, as you don’t want your bike stolen while you’re doing groceries. Even if you bought a cheap bike, if you want to keep it for any length of time, it’s better to invest in good protection and forget about camouflage, a method that certainly doesn’t work in a city with a million bikes circulating everywhere. Having a bike is fun, healthy, ecological and it brings back the child in you. I wish all readers happy cycling around this marvellous city that certainly offers a unique experience to its bikers.

Classifieds

cafe/bar review

Café/Bar Review Pater’s Vaetje

Cafe/Bar review

‘A bar stool awaits you and feel free to mention that you saw the invite here’ By Denson Pierre

Blauwmoezelstraat 1, 2000 Antwerp

With this café being literally a short walk, metro and 90-minute train journey back to Amsterdam, my wife and I had to stop off on the return trip from Brussels, if only to make sure the special place it had occupied in my drinkers’ heart was well deserved. There are many superb cafés and beer houses in Brussels but with Antwerp being our favourite quick escape city, it was imperative to touch base with Lut (the owner) and the girls at Pater’s Vaetje, for more entertainment and guidance through the very best of the world’s beers. This is a super cosy and perfectly located café, which serves the right amount of cutters and practises the correct opening hours, considering the spiritually uplifting brews they serve. Being smack in the middle of the Flemish capital and nicely nestled alongside the impressive cathedral, the café and its terrace get top marks when the sun is out. And the atmosphere inside this easily filled bar is always cosy. A bar stool awaits you and feel free to mention that you saw the invite here. It might just land you an extra smile from the team. This is my favourite bar in the lowlands as it ticks all the usefulness boxes with an excellent-plus beer selection that is always being refreshed and the women there are just nice. www.patersvaetje.be

star beer guide

The Sentinel Star beer guide By Denson Pierre

Duchesse de Bourgogne (6.2% A.B.V.) ‘Oddly refreshing and completely unforgettable’

With the changing of the seasons, it is time to consider a radical taste changer. This ‘sour’ red ale will leave you struggling to find comparisons in flavour to anything else. The beer is blended using 18-month-old stock and 8-month-old newly fermented supply. The result is a highly original taste that is suited to more mature palates and, if it was not already labelled as ale/beer, could have invented a new category all to itself. Oddly refreshing and completely unforgettable. A Brussels dedication beer brewed by Brouwerij Verhaeghe, Vichte, Belgium.

Classifieds

Classifieds amsterdam City life

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: K C A B G N I R B LATE-NIGHT TERRACES

By Denson Pierre

Bring back: Is it just us, or have you also noticed how dead Amsterdamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s streets become after midnight, even on a Friday or Saturday night? Regular opening hours for cafĂŠs/bars extend to 3.00am on these nights, which should provide plenty of scope for lively social intercourse. But the law now stipulates that punter activity outside cafĂŠs/bars must be completely cleared away by midnight. Trips to other cities during the warm months have again illustrated how important terrace life can be, not only as part of the overall inner-city fun experience but also in encouraging more economy stimulating consumption. While noise pollution should, of

course, be taken into consideration, people who buy or pay inflated rent in zones with high concentrations of horeca (hospitality) establishments should know what to expect. They should not be allowed to become the ultimate killjoys by complaining and demanding that vibe-destroying changes take place. These days, the late-night city can seem like a ghost town, unless you are prepared to dive into many different addresses to check their liveliness levels. Terrace hanging is also useful in avoiding smokers illegally fumigating interiors because they feel they have no choice. The Sentinel says bring back late-night terraces!

AMSTERDAM Sentinel recommended De Pijp 21/09/12

ended R ecomm

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.

9 3812 SZ Amersfoort reCommended

5 75 - Fax 033 454 35 79 Connoisseurs Delight To Be Seen and -Tasted mproef@eurogifts.nl : www.eurogifts.nl

Cafe Tisfris Cafe Tisfris is recognisable for its landmarks, funky pillars and terrace. Tisfris offers a friendly service and is a great pit stop for “yummy” refreshments.

71 Fun, Drinking & Music

ORDERNUMMER: 60 ARTIKELNUMMER: 65

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!

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

St. Antoniebreestraat 142 Amsterdam Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdam www.tisfris.nl www.operaprima.nl

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.

Incanto Incanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen. Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance. The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines.

Café Kostverloren Café Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon, an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room. During summer there is a large, sunny terrace and during winter, an open fireplace!

Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdam www.edelamsterdam.nl

Amstel 2 Amsterdam www.restaurant-incanto.nl

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, wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits.

Planet Rose Planet Rose is the first Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands, which specializes in Jamaican cuisine. The menu features a daily changing selection of Jamaican/ Caribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole experience while dining with them!

Vibes Vibes is a relaxing cafe/cocktail bar /art gallery with a large selection of coffees, herbal teas, homemade cakes and an amazing card of cocktails, made with fresh fruit, by a professional cocktail bartender. Enjoy our Italian kitchen in a cosy and friendly atmosphere.

Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdam www.cafeoporto.net/home

Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdam www.planetrose.info

Jan Pieter Heijestraat 137 Amsterdam www.wix.com/vibes137/vibes

SPOTTED

Where is this in Amsterdam? Answer to: sentinelpost@gmail.com

Film review

Room 2c film By David King

The Number 23 (2007) Twin towers 9/11 + 2001 = 23; JFK assassinated November 22 + 1963 = 23... Obsession can play the cruellest of tricks on our minds and when a man finds a book that explains the power of the number 23, which relates to his own life so seamlessly and predicts his future, he decides to find the author before someone who is destined to die does. This intriguing film tempts you get out the calculator to study your own life and, yes, you will find that the number 23 is disconcertingly prominent!

Room 2c film By dpmotions

Mad Max II (1981) A wildly criminal gang terrorises and threatens to overwhelm an encampment in an arid and unforgiving post-apocalyptic landscape. Fuel is a valuable yet extremely scarce commodity. Led by the unforgettable Lord Humungus, the gang offers the settlers the chance to â&#x20AC;&#x153;just walk awayâ&#x20AC;? and survive, although they would lose their priceless refinery. In steps the Road Warrior (Mel Gibson) to save the day, playing such a classic role in this, easily the best of the Mad Max series, it makes you wonder what went so wrong.

trends

‘The Dutch are generally seen as almost the worst dressed nation in Europe’

Up, up and away? By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre

Sometimes an item of news can pass by completely unnoticed, when it really should be on the front page of every newspaper and magazine. People should be upset and out on the streets protesting, while talk shows host endless panel discussions, evening upon evening, with semi-famous people who have nothing to do with the subject but offer their opinion (while trying to pitch their new movie, book or whatever it is they are busy with at that moment). Just recently, one of those exact news items passed by the lowlands without even causing a ripple… And that is just wrong! It was a short article, really more of a factual report, and it went something like this: a recent poll amongst European travellers shows that the Dutch are generally seen as almost the worst dressed nation in Europe. The only country deemed even less stylish by our fellow Europeans is Russia. Well… I was not shocked when I read this, as it is probably true, but I am shocked by the complete lack of reaction in the Dutch media. Not a single fashion magazine has picked up on it (probably intentionally ignoring the subject, since they are, of course, trying to make money out of Dutch women’s preoccupation with fashion).

I mean, yes, it is unsurprising and probably very true, as even my previous column showed that, in reference to Dutch politicians, the Netherlands is a dark wasteland when it comes to fashion. But, why is everyone just like, “Oh, alright then, yeah, well Dutch people are more practical about clothes, so that’s probably about right”? The reaction should be: “Oh my god, it really is dire here when we compare ourselves to the rest of the Europe, what can we do about it? How can we become better? Who can we ask for help?” Who is going to lead the way to a better fashion future? Where can we send an SOS? We need help! Is there any hero out there with superpowers that can help us? It’s time for Fashion Man! Heeeeeeelllpp!

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TechBit: Sio-Bytes

e-Germination ‘To integrate software and hardware to create unique experiences that they could control from beginning to end’ By Simon Owusu

In the technology world, titans such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Twitter, Facebook and Apple are moving away from competing with each other at a product level and are now investing their time and resources in developing ‘eco-systems’. An eco-system is a community of living organisms (plants, animals and microbes) in conjunction with the non-living components of their environment (things like air, water and mineral soil), interacting as a complete system. In business, it describes a system or mode of operation that individual products are interconnected to provide an overall service or platform to consumers. This started becoming prevalent in the 90’s and now, more than ever, defines the future of the tech industry. Given the interdependency of the multiple technologies available to consumers, it is now very hard to view a product or service in isolation. Emphasis is now being placed on the eco-system of a product or service, therefore, with the differentiation between products and services narrowing from day-to-day, it makes good business sense to concentrate on the entire

eco-system of a product and not just the product; it becomes more about the sum of the individual parts. The two companies leading the way currently in establishing long lasting and profit generating eco-systems are Amazon and Apple. Both companies have amazing eco-systems and they each have a distinct eco-system strategy; however the underlying principles are the same, building an array of individual products that complement each other and work together. Both companies have been around a very long time in tech terms, and both started offering products or services that started with individual components and built upon those to offer a full range of services and products uniquely connected to each other. In Amazon’s case, they started a service to sell physical books online and then slowly added more products and services, expanding into supplying CD’s, DVD’s and MP3’s. Their next step was to add video games, software, electronics, furniture, apparel, food, toys and jewellery. Founded in 1994, Amazon’s strategy to build and eco-system resulted in an unusual business plan that meant they would not make any profit whilst they built the foundations of their eco-system. It was not until the end of 2001 that they made their first profit and in that time they had laid down the foundations of their eco-system. Amazon also made a strategic move reminiscent of the ‘Apple Way’ to integrate software and hardware to create unique experiences that they could control from beginning to end. In 2007, Amazon launched their own digital device to consume the content they provided, which was the Amazon

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Kindle, therefore creating a complete circle. The Kindle was initially an eBook reader which allowed consumers to purchase digital books from Amazon. As the Kindle device matured, offering such as movies, music and audiobooks were also added enabling Kindle users to purchase all types of content, without leaving the Amazon eco-system. In turn, Amazon could control the whole experience of how their customers experienced movies, music and audiobooks from initial purchase to final consumption. Each of their individual products or services could be used in isolation, however the complementary nature of how they all tied in together made it so convenient, that most consumers did not need to look outside the Amazon eco-system. Apple like Amazon, have created an eco-system to control the user experiences of their consumers by emphasising the convenience of staying in their eco-system, as it far out-weighs the benefits of using any individual product or service from a rival company. For example, there is a lot of debate on whether the Apple iPhone is the best smartphone in the industry when compared to the likes of a phone from Samsung, albeit one is a clone of the other with no real major differentiations. Whilst it is debatable as to which is the better smartphone, there is no debate as to which phone is in the better eco-system, i.e. with surrounding and complementary products and services that tie into each other to work flawlessly to deliver a unique user experience. The Apple iPhone, like the Amazon Kindle, is supported by a huge array of world beating products and services. The Apple iTunes store enables the iPhone to have access to the biggest music store online where movies can be downloaded as well.

The Apple iPhone has access to billions of Applications that can be downloaded directly to the phone with little effort. Digital books can be downloaded from their iBook’s store. Outside of the software and content, Apple has also created an eco-system of physical retail stores to support the purchase and aftercare of their iPhones and assist with any of the individual components of their eco-system. Therefore when comparing the Samsung phones to the Apple iPhones, on an individual level, one might be better than another due to small differentiations, however, when you look at the bigger picture, there is only one clear winner, the one with the compelling eco-system. Given the success of companies building eco-systems around their products, don’t be surprised to see other companies following suit.

‘There is no debate as to which phone is in the better eco-system, i.e. with surrounding and complementary products and services’

On The Volley sport

‘Amsterdam’s fringe theatre festival came along just in the nick of time’

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‘Sports and the theatre have a fairly illustrious past, hardly ever does the beautiful game make it on to the stage’

By Simon Joseph

A Point of Difference The Olympics and Paralympics are long gone now, and London is no longer the centre of the world. But on a recent family visit to London, I noticed the streets were still buzzing with a feeling of success and a sense of belonging to something successful. Meanwhile, the last of the athletes have left, the stadium in Stratford stands empty and the question of its fate hasn’t yet been determined. Will it continue to be used predominantly for athletics or will professional football be far too attractive a proposition? For the time being, there’s only one so-called ‘Theatre of Dreams’ in England with Stratford in its name. It will be another four years until we see the Games again, if Rio – the city in Brazil, not the Man United centre-back – manages to get it together in time. It’s a long wait for athletes and fans alike, especially if, like me, you’re not following football for a year. Now I’m left with a strange feeling of not belonging to anything. In my search for something to keep me entertained, Amsterdam’s fringe theatre festival came along just in the nick of time. A full ten days of performing art, physical theatre, live music and so on, went some way to taking my mind off football matters and keep me from temptation. I’ve been involved with this festival for a few years now, editing and contributing to a website that writes reviews on all the latest trends in fringe theatre. I first started going to fringe theatre in London, in the late 1980s, but in all that time, there’s never once been a performance of any kind about football. In this year’s fringe festival there were no less than three! So much for out of sight, out of mind. Reference to the theatre in the game of football already exists, but it rarely happens the other way round. But when you think about it, they’re both in the business of producing drama. In football you have the ‘stage’ on which the ‘performances’ take place, the dialogue between the two rivals, there are plenty of drama queens and nearly always a pantomime villain. There’s the teamwork necessary to make something successful, something that others would want to be a part of, and perhaps the most important similarity is the audience, without which both professional football and any kind of theatre would struggle. In truth, then, the two might not be as dissimilar as you might think; but whereas other sports and the theatre have a fairly illustrious past,

hardly ever does the beautiful game make it on to the stage. There was a show called An Evening with Gary Lineker back in the 1990s, which actually played to full houses in the West End. On the other hand, Ben Elton and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Beautiful Game lost more money than it would cost for a Premier League team to buy a half-decent defender. So mixing the two does carry a risk and finding success stories are rare. The productions I saw at this year’s Amsterdam Fringe couldn’t have been more different from watching a game of football, and the ‘players’, humbled by their constant search for publicity and for funding, certainly don’t act like Premier League prima donnas. But their ideas about entertainment and drama were interesting and sometimes thought-provoking. Two of the three shows were fairly straightforward, following the protagonists along the narrow path between success and failure. But the most captivating by far was the poignant story of two boys, one Iranian and one Polish, whose lives were connected through a game of football that took place in 1976. As contrasting as these boys’ lives seemed, they became intrinsically bound through that one game, which they ingeniously recreated for the stage. So, if a theatrical performance can in any way reflect a game of football, it has to be in the way it brings people together. The Amsterdam Fringe Festival, like any other festival, connects people with similar interests, telling stories about everyday life, from which football seems so far removed these days. Nevertheless, football, and perhaps sport in general, brings people together like nothing else on earth; and just like at the end of every football season, when this year’s Fringe was over, there was a feeling of being cut off. This is, of course, an involuntary separation, because when something’s going well, why would you want it to end? It seems there’s an inherent need to feel connected to something, then, whether it’s sport or theatre or anything else; so why have I decided to cut myself off?

‘Most captivating by far was the poignant story of two boys, one Iranian and one Polish, whose lives were connected through a game of football’

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The Gold Room By Denson Pierre

Budgeting is an important part of fantasy football management and here, in the FFG-CL 2012-2013, it is even more restrictive, since a maximum of ÂŁ40m can be spent on a team of 11 players. It takes a special talent to find the bargains that will prosper from within the overall player pool. During the past two seasons there has been a tendency to frontload teams with expensive attackers, given that so few top-scoring attackers come from the lesser teams, these days. This creates a deficiency of funds with which to bolster defences and, indeed, those who stand between the sticks and only gain points through acts of heroism and superhuman consistency. Outfield defenders can make up for lost clean sheets by scoring goals or being awarded performance-related bonus points for above average displays. Goalkeepers do not have this luxury and operate under the most severe circumstances for point scoring. One mistake can easily mean no points and certainly top-level, accurate strikes on goal have a high percentage chance of being successful, regardless of who is the custodian of the goal frame and net. There are only excellent goalkeepers in the Premier League, allowing many FFG-CL competitors to choose from within the cheaper set, which offers the chance to gain the best

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possible value. This season’s competition features two outstanding, athletic, acrobatic keepers costing £2m or less, both vying for the tag of best-value keeper. Added to this is the fact that both are smaller keepers, making them appear that much more like ‘spider men’, as they literally have to fly those extra centimetres to complete classy saves. Julio Cesar was part of a Champions League title-winning team just two seasons ago and is among the Brazilian national squad. He may have lost his edge and gone stale at Internazionale Milano but class is permanent and the Premier League has an infectiously challenging atmosphere that should squeeze the most out of him, especially since, at 33 years of age, he should be entering the peak period in a goalkeeper’s career. In holding Chelsea to a 0-0 draw, Queens Park Rangers have shown that Mark Hughes may now have the players to create a solid enough shield in front of Cesar’s goal. At a cost of just £1m, he should be irresistible. Michel Vorm, meanwhile, had a sensational debut season in 2011-2012, yet slipped into the FFG-CL priced at just £1.5m. Swansea City may no longer have the surprise factor, in terms of organisation and fluidity, but his shot-stopping exploits will surely keep him in the running for performance points. Both these keepers make it possible to focus valuable FFG-CL resources on finding high-value goal scorers, for the time being.

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CZECH REPUBLIC STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT!