When do you deserve to be called a regular? Do you need hang out somewhere more than three times a month for at least 5 years? Should you have spent mornings, afternoons and evenings there, or whole days for that matter? Should you have taken tiny power naps on their couch without anyone noticing? Too often have been asked to leave when everyone else has gone? Would you have written on their bathroom doors, laughed there, fought there, even cried there? 

If that be so, Kriterion would be high on my list. One of the city’s best arthouse cinemas opened its doors as far back as 1945. It was started by wartime students tired of having to depend on their parents’ wages and has been run by students ever since. This means the bartenders might need some training at times, but it also means there are few other places in town as lively, relaxed and fun as Kriterion. The crowd, thankfully, does not consist solely of students, as the theatre has one of the nicest spaces and the best new independent releases, specials and festivals in town.

One of the reasons why I come here weekly is the Sneak Preview on Tuesdays, during which the audience is shown a surprise film that hasn’t been released yet (cue booing, walkouts or ecstatic enthusiasm). In April they also host Imagine, a wonderful fantasy film festival that organizes the infamous Night of Terror, where the entire room invariably ends up getting tee-peed. 

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Kriterion Movie Theatre | Bars, Cinemas, Coffee & tea, Festivals & events | Sneak Preview € 5
Roetersstraat 170 | Center | +31206231708
Mon – Thu & Sun 10:30 – 01:00, Fri 10:30 – 03:00, Sat 12:30 – 03:00

It took a while, but Amsterdam finally has a cinema museum again. I have to admit I was a little skeptical of the move because the old film museum was so pretty and it’s seats were tattered, and that’s how I like watching my movies. But the first time I set foot in EYE (let’s not get started on the name, and let’s definitely not get started on the whole ownership-thing) I was blown out of my ruby slippers.

Could it be Amsterdam is finally playing with the big boys? The museum – right opposite Central Station, easily accessible by ferry – exudes international flair. It’s big, it’s white and it’s nondescript (is it a crocodile? is it a whale? is it a wink? who cares) and I like it. The banks along the IJ are finally throwing off their casts and revealing the bigger plan.

Inside, EYE offers something for everybody – you can have food and drinks on the huge terrace overlooking the water and wave at the cruise ships or visit their exhibitions and extensive library. They also have four screening rooms (with brand new chairs!) that show classics, specials and new releases besides hosting cinema concerts and cult evenings. Or you could just run up and down their grand staircases endlessly. The main hall is so exuberantly big you’ll want to play.

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EYE | Art & culture, Bars, Cinemas, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Theaters
IJpromenade 1 | North | +31205891400
Sun – Thu 10:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 10:00 – 02:00 (exhibitions open till 17:00)

Some streets make you want to strut down them like you’re Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. De Haarlemmerdijk might not match 1970′s Brooklyn, but with its plethora of detail stores and beautiful old buildings, no wonder a lot of places here have been noticed by my fellow spotters! It’s amazing how many great hangouts can be found along such a small stretch of pavement. Some personal favorites:

Start with a croissant at Mediterannee, and go by 2 For Joy for fresh roasted coffee. Shop at Restored, with products from young designers; at Mary Ann, run by wonderful ladies who really know how to rock old-school brassieres; at sneaker store Seventyfive, or photography specialists Nivo Schweitzer. As a film freak, I love browsing through the cult DVDs and posters at the wonderfully geeky Silver Screen, or catch a screening in one of Amsterdam’s nicest cinemas, The Movies.

You’re also in the right place for a makeover. During the phase where I had something pierced every time a relationship ended, the lovely Sharon at Dare2Ware - Amsterdam’s most comfortable piercing studio – made it so much fun. The artists at House of Tattoos around the corner are also extremely talented. And if you want to top off your new look with a bright magenta fringe, visit Kinki hairdressers down the street.

Finally, ‘de Dijk’ is a Mecca for foodies like myself – do-it-yourself with kitchen utensils from Deksels!, the amazing cookbooks at De Kookboekhandel (one of it’s kind!), cupcake supplies from De Tafel van 18, or the Tea Bar‘s teas. Or just feast on Jordino‘s Italian ice cream, Small World‘s huge sandwiches and restaurant Balraj‘s great Indian food.

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De Haarlemmerdijk | Cinemas, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants
Haarlemmerdijk 1 | Center
09:00 – 18:00 daily (varies per store)

Melkweg (dutch for milky way) – do I need to say anything about it? All the major cities have one, or maybe a few, temples of pop culture, and here in Amsterdam it’s the Paradiso and the Melkweg. Needless to say more, it’s not a secret tip, but still it’s a good place. Concerts of internationally renowned bands, independent or cult cinema, dance parties, festivals, exhibitions, just about anything cool happens in the Melkweg.

I went to the Melkweg when I moved to Amsterdam more than one and a half decades ago, and still the programming is good enough to drag me in once in a while, be it for the stage events, be it for the film selection, exhibition, dance event, you name it.

There is a cafe/restaurant (entry on the backside of the complex, in the Marnixstraat) if you are passing by during the day and only want to sniff some air of pop culture, or check out on the exhibition space (also from that side).

To make it short: the Melkweg is THE cultural center in Amsterdam. But probably you know that already, because you won’t find any tourist guide that doesn’t tell you the same.

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Melkweg | Art & culture, Bars, Cinemas, Music | Party & membership € 14
Lijnbaansgracht 234a | Center | +31205318181
Ticket offlice from 16:30 daily (check website for program)

Studio/K is the biggest and the most remarkable one of the five projects within the Kriterion family. The cultural centre opened its doors five years ago at Timorplein in the Suriname area. Fifty students work here fifteen hours a week, being responsible for every part of the management themselves, making it more than just a student job. The popularity of the place is unfortunately a bit limited to students and yuppies, but the easy atmosphere, also known at its fellow Kriterion projects ‘Skek and Bioscoop Kriterion, definitely makes up for it.

The activities of Studio/K are threefold: first of all Studio/K is a movie theatre. Besides blockbusters they show art house cinema, Dutch and classic movies. But there are also theatre performances, workshops and meetings. You can also rent the different rooms for private use, group courses or other activities.

Furthermore, Studio/K has a bar-restaurant where they serve breakfast/lunch from 11:00 to 16:00 and dinner from 18:00 to 22:00 (student discount on ‘weekly dishes’ from Monday till Wednesday). Lastly, Studio/K serves as a club, organizing (theme) parties with music varying from jazz to oldschool techno.

Studio/K is a great place to spend your afternoon and/or evening, as it has a lot to offer under one and the same roof. One warning though: once you’re in, be sure to keep track of time and money. For me, both are gone before I realize.

Every last Wednesday of the month: Jazz in /K

Once a month: /K + peren (club night with special theme)

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Studio/K | Bars, Cinemas, Music, Theaters, Restaurants | Meals from € 12.50
Timorplein 62 | East | +31206920422
Sun – Thu 11:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 11:00 – 03:00/04:00

OT301 is generally an alternative cultural center: up-to-date underground music, alternative, experimental, on the edge. An independent movie and theater venue, and any kinds of activities: courses from self-defense to salsa, but all with the understated punk attitude. OT301 also houses Subbacultcha-events (check out: www.subbacultcha.nl)

You get the idea: experimental, hip, alternative, that’s what this place is about. No wonder that OT 301 is run by an artist initiative (EHBK), working closely together with Steim, the internationally recognized center of development in the electronic performing arts. You may call it avantgarde but the focus of OT301 is to provide an alternative to the mainstream commercial culture, be it in being experimental, be it in being politically radical.

A fun thing to try out: take part in Tuesday’s ping-pong bar. In the bar and the concert hall 4 ping-pong tables wait for potential competitors. They play a fun system on the table in the bar room: as many as possible walk around the table, hit the ball when it’s their turn, and when they loose the ball they have to leave the table until only two competitors are left.  Try it, it’s fun, and it’s free….

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OT301 | Art & culture, Cinemas, Music, Restaurants (Vegan)
Overtoom 301 | West
Tue, Thu & Sun 18:00 – 01:00, Fri 18:00 – 03:00

When I’m up for a good film, the first thing I do is check the film program of this small, intimate cinema located on Haarlemmerdijk.

The Movies was built in 1912 and is the oldest cinema still in operation in Amsterdam. If you don’t know this place, you could just pass it without knowing there is a cinema behind the four small houses. When you enter the venue you will quickly imagine yourself back in time, due to the classic art deco interior.

The film program mostly consists of art house films, but they do screen some quality Hollywood blockbusters as well. Films are shown in their original language with Dutch subtitles in one of the four (small) cinemas. I’m not a big fan of those colossal modern theatres so I rather enjoy a film in a more intimate atmosphere, which I find at The Movies.

The theatre is accompanied by a café and a cozy restaurant. The restaurant is established in an old 17th century building where the menu is inspired by the French kitchen. Also check out their website, because from Sunday till Thursday they offer some special movie dinners including a ticket. So if you like to have dinner before the movie or discuss the movie afterwards with some drinks, they will serve you well here!