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.