Unique Places in Amsterdam

There is a great little theatre/restaurant along Haarlemmerdijk. The movie theatre is called "The Movies" and the restaurant "Wild Kitchen". Both have a fantastic atmosphere.

You can have your cake and eat it too by reserving ... Dinner first, they call you when your movie is about to be shown.

The food is fantastic and both the restaurant and the movie theatre have a great atmosphere. It is worth reserving for either/both to make sure that you can get in.

The bar at the restaurant is also great...

this chess game you can find outside on the max euweplein near the leidseplein the hard rockcafe and casino are also here.
i cannot tell much about this. it start at 9.30 and the pieces will be taken away at 21.30. i took this picture on a sunday.

Het Max Euwe-Centrum is open from tuesday till friday and every first saturday of the month from half past 10 in the morning till 16.00 in the afternoon.
MAX EUWE CENTRUM:
Max Euweplein 30a
entrance free
here you can find all kind of information about playing chess.

Go back North via the AMSTELVELD (for the men there is a public toilet, the so-called KRUL). Go left into the UTRECHTSE STRAAT, where you'll find CONCERTO at nrs. 52 to 60. It's one of the oldest and most reliable record stores in town. They still have records (also buying them), but for hard to find CD's this is the place.

Opposite at nr. 105 you find GET RECORDS.

4 more images

A note: If you are looking for RECORD MANIA, that used to be in the Jordaan area at Hartenstraat 9, you have to go to the Ferdinand Bolstraat 30 instead (Beyond Heineken Experience). Record Mania is a great shop; the only one with a good Jazz selection and some other gems. Basement bargains.

Now go South (I prefer via the PRINSENGRACHT) and go right on LEIDSE STRAAT (watch out for the public transportation). At the LEIDSEPLEIN there will be lots of shows in the weekends, so enjoy. Go to the east via GARTMAN PLANTSOEN and enter WETERING SCHANS. Almost opposite Paradiso you will find RECORD PALACE at nr. 33. Here the goodies are located in the basement. Say hallo to owner Jan van Dorsten.

2 more images

We were on Sunday afternoon in Oosterpark open air Roots Festival (it was free to the public). This year was on 17th-20th June. The park had 5 different concert stages -one very big one. Through the walking pathways there were more than 200 food and art craft stands from all over world. First we visited these exhibits later on had some dutch beer and got high a bit. The ambiance was wonderful, a lot of young people dancing enjoying smiling... The food was very good, we tried local fish snacks and later got some fries and some indonesian food. If you plan your trip on summer try to coincide with this festival, you won't regret it:)) It's an absolute fun!

1 more image

The nine streets is a part of Amsterdam wich a lot of people don't know. The area is between the Kalverstraat and the quarter "de Jordaan" in the Amsterdam canaldistrict. It's very picturesque. The shops are small and special. More boutiques. Not like the shoppingstreet the Kalverstraat wich could be any street in any city.

1 more image

A magnificent brick confection at Herengracht 170-172, its facade covered with cherubs and urns, swags and swirls.

The architect was one Hendrick de Keyser, and the house was for one Willem van den Heuvel (important in the West India Company). Van den Heuvel inherited a load of money from his Italian uncle, so adopted his name......which is why the house is called 'Bartolotti'.

The house dates from the early 17th century and, sadly, there is no public access to its interior.

But it does have its own page on the Dutch Wiki. :-)

4 more images

Old Amsterdam is full of lovely architecture, which makes wandering along its canals sheer joy.

I especially liked this building, which is tucked away in the Jordaan district and not so easy to find by chance.

It dates from 1642, with three crow-stepped gables, tiny (old) leaded window panes and lovely painted shutters.

Most interesting of all, its three namestones represent a steeman (someone who lived in a city/town), a landman (farmer) and a seeman (sailor).

I wonder why?

Worth seeking out. Bloemgracht is a pretty canal street anyway, and the buildings next door to 87-91 are lovely examples of a slightly later architectural style (bottleneck gables).