However, Brouwerij ‘t IJ they did a courageous attempt to get rid of this stigma. And with some elements of success, as the beverage card features 10  local brewed beers.

A quick tasting of the first four tells that this attempt was rather fortunate.

A Friday afternoon is probably the best time to visit this old brewery that is located right next to an old windmill. In the pub, that slightly reminds the visitor of a tasting room, it is crowded with a vivid mixture of die hard locals just having finished their work and Loney Planet tourists.

Having drunk a few of their local brewed specialities like Natte and Zatte, people start to interact with each other and in only one hour an open minded and well willing traveller could get to know half of its local pub population. Besides, there are no other options than talking to the stranger next to you at the bar, as tables don’t seem to exist in the first area of the tasting room.

A sweet blonde one, an amber coloured bitter brew or a trappist beer, each beer has its own quality. With a local snack called Osseworst, a sausage of raw meat, and a portion of Dutch cheese with mustard a pub crawl should probably start here. Not end, because the brewery is officially not a pub and therefore closes at 8.00 PM.

The brewery is located on a stone’s throw from Artis Zoo.
The tasting room is open every day from 15.00 to 20.00

Regular guided tours of the brewery. A tour lasts about half an hour and are suitable for groups of up to a maximum of 30 people.

Brouwerij ‘t IJ
Funenkade 7
1018 AL, Amsterdam

This blog is run by LivingAmsterdam.com, an initiative of Robin Travels to promote the Socially Responsible Tourism.

Born in 1679, Wynand Fockink liqueur distillery is acually managed by the two eager owners (no more part of the Fockink family). They spend their time to experiment new mixtures and tastes, producing the best jenevers ever! This is what you can see (and taste!) during the visits of distillery (Monday till Friday from 10.00 until 17.00 hours, Saturday from 13.00 until 18.00 hours, 9€) and at the tasting room (open daily from 15.00 until 21.00 hours).

I have been just yesterday and I tested something completely new: liquors made with the receipt of 300 years ago, when sugar was something missing in Europe.

In the same place Wynand Fockink organizes workshops (in English 14-16 every second Sunday of the month and in Dutch every last Sunday) and sells his products (a range of over 60) at the Liquor Store (sunday closed).

So, folk, when you are near Dam square and when you want to experience a well done liquor (every shot costs about 3€), stop in Pijlsteeg 31 & 43 (10 seconds far from Dam Square).

This blog is run by LivingAmsterdam.com, an initiative of Robin Travels to promote the Socially Responsible Tourism.

1. experience, 2. the right ingredients, 3. the right oven, 4. love.

Well, you can find all that stuff in Amsterdam at Mangiamore (“eatlove”), Mangiancora (“eatagain”) and Mangiassai (“eatalot”), the answer to the needs of a wise stomach.

Ciro, from Napoli, came to Amsterdam and funded Mangiamore in 2007 with his Dutch wife. It was a success! Two years later in 2009 part of his family came along and with their deep knowledge they funded Mangiancora: another success. That is why to greet the new year he funded the third pizzeria, Mangiassai (2011).

Ingredients, recipes and even the bricks of the ovens (made with the sand of the volcano Vesuvio) come directly from Napoli, where the typical rounded pizza was born. The basic ingredients are basil, mozzarella, extra virgin olive oil and every peace of dough is weighted.
At Mangiamore and Mangiancora it is also possible to buy some selected food from Napoli like olive oil, wine, vinegar and pasta.

So, wise stomachs, next time you want to taste a well-deserved pizza in Amsterdam, try out one of these 3 places:

Mangiamore -   Ijselbuurt (tram n. 12, 25, stop: Maasstraat);
Mangiancora –   Nieuwe Pijp (tram n.3, 12, 25, stop: Ferd. Bolstraat);
Mangiassai –   Oosterparkbuurt (tram n.3, stop: Wibautstraat).

Eet smakelijk!

This blog is run by LivingAmsterdam.com, an initiative of Robin Travels to promote the Socially Responsible Tourism.

One week ago I had the pleasure to spend half an hour with the Iranian-born Sahand. His idea is something inherent to the basic nature of mankind: sharing experiences and learning from each other.

Almost 8 years ago he tested his idea in his parents’ house  and it worked. Two years later he started Cafè Mezrab (watch this video) and now everything is a gallery at Domselaerstraat 120 (Amsterdam):

“Amsterdam is a multicultural place but often people withdraw with people from their own culture. We create a space for talent from various disciplines and countries to meet and share.”

Activities organized at Mezrab (click here for agenda):

- Every Monday: documentary film, 20:30
- Every Wednesday: fiction film, 20:30
- Every 1st Friday of the month: Dutch storytelling, 20:00
- Every 3rd Friday of the month: English storytelling, 20:00… drop by and tell a story!

Entrance is free, but donations very welcome.
All films are spoken or subtitled in English.
Tea, Iranian soups and more!

So people, again: if you want to enjoy something really authentic and free in Amsterdam, consider to pay a visit to Mezrab!

Doei

This blog is run by LivingAmsterdam.com, an initiative of Robin Travels to promote the Socially Responsible Tourism.

It is a perfect place to relax with a beer or a tea while watching an interesting movie.
Besides cinema, there is live music about three nights a week.

Where is Jeffrey during the rest of the week? He is also active with his “underground cinema at OT301 (Sunday night, 20,30, 4€  entrance) and at CAVIA (Thursday, 20.30, entree 4€… really fair!).

A nice quote from Jeffrey: “No rush: I like a cinema from underground, something able to awaken heart and brain.”

This blog is run by LivingAmsterdam.com, an initiative of Robin Travels to promote the Socially Responsible Tourism.

Hi people,

if you are vegetarian or vegan, you like healthy food and simple and cozy alternative places, then you would like eating at “De Vliegende Schotel”, which in english means “The Flying Dish” .

The restaurant is run by nice people which try to use just organic food in a lot of different recipes from all over the world.  The meal is really tasty, the portions are good, prices are ok. They use a lot of sprouts beans because they have more nutritional.

It’s a very nice place, especially if you don’t like fancy restaurants..

The kitchen is open everyday from 4 p.m. to 10.45 p.m. and the restaurant close 11.30 p.m.

The address is Nieuwe Leliestraat 162-168 the phone number is 020 6252041.

Eet smakelijk !!!

This blog is run by LivingAmsterdam.com, an initiative of Robin Travels to promote the Socially Responsible Tourism.

Last week I was looking for good black hash and De Tweede Kamer seems to be one of the most recommended places in Amsterdam.
Open since 20 years they have some of the best hash and weed in town, from Holland, Afghanistan, Morocco.. It’s not very cheap, but can be ok.

I would suggest avoiding the most expensive qualities, at less you are so rich that you don’t care, because for what I know is not acceptable. Especially some hash that are made here in Nederlands are nothing so special and they could cost much less. But everyone is free to spend his money in the way he wants.
De Tweede Kamer, which in Dutch means “Second Chamber” and refers to the upper house of the Dutch Parliament, is located in the center, just few minutes walking from the Dam.

Heisteeg 6 Tel. +31 (0)20 – 4222236
1012WC Amsterdam
Nederland (Noord-Holland)
Opening Hours
Sunday – Thursday 10 am – 1 a.m.
Friday and Saturday 10 am – 2 a.m

This blog is run by LivingAmsterdam.com, an initiative of Robin Travels to promote the Socially Responsible Tourism.

Located on the northern banks of the IJ,  NDSM – Werf is an old shipyard transformed in an underground cultural center at the end of the 90′s, when a group of artists, theater people, skaters and architects, known as Kinetisch Noord, approached the city council with a plan to redevelop the place.

The area host the NDSM hall, a hangar of 20,000 sq. meters, and two historic ship reused for housing workshops and artists’ studios. The aim of the project, in fact, is to offer facilities for artistic disciplines, small crafts and independent organization and a place for exhibitions, try-outs, performances, festival and parties. In total there are 10,000 sq. meters of workshops, a 2,000-sq. meter skate park, 4,200 sq. meters for other youth activities and 6,000 sq. meters of exhibition and theater space.

You can easily go there by taking the free ferry in front of the central station.

This blog is run by LivingAmsterdam.com, an initiative of Robin Travels to promote the Socially Responsible Tourism.

Waterlooplein Flea Market is one of the oldest market in Amsterdam.

It has been opened in 1893 as a Jewish Market who has been closed in 1941 with the  Jews persecutions. Reopened like a general bazaar after the War, during the ‘60 become an important node for the hippy’s scene and the youth culture in general.

Today is one of the most funny and interesting outdoor bazaar with 300 stand where you can find any kind of products: clothes (new and second hand), electronic, books, dvd’s and cd’s, posters, tools, souvenirs, bric-a-brac, curiosities.

Open from Monday to Saturday (9 a.m. – 5.30 p.m.) is located in Waterlooplein, 1011 PG Amsterdam, just 10 minutes walking from Dam square direction east, close to the Rembrandt house.

How to arrive there:

Tram: 1, 2, 5, 13 from Magna Plaza or 14 from Central Station (stop: Stadhuis)

This blog is run by LivingAmsterdam.com, an initiative of Robin Travels to promote the Socially Responsible Tourism.

Hi there, if you like LP’s records,  I suggest a visit to this shop where you can find every music genre and a collection of 20 thousands vinyl records. Cheap prices and nice atmosphere, you can spent few hours listening records and looking for good bargain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHbHPFkXopA

Second Life Music is located in Prinsegracht 366 and open everyday from 1 to 6 o’clock in the afternoon.

tram 1, 2, 5, 7 e 10.

Have a good one.

This blog is run by LivingAmsterdam.com, an initiative of Robin Travels to promote the Socially Responsible Tourism.