Van Gogh Museum + More Art

The other “must see” museum in Amsterdam is the Van Gogh Museum. Opened in 1973 to house the collection of Vincent’s younger brother Theo, it is home to 200 paintings and 500 drawings by Vincent and his contemporaries such as Tolouse-Lautrec, Monet and Gaugin. The original building was designed by Gerrit Rietveld and opened after his death in 1973 (with renovations undertaken in 1998 by Martin van Goor) and a new exhibition wing designed by Kisho Kurokawa was added in 1999. This year marks the 40th year of the opening of the museum and the 160th anniversary of Van Gogh’s…

Of Canals & Houses

June 9, 2013April 4, 2014 Categories: Amsterdam · Architecture · Europe · Netherlands · TravelTags: Amsterdam · Canal House · Canals · Gardens

“Gracht” is the Dutch word for a canal. The canals in Amsterdam came to life in the early 1600s, after the city’s population grew beyond its medieval walls and city planners put together an ambitious design of concentric waterways for expansion by draining swampland. In 2010, UNESCO finally declared the waterways a World Heritage Site. The architectural charm of a Canal House are in the intimate details rather than in grand effects. The facades were largely uniform in size and built of brick or sandstone, with large windows. The use of decorative gables and cornices, ornate doors and varying window…

Negen Straatjes

June 7, 2013April 4, 2014 Categories: Amsterdam · Architecture · Europe · Food · Netherlands · TravelTags: Amsterdam · Haarlemmerburt · Negen Straatjes · Nine Streets2 Comments

The well known “Nine Streets” represent a very dense concentration of retail shopping in the Canal Ring of Amsterdam. These small pretty streets, each only a block long, are very popular with the locals and tourists alike. Specialty boutiques and shops, cafes and art book stores provide countless shopping therapy. Located west of Amsterdam Central Station is one of the city’s smallest neighbourhoods, the Haarlemmerburt. Comprised of a long lively street bordered by quiet and charming lanes, the area has a mix of trendy stores, bakeries and cafes blending with the original shops. The neighbourhood focuses on “one building, one…

Docklands

June 5, 2013April 4, 2014 Categories: Amsterdam · Architecture · Library · Netherlands · TravelTags: Amsterdam · Eastern Docklands · EYE Building · Library · Noord · OBA

Amsterdam’s biggest redevelopment project is the Eastern Docklands. The man-made peninsulas were originally seaports but have now been transformed into urbanized residential use with a cultural quarter. The left side of the island is still being utilized for cruise ships. The OBA (Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam) Central Library in Oosterdockseiland opened in July 2007 and was designed by Jo Coenen. With an area of 28,000 square meters, it is the largest library in the Netherlands. On the other side of the River IJ is Noord. This is where the EYE Film Institute Netherlands relocated in Spring of 2012. The Vienna office…

Terug in Amsterdam

June 3, 2013April 4, 2014 Categories: Amsterdam · Architecture · Art · Europe · Netherlands · TravelTags: Amsterdam · ArtZuid · Hermitage Amsterdam · Netherlands · Stedelijk Museum

“Back in Amsterdam“ The Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam’s modern art museum, was expanded with a new building designed by Dutch architect Mels Crouwel. Opened in late 2012, the new building has been dubbed as “The Bathtub” by locals due to its exterior oblong shape and entirely smooth white volume. The original structure was built in 1895 and has direct connection on all floors to the new building. The Hermitage Amsterdam is a satellite museum of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia opened in 2004. ArtZuid 2013 – International Sculpture Route Amsterdam Started in 2008 to bring attention to the…

The Jordaan

May 24, 2013April 4, 2014 Categories: Amsterdam · Architecture · Art · Europe · Netherlands · The Jordaan · TravelTags: Amsterdam · Joordan

Developed in the 17th century, the Jordaan was once a working-class neighbourhood in Amsterdam that has become gentrified and fashionable with a number of antique stores, galleries, cafes, restaurants and designer shops. The area still retains its network of maze-like streets, courtyards and canals. There’s not a lack of interesting store-front windows in this neighbourhood!

Amsterdam

May 22, 2013April 4, 2014 Categories: Amsterdam · Europe · Netherlands · TravelTags: Amsterdam · Begijnhof · Rijksmuseum1 Comment

One of the great cultural centres of the world, easy-going Amsterdam has a wealth of art treasures, handsome architecture and friendly people. I promised myself ten years ago that this is one city that I will definitely return to. The waterways, lined with elm trees and spanned by picturesque bridges are nothing but enchanting. The city claims to have 160 canals, more than Venice, with 1,280 bridges. The Rijksmuseum is one of the top galleries in the world. It re-opened its doors in April this year after a multi-year 375 million euros renovation by Cruz y Ortiz architects of Spain….

where's gary

Tag: Amsterdam