Wednesday, December 31 2008, 5:13PM
For the first time in 12 years, it may be possible that people can skate on ice in the canals of Amsterdam.
Due to the mild winters in the past decades, the canals in the centre of Amsterdam have not frozen for the last 12 years.
Traditionally, of the 17th century [....]
Tuesday, December 30 2008, 10:09PM
Today was the last day the wheel-clamp will be seen in Amsterdam.
The much dreaded device, meant to make sure false parking did not go unpunished, was introduced 25 years ago. At the time, illegal parking got out of hand in Amsterdam, and the wheel-clamp was [....]
Friday, December 26 2008, 4:20PM
The well-known Club 11 has found a new location in Amsterdam, where it will re-open in March 2009.
The name of the club derives from the 11th floor it occupied in the POST-CS building, close to the Central Station. The restaurant/club was know for its fabulous view [....]
Monday, December 22 2008, 3:48PM
Despite earlier resistance by the mayor, there will be a large New Year's Eve party on Rembrandtplein square.
The mayor had resisted this party for security reasons.
Traditionally, there are large outdoor New Year's eve parties on two other squares too: one on Dam [....]
Wednesday, December 17 2008, 6:53PM
The gay nativity scene in the Amsterdam gay bar 'Arc' has led to protests from religious organizations.
The (live) nativity scene is part of the 'Pink Christmas' event, which is organized by a number of gay bars during Christmas.
Pink Christmas, of which the Pink [....]
Tuesday, December 09 2008, 11:45AM
The city of Amsterdam has published the plan to clean up the world-famous Red Light District.
The main objective of the plan is said to be to fight organised crime, especially money-laundering, forced prostitution and illegal drug trading.
The plan says that the [....]
Wednesday, December 03 2008, 10:34PM
The rates for on-street parking go up in 2009, in some parts dramatically.
The rates will vary between E 0.10 per hour (in some shopping streets outside the centre) to E 5.- per hour (in a large part of the centre).
The highest rate at the moment is E 4.80 p.h., [....]
Tuesday, December 02 2008, 9:37AM
The sale of 'magic mushrooms' is going on, despite the national prohibition that took effect yesterday.
The mayor of Amsterdam, Job Cohen, said yesterday that there is still a lot of unclarity about who should take the lead in the enforcement of the new law.
He said [....]
Monday, December 01 2008, 4:55PM
Starting today, the sale and production of so-called 'magic mushrooms' is prohibited in the Netherlands.
The prohibition means that 189 different kinds of mushrooms (nicknamed paddo's in Dutch) are placed on the list of illegal drugs.
The prohibition is initiated [....]
Thursday, November 27 2008, 7:12PM
A new version of the brochure 'How to use taxis in Amsterdam' has been published.
The brochure explains the basics of taxi usage in Amsterdam, in English and in Dutch.
It also contains a practical map with the taxi stands in the centre of Amsterdam.
The flyer can [....]
Tuesday, November 25 2008, 1:26PM
Yesterday, a statue was unveiled by Mayor Job Cohen, in honour of the famous 17th century Amsterdam philosopher Baruch (or Benedictus as he chose to call himself later) Spinoza.
Spinoza (1632 - 1677) was a Dutch philospher from a Jewish family. He became known for his [....]
Monday, November 24 2008, 12:32PM
From now on the entire Thalys high-speed train network in Europe will be equipped with fast wireless internet.
For first class travellers the internet connection is free, for second class there is a fee of E 6.50 for an hour or E 13.- for the entire journey.
The [....]
Friday, November 21 2008, 10:48AM
Amsterdam has announced it plans to close 43 coffeeshops, of the more than 228 there are now.
The coffeeshops (where soft drugs can be bought without fear of prosecution by the police) are within 250 meter of a school, and therefore have to close.
They have to close [....]
Thursday, November 20 2008, 11:52AM
Amsterdam now also has its own group of small pub owners who have decided together to ignore the smoking ban.
A group of 52 pubs in Amsterdam have decided to allow smoking again, despite the national smoking ban which became effective on July 1.
The move follows [....]
Thursday, November 20 2008, 11:28AM
According to the authoritative British music magazine 'Gramophone', the Concertgebouworkest is the world's best orchestra.
According to the jury, the Royal Concertgebouworkest is the orchestra one of the [....]
Wednesday, November 19 2008, 10:50AM
The Dutch government has announced tough enforcement of the anti-smoking law, after pubs massively placed back the ashtrays.
The revolt by pub owners started in the town of Den Bosch, in the South of the Netherlands, last week. Starting last Monday, almost all pubs in [....]
Tuesday, November 18 2008, 5:36PM
On April 21 2009, the famous British band will give a concert in Amsterdam.
The concert will be held in the Heineken Music Hall, in Amsterdam South-East.
The concert in Amsterdam is part of a [....]
Thursday, November 13 2008, 12:50PM
Sinterklaas, the patron saint of the children (from which the American Santaclaus is derived), arrives in Amsterdam.
This age old Dutch folklore takes place every year, also in Amsterdam.
Route in Amsterdam:
10.30 am: Sinterklaas starts with his boat on the river [....]
Wednesday, November 12 2008, 5:48PM
The first Amsterdam India Festival will be opened today by princess Máxima, on Museumplein square, at 7.30pm.
The Amsterdam India Festival is an all-round cultural festival, dedicated to India, with dozens of events in the areas of music, dance, fashion, photography, [....]
Tuesday, November 11 2008, 12:45PM
So-called 'magic mushrooms', mushrooms that are used as drugs, will be prohibited in the Netherlands as from December 1.
The prohibition had already been announced earlier this year, but only now all the procedures are finished to make the prohibition [....]
Sunday, November 09 2008, 1:03AM
A replica of Noah's Ark arrived in Amsterdam. It can be viewed until February 7, 2009.
A life-size giraffe will overlook the IJ river behind the Central Station for a few months.
It stands on a huge replica of Noah's Ark, which will be a temporary attraction (until [....]
Wednesday, November 05 2008, 12:16PM
The Amsterdam Dungeon has launched a special action for victims of the savings bank IceSave. If you bring a bank statement of your account, you get free access during the month of November.
The IceSave bank is an Icelandic savings bank that failed early October, after [....]
Wednesday, November 05 2008, 10:37AM
The American presidential elections were celebrated in several locations across town.
The biggest event (all 2200 tickets sold out for weeks) was in the Melkweg theatre, near Leidseplein. The Democrats Abroad had their party in the Boom Chicage comedy theatre, also at [....]
Monday, November 03 2008, 6:59PM
The Heineken Experience reopened today, after an extensive renovation.
The redesigned Heineken Experience gives you an idea of how the world-famous Dutch Heineken beer is produced.
The popular attraction (about 335,000 visitors a year) is located in the old [....]
Sunday, November 02 2008, 10:03PM
Amsterdam is one of the first cities that will start using the OV-chipkaart in all forms of public transport. The old 'strippen-kaart' will also remain valid for the time being.
Starting Monday November 3, the OV-chipkaart can be used on all buses, trams and metros in [....]
Wednesday, October 29 2008, 12:54PM
Amsterdam is not the only city in the Netherlands with a Red Light District. Alkmaar, a smaller 17th century town 40km North of Amsterdam, has one too.
Like the district in Alkmaar it consists of large number of street windows behind which the ladies are sitting to [....]
Tuesday, October 28 2008, 9:54AM
The Affordable Art Fair will have its second edition in Amsterdam, from October 30 to November 2.
Art sells for E 100,- to maximum E 5000,- on the Affordable Art Fair, which is to be held in the Westerpark (building the Westergasfabriek).
The Westergasfabriek is [....]
Saturday, October 25 2008, 6:53PM
This night (October 25) will be the end of the summertime (daylight saving time).
At 3 AM in the night, the clock will go back 1 hour, so that the night will have 1 extra hour. The summertime always ends in the last weekend of October.
The summertime will start [....]
Wednesday, October 22 2008, 11:05AM
The US Dollar has gone below USD 1.30 to the Euro today, the lowest level of the Euro in 2 years.
A few months ago, the dollar hit USD 1.60 to the Euro, and it was expected that the dollar might fall even further.
The reverse has happened, which makes travelling to [....]
Saturday, October 18 2008, 10:09PM
Tomorrow's Amsterdam Marathon is the last that will be held as the 'ING Amsterdam Marathon'.
ING has decided to stop sponsoring the event.
The decision is a big blow for the marathon organization, as it used the ING money to attract the world's best runners.
ING [....]
Tuesday, October 14 2008, 6:38PM
The IBC conference, the largest yearly conference held in Amsterdam, will remain in Amsterdam until at least 2013.
The IBC convention is a yearly event, on which companies in the field of broadcasting congregate for a week in the RAI Congress Centre, to show their new [....]
Monday, October 06 2008, 2:09PM
In the fifties, A project developer wanted to build an office building on the location which is now one of the busiest and moste well-known Amsterdam attractions, the Anne Frank House.
The government had no objections against the demolition, as it found that the house [....]
Wednesday, October 01 2008, 10:47PM
The construction of what has to become Hollands biggest hotel, started today right next to Amsterdam Central Station.
The Amsterdam City Inn, as it will be called, will measure 30,000 m2 (320,000 sq.ft) and will have 553 rooms and conference facilities.
The hotel [....]
Wednesday, October 01 2008, 10:32PM
The new hotel concept 'Yotel' has been opened on Schiphol.
The Yotel cabins are intended for travellers having to wait a long time for a (connecting) flight.
The Yotel cabins are behind the passport control, and have to be booked for a minimum of 4 hours.
They are [....]
Tuesday, September 30 2008, 8:18PM
Today was the last day of the Stedelijk Museum in its temporary location near the Central Station.
The original location at Museumplein is still closed for renovation. It is scheduled to re-open in December 2009.
This does not mean the Stedelijk Museum will stop [....]
Thursday, September 18 2008, 4:32PM
On Sunday, Amsterdam will again be car-free for a day, between 10am and 5pm.
This means that cars and motor bikes can not enter the city, into the area within the ring road A10.
Car and motor bikes can leave the city, or drive in it, when they are already in [....]
Thursday, September 18 2008, 4:14PM
The Netherlands rank number 10 in the IT industry competitiveness index, 2008, published by the magazine The Economist.
This is up two places from last year's ranking, which lists the most attractive countries for the IT sector.
As an incubator of high-tech [....]
Tuesday, September 16 2008, 6:43PM
NRC Handelsblad, one of the big newspapers in the Netherlands, has started an English language website.
The newspapers wants to target foreigners and expats who are interested in Dutch news topics of international interest.
The site is a cooperation project with [....]
Friday, September 12 2008, 11:30PM
The new building of the Amsterdam Conservatory was opened this afternoon by Queen Beatrix.
The Conservatory moved from the Museumplein (across from the Van Gogh Museum) to the newly developed area on Oosterdoks Island, next to the Central Station.
On this island is [....]
Thursday, September 04 2008, 1:24PM
As of January 1, the infamous wheel clamp will be history in Amsterdam.
The wheel clamp has been an effective - and much disliked - instrument to punish car drivers for parking violations.
Many tourists arriving in Amsterdam by car have been the victim of a wheel [....]
Friday, August 29 2008, 10:15AM
The Uitmarkt, the yearly opening of the cultural season, starts this evening.
The concept of the Uitmarkt is that the public gets to see small samples, usually 15 minutes, of the performances and shows of the coming season. On a large outdoor market, theatre groups [....]
Wednesday, August 27 2008, 10:54AM
The famous Hirst skull, a human skull covered with 8,601 diamonds, will be on display in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
The work of art, created by the Brit Damien Hirst, will be displayed from November 1 to December 15. The name of the work of art is 'For the Love of [....]
Sunday, August 17 2008, 11:14PM
The scheduled maintenance period for the metro tunnel between Central Station and Amsterdam Amstel Station is extended with an extra week
The work was scheduled to be ready on Monday the 18th of August, but testing of the safety mechanisms took longer than [....]
Saturday, August 16 2008, 10:57PM
The yearly 'Grachtenfestival' (Canal Festival) has started today.
The festival is a week of musical events, mainly classical music, around the canals in the centre.
The most popular part of the festival is the Prinsengracht Concert, which is on Saturday August 23. [....]
Thursday, August 14 2008, 10:49AM
In the famous Bijenkorf department store in Amsterdam (on Dam Square), a new restaurant will be opened.
The 'Bijenkorf Kitchen' will have 500 seats, and 9 cooking islands. The restaurant will be on the 5th floor, and have a view on the Royal Palace and Beursplein.
In [....]
Friday, August 08 2008, 10:18AM
The I Amsterdam Card appears to sell very well this year.
The I Amsterdam Card gives access to a number of important museums in Amsterdam, all public transport in Amsterdam, and includes a free canal boat tour.
Card are available that are valid for 1, 2 or 3 [....]
Wednesday, August 06 2008, 9:41AM
Camera cars of Google Street View have been spotted in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
Google StreetView allows Google Maps users to virtually 'walk' through streets in a city, and look around. For the service it is necessary that the entire street is photographed.
After [....]
Friday, August 01 2008, 9:27AM
For the first time in the Netherlands, an apartment has been closed and boarded up because drugs were found.
The police had found 450 kilogram marihuana (with a value of EUR 1.5 million) in the residence, and on the basis of anti-drugs legislation the mayor of [....]
Monday, July 28 2008, 10:50PM
Today, GAYtic was opened, a tourist information point specially dedicated to gay visitors of Amsterdam.
GAYtic is an information office (located in a gay gift shop at Spuistraat 44), but gay visitors can also go there if they have problems. It appears gay visitors [....]
Thursday, July 24 2008, 12:07PM
The mayor of Amsterdam, Mr Job Cohen, will be on one of the boats in the 2008 Amsterdam Gay Pride canal parade.
The Amsterdam canal parade is one of Amsterdam's big yearly events, attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators each year. A large number of boats, with [....]
Tuesday, July 22 2008, 9:11PM
Starting July 23 there is a convenient ticket for tourists available that combines admission to tram, bus, metro in Amsterdam, AND the train to the airport.
The ticket is a test, and is a cooperation between the GVB (the Amsterdam public transport authority) and NS [....]
Wednesday, July 16 2008, 10:27AM
Three training ships of the Japanese Navy will visit Amsterdam between July 16 and 20.
The ‘Kashima’, the ‘Asagiri’ and the ‘Umigiti’ and their 720 staff will moor at the head of the Java island.
Java Island (Java-eiland) is one of the peninsulas in the Eastern [....]
Monday, July 14 2008, 6:06PM
The VWA (the Dutch government agency that enforces the smoking ban) reports that the large majority of pubs, restaurants etc. live up to the rules.
About 96% of the inspections were without problems.
On the first 1,000 inspections, 34 warnings have been issued to [....]
Friday, July 11 2008, 10:58AM
Today, the Navy Days (Marinedagen) have started in the Dutch Navy town Den Helder.
During the Navy Days several war ships can be visited, and there are many demonstrations of all kinds of navy material and vehicles.
Den Helder is the main Dutch Navy town, and is [....]
Wednesday, July 09 2008, 9:42AM
On July 10, the Greenpeace action ship 'De Sirius' is open for the public.
The Sirius participated 20 years long in various actions against seal hunting, whale hunting and illegal dumping of radioactive waste.
On the open day you can also get information about the [....]
Tuesday, July 08 2008, 10:35AM
Last night, a tourist did not survive his jump into the water near the taxi stand at the Central Station in Amsterdam.
The police suspect that he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Passers-by called an ambulance and the fire brigade. They tried to [....]
Saturday, July 05 2008, 5:40PM
An employee of the Sloten windmill died, after he fell off the windmill yesterday.
He worked during a company party that was held in the windmill. One of the activities was apparently 'wing turning': you get tied to one of the wings of the windmill, to be turned [....]
Tuesday, July 01 2008, 11:47AM
At midnight, the last cigarettes had to be extinguished in Holland's pub, cafes, restaurants, etcetera.
From now on, smoking is only allowed outside, in designated closed off smoking rooms, or at home.
More detailed information about the new rules can be found
Read More
Monday, June 30 2008, 10:28AM
Travellers to Amsterdam may experience problems, as several large maintenance projects have started.
Until Monday 25th Augustus major maintenance work is carried out on Prins Hendrikkade / IJtunnel/ a part of the Nieuwe Leeuwarderweg and the Metro tunnel.
The [....]
Saturday, June 28 2008, 12:03AM
As the smoking ban in the Netherlands approaches, the authorities try to make the exact rules clear to the general public.
It was not entirely clear whether party tents (for example, tents used at outdoor pop concerts) were exempt from the smoking ban.
The Minister [....]
Thursday, June 26 2008, 11:40PM
On Thursday afternoon a fire broke out in Amsterdam North.
Big black clouds of smoke could be seen from far away. The fire broke out in a furniture store, and spread to several neighbouring stores.
Because it was unclear whether the smoke was toxic, a part of the [....]
Wednesday, June 25 2008, 1:13PM
This evening the Surinameplein square will be blocked off, to accommodate a large tv screen that will show the soccer match between Turkey and Germany.
Surinameplein is located just South-West of the Vondelpark, at the end of the street Overtoom. All traffic to the [....]
Sunday, June 22 2008, 4:47PM
The European Soccer Championship 2008 has ended for the Dutch team, after the defeat against Russia yesterday evening.
After three victories in the first round the hopes where high for the Dutch soccer team, which had become one of the main favourites for the European [....]
Thursday, June 19 2008, 11:28AM
As of June 17, there is a special center in Amsterdam for so-called expats, foreign immigrants who come to work in Amsterdam.
The center is a co-operation of the municipalities of Amsterdam and Amstelveen (a neighbouring town, just south of Amsterdam), and the Dutch [....]
Monday, June 16 2008, 10:19AM
Mercatorplein square, in Amsterdam West, filled up quickly yesterday evening with partying Turks, after the Turkish team had defeated Czechia in the European Soccer Championshiop with 3-2.
Right after the match, thousands of Turks living in Amsterdam took to the [....]
Sunday, June 15 2008, 3:06PM
More than 11 million people in the Netherlands watched (part of) of the soccer match between Holland and France.
The match ended in a 4-1 victory for Holland, leading again to massive street partying throughout the country. In Amsterdam, the party mostly concentrated [....]
Tuesday, June 10 2008, 10:20AM
The 3-0 victory of Holland against Italy, yesterday in Bern (Switzerland) in the European Soccer Championship tournament sent a wave of nationalism through the country.
Many streets were already coloured orange, the national colour (based on the House of Orange, the [....]
Tuesday, June 10 2008, 9:51AM
This appears from the MasterCard Worldwide Centers of Commerce Index 2008, that was published on Sunday. The list is published once a year, commissioned by credit card company Mastercard.
This makes Amsterdam number 4 in Europe, after the traditional big three: [....]
Friday, June 06 2008, 11:12AM
From Friday evening (June 6), the light show work by Japanese artist Ryoji Ikeda will be visible on 4 locations in Amsterdam.
From the Dream Amsterdam website:
Ikeda will use pure light as the material for [....]
Wednesday, June 04 2008, 3:03PM
The new season's herring has arrived on the market. Traditionally, the first catch was auctioned, and the proceeds went to charity.
Dutch herring is one of the Dutch food specialties. The fish is eaten salted - and raw, the chopped onions are optional (see
Read More
Tuesday, June 03 2008, 7:10PM
The beer bicycle will be banned from the centre of Amsterdam.
The beer bike is a riding 'cafe', on which about 10 to 20 persons can sit, and cycle to move the bike.
Although officially the person in front, who steers the vehicle, must remain sober, this is often not [....]
Tuesday, June 03 2008, 9:48AM
Yesterday, an old bomb has been found near one of the Schiphol runways.
The bomb was dropped in the second World War, by the English, but didn't go off. Yesterday it was found on a depth of 4 meters.
One of the runways has been closed, but so far it appears there are [....]
Sunday, June 01 2008, 10:52PM
Today was the first performance in the Vondelpark Open Air theatre.
Every year, the Vondelpark Open Air Theatre stages a large number of performances throughout the summer. The events are always very popular.
Amsterdam funds the theatre, but due to necessary budget [....]
Friday, May 30 2008, 10:12AM
Job Cohen, the Mayor of Amsterdam, has been awarded the Martin Luther King Award. He is the first non-American citizen to receive the award.
Cohen received the award in the Heineken Music Hall, from Martin Luther King's nephew Isaac Newton Farris. It is the first time [....]
Thursday, May 29 2008, 10:12AM
The Arena Stadium in Amsterdam will completely ban smoking during all sports events.
On July 1 2008, a complete smoking ban will take effect in the Netherlands, in all cafes, pubs, discos, hotels, restaurants, theaters, museums, cinemas, indoor shopping malls, [....]
Tuesday, May 27 2008, 11:33AM
The Mayor's residence (at Herengracht 502) received extra protection today, after 8 windows had been demolished by angry squatters yesterday.
On Saturday things got out of hand, as a party in a squatted building in Amsterdam East led to noise complaints. When the [....]
Monday, May 19 2008, 11:59PM
Today, at JFK Airport in New York, the Dutch Ministry of Justice and the US Department of Homeland Security signed a joint statement that allows for Dutch and American citizens to cross the borders of the Netherlands and the US by automated border passage.
It is [....]
Sunday, May 18 2008, 11:18PM
The old problems at the taxi rank at the Central Station are back again. The City has announced tougher enforcement of the rules.
Although it is officially forbidden to enter the taxi rank (nicknamed by some drivers the 'Gaze Strip') without a special permit, the old [....]
Friday, May 16 2008, 11:19AM
Tomorrow afternoon (Saturday May 17) there will be a 'kiss-in' at the Homo Monument near the Westerkerk church.
The event is organized in the framework of the International Day Against Homophobia. Although a similar kiss-in was organized 3 years ago on Leidseplein, [....]
Wednesday, May 14 2008, 10:02AM
On Sunday May 18, Amsterdam centre will have the largest open air book market in the world.
The entire market will be 4 kilometers long.
The market is divided into several segments, such as publishers, antiquarian, etc. The book market takes place in the framework of [....]
Tuesday, May 13 2008, 10:00AM
The newspaper Financiële Dagblad (www.fd.nl) reports that the City of Amsterdam refuses to extend the licenses of two major gambling halls in the Red Light District.
They are the gambling halls 'Molensteeg' and 'Buddy Buddy'. To refuse the licenses, the city uses the [....]
Friday, May 09 2008, 9:34PM
The Fatih Mosque in Amsterdam participates in the Open Ateliers Jordaan, an event in which about 70 ateliers will be open this weekend in the famous Jordaan area.
One of the location where art can be admired, is the Fatih Mosque (address: Rozengracht 150,
Read More
Wednesday, May 07 2008, 12:56PM
On Friday May 9, the luggage handling service on Schiphol Airport will be disrupted because of a strike.
The employees of Menzies Aviation will go on strike for better salaries.
Checking in passengers, handling luggage and moving planes on the airport will be [....]
Monday, May 05 2008, 6:01PM
On May 21 there will be a fundraising party for the Anne Frank tree, the famous tree in the garden of the house where Anne Frank was in hiding for the Nazis.
The Stichting Support Anne Frank [....]
Tuesday, April 22 2008, 9:50AM
Amsterdam has forgotten to celebrate that it has been the capital of the Netherlands for 200 years.
On April 20, 1808, Lodewijk Napoleon (brother of the French emperor Napoleon) went to Amsterdam, in a festive parade, to make it the capital of Holland. He had just [....]
Thursday, April 10 2008, 10:31AM
The historical IJ ferry will also be in service in the season 2008.
The boat makes a round trip through the Eastern Docklands (on the IJ), only on Sunday.
The trip takes about 2 hours, but you can decide to get off on one of the stops and proceed your trip [....]
Wednesday, April 09 2008, 10:25PM
Since today the services of all metro lines starting at Amsterdam Central Station have been resumed.
On Monday the service was partially cancelled, due to a derailment near the Central Station. Starting noon today, all services are back to normal.
An investigation [....]
Tuesday, April 08 2008, 9:26AM
On Monday evening a metro carriage derailed near the Central Station of Amsterdam. Nobody was injured.
Between Central Station and Nieuwmarkt station (the first station from Central Station) no metro traffic is possible.
GVB (the Amsterdam public transport company) [....]
Sunday, March 23 2008, 5:57PM
Easter 2008 turns out to be the coldest Easter in more than 40 years.
Amsterdam is seeing a lot of snow these days, and temperatures are below zero in the night.
Easter 2008 is the coldest Easter since 1964.
Holland has about 10% less touristic visitors this [....]
Monday, March 03 2008, 6:19PM
Starting today, only quality taxis are allowed on the taxi rank at the Central Station in Amsterdam.
To be able to use the taxi rank at Central Station, taxi drivers must have a special pass. To get the pass they must follow a special course.
The most important [....]
Tuesday, February 12 2008, 1:47AM
Amsterdam will have a new international jazz festival this year, called IJazz.
The festival will take place from June 20-22, and the location will be various locations along the North bank of the river IJ (hence the name 'IJazz').
Many details, such as the artists, [....]
Tuesday, February 05 2008, 12:24AM
A record number of 7,000,000 million Dutch people watched the show about the Natalee Holloway case last night.
On a total population of 16 million, this is almost half the entire country. This spectacular number is normally only seen with very important soccer [....]
Friday, February 01 2008, 1:19PM
The well-known Dutch crime reporter Peter R. de Vries claims he solved the Natalee Holloway case.
Natalee Holloway (a teen age girl from the US) disappeared a few years ago on the island of Aruba, one of the Dutch Antilles.
One of the suspects was Joran van der [....]
Tuesday, January 29 2008, 5:31PM
The official new taxi rates will apply from Friday February 1, although only 4 in 5 taxis have installed the new taxi meter.
The new rate system works as follows:
- start tariff of max. EUR 7.50, including the first 2 kilometers
- maximum of EUR 2.20 per kilometer [....]
Friday, January 18 2008, 7:32PM
Hardly have about 50 of the world-famous brothel windows in the Amsterdam Red Light District been closed, or they have been converted into fashion displays.
The Red Light Fashion Amsterdam project [....]
Friday, January 18 2008, 12:11AM
Amsterdam has refused licences for more sex related business. I.a. the the famous sex theatre Casa Rosso and the Banana Bar are to be closed.
Casa Rosso, the Banana Bar, the 'Erotic Museum' and peep shop Sexyland all belong to one owner, Jan Otten. He did not pass the [....]
Wednesday, January 16 2008, 10:43AM
Last night, a fire broke out in the Swissôtel near Dam Square. A 21-year old woman died, and a 25-year old man was severely wounded. Both were guests of the hotel.
The fire broke out in the early evening, on the 3rd floor. Three staff members were treated for [....]
Wednesday, January 16 2008, 10:35AM
The license to fell the Anne Frank tree has been confirmed by the city authorities.
This means that the (now world-famous) tree can be cut down if the owner wants to.
However, the owner has said he is willing to consider a saving plan of the tree. Opponents of [....]
Wednesday, January 16 2008, 10:26AM
The introduction of the new public transport chip card (the OV-chipkaart), which is to replace the old 'strippenkaart', is most likely going to be postponed after the security protection of the card has been hacked.
Last week, German students announced they had [....]
Tuesday, January 15 2008, 6:28PM
Yab Yum, the brothel that was recently closed down by the Amsterdam city authorities, will continue as an escort agency.
The brothel, the most (in)famous one in the Netherlands, was closed down on the grounds that criminal activities were suspected. Its licence was [....]
Monday, January 14 2008, 11:11PM
A majority of the parties in the Amsterdam council wants to prohibit the use of firework in the centre of Amsterdam.
The new year is celebrated in the Netherlands by using firework. The use of firework by consumers is legal, and consequently millions of people create [....]
Thursday, January 10 2008, 3:11PM
Contrary to a trend in the rest of the Netherlands, real estate prices in Amsterdam have gone up more than 7% in the last quarter of 2007.
Apartments in Amsterdam even went up 8% in price. Over entire 2007, real estate prices rose more than 14%, the highest percentage [....]
Wednesday, January 09 2008, 5:34PM
The 'Opstapper' bus line has changed its name into 'Stop/Go'.
The route is also extended.
The bus line goes up and down along the Prinsengracht canal, 7 days a week, between 9.00am and 5.30pm and costs EUR 1,- per ride.
The bus line is different from other lines [....]
Tuesday, January 08 2008, 11:50AM
In the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden (Rijksmuseum voor Oudheden) is an interesting exhibition of old jewellery.
An overview exhibition of the most beautiful jewels from the museum’s collection, with items from the ancient Near East, Egypt, the Roman Empire [....]
Monday, January 07 2008, 5:01PM
A publisher of 15 large (mainly women) magazines in the Netherlands has started an online petition for more public lavatories for ladies.
On the website you can place an online signature to plead for more [....]
Sunday, January 06 2008, 10:49PM
The most famous sexclub in Amsterdam, Yab Yum, has to close definitely.
Some weeks ago the city authorities already announced they intended to revoke the club's license on the grounds that the club was suspected to play a role in criminal activities.
Yab Yum went [....]
Thursday, January 03 2008, 3:10PM
Amsterdam Schiphol airport is not only completely smoke-free on the inside, it also wants to ban smokers from near the entrance doors.
The airport states that people who want to get into the airport buildings have to make their way through a smoke curtain, caused by [....]
Thursday, January 03 2008, 2:59PM
The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam had a record of more than a million visitors last year.
In 2006 the famous museum had 'only' 982,000 visitors.
The new record is probably due to the online ticket sales, and the better opening hours.
Possibly, the news coverage [....]
