Art & culture

Have you ever been to a Berlin living room cafe? Vintage furniture, a bit run-down, Cafe Brecht is all about “Gemütlichkeit” – coziness, the translation is an approach at best. One of the ancestors of your German grandmother could have lived here, nothing would have changed, only time would have eroded the walls since then, and a bar and more lazy chairs would have been added.

Tea is being served in a teapot that looks like being taken right out of your grandmothers cupboard, there is freshly made cake, also a thing that you might be familiar with if you know a typical Berlin living room cafe. A selection of several German beers complete the menu.

It is very relaxed inside, time doesn’t seem to play a role, you can tell by the knitting gear that decorates the tables and invites you to just continue knitting, just like you grandmother would have done. Since its opening three years ago, Brecht became a rather popular spot – the closer the weekend the more crowded the evenings – this is the reason they gave up on the poetry readings and live performances they used to have: lack of space.

Actually what I like most about Brecht is that they sell my favorite brand of German beer – which is the original black forest beer “Tannenzäpfle”, and it’s the only place where you can get it in Amsterdam (correct me if I am wrong).

Friday Next is a lifestyle store, exposition room and café all in one, a concept which is not that common (yet) in Amsterdam. But this concept store has a great inspirational collection of design furniture, jewelry, great leather bags and more wannahaves.

The bright store feels like a very nice decorated apartment, where you will find the café in the midst of the store. Here you can enjoy a coffee or a lunch, prepared with the fresh products of Marqt next door (see the Marqt article). Given the amount of laptops I saw during the week, this spot lends itself perfectly to get some work done.

Every two to three months a designer or famous international brand is asked to expose their work here. Furthermore this store is an inspiration for everyone who likes to pimp their home with an unique item! Definitely worth a visit when you’re near the Overtoom.

This place is one of my favourite squares in Amsterdam, due to the big green lawn and it being less busy in comparison with the Vondelpark. Nowhere in Amsterdam will you find a square of this size. Museumplein (“museum square”) is a place where youngsters, students, elderly and tourists all come together to enjoy the green, play sports or read a book on one of the many benches.

The museum square is surrounded by the three big museums, namely: the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum and the Rijksmuseum. And on the other side of the street you will find the beautiful Concert Building.

The lawn was recently renewed with a new grass-field. They say the grass is so strong that it will easily hold all the upcoming events on the square with thousands of people. Under the elevated shaped triangle lawn, also called the donkey ear, there is a supermarket where you can buy some refreshments.

You can also go to the Cobra café close to the Rijksmuseum, where they serve some great sandwiches and they have a big busy terrace! In the summer you will find a big pond which turns into a cool ice rink in the winter, next to this cafe.

So combine some culture and relaxation at the museum square, since they are just minutes away from each other!

Beadies is a shop that makes me very happy every time I visit, due to the big collection of beautiful beads and romantic accessories. Everything is nicely arranged in wooden cabinets in this tiny store in the famous Nine Streets. They sell a large amount of beads of which you can design your own perfect piece of jewelry, like earrings, bracelets and necklaces.

From Monday to Friday you can make your own jewelry at the big wooden table in the back of the store. When you don’t feel like being creative don’t worry, they also sell the handmade pieces made by Beadies or you can tell the employees what you like and they will make it for you that same day, custom-made!

It can be a bit pricey, but most of the pieces are real eye catchers! I think the style you will find here can best be described by romantic Ibiza meets Sex and the City glamorous, most of the accessories are very feminine, classy and fashionable. It is worth a visit to find the perfect gift or just something beautiful to cheer yourself up!

Don’t mock the dead… but don’t ignore them either.

That’s most probably the idea behind the only funeral museum in the Netherlands (as far as I know). The name “Tot Zover” (‘Till So Far’) is sort of a wink, a play on words. When they opened late 2007 they also had a remarkable poster, saying ‘open due to circumstances’ (while normally we use ‘closed’ instead of ‘open’). So far the little mockery the museum allows itself.

The rest of the museum, which is located at cemetery ‘De Nieuwe Ooster’, is set up sober and discreet. At the permanent exhibition they show the different rituals and practices of burial traditions. There is also some general information and objects about the history and future of burying, active life termination and cremation.

Till the first of July 2012 there’s a temporary art exhibition, called ‘Afterlife’. Contemporary Dutch and foreign artists give their perspectives about the final destination, both in the museum and outside in the cemetery. In the Tropenmuseum, which is only two kilometres away, there’s also an exhibition about the dead, called ‘Death Matters’. If you’re in the mood you can visit them both on the same day.

The museum also takes effort to make a visit enjoyable for children. Not only do they have materials for classes, but also for infants there’s an activity: make and decorate your own mini-coffin (for deceased pets).

In the meaning of the famous age-old adage “Memento Mori” and the famous Kansas song, visit it and remember… all we are is dust in the wind.