AMSTERDAM'S BUILDINGS

GOODBYE AMSTERDAM - FEBRUARY 2006

This is the last post from the February 2006 visit to Amsterdam, and after the Water I'll show some Buildings. This also represents that my delay in posting is now reduced to 21 months "only"...


"THE ROYAL THEATRE CARRÉ got its name from the French/German Carré family of riders and circus' artists. The family Carré performed in the Netherlands for the first time in September 1863 and the patriarch - Oscar Carré - performed for the last time in his theatre on the 12th of April 1909 before going on tour and dying on June 29, 1911, in Copenhagen. After many vicissitudes, the city council bought the theatre on the 1st of January 1977 and Carré became a real theatre for Amsterdam, open nowadays 365 days a year"


"TYPICAL BUILDING at Oudezijds Voorburgwaal"


"OUDE KERK - The old church has almost as many chapels as there have been building phases: the earliest building phase seems to have started at the turn of the 13th and 14th century; around 1380 the north-transept was built, in 1412 the crossing with the aisles, and in 1460 the southtransept. The «Oude Kerk» had to close its doors in 1951 because of the danger of collapsing, but was saved by the «Stichting de Oude Kerk». The foundation had two aims: conservation of the building and opening it to the public. The total restauration was completed in 1979, and on the 14th of March 1979 the building was opened to the public"


"THE BEURS VAN BERLAGE was built from 1898 through 1903 by the architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage (1856-1934) for the Municipality of Amsterdam. There are two slogans on the bell tower of the Beurs van Berlage: «Bide Your Time» and «Await Your Hour»"


"THE ROYAL PALACE, located on Dam Square, was originally built as the city hall for the magistrates of Amsterdam. In the 17-th century it was the largest secular building of Europe and today is one of the three Palaces placed at the Queen's disposal for official functions by Act of Parliament"



"THE NIEUWE KERK, located at the Dam Square, is famous for its exhibitions on treasures from other countries, cultures and religions. By the time I visited, it was Indonesia the main subject; in December 2007, we have Afghanistan. The church is also known as the place where the coronation of the Head of State as well of the national Remembrance Day service on 4 May takes place"


"THE KRASNAPOLSKY HOTEL, also located at Dam Square, is the largest 5-star hotel of the Benelux countries. The monumental glass palace or Winter Garden, dates from 1879 and is where breakfast and lunch is served"


"??? - Let your imagination find out what this is"


"CHESS AT EUWE PLACE - Machgielis (Max) Euwe became World Chess Champion (1935–1937), on December 15, 1935, when he defeated Alekhine, by 15.5-14.5, becoming the 5th World Chess Champion. Euwe however lost the title to Alekhine in a rematch in 1937 by 15.5-9.5"


"BEGIJNHOF - Around 1150, a group of women - the Beguines, not nuns - started to live in a religious community, primarily to look after the sick. On 23 May 1971, the last Beguine, Sister Antonia, died at the age of 84. The Beguinage is thus no longer a true beguinage since 1971"


"HOTEL DE L'EUROPE - A beautiful building at the Rokin"


"TUCHINSKI THEATRE - A beautiful place where one may enjoy movies with champagne... "


"ST. NIKOLAAS CHURCH"


"WESTERKERK quite close to Anne Frank's House"


"REMBRANT PLEIN with a sculpure of the The Night Watch or The Militia Company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq"