The Sentinel Amsterdam vol 7-4 by Consultancy Market Media

vol. 7 #4 – 17 December 2013

The Sentinel Amsterdam

Integrity, heart, humour

CULTURE PERSPECTIVES LIFESTYLES TRAVEL OPINION REVIEW TECHNOLOGY ART FILM MUSIC TRENDS RECOMMENDED SPORT

feature

travel

ANTWERP: HANDS FREE

POLAND: DOING THE POZNAN

in this issue

perspectives - p.22

art - p. 44

Antwerp: Hands free

‘Antwerp feels more and more like home’

Dam in 60 minutes! Sloterdijk

MoMu Antwerp: Fashion’s Fabulous Monument

‘There’s no light without shadow’

‘This rich showcase of Antwerp fashion history’

travel - p. 60

technology - p. 98

sport - p.102

Poland: Doing the Poznan

User Interface

The Gold Room

‘There is a boom afoot in large patches across Central Europe’

‘Not many designers pay attention to the ‘meaning’ of colours’

feature - p.04

more lifestyles - p. 38

culture - p. 76

amsterdam city life - p. 83

The best Flemish chips in Antwerp

Old York, new Amsterdam

Bring back…!

star beer guide - p. 84

sentinel recommended - p. 86

spotted - p.88

Troubadour Westkust

Where is this in Amsterdam?

film - p. 89

trends - p. 90

perspectives - p. 94

Room2c

Your flat-screen TV or your life

Basque basics

health & well-being - p. 96

Resilience

The Sentinel Amsterdam

E-mail: sentinelpost@gmail.com Website: www.thesentinel.eu Contributors: Sam van Dam, E.R. Muntrem, Nathan Turner, Dirkje Bakker-Pierre, Evelina Kvartunaite and Andrei Barburas

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

The Sentinel Amsterdam does not intentionally include unaccredited photos/illustrations that are subject to copyright. If you consider your copyright to have been infringed, please contact us at sentinelpost@gmail.com.

feature

Antwer Hands Free

By Denson Pierre

It is no exaggeration to say that Antwerp feels more and more like home, these days, perhaps due to its consistently friendly welcome and guaranteed variety of experiences. On our latest visit, we were scheduled to have a close-up look at the area of industry, which is pretty much the mainstay of the city and region’s economy.

‘It is almost like a living creature, given its vastness and countless moving parts’

feature

rp: 5

feature

To many who have not had reason to think about it, the Port of Antwerp could sound like an odd area of interest for a lifestyle magazine, among the usual travel tips and activities of interest. Those who lack imagination, however, always tend to miss out on the more interesting things in life. The port of Antwerp is more than just a port; it is almost like a living creature, given its vastness and countless moving parts interacting with humans and human engineering. It is, in fact, the largest port area in the world (13,057 hectares). This small country of a port area can remain invisible to the average visitor to Flanders, but that need not be so. I learned that it is not just a ‘boy’s dream’ to be among super-sized machines and tremendous stockpiles of physical goods awaiting transhipment to our homes and wider industry, but that all of this is pivotal not only to the history of Antwerp, Flanders and Europe, but to the entire world.

The statistics regarding the performance of this, one of the world’s greatest man-made systems, foisted upon an already impressive natural one can be found here: portofantwerp.com/en

Once back on land and in the presence of normal-sized constructions and machines, an appetite the size of a tide kicks in. Why is it that being out on water, in either fresh or salty air, makes you so hungry and thirsty? Luckily, a trip to Antwerp would not be complete without a bit of food research and drink sampling. There is such a rich and varied choice of cuisine here and the prices are always just that bit more attractive for what, it must be said, is better prepared food than that generally found in Amsterdam. It goes without saying that the overall beer and wine offer is almost in a league of its own in this city, so we took full advantage once again. That evening we were booked to be have a meal built around some of the finest beers available in the world, at a central and utterly accessible location, close to the central station, with the leading beer expert in Belgium (read: world) as our host. What great fun and this incredible taste tour turned out to be the perfect complement to a cruise master class on the economy of the city. Antwerp is capable of providing experiences not available in any other medium-sized city. Could this be something to do with the myth of their freedom from the hand (i.e. taxation and overbearing legislative control)? I just love it, as no other city packages this kind of high quality and diversity at reasonable prices. Partners on this leg of the press trip: Flandria.nu biercentral.be visitantwerpen.be leopoldhotelantwerp.com

The 3.5-hour tour should really be a must-do in

‘Pivotal not only to the history of Antwerp, Flanders and Europe, but to the entire world’

There is a catch, of course. The best way to experience this story and get a real feel for the almost overwhelming nature of the experience is by taking the Flandria cruise tour by water. It is clear, as soon as you get going that this is not just some sort of easy up and down with a pre-recorded tape of industrial highlights pointed out at regular intervals. The entire watery network is a working zone. I suspect that our captain must have been a retired harbourmaster or certainly a former pilot, as the manoeuvres involved in navigating these constantly dredged channels of the Scheldt and the dynamic positioning against the current and swash are a kind of art, especially when some of the largest ships in the world are regularly either moored ominously close or are actually bearing down on you, with right-of-way not really a point of discussion.

Antwerp, in any weather. The Flandria is a gorgeous vessel, whose dining areas can easily be transformed into a party and hosting space, if conditions turn foul.

feature

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Dynamic positioning against the current and swash are a kind of artâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

feature

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A trip to Antwerp would not be complete without a bit of food research and drink samplingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

classifieds

Je moet er geweest zijn.

classifieds

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

photography © Layla Aerts

Mechelen Mechelen

perspectives

Dam in 60 minutes! 22

Sloterdijk

By Sam van Dam

perspectives

‘The steely Amsterdam equivalent of Manhattan’

I bike on and pass the Stenen Hoofd, where a tiny beach used to be the only opportunity within the city limits to recreate that beloved vacation feeling we all crave, and which makes us board aeroplanes and trains and travel around the world. Luckily, we also have IJburg, these days, which we visited in a previous article. This particular Westerdok location is also where the famous annual Pluk de Nacht movie festival takes place, making it one of those iconic places in Amsterdam, where people can watch films outdoors, sitting in a beach chair, surrounded by an almost Mediterranean environment. The terrain lies barren and empty at this

time of the year, except for a bunch of dog owners taking their furry friends for a walk and the boats passing by, which also has its charms. But deep down inside I’m wishing it was summer again, so I can take off my shirt, lie in the sand and enjoy the full potential of the place. I stop daydreaming and careen on in the general direction of Westerpark, which I’m approaching via the Spaarndammerstraat, one of my favourite streets in Amsterdam. It has its very own flavour and offers lots of opportunities to spend your day shopping, eating and chillaxing, before taking a stroll in the park to recharge those city-dweller batteries, letting the wind blow all the thoughts and worries out of your head. A sign informs me that the neighbourhood has already collected more than €12,000 in rewards from the city council for drivers staying within the speed limit; an unusual yet perfectly logical approach towards educating our fellow Amsterdammers to adhere to the rules, demonstrating that good behaviour pays off, literally. The ride through the park is uneventful and soothing. I stop here and there to take a deep breath, lift my head towards the sky and soak up the relaxing atmosphere. Families walk around, birds sing their songs, the sun peeks through the clouds and all is well. But I’m on a mission, so I hurry on, pointing my bike at the almost skyscraper-like silhouettes of the Sloterdijk district, the final destination of our trip. The closer I get, the more I sense just how different this part of town is. A giant cluster of office buildings creates a busy array of modern society, which seems to symbolise hectic activity and the creation of monetary value, the cornerstone of our wicked world. Unimpressed, I tear through the outer limits of the mirror-glassed El Dorado, biking on and on, underneath the huge concrete pillars that support the myriad of train traffic bridges, past the offices where tens of thousands of workers create the wealth that keeps our beautiful country going and past the gazillions of parked bikes patiently awaiting their owners. I keep going until I am outside the main entrance of Sloterdijk train station. I proudly look at the towers of finance and commerce and, like so many times before, embrace the fact that my lovely hometown has so much more to offer than the crowded city centre with its seedy pleasures.

This time we’re taking a trip to Sloterdijk, the steely Amsterdam equivalent of Manhattan or La Defense in Paris. For easy orientation, once again I begin my journey at central station but this time I bike behind it, passing the local ferry dock, and turn to the left, admiring the mirrored facade of the Chamber of Commerce and the sparkling new Palace of Justice that solemnly sits in the water like a fat duck. To my left, a completely new neighbourhood stands its ground, featuring rows of buildings that have been adjusted to their surroundings in style and colour, creating a modern, yet fitting element that communicates well with the older parts of this district, called Westerdok. My personal favourite is the imitation Flat Iron building from New York, which allows passers-by a deep look into its inhabitants’ living rooms through the giant glass front that makes up the sharp edge of the building. It must be awesome to live in one of those apartments with a wide, open view of the IJ, the film museum and the boat traffic using the passage behind the train station. It’s probably not as awesome to have sightseers like myself standing outside your window with their cameras, but there’s no light without shadow.

perspectives

‘Look into its inhabitants’ living rooms through the giant glass front’

perspectives

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Rotate 360 degrees to take it all inâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

perspectives

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Watch films outdoors, sitting in a beach chair, surrounded by an almost Mediterranean environmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

perspectives

‘Blow all the thoughts and worries out of your head’

perspectives

lifestyles

The best Flemish chips in Antwerp – a guide

By Denson Pierre

‘Choose between the wide range of purveyors of this perennial favourite when in Antwerp’

Criteria: With winter upon us, The Sentinel was invited to pass judgement on 1. The chips Antwerp’s leading chip shops and 2. Staff/service stalls. We decided not simply to 3. Freshness seek out a personal favourite but 4. Appearance/cleanliness rather to rate aspects of the overall 5. Location experience of grabbing a portion of 6. Original sauces 7. Price the greasy and warmth-giving snack/meal. The aim is to make it Ratings from 1-5, where 1 = Poor and easier for you to choose between 5 = Excellent the wide range of purveyors of this (Chip shops and stalls do not appear in order of ranking) perennial favourite when in Antwerp.

lifestyles

‘It was at night and they were still good quality’

Frituur ‘t Stad – Melkmarkt 5 (1) 4 – it was at night and they were still good quality (2) 1 – a rare example in this city of detached and unwelcoming behaviour (3) 4 – it was at night (4) 2 – it was not so busy as to prevent them from tidying and cleaning up a bit (5) 5 – hard to miss if on foot (6) 3 – nothing out of the ordinary (7) 3 – standard Total rating: 22/35

lifestyles

Fritkot Max - Groenplaats 12

‘Fantastic and warm; exactly what you want from happy-food peddlers’

(1) 5 – near perfection (2) 5 – fantastic and warm; exactly what you want from happy-food peddlers (3) 5 – made me wonder if the potato farm was just around back and the frying oil changed every couple of hours (4) 5 – Flemish-style chip masters (5) 5 – ideal when criss-crossing the monumental and historic centre (6) 3 – maybe time to introduce a unique, signature sauce (7) 3 – standard Total rating: 31/35

lifestyles

Frituur Nr 1 - Hoogstraat 1 (1) 4 – Lovely chips (2) 3 – spoilt a bit by having a rather screechy service leader shouting out orders and beckoning startled tourists and locals with her brusque tone and attitude. It is never too busy to be polite when you are peddling happy food (3) 4 – generally a street-facing window service but with a nice and tidy indoor mini-dining area (4) 3 – professionally tidy (5) 5 – ideal when criss-crossing the historic centre (6) 3 – standard range for Antwerp (7) 1 – unjustifiably higher sauce prices than the competition Total rating: 23/35

‘A street-facing window service but with a nice and tidy indoor mini-dining area’

lifestyles

‘Leaving one wondering what the Haute is abaute’

Haute Frituur - Kloosterstraat 110 (1) 2 – no taste assessment made but, contrary to their publicity and fancy name, they are not busy with organic products or sustainable containers and cutlery (2) 1 – an amazing case of the proprietors being pointedly antagonistic about the importance of tourists to their business, stating a disinterest in the objectives of even the tourism board and/or social media and being ‘happy’ with the business they get from their direct neighbourhood. Perhaps such folk should leave the hospitality industry if it causes them to be so tetchy and bitter. (3) 3 – I was assured that they did not even have a particular supplier, so they can be

expected to be as fresh as the standard for sure (4) 3 – unexceptional but nice room for chipping (5) 3 – not in a totally obvious location but not difficult to find. Following the information available on the internet caused me to arrive a full hour before they opened. You have to be local to check the notice on their door. Given the above, swinging by later on for a tasting was felt to be unpalatable. (6) 3 – surprisingly standard leaving one wondering what the Haute is abaute (7) 3 – standard Total rating: 18/35

lifestyles

‘What a really nice, welcoming and authentic ‘chipsman’’

‘Grab your portion and then enjoy a walk along the beautiful routes in the historic wharf area’

Frituur ’t Steen – Steenplein (1) 5 – near perfection (2) 5 – what a really nice, welcoming and authentic ‘chipsman’. He does his city proud with such a beaming and service- oriented disposition. I mean, they’re only chips but he puts love into his business. (3) 5 – must have a direct line to suppliers of the best fresh ingredients and oil needed to turn out these beauties. (4) 5 – a really cool chip stall. He has wheels but stays put in all weather (5) 5 – for me the best location of any happy-food peddler in the city. You can grab your portion and then enjoy a walk along the beautiful routes in the historic wharf area. Unbeatable.

(6) 4 – not expansive but somehow they taste and feel classic in this setting. (7) 4 – just feels cheaper than the rest as you get so much more from a visit. Total rating: 33/35

art

MoMu Antwerp: Fashion’s Fabulous Monument By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre

Nationale Street, one of the many upscale, atmospheric, fun and varied shopping streets in Antwerp’s city centre, is home to Mode Natie (Fashion Nation). Also located here, among the many other famous fashionrelated institutions (like the Flanders Fashion Institute and the Fashion Department of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts) is the Antwerp Museum of Fashion (MoMu). The museum is housed in a magnificent building, dating back to the 19th century, topped with a white dome, which makes it a clear landmark in the remarkable city of Antwerp. This year, from 8 September until 16 February 2014, the fashion museum is featuring the exhibition Happy Birthday Dear Academie!, showcasing the rich history of ‘50 Years Antwerp Fashion Department’. The exhibition is one of the many projects with which the Antwerp Royal Academy of Fine Arts is celebrating its 350th anniversary. We were lucky enough to visit MoMu during this period and can recommend this rich

showcase of Antwerp fashion history, if you happen to be there over the coming months. The exhibition starts with a showcase of the departments’ history, highlighting snapshots from the moment it originated until the present day. After climbing an impressive set of stairs, there are several spaces to visit, where still lifes are set up in serene light, featuring compositions of white figures dressed in very diverse fashion items. The different rooms are connected by white, circular tunnels, their walls covered in red typography referring to the themes or concepts of the section you are entering: paradise, enchanted field, dream heaven, nirvana, clown riot, sex craze and desire, to name but a few. The highlights and most unique pieces from the history of this great institution are grouped by themes and colours in exciting and enlightening combinations, which hold your gaze and inspire your mind. It’s like walking from one tableau vivant to the other in a kind of eerie, futuristic, clean world, where there is room for the most extreme, extravagant, elegant, subtle, original and out of this world forms of fashion. You are allowed to get close to the items, enabling you to

art

‘Housed in a magnificent building, dating back to the 19th century’

zoom into the smallest details of the masterfully made pieces, each of which showcases not only sharp originality and a feeling of exceptional experimentation and poetry, but also very much the minute craft and perfection of every stitch and fold. You find yourself immersed in all of this rich, creative beauty, with images of a Victorian masked ball or a futuristic cityscape popping into your mind. The images take you to faraway places only to bring you back to do it all again. Of course, the famous names that have grown and flourished in Antwerp pop up here and there in a feast of recognition. Just to see pieces that Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dirk Bikkembergs and Martin Margiela dreamed up and created in their early years, let alone being so close to them, is an absolute delight and an awe-inspiring, almost religious experience. What I especially loved about the exhibition is the way you see and feel the vibe of this intensely creative fashion department, which focuses on students developing their own specific signature. You feel the deep engagement and involvement of the students in their four-year bubble, where they can develop their art in the purest possible way to become unique and strong designers. This pressure cooker of creative and

conceptual freedom is fully supported by high-quality training in the history, craft and technique that underlie all good fashion design. This is where the power of this ultimate fashion institution lies and it is a philosophy they have been able to carry on through the years with absolute and utter verve. This enormously entertaining fashion show paints a picture of the programme as an artistic cocoon. It also shows us how varied the careers of the department’s alumni are and how this programme has left a mark on the international fashion world. The fantastic policy of this unique museum is to completely redecorate and change the museum for each major exhibition. The whole exhibit space is transformed again and again to create the right experience and ambiance for each specific show. Just like the fashion world, there is no constant, there is only change. In which case, we are already looking forward to our next visit. Visit Momu: Nationalestraat 28, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium For more information: www.momu.be

art

‘Antwerp Royal Academy of Fine Arts is celebrating its 350th anniversary’

art

‘It’s like walking from one tableau vivant to the other in a kind of eerie, futuristic, clean world’

art

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;This enormously entertaining fashion show paints a picture of the programme as an artistic cocoonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

classifieds

Ĺ&#x161;wiÄ&#x2122;tokrzyskie - share the Magic

go to the website: swietokrzyskie.travel

classifieds

feature travel

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Once you arrive at Poznanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compact and fully modern airport the fun can begin

By Denson Pierre

There is a boom afoot in large patches across Central Europe and Poznan reflects this most particularly. The invitation to visit came to me at slightly short notice but, with most of Europe within two hours flying time from wintry Amsterdam, Poznan sounded as good a weekend break option as anywhere else, from what I had previously gleaned.

: d n a l o P e h t g n i do n a n Poz

travel

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Poznan is probably among the top 20 places to visit for a quick city break and cultural replenishmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

travel

Getting to and from Poznan does involve connecting via one of the huge German airports (Frankfurt, Munich) serving Amsterdam, or Warsaw. These are suitably straightforward bridging points and once you arrive at Poznan’s compact and fully modern airport the fun can begin. It is not much more than a 15-minute run to the city centre by taxi and, as good planning would have it, I was staying at the conveniently located Andersia Hotel, within comfortable walking distance of the old city and downtown area. It is fast becoming a cliché in my reports to readers, Amsterdammers and Dutch folk in particular that urban Poland and Poznan, in particular, is kinda hip, cool and great fun with cultural expression offered at what are still genuinely affordable prices. I have worked out that, in terms of a quality weekend break, sampling a range of international and traditional fare, Poznan is probably among the top 20 places to visit for a quick city break and cultural replenishment. Everything is served up with attention and a smile by enthusiastic staff at the city’s hospitality establishments. Of course, I would be insincere if I were not to warn you that there are also plenty of residents of the post 45 year old generation who choose to scowl and moan way too easily. Members of this group afford themselves a

reduced chance of enjoying the newfound dynamism and space for European, 21st-century fun, borne of strong economic performance in their region. The unemployment level in the city and environs is below 4%! The Catholic Church and other rightwing, conservative associations do manage to get a message of doom and fear out to many, even with that sterling economic backdrop. These older, depressed members of the population still find it interesting to oppose things like deeper European Union integration, based only on their fear of losing ‘power’. Politics aside, my first pleasant surprise was the series of very modern dining opportunities arranged by my host from the local tourism office, Wojciech Mania. There are so many concept eateries all over the city that it makes dining out extremely easy, and if traditional Polish cuisine happens to be your thing, they have that too. Our first dive into the city’s culinary smorgasbord took us to a very hip café-restaurant, re-modelled from an industrial workshop into an unconventionally laid out dining area, playing ambient and psychedelic electro-pop music, with a tremendously varied menu. Pracownia is a sweet place; the menu is based on an Ayurvedic diet and at least one classic favourite from pretty much each of the world’s major or interesting

cuisines. A vegetarian’s paradise, therefore, although thumping and danceable Soca music coming out of they do serve the complete range of edible commodities. random doorways of clubs and bars on the historic market square area than I have ever done in Amsterdam; With replenished energy I was able to celebrate the so much, in fact, that I was tempted to nip in for a wisdom of having a local guide on a visit to an sweaty workout. unfamiliar place. That said, given the easily navigable old city entertainment district, finding your way around So, after a party of a Friday night, Saturday would be the wondrous cafés and bars might not be too difficult. about music and culture. Scanning information on Incidentally, they do that thing here where they call museums, I came across a museum of musical instruments music restaurants and bars ‘clubs’, even though they also rather close by to some of the bars I visited the night have what the rest of the world considers to be clubs. before. While there, I took great pleasure in imagining The buzz of the city is altogether great and we were the sounds made by these amazing pieces of art and my now into Friday night. Poznan city centre is as lively as wilder thoughts about the people who would have made could be and this means that a general rule of thumb or played them. I found myself humming a little ditty common to all major entertainment districts across as I crossed the square to the old town hall (museum) to Europe also applies here; it can get messy late on, when catch a glimpse of its fine architecture and the famous intoxicants have conquered a few individuals or groups. mechanised Poznan Goats. Not yet satisfied and with All is safe and fun in the bars, though, something helped my pores opened for culture, we walked across town to by the very young adult vibe. With a population of just the rather impressive national museum, housed in a over 600,000 people, Poznan has more than 150,000 very grand, modern-style building. It holds an interesting students. Wild, eh? This must make it a nice city to mix of pieces and series from around the world, arranged experience as a student, given that student bar prices around a tremendously impressive swathe of here can make the average Amsterdammer feel like contemporary Polish fine and improvised art. I need to they are drinking for free. The bars I can recommend get back to this museum on another occasion, when I are: 1994, Basilium and Klub Dragon. Just to put the fun have the four hours, or so, it would take to view its coefficients into proper perspective, I heard more contents properly.

‘There are so many concept eateries all over the city’

travel

Late lunch comes quickly when you are culture touring, as detail eats up time like nothing else. Lunch was to be a highlight of this programmed visit. I was now in a taxi being driven across the river Warta to what is arguably the number one dining experience address in the region. We were greeted at Vine Bridge Restaurant by the beaming host and chef, and the wonder began. This restaurant concept is based on modern Polish cuisine, deployed in the cutest, tiniest restaurant imaginable. If forced to, I think they could seat no more than twelve diners! This is for a reason, as the food is as intimately sculpted and flavoured as the dimensions of the space hint at. Without slipping into a review, I will just say that the food is fantastic. What a place, what an experience. By the time I’d done a bit more sightseeing and even caught some of the Arsenal vs Southampton English Premier League game live on TV at one of the more casual local bars, it was time for dinner. This time it consisted of more homely, organic, vegetarian fare in the most grand, monumental, former dwellings you could expect to find such a restaurant. With a full tummy it was back to the music. We headed to the rather excellent Blue Note jazz club. Fine music and expert cocktails led to me suddenly finding myself on

my bed by 1.00 am. It seemed like there was so much to do and enjoy, and not enough time to do it all in just one weekend. My final few hours in Poznan left me thinking that there is a lot of passion and industry to this city. It has a fully modern football stadium and club, whose fans are the most recent to have propelled a term into the universal football lexicon. And then there’s the city’s deep and rangy history. I did not imagine that I would ever walk through the best kept example of Nazi architecture in the world or stroll through the office and apartment space that regime had made ready for Hitler (he never actually ended up staying there). But yes, here in Poznan they have risen above their troubled history and have incorporated an astonishing open museum and contemporary installation-filled project space throughout and over the darker past. The Emperor’s Castle is a shining example of the optimism and creativity at the heart of these people. At least now I can say I have done a Poznan and feel richer for it. Partners on this press trip: www.polen.travel plot.poznan.pl

‘Given the easily navigable old city entertainment district, finding your way around the wondrous cafés and bars might not be too difficult’

travel

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;So much to do and enjoy, and not enough time to do it allâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

travel

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A shining example of the optimism and creativity at the heart of these peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

travel

culture

‘The AGA had moved from its beautiful birthplace in the artisan hinterland of the Jordaan to the forgotten zone’

Old York, new Amsterdam 76

By Nathan Turner

Hailing from York in the North of England, a city of rich and intriguing history, enchanting architecture and a population of real ale connoisseurs, it’s not surprising that Amsterdam was an easy transition to make for designer and print artist Nathan Turner when he moved here recently. Nathan has just completed a two-month Artist in Residency programme at the Amsterdam Graphic Studio (AGA); a diverse, traditional printing facility now based in Amsterdam West. I’ve had the good fortune to live on the Brouwersgracht this past year. On moving to the city, when I first heard that the AGA was based a short distance from my apartment, I made a mental note to one day investigate the facility. Upon applying for the Artist in Residency programme in November, I was invited to meet the AGA team not in the Jordaan but at The Rose of Dekamaweg in Kolenkit, a

neighbourhood in Amsterdam West. The AGA had moved from its beautiful birthplace in the artisan hinterland of the Jordaan to the forgotten zone, the concrete and traffic enriched labyrinth that is Bos en Lommer. Coming from the cosy setting I had grown accustomed to, I was slightly dubious about living in a converted 1970s high school in what was (on the surface) a pretty uninspiring district – until you look closely. Arriving for the first time at the AGA, I was met by office manager Eric Kummeling. Eric is like everyone’s favourite uncle; a whirlwind of energy and an all-round marvellous gentleman. I was given the grand tour and any reservations I may have had about the area were instantly forgotten. What is staggeringly impressive is the building’s main workshop; a converted gymnasium full of the most wonderful examples of print machinery, old and new, you are ever likely to see. As a facility, the AGA is the oldest graphic

culture

workshop in the Netherlands and was originally intended for Amsterdam artists who could not afford workshop facilities. It now has international ties far and wide, catering for both established and new creatives alike. The list of print techniques available to explore at the AGA is endless. Nearly all the traditional techniques are covered and it has a fully professional digital lab. With a constant flow of helpful volunteers and department specialists, you can’t help but think that being based in a school is the most perfect choice of setting. When you realise the sheer scale of artistic opportunity at the AGA, along with fact that Bos en Lommer is the place to be when it comes to new and emerging artists, you soon begin to understand why upscaling premises to this new location was a clever move. If you are someone who loves to get stuck in and share what you know, as well as learn

new skills, you’ll find the AGA rather like your first day at school: slightly overwhelming, but very exciting! My work? The AGA and, equally importantly, Bos en Lommer itself turned out to be one of the most inspiring places in which I’ve had the pleasure to work. Full details about the AGA, can be found at: www.amsterdamsgrafischatelier.nl Nathan’s residency work created at the AGA can be found via his website: www.autacraft.com

culture

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A converted gymnasium full of the most wonderful examples of print machinery, old and newâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

culture

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Nearly all the traditional techniques are covered and it has a fully professional digital labâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

classifieds

amsterdam city life

: K C A B G N I R B By Denson Pierre

It is only fair to end the year on a positive note in terms of Amsterdam city life. It is a mighty fine city in which to bumble around but, unfortunately, a fat purse is needed to properly indulge oneself, these days. There are rumours and even signs that hospitality establishments are being inspired once more (I am not the only consultant out there telling them to buck up for our bucks). Just one thing remains and I know it is difficult to get staff who consistently exhibit excellent levels of service and ability to greet punters. I do hope, though, that I do not have to visit a single further establishment, not controlled by bookings only, and have some brusque youngster fail to greet me on entering their place of work with the express aim of spending hard-earned cents. Instead, the “would you

like something to drink” line is produced far too often before I have even removed my satchel from my shoulder or when I still have my fingers on my jacket zipper. I mean, what the hell, this is just so irritating. If you want to make someone feel unwelcome, this is a good technique. Even knowing that this is not a deliberate act of terrorism but something lacking in the training, a simple “hello” or “welcome” might be a better starting point, bringing your employer improved business and allowing the unfamiliar punter to think that humanity resides in your soul. I am optimistic as, in general, there is not much to complain about when out and about in our fine, undersea city. Let us hope the goodness continues into the New Year and we wish all readers fun and development as we roll over into 2014.

Subtlety

star beer guide

Star Beer

star beer guide

The Sentinel Star beer guide By Denson Pierre

Troubadour Westkust (A.B.V. 9.2%)

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;An immediately brilliant, dark and full-flavoured beerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 85

At a certain point, dedicated and creative Westkust is brewed by Brewery brewers alight upon a recipe that, when The Musketeers, Ursel, Belgium. processed through their craft of microbiology and the balancing of flavours, results in a form of perfection. Westkust (West Coast) is an immediately brilliant, dark and fullflavoured beer, which applies its signature to your senses, leaving no room for you to confuse it with anything else. Here is a real beer that you can order blindly, based on this recommendation, and be guaranteed an uplifting experience; even if it comes to you with an alcohol content that excludes it from being a spree-time beauty.

recommended

Cafe Parck 09/12/13

ended Recomm

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

recommended

To be seen and tasted

Fun, Drinking & Music

Cafe de Toog 1890’s grandeur fashioned into Amsterdam-west, grand, brown cafe-restaurant-cool. Classy drinks and meals. Nicolaas Beetsstraat 142 hs Amsterdam www.cafedetoog.com

Parck Great fun, beautiful people and simply the best bar food in town! Overtoom 428 Amsterdam www.cafeparck.nl

Mulligans Irish Music Bar Amsterdam’s best address for live Irish music: Five (5) nights a week! Check our agenda for upcoming sessions. Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdam www.mulligans.nl

To Be Seen and Tasted

Connoisseurs Delight

To Be Seen and Tasted

Cafe restaurant Edel Cafe restaurant edel is the perfect place for lunch, dinner or to simply enjoy a drink. edel is a unique place in Amsterdam. Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdam www.edelamsterdam.nl

Incanto A restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen. Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with great feeling for nuance. Amstel 2 Amsterdam www.restaurant-incanto.nl

Café Kostverloren Café Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon, an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room. the large terras is great for sunny days. 2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdam www.cafekostverloren.nl

Fun, Drinking & Music

To be seen and tasted

Cafe-Restaurant Du Cap A spacious and tasty helping to the Mediterranean vibe within Amsterdam’s new ‘west end’ entertainment district. Kwakersplein 2 Amsterdam www.du-cap.nl

Molly Malone’s An Irish pub as it should be and a home away from home! Cosy, friendly, and with its very own character! Oudezijds Kolk 9 1012 AL Amsterdam www.facebook.com/pages/ Molly-Malones-Amsterdam/ 293030997411277

Fun, Drinking & Music

Connoisseurs Delight

Fun, drinking and music

Bax A cosy and friendly local café with a focus on special or interesting beers and good quality food. open 7 days a week with a professional kitchen offering a lunch and dinner service. Ten Katestraat 119 Amsterdam www.cafebax.nl

Café Rose Red You will not see and sample a better selection of the very best of european beer elsewhere. Cordoeaniersstraat 16 Brugge www.caferosered.com

Gollem Gollem’s proeflokaal, Gollem and Gollem II represent the best addresses serving the fullest range of top Belgian, Dutch and international beers in Amsterdam. Overtoom 160-161 Amsterdam www.cafegollem.nl

To be seen and tasted

Café Oporto Café oporto is a traditional Amsterdam ‘brown cafe’. welcoming tourists and regular customers alike, they offer televised sports, wiﬁ and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits. Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdam www.cafeoporto.net

spotted

Where is this in Amsterdam?

Answer to: sentinelpost@gmail.com

room2c

Room 2c film The Wicker Man (1973)

By dpmotions

Lord of the Flies (1963) Adapted from the intensely thought-provoking novel by William Golding, this movie shows what happens to a group of boys stranded on an uninhabited tropical island in the complete absence of adults. Raw aspects of humanity reveal themselves, even if we like to pretend it would be very different in reality today. “If we don’t lose our heads, we should be alright.” Frightening stuff.

“Just the usual, rape, sodomy, sacrilege...” A moralistic and rather multi-talented police sergeant takes it upon himself to go to a Scottish island from the mainland in search of a little girl reported as being missing for months. His lead: a simple and somewhat cryptic note posted to his station. If it was weird enough that the note was vague, what he endures during his investigation brings his beliefs into direct conflict with those of pagans.

By dpmotions

trends

Your flat-screen TV or your life ‘Consumers on fiery shopping carts swallowing up the planet’ By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre

On Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, ‘everyone’ in the United States of America goes out to shop and grab as many bargains as they can. This single day is the biggest sale of the year. Electronics and gadgets, like flat-screen TVs and tablets, are especially popular, some sold at up to 70% discount. People line up outside shops for hours, just to be one of the first to enter. Some shoppers turn up in their pyjamas to grab some of the amazingly attractive deals. To the scrutinising consumer it is clear that the sale is mainly to clear old stock, obsolete products and out-of-date models, which you can get for almost nothing anyway. But people seem completely blind to what exactly they are buying, as long as they get the biggest discounts. A few highlights of American Black Friday activity over the years: In 2008, a crowd grew tired of waiting and busted open

a Wal-Mart. In the violence that followed, one person died and four shoppers were hospitalised. At a West Virginia Target, in 2011, an elderly man collapsed and lay dying as throngs of shoppers stepped over his body. In 2012, in a Wal-Mart in Florida, two people were shot. This year in Las Vegas, a shopper was shot in the leg during a struggle with thieves who tried to take the TV he had just purchased in a Black Friday sale at Target. The words stampede, bedlam, mayhem and chaos make up most of the headlines above the many news articles on the subject and reading them makes you feel like the world might be closer to Armageddon than we think. It won’t come from the sky, seas or earth on blazing horses, but will originate at Wal-Mart with consumers on fiery shopping carts swallowing up the planet in one big, looting, stampeding hurricane. For years the general thought around the world was something like: “Only in America would there be fighting across the nation for things folk want to buy, the day after families had gathered to give thanks for what they had”. The truth is very far from that; the introduction of the tradition in the United Kingdom shows a keen enthusiasm among the British population to join in the ‘fun’. This year a man was arrested in Bristol after arguing with supermarket staff and a woman in Belfast was left with a suspected broken arm after a stampede. Luckily, here in Amsterdam, the Bijenkorf’s Dwaze Dagen have, up to now, only created fashion victims, causing only superficial damage, but I am afraid that it won’t be long before we commit murder here too, to get the bargain we want.

Black Friday, an American phenomenon unknown to us here in the lower regions, is slowly but surely coming closer and closer. Yet again, we seem doomed to incorporate another cash-crazy, consumerist, American holiday within our culture. After Valentines Day, Mother’s (and Father’s) Day, Christmas, Halloween and now Thanksgiving (we Dutchies have no reason to adopt this tradition except for another excuse to eat too much and feel like we are part of the American TV-show families we have been watching since we were children), Black Friday seems to be next in line. Having already crossed the Atlantic, it has only a wee bit of Channel to cross to shower us in discounts.

classifieds

www.yourtuliptour.com 93

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

Day segments and rates: PR: 08:00-12:30hrs / AG: 13:30-16:30hrs / UE: 17:30-21:30hrs All sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult. Group size upper limit = 8. Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25%. Family package rates are negotiable.

Contact:

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

JC Tours

perspectives

Basque basics ‘Say “hola” to anyone who arrives or departs’

‘“Who are you and what are you doing here?”’

By E.R. Muntrem

The best translation of Kafka’s In the Penal Colony begins: “It was a singular apparatus”. Other translations call the apparatus ‘peculiar’ or ‘unusual’ but singular better satisfies Kafka’s mix of the immediate and indecipherable. A version of that mix occurs to me as I try to make sense of the Chinese restaurant in which I find myself and the small town in the Basque country where it is located.

absolutely nothing to tell you this place serves anything other than the standard local fare of meat and fish. Only when you ask for ‘la cuarta’, which no one around here does, do you discover a menu of some 150 items, all poorly translated into English. I order ‘soup hot soup’ and ‘salad cooking’ and sit at the second of two tables placed parallel to the ramp. This placement allows those who sit there to say “hola” to anyone who arrives or departs. But no one does this much either. Here, like everywhere else in town, absurdly good wine is served at giveaway prices. Above you are some of the world’s most beautiful mountains.

You enter by way of a down ramp, at the end of which a Chinese son, maybe 17 years old, serves the regulars at the bar. When not watching Bollywood movies on his smartphone, Chinese dad does the same. There is

In a town with a population of just a few thousand people, everyone knows everyone else already. This may explain why no one needs a menu or says hello, except in that inquisitive way that says “who are you and what are you doing here?” It may also explain why people

perspectives

‘Uniform devotion to the anti-gezellig’

‘People become familiar, even after just a few days’

congregate in a familiar and slightly uninviting way at the bars of all ten or twelve establishments in a town dedicated to eating and drinking. Impossible to distinguish one from another, each might be better called café, tavern or social club. Nothing, however, explains their uniform devotion to the anti-gezellig.

prohibit flowers on a bar or candles on a table or tolerable music as a background to conversation, well, so be it.

Visit Amsterdam enough and, sooner or later, you will hear the word ‘gezellig’. Ubiquitously mistranslated as ‘cosy’, gezellig means something closer to ‘a place you feel comfortable, a place as groovy for romance as for meeting friends, as for sitting by yourself’. At the Chinese restaurant, as at all the other cafés, taverns and restaurants, the walls are blank, the floors tiled and the lights bright. It is a laboratory setting and the 1990s rock music blasted at patrons of every café, tavern and social club hardly softens the atmosphere. Small towns have their own rules and if the rules here

Meanwhile, people become familiar, even after just a few days: the guy who lives on the street with his dog and gets café con leches from whichever café he chooses to sit outside; the guy with the mullet and bad leather jacket who gives off the air of having never quite made it in porn; the ‘weird guy’ with huge earrings who always eats alone with knife and fork propped up as if he were a king demanding hasenpfeffer; the trios of old men who circle from place to place; the woman on crutches. People have a place here, even if the places offer a stark aesthetic.

health & well-being

Resilience By Evelina Kvartunaite

We are all very well aware of how quickly life phases transition, these days, and how quickly stress can engulf our thinking. I would therefore like to promote the idea of staying positive. Various studies have proven that positive people who regularly express positive emotions are more resilient when facing stress, challenges and adversity. It is something to think about and be more conscious of when getting out of bed every morning. Positivity brings peace and counters stress; for example, you cannot be grateful and stressed at the same time. Further along, positivity is a way to increase your resilience and ability to cope with problems. Resilient people are able to face a crisis or trauma with strength and resolve. Rather than falling apart in the face of adversity, they have the ability to carry on and eventually overcome obstacles. It may come as no surprise to learn that positive thinking can play a major role in resilience. When dealing with a challenge,

optimists typically look at what they can do to fix the problem. Instead of giving up hope, they marshal their resources and are willing to ask others for help. However, it is important to bear in mind that positive thinking and optimism does not mean simply putting on your rose-tinted spectacles and ignoring the world or overestimating your abilities. Instead of ignoring reality and hoping for the best, psychologists suggest that positive thinking centres on such things as a belief in your abilities, a positive approach to challenges and trying to make the most of bad situations. Bad things will happen. Sometimes you will be disappointed or hurt by the actions of others. This does not mean that the world is out to get you or that everyone will let you down. Instead, positive thinkers look at a given situation realistically, search for ways in which they can improve the situation and try to learn from their experiences.

– ‘Promote the idea of staying positive’ –

health & well-being

– ‘Resilient people are able to face a crisis or trauma with strength and resolve’ –

– ‘Positive thinkers look at a given situation realistically’ –

technology

‘Green is a symbol of health’

User Interface Colours

By Andrei Barburas

We live in a world full of colours and all of them can be used to represent a certain mood. Unfortunately, not many designers pay attention to the ‘meaning’ of colours and how they can take certain experiences to another level. Every moment of most people’s days is filled with colour. Some see more colours than others, some even have a more developed way of experiencing the senses (synaesthesia) and some just take colours for granted. Brands put a lot of time, effort and money into coming up with a colour or shade that represents their brand best. But what is the psychology behind this? Which colours galvanize the individual factors involved to produce a singular memorable experience?

Red, on the other hand, is a colour that evokes strong emotions, passion and intensity. If blue curbs your appetite, red encourages it. That’s one of the reasons why the majority of fast food chains use red in their signs and ads (e.g. McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut and KFC). Also, studies show that red can cause you to do poorly at exams. In achievement contexts, it is associated with the danger of failure and evokes avoidance motivation. While yellow is a warm and cheerful colour, it is the most likely to strain eyes or cause eye fatigue. Studies also show that it makes babies cry, so don’t paint a baby’s room yellow. Other colours or accent colours have different ‘meanings’. For example, green is a symbol of health, money and nature. Workers in green environments have fewer stomach aches. Pink represents love, romance and calm. Orange depicts excitement, enthusiasm and warmth but also caution; it is used to draw attention. Brown is a sign of reliability and practicality but also boredom. Purple represents royalty, wealth, success and wisdom. Many kings and queens have worn and still wear purple robes.

According to various sources, including Pantone, the best colour in which to decorate your office is blue. Apparently, this is the best colour to enhance your productivity. Your bedroom should be green, which promotes tranquillity and health. The kitchen, which is one of the most important rooms in any home, should be painted yellow, as this increases your metabolism, brightens the room and gives you energy. The dining room should be painted red, which encourages appetite. While there are several arguments as to whether black And lastly, your living room should be painted lavender, and white are actual colours, they do have different because it calms the nerves and encourages relaxation. connotations. Black means evil, death and mourning; ancient Egyptians believed that it symbolised life and rebirth. On the other hand, white means purity and Let’s get back to basics and analyse the psychology of innocence, and it provides the illusion of space. Both the primary colours: blue, red and yellow. Blue is the black and white are often used for luxury items, to colour most preferred by men and it is no wonder that it is the most used in offices. It brings a certain sense of enhance the feeling of sophistication. calmness, serenity and increased productivity. Blue is often used in corporate logos because it is not invasive (e.g. AT&T and Forbes, among many others).

So, next time you are planning on choosing a colour, be sure you know what it represents or what feelings it might evoke in users.

technology

‘Brown is a sign of reliability and practicality’

‘Black and white are often used for luxury’

100

classifieds

101

102

sport

The Gold Room By Denson Pierre

We have come to the second most prestigious annual honour call in the FFG-CL. Even though there is some glory attached to this – the profiling of the leading manager and team as we end the year – there is a sting in the tail associated with being in this position, at this stage. Only once before has the manager leading the field over the Christmas/New Year period gone on to win this master competition. The most impressive skill demonstrated by master managers is that of running down and killing off a points leader. It is all about strategising and a feel for the shifting of form throughout the height and latter part of the season. When sufficient time is left in this competition, it is easier to aim at a target and move past it than to hold on to a lead.

Steven Fockema and his Hard & Deep are well experienced and know how to win this kind of competition. Can he buck a stubborn trend and be at the top when it matters most, in May? Hard & Deep GK: Michel Vorm (Swansea City) 3m – can be expected to fly around making saves with dazzling and acrobatic precision, even after his period of injury, with the Dutch first-choice keeper for Brazil surely not yet set in stone. Rating 8.5 DEF: Dejan Lovren (Southampton) 2m – at the heart of one of the stingiest defences in the Premier League, so far this season. Rating 7.75 DEF: Jose Fonte (Southampton) 1m – a budget-buy of the highest order during the first third of the season. With his team now assuming more erratic form he could become a chink. Rating 8.0 DEF: Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa) 2m – captaining a Premier League team ought to keep him sharp, as he must be interested in being in Brazil with Oranje. Rating 8.25

sport

103

DEF: Curtis Davies (Hull City) 1m – another very good budget buy, so far. Judgement needs to be reserved, however. Rating 8.25 MID: Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) 2.5m – whether it can continue throughout the entire season or not, he has touched the uppermost limit of point scoring and impressive form, very rarely attained in this game, during in the first third of the season. Rating 9.25 MID: Leroy Fer (Norwich City) 1.5m – a player who looks like he could develop into a devastating, powerhouse midfielder. Rating 8.25 MID: Eden Hazard (Chelsea) 6.5m – coming into form just as the season is coming to its peak. He demonstrates the extraordinary transplantation of a street footballer’s skills into the huge playing areas available within top football. Only now, maybe, under the prompting of Jose Mourinho, is he starting to look like the player all of Belgium hopes he will become. Pretty brilliant. Rating 9.05

FWD: Alvaro Negredo (Manchester City) 6.5m – more of an ‘English’ centre forward than the current English centre forwards. Much more versatile and talented than his English counterparts. Rating 9.05 FWD: Luis Suarez (Liverpool) 7.5m – the ‘go to’ man for sensational and spectacular on-field performances this season. Has shown such form that it is mouth watering to consider him in the warmth closer to home during the World Cup. Rating 9.15 FWD: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) 7.0m – the other little genius. With Uruguay and Argentina both seeded, it will only be possible for him to cross swords with Suarez later on in the World Cup. But, like in this competition, the striker to enjoy the most prosperity will be the one with the better overall team behind him. Rating 9.15 Total rating (Max. possible 100) = 94.65* record aggregate rating! Budget limit = 40m Go to site: thesentinel.eu/ffg

classifieds

Get advice on housing, rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam

104

www.wswonen.nl/english

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

classifieds

Artist? Thinker? Here are some of our local partners.

105

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

classifieds

106

CZECH REPUBLIC STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT!