Quand tu arrives à Rome
« Quand tu arrives à Rome », emprunt d une vidéo dans le musée ethnographiques des arts et des traditions populaires. Musée absolument génial où je n ai pas croisé un seul touriste en bien 2h sur place… dans le quartier de l EUR, des photos et descriptif complet à venir.
Spectacular windmills in Amsterdam Zaanse Schans
You can come to Amsterdam for many different reasons: for Van Gogh, for the canals, the coffee-shops, the beers or the windmills. http://bit.ly/Moulins-Amsterdam
There are some windmills in the very heart of the city, but there is plenty of them in the north of Amsterdam, some 20 minutes’ away from the Central station.
Zaanse Schans is the first industrial area in the world. It is a bit of a walk if you come by train, it is more direct by bus but definitely more fun by bike. For instance, Amsterdam-velo.com organises biketours.
So we are here, since the 17th century, in an industrial area. Today, there are mostly chemicals and chocolate companies, making it a rather peculiar blend of olfactory sensations.
Here chimneys coexist with windmills. A break in the scenery but a rather surprising continuation of activity: factories for 400 years. There are barely any other places like that in the world, although the tanneries in Fez can fit in that category.
The “industrial” side of the tour is more interesting that the post card-like part of the Netherlands, even if both are cool.
First of all, there is a theme park village, with cafes and small museum gift shops. There must be some people appreciating this kind of place and atmosphere. If you step away from the tourists, you can almost feel like you are in an rural old village. Almost.
In spite of that, the fake and tacky aspect a la Disneyland prevails. You can find some artisan workshops of different handicrafts a bit like in an ethnographic park, and then the gift shops. Reeds dangling their feet in the water, hydrangeas, little green wooden houses, polders and sheep liven the visit up a bit. We will class it in the category “picturesque but disappointing.”
In the 17th century, the horizon was covered with an infinite amount of buildings with long arms. The Netherlands used to have more than 10 000 windmills, compared to about 1200 today.
Don’t miss the opportunity to visit them. It is interesti
Microbreweries and craft beers in Amsterdam
In Amsterdam, there is beer and beer. Canals and canals. Beer, canals, canals, beer, canals and even windmills. http://bit.ly/Biere-Amsterdam
Brouwerij t Ij.: The oldest. The most famous. The hardest to pronounce and the easiest to find in a bar in Amsterdam. More, more, more. After coming back from a tour in the south of the Netherlands, Kaspar Peterson, member of the band Drukerwk, decided to brew a beer inspired by the surrounding Belgian beers. The brewery produces a classic beer, and rather strong, declined in different types: lager, dark, amber, IPA… To add to its charm, the historic brewery is located under one of the most beautiful and biggest windmill close to the city centre in East Amsterdam. There is a big outdoor terrace to enjoy the nice weather. The brewery organises tours.
In the same area, 5 mn by bike, Homeland is one of the most unusual place in Amsterdam. It is a hotel, a bar, a cafe and a microbrewery rolled into one, in an old building of the shipyard. Its 60s decor is unique. Panelled walls, massive plants, colours, patterns and period artefacts. It is spacious, bright and full of excitement. The terrace overlooks the water on one side, and the park on the other. People come here to enjoy a relaxing swim. Homeland hosts a beer festival in September. On the menu: music, beer of course, and street food.
Let’s cross the Ij, this inlet, this lake, this river towards the North. Oedipus is the funkiest and the most colourful microbrewery in Amsterdam. It started with a group of friends. A festival, beers brewed especially for this occasion, soon selling faster than bread. The goal of Oedipus is to brew unique and pleasing beers for everyone to enjoy. There are flavours of grapefruit, passion fruit. Beers with lemongrass, chilli, lime and coriander. Strong and lighter beers. Sweeter, smoother and tangier beers. Inside the brewery, colours, plants, good mood, industrial design because it is an industrial place. Basically a good reason to go to Nort
Discover Amsterdam wetland by canoe
Here is an idea for a excursion outside of Amsterdam by the water, in fields away from canals, birds, flowers and cows. http://bit.ly/Balade-Canoe-Amsterdam
What if, to better understand and appreciate Amsterdam, you had to leave town, take a bus up North and stop in the middle of the countryside to browse by canoe?
Majel from Wetland Safari takes you on a beautiful trip in the wetlands, 10 minutes away from the central Station of Amsterdam.
It starts in Watergang, a village with 83 houses and 217 residents. A cafe, a map introducing you to the area, and there you are, with a red life jacket on your back ready for an adventure.
The stroll is chilled. The area is chilled. Majel is chilled. All is good.
You will leave the picturesque canals of the village behind for the fields. Majel will talk to you about water, polders and dams, and the vegetation which makes the irrigation system possible.
The Dutch are the best in the world when it comes to water management and the creation of land out of inundated areas. A proverb says that God created the Earth and Dutch people created the Netherlands. Global warming, the rising of the oceans and droughts present new challenges. The increasing salanity of the water levels, dam soundness on the sea side and on the polder side… Dams must remain damp on the inside. If they dry up, they become brittle and they collapse.
Wetlands is a nesting or passage area for many migrating birds. Black-tailed godwit, ruff, purple heron, harrier, and other passerines. The best period to enjoy the birds’ presence is from spring to autumn. By then, most of the birds would have left for Africa or Asia.
You may come across cows surprised to see you there. They are taken from pasture to pasture on a barge.
Flora is surprising here too. The landscape may be dominated by reeds and rushes but you can see merciless carnivore plants, elegant meadowsweets, water mint, stunning water lilies, demure forget-me-nots or water irises.
If this l
North of Amsterdam: Bike ride in 10 cool spots
Bike ride in the north of Amsterdam between former industrial wastelands, cool bars, parks, microbrewery and village out of time in 10 steps! Also here: http://bit.ly/Balade-Nord-Amsterdam (in french)
Detailed ride to visit North Amsterdam
1. Ferry. http://bit.ly/amsterdam-ferry (in french)
From the central station, ferries take you to NDSM provided you take those for NDSM. It's always the same.
2. NDSM. http://bit.ly/NDSM-amsterdam (in french)
The arrival is spectacular, a multicolored crane, an old Soviet submarine and a little behind huge hangars. NDSM is a former shipyard. Become an artistic squat, become a workspace for creative. From the graphic designer to the actor. If you like industrial scenery, the only ride inside will please you. Otherwise you can still imagine walking inside a big whale.
3. Noorderlicht. http: //bit.ly/Pllek-noorderlicht-amst ...
For "aurore boréale" is the first bar come thirsty on the old wasteland. It's a nice and quiet place to have a drink by the water, by a fire or around the stage during a concert.
4. Pllek. http://bit.ly/Pllek-noorderlicht-amsterdam
Pllek is a bit more chic. Built in container, the metallic interior is elegant and cold. there is a trendy audience as well as employees of companies recently established in the area such as MTV.
NDSM is one of the most accessible places in Amsterdam to discover street art.
This is also where the flea market is held one weekend a month. In short, this corner of North Amsterdam has become a must for curious and curious.
5. From Ceuvel. http://bit.ly/De-Ceuvel-Amsterdam
A little further away, here is one of the coolest bars in the north: De Ceuvel. At the base, it was a heavily polluted piece of port. Today a bar built of wood and partly floating, planted with many plants and flowers depolluting. You will find the spirit of Amsterdam: This mix of bold initiative, alternative ideas and relaxation.
6. Noorderpark.
A few minutes by bike, the Noorderpark will welcome you on its m
Balade dans le quartier rouge d'Amsterdam
Le Quartier Rouge d’Amsterdam est à la fois le lieu de tous les fantasmes, de toutes les débauches et la partie la plus ancienne de la ville.
Ce qui veut dire qu’à côté des nombreux sex shops, à côté des bars sportifs, des coffeeshops bruyants, à côté des vitrines un peu glauque (que l’on ne peut pas filmer par respect pour les prostituées), vous trouverez des monuments exceptionnels sur des canaux de toute beauté.
Une sorte de grand écart que la municipalité essaie de réduire en transformant le quartier rouge en quartier plus polisé.
Le point de départ est la Gare Centrale. Un bâtiment en brique monumentale situé sur l’embouchure de l’ancien port d’Amsterdam.
Derrière la gare, des ferrys gratuits vous emmènent à la découverte du passé industriel au nord d’Amsterdam. C’est une des nombreuses facettes d’Amsterdam à découvrir absolument.
Devant la gare, vous trouverez Damrak, l’avenue pour rejoindre la place de Dam. Le centre cartographique d’Amsterdam. Des beaux bâtiments, beaucoup de monde et des commerces un peu cheap qui viennent un peu gâcher le plaisir : magasins de souvenirs, casino, bureau de change, fast food… Tout ce que la ville aimerait voir disparaitre ailleurs.
La place de Dam n’a pas un charme fou mais son importance historique est capitale. C’est ici qu’un barrage sur le fleuve Amstel donna naissance à Amsterdam en 1275. A partir de là, un port, des entrepôts, un marché, une balance publique, des tavernes, des églises, des bordels. La naissance d’une ville.
L’austère et massif bâtiment est le Palais Royal. Construit en 1665, c’est alors le bâtiment le plus moderne de l’époque. Il repose sur 13 659 piliers de bois et tous les enfants du pays l’apprennent par coeur. Au 17e, les Pays-Bas vivent leur âge d’or et le monde entier leur envie Amsterdam.
La Place de Dam accueille des artistes de rues, des manifestations diverses, des vendeurs de hot-dogs, des pigeons fatiguées de voler, des touristes à la recherche du quartier rouge.
Dans les année
Port d'Amsterdam : Balade en vélo en 12 étapes
Amsterdam, c’est un port chanté en sueur par un Brel roulant les ‘r’.
Le port fit la richesse de la ville. Puis les canaux reliant à la mer se sont enlisés (à l’est), les chantiers navals ont fermés et Rotterdam est devenu le premier port européen, laissant une partie du port d’Amsterdam en friche dans les années 1980.
A partir des années 90, les squatteurs et artistes s’approprient les espaces laissés vides. La ville a besoin de logement, les promoteurs immobilier d’espace, le terrain du port est immense. Ca fera l’affaire.
Depuis au nord comme au sud de la mer intérieure, les grues sont à l’oeuvre.
Comme il existe un balade pour le nord, Vanupied.com vous emmène sur le port d’Amsterdam côté sud. Au programme, de chouettes parcs, des constructions audacieuses, de l’eau et des bateaux en pagaille et puis des bars sympas et même une distillerie de gin au bord d’un étang romantique.
Une balade de 10 km (soit quasiment de 20 km AR) beaucoup plus agréable à faire en vélo qu’à pied.
Rendez vous au Westerpark à l’ouest de la Vieille Ville et du Jordaan. Une ancienne usine de gaz a été transformée en centre culturel entouré de parcs avec des cafés, des restaurants et une superbe microbrasserie : Troost.
Decor industrielle a l’intérieur comme à l’extérieur. Bonne bière et cantine pour les employés des entreprises de l’audiovisuel travaillant dans le coin.
Au nord du parc, Het Schip est un exemple de construction de l’école d’Amsterdam. Un mouvement aux sympathies socialistes avec comme objectif de construire des beaux immeubles pour les ouvriers. De la brique, des façades arrondies, des éléments décoratifs non fonctionnels. Un musée du mouvement se trouve dans l’ancienne poste.
Plus au nord, on arrive au port. Au bout d’une jetée se trouve REM Eiland, une ancienne plateforme construite dans la mer du nord et diffusant en 1964 pendant près de 6 mois une TV pirate. La plateforme fut ensuite transporté jusqu’ici et elle accueille aujourd’hui un restaurant avec une
Méli-Mélo à Amsterdam
[Ce n'est pas Venise] Carnaval d'images pour découvrir un méli-mélo d'Amsterdam. Attention images insoutenables de légereté.
http://bit.ly/Visiter-Amsterdam
