Funky Sunday Market at Westerpark May 2nd

Market: Funky Sunday Market @ Westerpark, Zuiveringshal Oost, Sunday May 2, 12.00 - 18.00, FREE.

Westerpark's monthly Sunday market includes handmade clothes, goods, art (everything from interior goods, to jewelry) and food with 100 stands. Entertainment and workshops for the kids are also provided.

'Waarom lijn 8 niet meer rijdt', a public storytelling/show on May 2

Performance: Openbare vertelvoorstelling 'Waarom lijn 8 niet meer rijdt' @ de Boekmanzaal Stadhuis Amsterdam, Sunday May 2nd, 14.00, FREE, for ages 11+, reservations not possible only 200 seats, in Dutch.

'Waarom Lijn 8 niet meer rijdt'/ 'why line 8 doesn't exist anymore' is a true story about Amsterdam during the occupation in the WWII. And the life of two women who took Jewish children in their house. It also explains why tram 8 no longer exists, as it was used during the War to transport Jewish people from Hollandsche Schouwburg to Centraal station, and from there to Westerbork. After the War it was decided that tram 8 would not be used again due to its history. The production is developed with help from het Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam.

Karel Appel Huis opened in Oost

The Karel Appel House opened its doors in Oost Sunday, April 25th. Appel was a famous avant-garde CoBrA painter born in the Dapperbuurt. The Karel Appel House is a mixed-use housing and art project developed for international artists working at the Royal Academy of Visual Arts, where Appel himself studied between 1942 and 1944. Once a year the house plans to open its doors for a temporary mini-museum in the four apartments of the House. You can spot the house, at Dapperstraat 7, by the large bronze apple hanging on the facade with the text "Karel Appel was hier".

Check out the newly opened exhibition at the CoBrA Museum, in Amstelveen, featuring an overview of Appel's life and work.

an alternative plan for Queen's day when you get separated from your posse

There is an alternate more Zen-like plan for those who either A) don't like to plan, or B) get separated from their posse:

1 - Find a new posse or...

2 - Walk around for 20 minutes max. Then sit somewhere. Breathe. Despite what you think, you will not be any better off than where you are.

3 - Avoid the edges of the canals at all times and don't wear shoes that you like.

4 - Don't freak out at friends who don't return your text messages. As with any massive event in any city, cell networks get jammed and messages get delayed, often for many hours.

Still looking for suggestions for Queen's Day? Check out Queen's Day in het Centrum and  Koninginnenacht + dag feesten / Queen's Night and Day Parties.

- Jeff Funnekotter, check out his Big City Blog about life in Amsterdam and everywhere else the road takes him.

"underground jazz" at OT301, April 28th

Music: AWA music special: underground jazz @ OT301, Wednesday April 28, doors open at 19.00, music starts at 21.00, €6.

Check out: the live tunes of Pop Ivan, Kingalita, the Beehive exposition, with DJs to follow. Pop Ivan (Hungary)is a progressive-experimental rock band with archaic Moldvan melodies, Latin rhythms, and elements of the modern free-jazz.

Koninginnenacht + dag feesten / Queen's Night and Day Parties

1) Festival: Bredeweg Festival @ Bredeweg, Watergraafsmeer, Queens night and day, FREE, lots of stuff for kids.

This is the festival you go to if you want to avoid binge drinking and listening to the same dance "hit" blasting out of windows and party boats. The Bredeweg festial festival started as a neighboorhood event, and keeps to this tradition. Queen's Night there is a live oprea starting 21.30, and live music near cafe 1900. Queen's Day the "market" starts 10.15 with live music, shows, and lots of activities for the kids! Check out the complete program.

2) Music + Party: Cruise Inn Queensnight @ Cruise Inn, Zuiderzeeweg 29 (just over the bridge towards Ijburg, on your left hand side), 21.00 - late, FREE.

The best Rock ‘n Roll  DJ's of Amsterdam, with some cheap beers and a crowd that loves to boggie. Well worth the trip over the bridge.

3) Art + Music: Savage Barn Sale @ Gallerie Chiellerie, opening April 29 sale continues 'til May 6th, 19.00, FREE.

Live music from the '69ers plus the opening of teh Savage Barn Sale. They will sell retro prints, t-shirts, painting, posters by Peter Pontiac, Claudia Hek, Lina Stigson, Yolanda Withaar, Michiel Hoving, Dirty Job, Pjotr & Iwan, Roel Smit, Maria Koren, Mappe, etc...

4) Music + Party: BEZET @ Club 8, Queen's night, 22.00 - late, before midnight €7, after midnight €9 (but expect lines). For FREE if you are dressed for at least 80% in orange.

A party on two floors, with free pool and traditional Dutch games, such as spijkerpoepen and koekhappen. And electro-pop, indie and post punk djs. Plus, live performances by Dans le Rock, Robotrock, Kill all Hipsters, Raven and Autoblonde.

5) Music + Party: Queen's Night/Day Party @ Studio K, Party the entire night and into Queen's Day with fab DJs.

Think the monthly K/Peren party plus Queen's day fun = a super party with guest djs.

6) Party: Queen's Night @ Pacific Parc, Westerpark, Thursday night, 23.00, FREE.

Another great night at the Parc with the a live band- the Los Suspiros (a Spanish Punk Rock, Rock "n" Roll, Surf y rock duro) with a night of djs to follow.

7) Vrijmarkt: Did you know? Utrecht's Koninginnedag market starts Koninginnenacht! So if you are really dying to pick through people's stuff, or want to sharpen your bargaining skills before the big day head on over to Utrecht with the market starting at 18.00 on the 29th.

8) also check out guest blogger Jeff's suggestions for Queen's Day in het Centrum.

where to get your orange gear for Koninginnedag

Pssst. Want to rock the orange in a cheap shirt? Head to the market on Albert Cuypstraat - for as low as 5 Euros you can wear the colour of the day proudly. Granted, the shirts are of low quality and are a little irregular, but on Queen's Day, you will be too.

- Jeff Funnekotter, check out his Big City Blog about life in Amsterdam and everywhere else the road takes him.

Queen's Day in het Centrum

Koninginnedag awaits, as does its evening-prior sister, Koninginnenacht. And while I am a first-timer, I think I've gleaned enough information from trustworthy locals to make some recommendations. There are so many places to go and things to see that it can be dizzying. So let's keep things relatively simple.

For sheer volume and touristic simplicity, head to either Leidseplein or Museumplein. Both areas will have DJ's (and heads and stomachs) spinning non-stop. Actually any "plein" is a good bet to have masses of people there - Thorbeckeplein, Rembrandtplein, Marie Heinkenplein all have events, beginning either at 7:00pm on the 29th and/or throughout the day and night on the 30th.

To get away from the oont-ss-oont-ss of techno music head to the Jordaan area at noon on the 30th for a Cuban vibe with Septeto Trios Los Dios.

Another musical departure from the techno scene is Hell's Kitchen's QueensBridge event for some top funk and hip-hop... and the cost to feel the funk and hop to the hip? Gratis! Imagine that - less than the cost of going to the bathroom. (Which reminds me - bring a small stack of coins for the day, as all establishments will charge you to use their facilities). QueensBridge happens at several locations in and around Reguliersbreestraat and Reguliersdwarsstraat.

A worthwhile listing for all the events can be found on the site- Queensday Amsterdam.

- Jeff Funnekotter, check out his Big City Blog about life in Amsterdam and everywhere else the road takes him.

Duet for Cannibals series on April 28th

Film, Discussion: Duet for Cannibals @ Tropentheater, Wednesday, April 28th, 20.00, €7.50, in English.

Duet for Cannibals, a title borrowed from Susan Sontag's 1969 film of the same name, is a monthly screening and discussion program on colonialism and cannibalism as forms of cultural appropriation. Stichting Agentur and the Tropentheater bring together a selection of works by contemporary artists and filmmakers as well as footage from the Tropenmuseum's archive (formerly the Colonial Institute of Amsterdam and institute set up during the era of European colonialism to study and exhibit the culture of 'overseas people').

This is the final disucssion with the theme 'When One Swallows A Canon'. This includes an archieved film "Expeditions and Encounters", from New Guinea around 1925, a screen-test of Susan Sontag by Andy Warhol from 1964, and Susan Sontag's 1969 film "Duet for Cannibals". Food and drinks to follow.

International political cartoons at GoGallery April 24 - May 6

Exhibition: There is more than one truth @ GOGallery, April 24 - May 6, Wednesdays - Saturdays 12:00 to 18:00 and Sundays 13:00 to 17:00.

Political cartoonist are known for depicting societal debates in often satirical and ironic ways. Brilliant cartoonists have been shaping the discussions on the street all over the world. The VJ Movement (Video Jounralism Movement) has created a network that brings all these artists together, from Germany to Peru, and from Sudan to Nepal. Thexhibition showcases cartoons that go behind the global headlines, with a range of different perspectives; including winners of prestigious awards such as The United Nations Correspondents Association Ranan Lurie Political Cartoon Award (Alfredo Sbat, Popa Matumula) and World Press Cartoon (Osmani Simanca, Rainer Ehrt).

Monday night films at De Nieuwe Anita

Film: Cinemanita @ De Nieuwe Anita, every Monday, bar opens at 19.30, film starts at 20.30, €2.50, in Norwegian wall films with English subtitles.

Cinemanita is a weekly, Monday night, event of hand-picked films from the de Nieuwe Anita crew.

upcoming post for Koninginnedag

We are working on a special post with hand-picked Koninginnedag (Queen's Night and Day) suggestions. It should be up this weekend, in time for you to start making plans for Thursday night.

Footage of Soviet space exploration in the 50s and 60s, Friday at Smart Project Space

Film + Music: Cine|Sonic- CCCP in Space @ Smart Project Space, Friday April 23, 21.00, €7.50.

A special screening of rare archival material, Cold War Space Race newsreels and propaganda films from the USSR national archives, with a live soundtrack performed by OMFO and an after party with the Moskow Discow dj’s in the cafe.

Kids Science Festival, April 24 - 25 at NEMO

Kids + Event: Wetenschapsfestival @ NEMO, Saturday and Sunday April 24 - 25, 10.00 - 17.00, for ages 6 and up, price of museum- € 12.50.

The NEMO hosts the Science Festival for kids, with special events the entire weekend; including a chemistry lesson for 600 hundred kids!, they are hoping to break a world record with this. Lots of other competitions, activities and games to keep the busy bees buzzing.

Sunday night films at OT301

Film: Cinema Derive @ OT301, every Sunday, 20.30, €4, all films with English subtitles.

Fill your Sunday nights with an evening of films.

Pure Markt, Park Frankendael, April 25

Market: Pure Market @ Park Frankendael, Oost-Watergraafsmeer, last Sunday of the month, Sunday April 25th, 11.00 - 18.00, FREE, includes activities for kids.

This is a monthly market with lekker eten (delicious food) mostly organic, as well as other local, sustainable goods, and live music. It is what we might call the Noordermarkt of the east but you can eat your way through the market with picnic tables and ready to eat brunch style food. CHeck out this article for more info.

Then mark your calendars for the rest of the year with markets on Sunday May 30 (which is also Dag van het Park), June 27; then a break over the vacation period, August 29. September 26 October 31 and the final Christmas market on December 19th.

Rockabilly Party at Maloe Melo, April 23rd

Music: Rockabilly Party with Channel Red @ Maloe Melo, Friday April 23rd, 22.00 - late, €5.

The coziest blues and rock bar in town hosts a rockabilly party with a live band. Go shake your worries out on the dance floor.

Red Hot Chili Peppers Tribute Friday April 23rd

Music: Red Hot Chili Peppers Tribute @ Cafe Pakhuis Wilhelmina, Friday April 23rd, 22.00, €7.50.

An ode to the Red Hot Chili Peppers; who doesn't want to relive great hits of the '90s?

Van Gogh Museum's Friday Night, April 23

Regular event: Friday night @ Van Gogh Museum, Friday April 16th, 18.30 - 22.00, price of museum, free with Museumkaart (and no need to wait in line), stuff for kids.

The Van Gogh holds a weekly special event every Friday with either discussions, presentations, debates, etc... and it always ends with music. This Friday starting at 18.30 check out the Tactile Research Lab of Art Science (Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende Kunsten, KABK) which does research on wearable, changeable, textiles that react to the environment you are in. At 19.30 check out the Philips Research Center presenting electronic tattoos, and other products that meter your emotions. At 19.30 a guided tour of the Paul Gauguin exhibition (in both English and Dutch). And of course the musical styling of DJ Goldfinger.

World Press Photo exhibition Oude Kerk April 23 - June 20

Photos: World Press Photo Exhibition @ Oude Kerk, April 23 - June 20, Monday - Saturday 10.30 - 17.30, Sunday 13.00 - 17.30, price of museum, discount with Museumkaart.

An exhibition of the best World Press Photos of 2009.

Breakin'Walls Spring, April 22 to 24

Festival: Breakin' Walls @ Fracasti, Thursday April 22 - Saturday April 24, various times and prices, some events in English.

Breakin' Walls is a multidiscipline youth festival for kids 16 - 23 years old, with international and national performances, workshops, debates, programs, etc...; which include a late-night cafe with poem readings, and live music, also a group of youths from the UK give a theater performance - The Devil Has Quentin's Heart, on Thursday and Friday. Check out the program for more details.

TV dinner @ TROUW on Tuesday April 20

Film, food, music: TV dinner film "Life Aquatic"@ TROUW, Tuesday April 20, 19.30, €15, reservation recommended.

Sitting at home in front of the tv eating your kant-en-klaar meals, got you down? Hop over to TROUW where they serve you dinner while you enjoy a cult film classic with your friends.

Nachtspelen/night games -a sport fantatic's party, well not really

Event: De Nachtspelen @ Westergasterrein, Saturday April 17th, 23.00 - 06.00, €32.00.

The 7th edition of Nachtspelen takes the stage Saturday with a special theme of Giro d'Italia. A night of games, competitions, music, fun and costumes are a given! check out the photos here from past events.

Doing some shopping in het Centrum tomorrow?

Swing on by the Amsterdam Historisch Museum (just off the Kalverstraat) from 14.00 - 16.00 for "A Bout De Souffle' - a fanfare of live music ranging from tango to klezmer. Also check out the Hoerengracht exhibition while you are there.

Tonight Friday the 16th of April - Beatbox Opera

Live music: Simon Christie – Beatbox Opera @ Winston Kingdom, tonight Friday April 16, 21.00 - 23.30, €6.00.


Winner of the 2009 English Breakfast Radio Guest of the Year in Amsterdam, Simon Christie is beatboxing-operatic talent.Every sound comes entirely from Simon’s voice- check it out - http://www.youtube.com/beatboxopera.

Rock 'n Roll Dance Party @ Cruise Inn

Rock 'n roll Party: Cruise Inn (Zeeburgereiland, past Flevopark, over the bridge) Saturday, April 17, 21 - late, FREE.

A serious rock 'n roll party with live bands and a night of Elvis era tunes.

Why go? guaranteed best party of the weekend, lots of people dressed up to the max in 50s style clothes!, & 2 euro beer.

Van Gogh Museum's Friday Night, April 16

Regular event: Friday night @ Van Gogh Museum, Friday April 16th, 18.30 - 22.00, price of museum, free with Museumkaart (and no need to wait in line), stuff for kids.

The Van Gogh holds a weekly special event every Friday with either discussions, presentations, debates, etc... and it always ends with music. This Friday check out "Light Canvas" a presentation and demonstration about the use of lights in art- painting with light starting at 18.30 and with a discussion with the artist Monobanda about the uses, results and impact of light art. At 19.30 get a tour through the Paul Gauguin exhibition (in both English and Dutch). DJ Goldfinger, fills in with his usual smooth tunes.

Art in Motion, experimental German films, various dates in April

Film: Art in Motion @ Smart Project Space, Wednesday April 14 and 28th, 20.00, €6.00, all films with English subtitles.

Smart Project Space and Goethe Institut Amsterdam present an on-going film series dedicated to experimental German cinema. Screening a number of classic films, on April 14 check out the series 'West Germany in the 60s and 70s'- a compilation of the most important and influential West German art films from the sixties and seventies, and on the 28th see the film 'Germany in Autumn' (Deutschland im Herbst/Kluge et al/1978).

Zilverstad: Srebrenica 15 jaar later @ Melkweg Gallerie April 8 - May 2

Photography: Daniel Koning's Zilverstad: Srebrenica 15 jaar later @ Melkweg, April 8 - May 2, open Wednesday 0 Sunday 13.00 - 20.00, FREE.

On July 11th 1995 the world was witness of an appalling war crime: Bosnian Serb forces entered the so called UN safe-haven Srebrenica and the ten days that followed more then 7000 Muslim men where killed. Daniel Koning was a reporter in Bosnia during the war and since 2009 has returned to Srebrenica to document the development of the city after the atrocities. His pictures sketch a grim picture of city only partially rebuild as international aid never reached the city.

Imagine Film Festival, April 14 - 24th

Film festival: Imagine: Fantastic Film Festival @ Kriterion, April 14 - 24, various times, €8.50/film, tickets can be purchased here online and or at the Kriterion box office. There is also a kids fantastic film festival @ Filmmuseum, April 18 - 26, for kids aged 3 - 12, various prices.

The 26th annual Fantastic Film Festival takes the stage on April 14 for ten days of futuristic, imaginative, independent and big circuit films. With special sneak previews to films, and a Night of Terror at the Pathé Tuschinski, check out the program for more details. Let your imagination run wild.

Pecha Kucha Night, volume 13, Mediamatic Amsterdam

Event: Pecha Kucha Night @ Mediamatic, Wednesday April 14th, doors open at 20:20 (iit s always sold out so get there on time, not fashionably late) starts at 21.00, €7, some presentations in English others in Dutch.

A modern spin on show-in-tell, Pecha Kucha Night shows it face again on Wednesday night at Mediamatic for its 13th edition. With 12 presenters sharing their images, new projects, brilliant thoughts and inspiring topics. Including a line-up of: George Gottl/Oliver Michell (UXUS), Ronald Rietveld (Rietveld Landscape), Madje Vollaers/Pascal Zwart (Studio VollaersZwart, Gijs Gieskes, Sander ter Braak, Heleen Klopper (Woolfiller), Melle Smets, Tjerk Ridder (Trekhaak Gezocht), Teun Castelein/Sylvain Vriens, Peter Weijmarshausen (Shapeways), Paul Wolterink (Department of Development), and Tetsuro Miyazaki (WeTapWater).

Gumbo Party, Saturday April 11at Pakhuis Wilhelmina

Music/party: Gumbo Party @ Cafe Pakhuis Wilhelmina, Saturday April 11th, starting at 16.00, €7.50.

Live jazz, zydeco and blues bands, with Djs to follow for a night in New Orleans, dutch-style. With a line up of ten bands and the CD release party of Beans & Fatback: Blue Eyed Country-Soul (a sixteen piece band). Soulfood is also available the entire evening to keep those feet a dancing.

Natonal Museum Weekend April 10 -11

Event: Museum Weekend @ through the Netherlands, and of course here in Amsterdam, April 10 & 11, various prices from FREE - discounted tickets.

A good way to save some cash in the middle of 'the crisis' is to take advantage of the many free (aka subsidized) events this City has to offer. This upcoming weekend is filled with FREE opportunities as 25 Amsterdam museums partake in the national Museum Weekend. (Ok, not all the museums are free, but many also offer substantial discounts.) Check out the list of participating museums here. Most museums have organized special events including a photography workshop for kids at FOAM; the Persmuseum will hold a book market; and you can even check out the tourist jaunts of the Amsterdam Dungeon (for FREE), or Madame Tussauds (with a discount); as well as the recently renovated Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam (with a discount and tour at 14.00).

Amsterdam Film Biennale April 7 -11

Festival: Film Biennale @ several locations, April 7 - 11, various prices.

EYE Film Institute Netherlands presents the third Film Biennale, featuring silent films with live soundtracks at special venues throughout Amsterdam. The program was created in collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art in New York, which includes a selection of films from its internationally renowned collection.

The festival kicks off with the screening of The Man with the Camera (1929) by Russian film pioneer Dziga Vertov. The Michael Nyman Band will perform the new soundtrack as a live accompaniment. Lots of other discussions and films are on the agenda, check out the complete program here.

Eerste Paasdag Funky Market at Westerpark

Market: First Easter day Market @ Westerpark, Zuiveringshal Oost, Sunday April 4, 12.00 - 18.00, FREE.

Westerpark's monthly Sunday market starts up again this Sunday, and there following (nearly) every first Sunday of the month. The market includes handmade clothes, goods, art (everything from interior goods, to jewelry) and food with 100 stands. Entertainment and workshops for the kids are also provided.

Amsterdam toolkit- what you need to survive

Borrowing a bit from a previous post from November. I wanted to include suggestions for building your Amsterdam toolkit! Perhaps you the reader can also make some suggestions in the comments about what you have as part of your toolbox.

"I have promised a few people this week that I would post a couple 'important' links. But before that I want to mention I am not sponsored by anyone or any company so these suggestions are personal tips that I think you, too, may find helpful. The first is buienradar.nl - a website that provides five minute snapshots of the Dutch skies. Why we love this website?! - you can reasonably estimate when to run out of the house and not get soaked down to your onderbroek!

The second is an item that I frequently post about within the happenings- the Museumkaart. The Museumkaart (website only in Dutch) is a national museum pass organized by a stichting (non-profit) that gets you into 400 museums in the Netherlands for €35/year (€17.50 12-24 years old, kids 12 and under are free at most museums). Within Amsterdam you can visit over 30 museums (as many times as you want) including: the Allard Pierson Museum, Amsterdams Historisch Museum, FOAM, De Nieuwe Kerk, Filmmuseum, Huis Marseille, Joods Historisch Museum, Ons' Lieve Heer op Zolder, Museum Het Rembrandthuis, Nederlands Instituut voor Mediakunst Montevideo, Scheepvaartmuseum, De Oude Kerk, Persmuseum, Rijksmuseum, Tropenmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Verzetsmuseum, and even the Hermitage Amsterdam! The card can be ordered online and mailed to your house in five business days.

And now another essential to Dutch living, especially if you are taking the train to other cities- the OVfiets. The OVfiets is a service run by NS that provides cheap bike rentals at a majority of train stations throughout NL. For approximately 10 euro for a year membership you can rent really good quality bikes for €2.50/24 hours (maximum two bikes per rental, each €2.50). What that means for you?- day trip to another city, scan your pass, hope on the bike, and explore! I have also found it was a tremendous advantage when guests came to visit, a three day visit for two guests to rent two bikes ends up being €15 =a lot cheaper than renting MacBikes but just as sturdy."

If you appreciate this agenda please toss me some pennies via an ad click. Thanks!