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Amsterdam is famous for its canals, the Red Light District, its liberal attitude and trendy nightlife. Whether you visit for a few days or a few months you’re sure to fall in love with this city, it’s historic architecture and it’s people.
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Unfortunately now permanently closed. American Book Center had created a venue for performances, art and culture. Located on the Voetboogstraat near the Spui, this center had five rooms available for public use.
Address:
Voetboogstraat
Amsterdam
Food, dance, music, a bit like home. But it’s Amsterdam, and this is the Warmoesstraat – home to the SCENE.
Amsterdam’s finest museum of the antiquities, and especially noted for it’s Egyptian displays (including a complete mummie), as well as a fine library, auditorium and research facilities. The museum has lived in several locations since it’s inception during the 1920’s. Originally on the Weesperzijde, then on Sarphtistraat, and is now in the former headquarters of the Nederlandsche Bank. This rather opulent building, located on the Rokin, is just past the Dam Square, on the left side of the canal when walking from Central Station. There are a number of trams that stop directly in front of the museum (4, 9, 16, 24 and 25).
Admission is quite reasonable, adults pay 4.30 euros for entrance. Children and seniors are less.
Closed Mondays and on Holidays, the museum is open generally from 10 am to 5 pm.
There is no parking in the area, except for a handicapped spot right in front of the door.
If you are curious about how Dutch nobility lived in centuries past you may visit the Van Loon Museum on the Keizersgracht at number 672.
The double-sized canal house was constructed in 1672. The first person to live here was the painter Ferdinand Bol, one of Rembandt’s most famous pupils.
In the sixteenth century the Van Loon’s moved to Amsterdam from the south of Holland to flee the Spanish occupation and became respected members of Amsterdam society. Several Van Loons are former mayors (burgemeesters) of Amsterdam, and the last resident was Thora van Loon – Egidius. She was Dame du Palais of Queen Wilhelmina for forty years.
The house is filled with an amazing collection of artwork, and has exhibitions on a regular basis.
An added bonus here is the spectacular gardens behind the house, which have been extensively renovated over the centuries into an amazing creation, in formal Dutch style of course.
Info:
Open Fridays through Mondays from 11 am until 5 pm. Admission is 4.50 euros for adults. Museumjaarkart holders are admitted free, children under 12 are fee.
Fine example of Dutch life aboard one of the unique houseboats lining Amsterdam’s canals. Go on board yourself to look around, and marvel at the comfy interiors made from the former cargo holds of these former commercial boats.
Located in the heart of Amsterdam, on the Prinsengracht opposite #296.
Open Wednesday through Sunday 11 to 5 in March through October. During the winter months from November to February open only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 to 5pm. Adult admission is 4.75 guilders.
The Dutch Resistance Museum (Verzetsmuseum)
The museum itself provides the best description:
“The exhibition tells a chronological story from approximately 1930 to 1950, in which information is offered in various ‘layers’. A visitor striding through the exhibition will get an overall picture of a rather indolent Dutch society in the thirties, experience the shock of the unexpected German invasion, then discover that both the oppression and resistance to it gradually intensify in the occupation years as the war progresses, finally to realize that experiences of this period are still playing a role in today’s society. A visitor looking a little more closely will be able to gather more detailed information, particularly from individual examples.”
Info:
Located near the Hortus and the Artis on the east side of Amsterdam. To get there take tram #9 or 14 to Plantage Middenlaan and walk two short blocks to the door.
The Rembrandthuis Museum is where the famous painter established his own studios here in Amsterdam, and lived with his family from 1639 to 1658.
He eventually left after declaring bankruptcy, and the home has been restored with approximations of it’s original furnishings based on an inventory of his possessions from that time.
Most of the building is devoted to his daily life from the time, and is of course, filled with paintings and art.
Part two of the museum is the new museum wing, where you will find exhibition rooms. The museum shop, the entrance to the museum café, the auditorium and the Rembrandt Information Centre are also located in the new wing.
On the fifth floor is the Rembrandt Information Center, where you can research on DC-rom, in books and other publications. By appointment only.
Info:
Open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, except Sundays and holidays when they open from 1 pm to 5 pm.
Admission is 7 euros for adults, children under age 6 are free, 6 to 15 1.50 euros.
Easily reached from the Waterlooplein or the Dam Square.
This fun and entertaining website shows all aspects on the gay Amsterdam nightlife. 6 Online tourguides show pictures of the in-and outside of all gay bars, clubs and saunas.
Eye Infection was easily the best exhibition I’ve seen at the Stedelijk Museum. As a longtime fan of R. Crumb and his wildly off the wall comics, characters and visuals, I happily devoured his original ink drawings on display at the museum. These included some of his earliest works as well as samples from his more popular creations, Fritz the Cat, Mr. Natural and Zap Comics. Crumb’s work seduces you with volumptuous vixens, then grosses you out with obscene visions of carnage and violence, then he manages to lay some obtruse social commentary on top of it all. The amazing thing is it works, and you keep coming back for more!
But the real suprise for me, and definitely the centerpiece of the exhibition is the collection of 40 works by Peter Saul. I wasn’t familiar with his art, which spans the 60s to the 90s, but thanks to the awesome display of such excellent canvases, I’m now a big fan. Saul gets his message across in dramatic style, whether commenting on American materialism, American imperialism, or just the human condition. His bright, colorful comic expressions hit you hard on many levels simultaneously. 
Some, like Saul’s version of the Mona Lisa are irreverent and zany, others like his anti-war paintings are vivid political statements. You can’t help but be moved by Saul’s work. And it seems the artist was gracious enough to include many of his best works from his private collection. A real joy to experience!
Another exhibit, Pay for your Pleasure by Mike Kelley contains 42 lifesize paintings and quotations of poets, philosophers and criminals. The quotes are not the famous ones you expect, but unusual descriptions of the creative or criminal mind. This traveling exhibit adds a self-portrait of a local criminal which then becomes part of the show when it moves on. The 56- year-old Dutchman Jan-Willem van E., who has spent 28 years in prison, was chosen to succeed the American serial-killer John Wayne Gacy.
The last two exhibits are works by Jim Nutt and H.C. Westerman with an American theme. These are fascinating in their own right, but somewhat overshadowed by the other works on display.
This exhibition was in the year 2002.
Now permanently closed by the City of Amsterdam, all three locations are gone. This review is for historical purposes only.
I tried to visit the Rokerij during the 2002 Cannabis Cup, and found it next to impossible to find a seat. This place is very popular, thanks to the dj spinning cool tunes, really good smoke and a nice large room in the back to chill and be seen by the hip set.
The crowd during the cup seemed to be an interesting blend of Americans, other foreigners and Dutch locals. If I could’ve found a seat perhaps I could tell you more. I even returned the day after the cup ended, and still found no place to sit and would’ve waited, but the thick cigarette smoke drove me out.
There are two other Rokerijs open now. One across from Central Station, the other at Amstel 8. All had nice interiors.