Comments on: ANY DUTCH PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE?

By: jim termeer

jim termeer — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 17:56:27 +0000

oops- maybe I was too late.

By: jim termeer

jim termeer — Mon, 24 Jul 2006 17:54:04 +0000

Hi Jill-

Here’s some more tips from my 2 years there.

0. If you find yourself in a old dutch house, watch how they do the dishes. Talk about an effecient use of water.

1. Tilberg- Depont Museum: Probably one of the nicest factory-turned contemporary art spaces I’ve been in. (Much more coherent than the DIA Beacon or Mass Moca) Truly worth the 15 minute walk north of the station. Don’t foget to go to the Library in the museum. http://www.depont.nl/

2. Eindoven- Van Abbe Museum- Big contrast to the Depont, (kinda like a jumbled up Moma), but also a really nice space (and library to boot!). Just down the street from the Witte Dame (Design Academy Eindhoven) which will be most likely a short visit since the staff is away on holiday. Not really much to see in the summer anyway- just a pretty building, Also nearby is the Motta bookstore who carries a lot of books from 010 publishers- i.e. the stuff you can’t get in the US. If you are feeling that you need a dutch haircut (betya no one else suggested this), go to Arena Haarmode across the street. Good food in Eindhoven? Not much, but eating at Vroom & Dressman can be kinda fun in a touristy way. There may be some locally grown places around town by now. Another tip- if you see a well-designed shop in Eindhoven bets are that it was done by a Design Academy grad. The town really gets into the spirit. (Makes us americans seem downright dowdy sometimes).

3. Rotterdam: Yes, go to the NAI, but also take a walk to see the Cube houses on the SE side of the mall area. Also, take the time to walk over the Erasmus Bridge. (You’ll gravitate toward it anyway just to see what it is.) A lot of the Dutch designers have their studios in Rotterdam, hidden away in industrial parks (including OMA). A few emails may get you an interview (if they aren’t on holiday).

4. Utrecht: Centraal museum, Holland’s main historical museum. They have a knack for mixing the old and new and presenting it in a way that makes things clear.

That’s what I have for now. Have fun.

By: Inhabitat » Blog Archive » DUTCH READER MEETUP?

Inhabitat » Blog Archive » DUTCH READER MEETUP? — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 21:30:26 +0000

[...] I was really surprised and impressed by how many people got in touch with me regarding my upcoming trip to the Netherlands. I never realized we had so many Dutch readers! [...]

By: Inhabitat » Blog Archive » ANY SCANDINAVIAN PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE?

Inhabitat » Blog Archive » ANY SCANDINAVIAN PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE? — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 21:56:11 +0000

[...] I mentioned my trip to the Netherlands a few weeks ago, but what I didn’t mention is that I will be embarking on a whirlwind tour of Scandinavia shortly afterwards. If Inhabitat has any Scandinavian readers (and according to the survey we have about 20!) – I would love to get tips from you guys on what to check out in terms if sustainable design and architecture in Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki and Copenhagen. I will only be in each of these places for a day or two, so please keep that in mind. What I’m mainly looking for is interesting buildings, designers and shops within the central area of the capital cities. Also, if you are a designer or shop owner, please get in touch if you want to meet up! [...]

By: Jill

Jill — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 22:00:17 +0000

Hi guys-

Here’s the list from Joost (at Reluct.com):

Here are some of the things I like in Amsterdam

Hotels:
- The Lloyd hotel, so good choice!
- Hotel Arena

Museums
- Stedelijk CS http://www.stedelijk.nl/ It’s in a former Dutch Post building near Central Station. While you’re there, have a coffee at the 11th floor at Club11
and visit http://www.postamsterdam.nl/ don’t remember the floor.

Stedelijk is the only museum in Amsterdam that’s known for it’s design collection.

- Don’t know if you like this, but Foam http://www.foam.nl/ is a cool little photography museum with a nice interior.

Shops
- The Frozen Fountain http://www.frozenfountain.nl/
- Post Amsterdam although it’s not very good http://www.postamsterdam.nl/
- Studio91 http://www.studio91.nl/
- Ask for a shopping area called ‘de negen straatjes’ (9 streets). There are some really nice shops there.
- Ozenfant http://www.ozenfant.com/
- De Kastoor, Rozengracht 202, tel. 521 81 12

Restaurants
- Yam Yam. Traditional Italian pizza and food. – http://www.yamyam.nl
- Werck. Near Anna Frank House. http://www.werck.nl
- Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ. http://www.muziekgebouw.nl/
- If you like chinese food http://www.namkee.nl/ is famous in The Netherlands. Not as good as most NYC chinese restaurants though.

Clubs
- Hotel Arena http://www.hotelarena.nl/
- Paradiso http://www.paradiso.nl
- Sugar Factory http://www.sugarfactory.nl/
- Club11 (hottest club right now) http://www.ilove11.nl/
- Jimmy Woo. Hard to get in, great interior! http://www.jimmywoo.nl/

I don’t know Rotterdam very well, even though I was born there. Here are a couple of things I love there.

- Boymans van Beuningen museum http://www.boijmans.rotterdam.nl/
- Vivid Gallery http://www.vividvormgeving.nl/
- Meet with the people at http://www.fruitport.nl/.

By: Nick Simpson

Nick Simpson — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 18:12:31 +0000

Hey Joost,

Put the list on here so we can all see it, I’d love to know the best places to visit over there…

By: Joost

Joost — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 22:12:31 +0000

I live in Amsterdam. Drop me an email and I’ll make you a list of things you’ll like :)

Best,

Joost

By: koen

koen — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 15:36:22 +0000

if coming to belgium also check out the design museum http://design.museum.gent.be/

By: Mad

Mad — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 12:05:56 +0000

You should maybe swing by Delft University. Its not very far from Rotterdam. I am about to go and study there for six months all the way from Australia, because they have such an excellent international reputation for Industrial Design amongst other disciplines. Particularly for eco-design.

By: Ro

Ro — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 10:12:11 +0000

And when in Rotterdam, don’t forget the Kunsthal (www.kunsthal.nl), built by Rem Koolhaas.
And of course all the stuff mentioned before.

Maybe drop some of us a line when you’re in the neighborhood?

By: Jill

Jill — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 21:02:13 +0000

Wow! Thanks so much for all the great suggestions everyone!

Peter I would love to go to Antwerp (actually I have family there) but it is just a little too out of the way – I’m only going to be there for 4-5 days, so I don’t want things to get too hectic.

Anyways, thanks again. I really appreciate all the great tips. My trip is in the end of July and I will definitely get in touch – and will be writing all about it on Inhabitat.

By: Nick Simpson

Nick Simpson — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 16:23:03 +0000

Last time I was there I contacted the guy that runs http://www.reluct.com, he was really helpful and a very nice guy. Wherever you go, enjoy yourself, it’s a brilliant country and I go over whenever I can (hoping to move over in two years). And as cliched as it sounds, cycling around cities like Amsterdam is the best way to see them – quick, easy, relaxing, flexible and the only real way to see the places as the Dutch see them!

Have a quick look at http://www.iamsterdam.com too – it’ll give you a quick rundown of the events that’ll be on in Amsterdam whilst you’re there.

By: Dude in The Hague

Dude in The Hague — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 13:39:46 +0000

Checkout http://www.pimdesigned.nl
The guy (Pim) is a pretty unknown designer but has some great stuff you may like. the website is a bit annoying to navigate. Not sure if he speaks English. His studio is in Delft, about 20 minutes by car from Rotterdam.

By: John Labovitz

John Labovitz — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 06:15:10 +0000

Several years ago, I really enjoyed the Postal Museum (aka the Communications Museum) in The Hague. What I remember most was a large display of phone cards, all laid out and beautiful in their variety.

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 20:20:04 +0000

Great a nice tour in Rotterdam can be done by water taxi (http://www.watertaxirotterdam.nl/)! Visit http://www.rotterdam.info/ for more touristic info. Drop by in the NAI (www.nai.nl) for architectual inspiration. Take the art tour here http://www.kunstas.nl/home.html for more pictures http://www.flickr.com/photos/rlol/ or mail me!