Amsterdam Next City Guide: January 2015

Room on the Roof at the Bijenkorf | Dam area

You might have noticed the little tower on the roof of Amsterdam most famous and recently modernised store "De Bijenkorf " Over the last 100 years the tower has never been used, but things are changing and from January 27 the sixteen square meter tower room will become the workspace of different artists, writers, musicians, architects and designers selected by The Bijenkorf in collaboration with the Rijksmuseum.

The Artist in Residence project ‘Room On The Roof’ will start with Maarten Baas being the first artist using the studio... More pictures of this project by i29 Architects on my other blog Vosgesparis: Room on the roof at the Bijenkorf

I am curious to see how visitors of the store will experience the presence of the different artists and designers as the room, only reachable from the roof, won't be accessible for the public! Maarten Baas' latest project "My work" will be shown in the corner shopwindow at Dam square till Februari 8.

De Bijenkorf
Did you visited the store lately and did you see the large concept space on the ground floor where different designer labels such as Carl Hanssen, Tom Dixon and labels such as Marie Stella Maris have their store in store space?

I personally really love the Bijenkorf and have been shopping her all my life... It is such a beautiful building and whole generations have been shopping at de Bijenkorf. Sometimes when walking down the stairs I suddenly see myself walking the same stairs with my mum as I do now with my daughter.

Next to the different store in the concept space you will find lots of contemporary design for every space at home, but you’ll also find high end fashion, books, cosmetics, etc.

Bijenkorf
Dam 1
1012 JS Amsterdam
0800-0818

Opening hours:
Monday 11AM - 10PM
Tuesday to Wednesday 10AM - 8PM
Thursday to Friday 10AM - 9PM
Saturday 9:30AM - 8PM
Sunday 11AM - 8PM
website: De Bijenkorf
area: Dam | Spui | Munt

Design Icons is back | Get free tickets for you and a friend | February 7 & 8

Design Icons is back in town, the upcoming edition will take place on February 7 & 8 at the venue of De Overkant. This former shipyard has been restored into a charming event location. Situated on the North shore of ’t IJ,

The industrial atmosphere of De Overkant is the ideal setting to showcase the design icons of the past century. Dealers from all over Europe will gather, offering their finest vintage design pieces from the 1930s - 1980s. A diversity of objects will be presented: from well-known classics to anonymous designs, with Eames next to Mies van der Rohe and from Italian-chic to raw industrials.

In collaboration with Design Icons we have a 2x2 free tickets, take a friend along to 'De Overkant' and admire all these design icons yourself. Simply leave a comment below and we will pick 2 winners next week!
Update: congratulations Marije & Christine, tickets are on the way!

Photography... Coffee & Coconuts | Pijp area

Love to take you one more time to the Pijp area where I had a little meeting with some fellow bloggers the other day and finally got to hang out a bit on one of the top floors... and had two! really great apple, carrot and ginger smoothies! The place is really packed all the time but has a great laid back atmosphere... many people working on their laptops, friends talking in a quiet corner and bigger groups gathering around one of the many tables or hanging on the . I am sure the furniture by Atelier Sukha is creating an overall laid back atmosphere

This time I brought my camera and made a few snap shots from the amazing photography hanging on the tall brick walls .... Musicians like David Bowie, The Rolling Stones and good old Roxy Music give the 3 stories cafe, restaurant, , just that needed touch of Rock & Roll.

CT Coffee & Coconuts
Ceintuurbaan 282-284
1072 GK Amsterdam

Opening hours:
Monday - Friday 7AM - 10PM
Saturday - Sunday 8AM - 10PM
Area: de Pijp
Website: CT Coffee & Coconuts
former blogposts: CT Coffee & Coconuts|Pijp area

pictures ©Amsterdam Next

Day trip from Amsterdam | Brands UNXPCTD in Haarlem

Haarlem is a small town between Amsterdam and the sea. I have a soft spot for Haarlem, my grandmother used to live there and when I was small me and my mom often visited an aunt of mine who lived in one of the many historical courtyards Haarlem still has. One of my best friends recently opened a Slow Store in Haarlem and if you are looking for a day to escape from the big city of Amsterdam, Haarlem and especially Brands UNXPCTD is the place to go!

Anouk, owner of Brands UNXPCTD is a well know interior designer and stylist with a great taste! Something you will definitely see back in the store, where you will find a selection of the finest fashion, art and interior items, both for adults and children as well as a their own range of Bauwerk paint which is also used in the store itself. Expect: La petite V, DAY,Ruby Tuesday, Gray Label, Little Indians, Jetpaq, Topitm, Leoniek Bontje slow art, Printlove, Harvest and Company, UASHMAMA, Moments of light, Senfina Lighting,Happy Lights, IVY & LIV, Eva Schreuder, Marichelle, WRDS, Evert Groot stoffen, L’Apartment, Triple Pink by Stella Maye, Bottines, Pol’s Potten

Brands UNXPCTD slow store
Gedempte Oude Gracht 144
2011 GX Haarlem
+31 (0)23 - 7370625
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Saturday 10AM-5PM
Website: Brands UNXPCTD
see on map: Gedempte oude gracht

Wanna see more about Haarlem? Haarlem City Blog will show you all the places the Haarlem local's love | Dutch only |

Haarlem is only 15 minutes by train from Amsterdam >> Book your ticket at NS

pictures @ Brands UNXPCTD

Koko Coffee & Design | Dam Spui Munt area CLOSED

At first glance, KOKO Coffee & Design looks like a small shop, but once inside you find a store filled with everyday basics and unique pieces from Scandinavian and Dutch brands and a coffee corner with coffee from Belgium coffee roastery Caffènation. Next to fashion a personal selection of vintage and new design selected from all over Europe. Koko is also the place to get inspired by young talented artists. Every two months you will find a new expo on the KOKO walls.
KOKO Coffee & Design Oudezijds Achterburgwal 145 1012 DG Amsterdam
+31 (0) 20 62 64 208
Opening hours: Monday 11AM 6PM Tuesday to Friday 9AM – 6:30PM Saturday 10AM - 6PM Sunday noon - 6PM Website: Koko Coffee&design
Area: Dam Spui Munt

pictures ©Amsterdam Next

Amsterdam Next on Instagram | tag your pictures with #AMSNXT

I love Instagram and have been using it for some time for my personal and blog pictures here: vosgesparis This week I also opened an Instagram account for Amsterdam Next... find me here at AMSNXT and tag your pictures with #AMSNXT to get them in my feed and for others to discover.

I was already surprised by pictures with some really fun messages of people planning their trip with the APP and tagging #amsnxt... thanks so much!

Events... on the go! | National Tulip day

If you downloaded the new APP, you might have seen the first updates coming by yet...Last week we also added a new feature to the APP with events, festivals and markets around town. And of course we didn't forgot National Tulip day!

In Amsterdam you can take part in tomorrow's event and pick your own tulips for free from a specially constructed 'picking garden' at Dam square from 1PM-4:30PM The movie above shows last years event.

Tulpen plukken op de Dam
Morgen is het weer Nationale Tulpendag en wordt er weer een grote pluk tuin opgebouwd midden op de dam waar je van 13:00- 16:30 een mooi boeketje kunt komen plukken! Om 12:50 is de officiële opening.

Thanks for the many downloads of the App so far, wanna see more events and a selection of over 200 hotspots in town! Download yours here: Amsterdam Next City Guide

Scandinavian Embassy | de Pijp area

Scandinavian Embassy is the perfect spot to have a coffee break when shopping on Albert Cuyp market or exploring de Pijp area. This coffee bar has a real Scandinavian feeling by the use of wood and white painted walls.

They offer a range coffee from small Scandinavian coffee roasters, Drop coffee, being one of my favourites I learned to drink in Stockholm. Expect healthy lunches with Scandinavian flavours and other Nordic specialities.

During the Hospitality & Style awards last month (December 2014) Scandinavian Embassy was awarded in the category Best Coffee Concept, offering everything we can expect from a, so called ‘third wave’-coffeebar, perfect made coffee and different choices |Nicolas Castagno, is an awarded Swedish barista| What the jury thought was really outstanding, and not yet seen that much in Europe are the culinary dishes perfectly matching the coffee.

Scandinavian Embassy
Sarphatipark 34
1072 MB Amsterdam
+31 619518199

Opening hours
Tuesday to Friday 8AM - 6PM
Saturday - Sunday 10AM - 5PM
Website: Scandinavian Embassy
Area: De Pijp

pictures © Amsterdam Next

Dépôt by Johnny at the spot | Old West area

I have been wandering a bit through the old West area lately, and discovering the new and upcoming Hallen complex in the former tram depot, and my latest find Dépôt by Johnny at the spot is just one street away!

Just around the corner from Kinkerstraat at the Jan Pieter Heijestraat 90-94, 'Dépôt by Johnny at the spot' is a refreshing mini department store. With bright white walls combined with my favourite Ay Illuminate lamps, Merci Brooklyn Tiles and concrete wallpaper by NLXL, it immediately stole my heart even before I met the really friendly staff members.

With different fashion brands, like Studio ruig, Minimum, Modström, and Alternative, a great collection of shoes and selected interior items from candles to lamps, including the complete Seletti living collection in cooperation with Italian fashion brand Diesel, the store has something to offer for everyone.

Dépôt by Johnny at the SpotJan Pieter Heijestraat 90-94
1053 GS Amsterdam+31 (0)20 489 3868
Opening hours:
Monday 1PM - 6PM
Tuesday - Wednesday 11AM - 6PM
Saturday 11AM - 6PM
Sunday 1PM - 5PM
Website: Dépôt by Johnny at the Spot
Area: Old west

pictures © Amsterdam Next

Headfirst coffee roasters | Westerstraat

My first cup of Headfirst coffee I had some years ago on a cold winter night from the Espressobus, a super cute grey citroen bus, parked outside Sourced & Sold during a gathering at their former location in the Jordaan area | see this blogpost from 2012.

Since some time they have their own location at Westerstraat where they offer a great selection of coffees and beans that they serve and roast inside the shop for both their own store as clients like Filter, Stach and others. Pop in for a quick coffee and small sweets.

Headfirst coffee roasters (Closed down - november 2015)
Westerstraat 150
1015 MP Amsterdam
+31 611641654
website: Headfirst
area: Jordaan | Noordermarkt - Westerstraat

Pictures © Amsterdamnext.com

Grand & Johnson store at De Hallen | Old west area

While visiting the Hallen to make some pictures for a few posts about De Hallen and Hotel de Hallen. My eye caught the beautiful new Grand & Johnson store. Sometimes when seeing only a glimpse of a store my heart makes a little jump, the moments I know I found something that is so close to my taste, I have to go in!

The Grand & Johnson store is a long-cherished dream of two designers who will use the store as the home base for their design studio, where they will work on unique interior design projects. It will also be a store for their own designs and custom-made baths, cupboards and dressers. Many special and unique items from around the world, found in places like Japan, Canada and Denmark are displayed in the beautiful store, perfectly in balance with the raw elements of the original building.

Grand & Johnson
Hannie Dankbaar passage 45 | De Hallen
1053 RT Amsterdam
Opening hours:
Tuesday - Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday & monday Closed
Website: Grand & Johnson

pictures © Amsterdam Next | Vosgesparis

Hotel De Hallen & Remise 47 | Old west area

Hotel De Hallen is situated in one of Amsterdam’s former tram depots and part of the large new industrial hotspot and new upcoming area De Hallen, where different entrepreneurs, a cinema, restaurants, gallery's, a library and the Food hallen are located. The entrance of the hotel is at Bellamy square in the old west area, a typical and lively Amsterdam area with the daily 'Ten Kate' market around the corner.

The hotel offers luxury rooms and spacious surroundings with an abundance of plants, brought to perfection with modern furniture and design. There is a lively terrace with lots of green and restaurant Remise 47 is part of the complex. And more restaurants can be found in the adjacent Hallen and Food hallen.

Hotel De Hallen
Bellamyplein 47
1053 AT Amsterdam
+31 (0)20 8 208 670
website: Hotel De Hallen
website: Restaurant Remise 47
Reservations Remise 47: +31 (0)20 8 208 675
area: West | Old West | Vondelpark
Blogpost: De Hallen and Foodhallen
Blogpost: Hotel De Hallen & Remise 47

De Hallen | Foodhallen | Brasserie halte 3 | Meat West | Filmhallen | Local goods market

The hallen passage

De Hallen is a large indoor centre with an industrial character, built in and around a converted tram depot. The passage connects the Bilderdijkkade and Ten Katestraat market, and is the ideal spot for markets, exhibitions, and functions as the red carpet for movie premieres, or a fashion show catwalk. On selected Saturday's there is a Local Goods Saturday Market in the Passage where only local food and non-food products are for sale, Check the website below, for the exact dates or download the App. More info about these markets can be found on the local goods market website.

For those looking for a new food experience visiting the indoor Foodhallen, inspired by London and Berlin’s indoor food markets is a must. De Foodhallen offers an array of food and drinks to enjoy on the spot, sold by (local) companies via market stalls.

Foodhallen

Next to the Foodhallen there are two more restaurants, Brasserie halte 3 is the perfect spot for anything from breakfast to dinner and drinks, and has both in- and outdoor seating. While Meat west is the place for meat lovers. Restaurant Remise 47 in hotel De Hallen, which I wrote about in this blogpost | Hotel de Hallen | is open for hotel guests and others and has a beautiful outdoor terrace with lots of green.

meat west

Brasserie halte 3

In the passage there are also designer showrooms and a library. In for a movie after lunch or before dinner... The Filmhallen, being one of Amsterdam newest and largest cinema's, offer different movies and special events in 9 theatres.

filmhallen

De Hallen
Hannie Dankbaar Passage 33

1053 RT Amsterdam

website: De Hallen

Brasserie halte 3
Bellamyplein 51

1023 AT Amsterdam

Opening hours:

11AM - 10PM
website: Brasserie halte 3

De Foodhallen Bellamyplein 51 1023 AT Amsterdam
Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 11:00 am - 8:00 pm Thu - Sat: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm Sun: 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
website: De Foodhallen
Meat West Bellamyplein 51 1023 AT Amsterdam Opening hours: reservations online website: Meat West
Filmhallen Bellamyplein 51 1023 AT Amsterdam website: Filmhallen
The Maker Market Amsterdam (Local Goods market) Monthly in the passage | Check the website for exact dates website: Makers store and market

Blogpost: Hotel de Hallen
Area: West | Old West | Vondelpark

AMSTERDAM NEXT | CITY GUIDE