Tuesday, December 18, 2007

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"

35 comments:

Peter said...

Still very much impressed by all that you have discovered in Amsterdam and what I have - to a large part - missed!
Have also stayed at Krasnapolsky a few times - including before it was refreshed!
Re the "???", no problem. I may even have visited the place.

Marie said...

Thank you very much for such an interesting and beautiful "reportage" about a country I lived closed to for a long time but have never visited...

lyliane six said...

Elle est vraiment belle cette architecture, comme en Belgique, quand je vivais dans le Nord, je n'y faisais plus attention, mais maintenant avec vos belles photos je la redécouvre.J'ai deviné, la photo c'est un urinoir en France on appelle cela "une pissotière"!J'en ai vu encore une à Berlin.Quand je suis allée à Amsterdam lors de la canicule nous étions à l'hôtel Carlton Prédident et nous avions le petit déjeuner dans un jardin d'hiver et c'est là que j'ai eu l'idée de faire ma véranda.

Azer Mantessa said...

merry christmas and happy new year.

Nikon said...

Wow - that was like watching the finale to a fireworks display! The
OUDE KERK is very impressive.

Lakshmi said...

I loved the last pic ...Whenever i read your posts, I feel like I am transported there and when I am reading the goodbye post..I feel a tinge of sadness

Kunterbunt said...

Nice to see amsterdam again. It's a long time ago that I was there.

alice said...

Merci pour cette belle balade! Je ne connaissais pas le béguinage d'Amsterdam, seulement celui de Brugges. Bonne soirée!

John said...

Hi Gil,

It is great to see the photos of Amsterdam. It brings back great memories of my visit there. When I was there I was working long hours and didn't have a great deal of time to sightsee. Thanks for filling in some of the gaps to my experiences.

I also stayed in the Hotel Krasnapolsky. It amazes me to think about how many places our paths have crossed, but never at the same time.

For the next few weeks I am off to Seattle and then to Dallas for business. I did pick up a digital camcorder a few weeks ago and last night I filmed a trip on a cable car in San Francisco. Once business slows down some I will try to figure out how to post the video on the web. However, I also took some photographs of Christmas decorations in San Francisco and posted those on my blog tonight.

Sorry for the long comment, but I have been out of touch with you lately.

Best regards,

John

Lara said...

happy holidays, thank you for the trips you gave us the opportunity to take- even if only virtual, and hope to see more next year!

isa said...

Eeeuw to the "urinoir"...but I guess it's better than what I saw in Paris ;-)
The Winter Gardens look fantastic - wouldn't mind lunching there.

Sorry you are so busy lately, but hope your holidays will be merry, nevertheless!

Nikon said...

Hi Gil, thanks for the visit!
I hope that you have a great Christmas & New Year if we don't touch bases by then!

Annie said...

It's nice to have had your visit at my blog and extra nice to come see your post on Amsterdam. I have friends who have been there and have loved their time there and someday I must come as well, to see what you have shown and what they have talked about seeing.

Happy Holidays, Gil.

Ming the Merciless said...

I have never been to Amsterdam and it is on my Top 5 list of places to visit, along with Rome, Barcelona, Shanghai and Tokyo.

Hope you have a great holiday with your family and friends. Are you cooking the lunch?

EMNM said...

Amsterdam! i have a very nice memories from there, i was in Amsterdam two years ago and I love it
Regards and merry Christmas

Anonymous said...

Once again lovely photos from a lovely place. I really like this city very much & read about it a lot....Wishing you a Merry Christmas & a Wonderful New Year. May the New Year bring lots of joy, happiness & prosperity in your life & your loved ones.

Irina said...

Hi Gil,

thank a lot for remembering my blog. It's such a pleasure to get your comments!

And, as far as I can see, I missed a lot on Blogtrotter since I visited it last time! I loved Amsterdam photos, especially 'by the water' section. And pictures from Paris brought back sweet memories of my own a year back.

Thanks for sharing your impressions!

Anonymous said...

It's always a pleasure to have you visit my humble little blog and always a treat to visit yours and take your tour. Thank you for that. Merry Christmas to You and Yours ~ Lynn

Kate said...

Ah, I finally found you again. You recently left a message on my blog, but alas I inadvertently erased it before I read it. Bummer! Nonetheless, I wish to thank you for it! Your photos are wonderful of equally wonderful buildings. I've flown through Amsterdam many times, but have never stopped and I should have but my connections were always painfully close. Answer this personal question as you wish (or not), but I'm curious: based upon your profile photo, are you a flight attendant, pilot, or MERELY a curious world traveller who is lucky enough to tool around the globe? Also I like your Concorde avatar. It is a Concorde, is it not? Finally, may the holiday season be joyous and happy for you and yours. Best,

Neva said...

Your photos are amazing. I apologize for not visiting regularly but it is a busy time of year and my blog time is reduced! I hope all is well with you and yours. Have a great holiday and Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Lynette said...

Love the Night Watch sculptures--they're amazing. Glad that your daily activities are allowed you to blog again. However you celebrate the season, may your days be filled with joyous moments to remember.

Anonymous said...

Nice! That's where I realize, once again, that North American architecture is a bit plain... Europe is really cool for that.

julia said...

Quaint, amazing, delightful. I recall the rijiskmusemu (spelling?)and was gob smacked yet failed to get to see van goughs gallery. There was a small recital at the concertergerbou, I did'nt speak a work of dutch,but soon realized it was not open to the casual visitor by the gestures etc.
Very Best wishes for the festive season.

JaamZIN said...

I love this buildings in Amsterdam:) I wish you Merry Christmas and thank you or your nice comments on my Budapest DP:)

Daniel Chérouvrier said...

I find too the urinoar but for a Parisian born some years ago it was not so difficult. Now we have Decaux sanisette .
Happy Xmas.

leo said...

i'm always fascinate by buildings and in these photos, i saw many beautiful ones. thank you. happy to see that u r able to pay visit to other blogs as well. merry xmas to you and have a wonderful holiday season.

Jo's-D-Eyes said...

Hi GMG<
Through you eyes it looks so wonderfull our AMSTERDaM, we jsut were there today for a museum visit,


Today I posted some Christmas wishes on my blog for YOU, with an alternative/creative tree and some fantasy Christmas lights ...
A Merry CHRISTMAS to you and your family, thanks for visiting my blog.

With love from JoAnn (Holland)

Anonymous said...

What beautiful pictures. I was in Amsterdam for a few days ooh, 13 years ago - I've been meaning to go back ever since. You're making me want to go again!

Beefybob7 said...

Gil,
All the best for the festive season and a great 2008.
Bob

Steve Buser said...

Gil

As always, a great post with lots of visuals and great travelogue.

I want to thank you for the many visits to my blog through the year and the encouraging words.

I also want to wish you the merriest and most blessed Christmas.

--steve buser
New Orleans Daily Photo

Anonymous said...

Hi Everybody. Today I basically took the day to rest a bit, watch some football matches and do some blogging. That’s why I’m replying to your comments the same day I replied to comments on the post I published two weeks ago...
Wish you all a great Holiday Season!

Peter,
It’s amazing the things we find out in the bloggers’ world. I’ve been in Paris so many times, many of them also with a tourist eye, and however I’m still impressed with what I «discover» in your blog!

Marie,
It’s true that Montpellier is a bit south of Amsterdam, but nothing that a TGV cannot solve… ;))

Lyliane,
C’est vrai qu’on ne prête jamais l’attention qu’on doit à ce qu’est à coté… (Santos da casa não fazem milagres…). La «pissotière», l’urinoir, le pissoir, il y en avait beaucoup il y a 40 ans, mais maintenant ce n’est pas facile à trouver… ;)

Azer Mantessa,
Thanks!

Paul (Nikon)
Thanks! The intention was to have a Gran Finale! And loved the gargoyle at the top of Nôtre Dame!

Backpakker,
I understand what you feel, as I also get a bit depressed when I finish the series; the way I deal with it is just thinking that I’ll be back there somewhere in the near future… ;)

April,
Is not that far from Cologne to Amsterdam…

Alice,
Le Béguinage de Bruges est très joli, mais celui d’Amsterdam est magnifique…

John,
It’s actually amazing that we’ve been to the same places but always in different occasions… Amsterdam is not a single case!
Hope you have a nice trip to Seattle and Dallas (I’m just taking some 72 hours off before diving into work again…).
As far as videos are concerned, I may think of editing them and consider to put on the web; but either you make it short (and show nothing) or you make it long (and nobody has patience to see it); great dilemma! ;))

Lara,
I may try to give you a Christmas gift (virtual) still this year! ;))

Isabella,
Thanks! "La Pissotière", as Lyliane named it, is a «trouvaille»…
I’m taking some hours off, but unfortunately, on the 26th I’m back to Earth…

Annie,
All places are great to get together with friends, but Amsterdam is particularly nice for a group tour… Think about it!

Ming,
Great choices! But I would follow NYT 53 places to visit and add Lisbon to your series!
I cooked some lobster today, but won’t be taking care of the meals on the 24th and the 25th, though the Christmas day lunch is here at home…

Matriensis,
Glad to bring back good memories…

Kalyan,
Thanks a lot. Also wish all the best for your 2008!

Irina,
I’m so happy to see you back here, surviving the Moscow winter! ;))
Thanks for your comments; I’m glad my posts brought back some good memories to you!

Lynn,
Thanks. Love to visit your blog, see the posts and learn the recipes… Yummy!

Kate,
Thanks! A stopover in Amsterdam is always a great idea!
Now, the profile: the photo on the profile is of the Concorde, but that’s because I adored that plane! If you look on the photo below the profile, it’s me inside the Concorde on my last trip on such a plane (April 30, 2003 – BA001 – LHR-JFK). I posted about it under the label Concorde! And further down the column, you’ll find Mach 1.56 (it should have been Mach 2.00 but I forgot to take the picture) and 51,000 Feet Altitude (it could have 55,000 or 60,000, but was already descending when I remembered to take the photos…).
However (unfortunately?) I’ve nothing to do with the air travel industry, except as a client and frequent flyer to several airlines… ;)) My business is Law, as you may read at the profile…
All the best!

Neva,
Thanks. Quite understandable your busy season! ;)

Lynette,
Thanks. I’m taking a break up to the 26th (early morning)… ;))

Zhu,
True that Amsterdam has some quite interesting buildings!

Julia,
The Rijks is impressive, but the Van Gogh’s is an absolute must!

Zsolt,
Thanks! Have a gift for you today!

Deslilas,
Decaux sanisette! What a treat… ;))
Great holiday season to you!

Leo,
Thanks! Glad that you liked!

JoAnn,
Thanks. I’ll check your blog!

Jackie,
Amsterdam is not that far from Glasgow…

Bob,
Great to see you around! All the best for you too!

Steve,
Thanks also for your visits and comments, as well as for the wishes. New Orleans is on my mind since 1982, and I didn’t give up the possibility to get back there, but now, at least, I’m calming my anxiety looking at your pictures!
All the best to you also!

Pijush said...

Gil, I must say these are amazing shots, just awesome. I liked all but special mention to No 2,3,4. Amsterdam is a nice place and I also enjoyed it.

Anonymous said...

Pijush,
Thanks! I'm glad you also had the chance to stoll around Amsterdam!
Have a great week!

Noushy Syah said...

ERRRR...how come I missed this entry of yours?

Really a great travelogue,Trotter!

Anonymous said...

Noushy Syah,
Thanks! Amsterdam is a great place!