Posts Tagged ‘Amsterdam’

Hortus Botanicus of Amsterdam

Sunday, January 3rd, 2010

Yesterday we brought Marion to the airport of Dortmund for her travel back to US. It was way easier for me travel directly from Dortmund to Amsterdam, instead of first going back to Haaksbergen and then today back to Amsterdam. The later journey would have taken a lot more in total. So I already arrived yesterday in Amsterdam.

Now it was of course not the idea to stay all Sunday at my room in Amsterdam. So I thought of something fun to do. There was still this one place I wanted to go… The Hortus Botanicus of Amsterdam. My mother often mentioned how beautiful it was there. Maybe the winter is not the best time to go, but after checking their website I still decided to go there.

The gardens outside had at the moment not very much to offer, apart from some very nice frozen snow sights. BUt the greenhouses were awesome.
Today I just wandered around enjoyed everything and made nice pictures. But some day soon I will return and I make pictures and store the information about the plants, so I can use that and the pictures for my photo-site. Maybe it is even a good idea to go there more often during the different times of the year.

After spending there a wonderful afternoon, I had a very nice rib-eye at Chicano’s (near the “Leidscheplein”).

Here some pictures to give an impression of what I saw today…

Tags: ,
Posted in I was there! | 1 Comment »

An enjoyable evening in Amsterdam.

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

Last Sunday when I traveled from Haaksbergen back to Amsterdam, I was unpleasantly surprised by the fact the Dutch railroad company was working on the tracks between the cities of Almelo and Apeldoorn. Instead of the train you had to do that part by bus and by the unlucky route that the bus followed my journey was extended with a lot of extra traveling time.
When I heard that this all would take the rest of the week I wasn’t looking forward on the way back home on Thursday.

During the Monday evening when I was working on my laptop my friend Dave called me on MSN. He told me that he would be in Amsterdam on Wednesday for a congress and if I would like it to have dinner with him afterwards. Of course I did like that, I like to spend time with the people I like.
Way after that we have been talking on MSN, something started to fall together in my head. If Dave would be in Amsterdam and he would come by car, then he would be driving back to the eastern part of the country in the evening. That way I could prevent the not so enjoyable travel on Thursday.

So next day at the company I explained Michiel, my teamleader, about my travel on last Sunday and that I would facing the same next Thursday. So I asked him if he would mind if I would travel back home with Dave and work this Thursday and Friday from home. He didn’t mind at all (did I already mentioned I love the flexibility of this company?).
I called Dave again and after he heard about the longer travel by train, he told me that he would come by car and that he didn’t mind at all that I would travel back with him.

Well, today after work I traveled back to Amsterdam and took the metro to the station Isolaterweg. Dave and I agreed on meeting there. After some time Dave did arrive there indeed. After a bit talking we decided that in this area of Amsterdam with mostly offices and factories we wouldn’t find a nice place to eat something.

So we took the metro back to the Lelylaan station. This was Dave’s first introducation to the “OV Chipcard” which was not a complete enthusiastic success :) .

We found a very nice looking steakhouse with the very nice name “Roos”. We decided that we sat down there for dinner. I really like this steakhouse. The people were nice, the atmosphere was good, an open kitchen…. and this T-Bone was more then just delicious.
And of course it is good to talk with a friend that you haven’t seen for some time. I just realize that I haven’t seen Dave since he returned from his study in the US. So it was good to chat with him again.

After dinner we took the metro back to place where Dave had parked his car and started our journey home. I realized that I slipped here and there into some sleep, because I was very tired. But even during this trip we brought up some interesting subjects.

And now I am home again looking back on a nice evening.

Tags: ,
Posted in I was there! | No Comments »

Roll on into the next week

Sunday, May 10th, 2009

On the way back to Amsterdam. The sun is shining and it is a beautiful day.

I feel kinda weird. Marion and Sanne are for 3 weeks on holiday to Sweden. They left last Friday and I already miss Marion. But she needs this holiday. She has a very busy and stressful job. She needs these breaks from it.

Me? I will have for the next 5 working days a Java course. To be honest, for what I have seen until now from it, I like Java a lot more as C. So I am looking forward to it, although I realize it will be long days. The course will be given in Amsterdam at the Wibautstraat. So for me it is easy to get there.

Tags:
Posted in General | No Comments »

The Trick of the Eye

Saturday, December 13th, 2008

Some times life feels as a thunder storm rushing over and pulling me along. En no… that is not meant bad or negative, but sometimes it just feels as there is no time to rest and to breath. One thing just happened and the next is already on its way.
At the same time I realized that I haven’t had a real holiday yet this year. So I am very glad that the days between Christmas and changing of the year I am off work… and also Friday January 2nd I am off, so I am heading to some nice time off :)

Anyway, that I didn’t write here, doesn’t mean nothing happened. On the contrary…. lots of things happened. I will try to write about those things in the coming days.

Here we go…

About two weeks ago on Sunday I have been with Dave to the Royal Museum in Amsterdam. Dave wanted to go there to see The Skull of Damien Hirst.. Although not completely my thing, I was impressed.

Royal Museum

The last time I have been to the Royal Museum it was allowed to make pictures as long you didn’t use a flashlight. So joyfully I started to make pictures, until one of the employees of the museum told me it was not allowed anymore.

Anyway, I did make some pictures there and one I really was surprised about…..

Trick of the Eye

When you look at this picture, you may assume that this is a picture of sculpture… but it isn’t. It may look very much 3D, but we are here really talking about a 2D picture.
I was really amazed about it…. a true Trick of the Eye!!!!

Tags: ,
Posted in I was there! | 1 Comment »

Thursday going home….

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

Today I had a small talk with my team leader at the company.

Last week I had to stay at the room I am renting (just lets say I needed a toilet close :P ), so I worked from that room (I can log anywhere I have Internet access and the proper software installed into the company network on a secure way). Apart from the fact that I didn’t feel very well, I moved a great deal of work.

So I asked if it would be okay to work one day per week from home. One day to do undisturbed a lot of work. But there is more for me.
When starting to work on Friday at home early, it means that my weekend start early… even when I do more hours then I need to. Without the time I need to travel home the weekend is there early. And to that without be tired from the traveling.
So traveling Thursday evening home, push on Friday a lot of work and have my weekend (with Marion) early is a great option.
Sure, when needed for a company meeting or some kind of event, I will stay in Amsterdam on Fridays.

During my job interviews there was spoken about 2 or even 3 days working from home. Now I know the company I don’t want that anymore. Sure one day to do a lot of work and roll nicely into weekend is great. But for the rest I want to work 4 days per week in Hoofddorp. I want to stay in contact with my colleagues, this has become very important for me…. so 4 days at the company, 1 day at home… An awesome deal :)

Tags: , ,
Posted in General | No Comments »

Walk through Amsterdam

Monday, October 13th, 2008

Yesterday afternoon I made a walk through the center of Amsterdam. I had planned a very long walk, but it ended in a shorter walk, which was still very enjoyable.

I started at the Central Railroad Station of Amsterdam, because of it location it is ideal to start,

Central Railroad Station

Amsterdam knows many street artists, but sadly mostly are not that talented and just try to grab some money that way. But every now and then you will see an artist who talented and knows what music is… as trumpet player (and his band) that I saw very close to the railroad station.

Street artists

Then I started to wander through small roads as they can be found a lot around that area of the city. And yes… always when I visit the center of Amsterdam I somehow end up at “De Wallen”. Don’t ask me why or how, it just happens (and Mar.. no comments from your side. The two times you leaded the road we ended up there as well :P ). Wisely I kept my camera there in my bag. I think it will not be clever to make pictures there.

Typical small Amsterdam road

After that I reached “De Schreierstoren”. For some reason I like the very old building very much. Maybe it is because the wonderful poem that Bertus Aafjes wrote about this building.
Local stories tell that this tower is named after the sailor-wifes who said crying far well here to there husband when those left for long journeys (“Schreierstower” could easily be translated to “Crying Tower”). This is not correct. A “Schreier” is a corner tower in the defending wall of a city.

Schreierstoren

When wandering further around I noticed that street names where mentioned in Dutch and Chinese (at least I assume it is Chinese). I never have seen this before in The Netherlands. I considered it fun to see this, but of course this will have its use in this area of Amsterdam.

Street names in two languages

On the Dam I noticed a dog. It was interesting to watch the behaviour of this dog. His complete body expressed how unsure he was, which was completely understandable with this huge mob of people around him.

Unsecure dog on the Dam square

At a certain moment I started to get hungry and when I looked for a place to eat I noticed The Kentucky Fried Chicken… and I was lost. I just love KFC. I am fully aware that it is a matter of personal taste, but compared to McDonalds and Burger King I think KFC is the best by far.

KFC :)

After my dinner at KFC (I know… I know…), I wandered a round a bit more. But as I was tired (I wandered also yesterday all day in the zoo) I made my way back to my room. But it has been a good day, a day that will be continued some time soon.

Tags:
Posted in I was there! | 1 Comment »

The bet

Friday, October 10th, 2008

This weekend I will not be going home. I will stay in Amsterdam and tomorrow a number of colleagues and I will visit the Artis, the zoo of Amsterdam. It will be nice. A great opportunity to make pictures and it will be of course nice to spend time with my colleagues.

At the same time this will give Marion the opportunity to go with Sanne on a shopping spree and have a good time together.

I made a bet with Marion that Sanne and she will spend more then a certain amount of money per person (I promised not to mention what amount :P ). She denied that. We will see…. allthough I am pretty sure I am on the right side :P

The bet in on!!!!

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in General | 6 Comments »

Eating in Amsterdam

Monday, September 15th, 2008

Some people may know that I have here on my weblog a list of restaurants and alike that I have visited.

Well, each of the places mentioned in that list is well worth to visit. You will find simple noodle restaurants there, but also some rather exclusive places. But any of the places on that list is in my opinion well worth to visit. Some of the places I have been already more then onces, because I really liked it.

If I visited a restaurant and I didn’t like it for whatever reason (bad food, lousy service and more things like that), you won’t find it my list… and yes, I have been at that kind of places, more then one. But those are not worth to mention at all… wasted time and money.
It is better to look at those that really worth to visit… and once again, with worth visiting it I don’t refer to luxury or prices… but to good food, friendly and kind atmosphere to mention some things.

Specially the Amsterdam-part of my list is growing fast, which may not be very strange as I spend my weeks there. And luckily for me, there are rather a number of very good restaurants her :)

Tags: ,
Posted in I was there! | No Comments »

Kuipersstraat in Amsterdam

Sunday, August 31st, 2008

As written in another post of last week, I have been to the street where I was born… the Kuipersstraat in Amsterdam…

Kuipersstraat

The Kuiperstraat is a side street of the very famous Van Wou-straat. And the area is called “De Pijp”.

The area is very typical for Amsterdam. Maybe I am wrong, but this is one of the area where life goes on 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Anyway, it was nice to see that the house where I was born was still in almost its original state, unlike many other buildings around there.
In the picture below one can see the house where I born. It is the darker building, above the shop on the third level.

Kuiperstraat

And a closer look at the house itself. It was not a very big house. There was not even a bathroom (remember we are talking 45 years ago), but I assume that is changed by now.

Kuiperstraat

A year or two ago I was visiting Amsterdam. While wandering through the city I passed the Amstel hotel (on the picture below, but I was passing it on the other side). Later my mother told me that I have been very close to the Kuipersstraat…. but I never realized how close! It is maybe a walk of 5 or 10 minutes at most!

Near the Kuipersstraat

And then there is of course the Amstel…. The river that gave the city of Amsterdam its name. It is kinda funny to know that I was born very close to that river!

Amstel

Tags: , ,
Posted in I was there! | 6 Comments »

And there I was born…

Monday, August 25th, 2008

Today after work I left for the part of the city Amsterdam where I was born.  I had no memories of that place… only a name. After all, I was around 6 months old when my family moved from Amsterdam to Haaksbergen.

So today I walked into the Kuipersstraat and strange enough it looked just I as expected it would. I talked with my mother on the phone. She told me all she could remember and I made pictures of it (I will post next weekend some of those pictures here…. for now it is still impossible for me to upload pictures).

It is a weird feeling. Finally I can I have a real image to the place I was born. Sure, a lot did change over the last 45 years, but the house of my birth is still there! De Kuipersstraat 70III…

Tags:
Posted in I was there! | 1 Comment »