New York City pigeons vs Amsterdam pigeons OR me freaking out on July 31st

This fall, a 16-foot-tall pigeon will alight on the spur of the High Line that bridges Tenth Avenue at 30th Street. The pigeon’s name is Dinosaur. The artist, Iván Argote, tries to elevate the pigeon to a heroic level.

Picture of the NY pigeon:

I live in Amsterdam and personally I detest (putting it mildly) the pigeons over here. I even detest them more than the Fatbikes over here. And that means a lot. Although the Fatbikes are pretty nice to see, it's more like with a dogs. You say you don't like the dog, but what you mean is you detest the owner. True, this is for another post.

Yesterday suddenly I woke up at 05.30 in the morning by a couple of pigeons trying to land on my windowsill so I totally freaked out. Jumped out of bed, was screaming out of the window to chase them away (sorry neighbours) and ran over to my computer to do some research on how to get rid of them.

Found a fast solution: pigeons don't like red pepper, garlic et cetera. Ran back to my bedroom window and put some chili flakes on the windowsill ... ohmmmmm.

Next: pigeon pins. I couldn't order them on line because I was in total panic ... I NEED TO SOLVE THIS TODAY!!!!! So on my bicycle to different shops. Found them at Hornbach:

Bought also some construction glue over there and went back home like a cyclist in the Tour the France.

Next I put these aggressive things on my windowsill (yes, I did it myself and the wounds on my hands are the proof) and fabricated straight away the third solution I found. It said hang cd's outside ... which I don't have anymore (thanks Apple, Spotify, Sonos and Google and portable storage devices) or use aluminium foil.

This is the result:

... and this is an Amsterdam pigeon wishing me dead:

Port of Amsterdam, Dockside.ai, tourists, local government ... my adhd brains

I am from Amsterdam. I live in Amsterdam. I can be a nobody in Amsterdam - that's one of the things I like.

2 Weeks ago I joined a friend (whose business is getting Superyacht's to Amsterdam, Dockside.ai) at the Liegeplatz Conference from the Port Of Amsterdam. A whole new world unfolded before me. Especially the pettiness from (local) governments.

An example of how (local) governments in the Netherlands work (and probably all over the world). There's a new rule. Every shipping company has to pay euro 8,-- per person tourist tax when they moor in Amsterdam. Can you imagine what this means for a big cruise ship? In this rule it says 'they're' going to check it randomly. What probably means they're not going to check but it's easy money, it's an easy 'milking cow'.

Me, as a citizen of Amsterdam, these tourists aren't bothering me. The stag party's, the stoned and drunk tourists on bicycles, the hordes of housewives from other parts of the Netherlands who basically are 'afraid' of Amsterdam and constantly complaining, the riksja's / tuktuk's on the bicycle lanes which are too small ... these tourists are bothering me. What are they going to do, stand on the train platform and ask for euro 8,--? Or ask the NS (dutch railways) to pay euro 8,-- for every visitor? What do you think?

Embed from Getty Images

(Side track: what about the lobby of the big hotels? The local government here is blaming Airbnb. Okay, I can understand that they have to sit around a table with them for stricter rules. But Airbnb is spreading the tourists, and these tourists are always 1, 2, 3, 4 persons. I complain about the permits they give to big hotels, they build on spots where we can build houses.
Okay, enough, I'm getting annoyed)

Back to the Liegeplatz Conference. The Port Of Amsterdam told that they were also dealing with complaints of people who live near the main port (near the Central Station). Mind you. All brand new buildings. They have a bunch of people walking around there to help and warn and protect the tourists who arrive by ship (also in the evening / night).
Help: if you have every been in Amsterdam ... there's a bicycle lane they have to cross :). And the landing place is from wood and can become very slippery.
Warn: don't make to much noise.
Protect: as in every big city, thiefs, pick pockets.
That friend couldn't join the evening program. Just as I was outside, smoking a cigarette (yes, I smoke, sue me), wondering if I would join that evening I met a woman who was working with this team of people. The stories she told me were mind blowing.
As for the noise disturbance ... YOU KNEW THIS WHEN YOU BOUGHT YOUR APARTMENT, DON'T COMPLAIN!!!!! You live in the f**king center of a big city! The same happens in my hood. I live nearby a park with a lot of events. The neighbouring hood was shabby. Now it's getting very trendy to buy apartments there. And yes, they complain about the events. This would be the same as buying an apartment on the Dam Square in Amsterdam and start a protest group against all the people passing, staying, hang out over there.

I realize this is a very confusing blog post. But very necessary for me. This way I 'walk off the pain' :).

As you can imagine of course I went and joined the evening program. We went on a tour boat. And on our way to a 'Dutch' restaurant Haesje Claes we passed some projects of the Amsterdam Light Festival. I didn't see any of the projects because I met the owner of MS De Jordaan, the pink party boat, well known in Amsterdam. I had the best time every. Good people. Good company. And on my bucket list is definitely, at least, the 'bitterballen tour'.

(explanation bitterbal:

Embed from Getty Images

Basically a round kroket)

If you ever visit Amsterdam ... a must do.

And to create a perfect circle ... Wouldn't it be awesome to get yachts like this in Amsterdam?! Wouldn't it? Local government? Wouldn't it?

Below The Surface - Stuff found in the Amsterdam canals

Awesome! I lived on a houseboat for a couple of years (still miss it). I was always happy when boats started dredging when I was home. Mesmerizing. All the stuff they got out of the canals (mainly bicycles). This project 'Below the surface' is about what they have found because of the building of the North-South metro line (which, btw, I'm going to boycot. Shame on Amsterdam, but that's a different story).

Nice website where you can create your own display with the finds. Be an artist, unleash your creative self and try it out. And of course there's a book which I'm not going to buy (see remark in the first alinea, although my curious self wants to, but I will stay strong).

Below a documentary 'Amstel, mirror of the city' by AT5, yes, with english subtitles added.



Amstel, Spiegel van de Stad from AT5 on Vimeo.

(Thanks Yam)

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Dining at the Automat

I was reading this nostalgic article about dining at the Automat, which was very interesting.

In Amsterdam we still have FEBO which started in 1941 (it was a bakery from 1936 till 1941). The name originates from the first location in Amsterdam, the FErdinand BOlstraat. Okay not really dining (although ... in the middle of the night), but fastfood.



This week FEBO was in the news again, for one time only they create their own clothing line including the now oh so popular bath slippers.

Personalisation is the new mass communication

I went to a very interesting event last week, organized by ZX.YCN in Amsterdam: A Panel on Personalisation. In the panel were Tristan Thomas, Head of Marketing and Community at ‘bank of the future’ Monzo, Jonathan Chippindale, CEO of digital retail pioneers Holition, Jonna van den Dungen, CEO of predictive analytics tool StyleScript, and WeTransfer CMO Damian Bradfield.

I'm looking forward to their next event.

Read and watch here what we learnt.

(Yes ... indeed ... it's me)

Are you interested in the creative folks of Amsterdam?

Have I got news for you: Three Dutch creatives launch new independent magazine: The Folks of Amsterdam. Read the press release over here on their website.

"The Folks Magazine writes about people. It is devoted entirely to long-form, human-centred stories and short videos, or as our mission statement declares: ‘We don’t write about trends, it-things, seasonal must-haves, wardrobe issues, losing weight, top five restaurants, marital problems or politics. We write about people.' "

Hysteria in Amsterdam

I'm annoyed, terribly annoyed.

Okay there is this terrorist threat in Europe, as we know already.

Last friday afternoon there was this police protest, alarm telephone number wasn't asnwered and the police went through Amsterdam with the sirens switched on. WTF!!!! There is a f**king terrorist threat over here. What were they thinking. And if they were thinking ... wrong decision.

Last saturday some car ploughs into pedestrian on the main square in front of the Central Station in Amsterdam. Vague story of a car parked over there which isn't allowed, police told the driver to leave the square driving slowly ... mm mm. 5 or 6 people are in hospital. The driver drove away like crazy. The police communicated that it wasn't a terrorist attack but the driver got sick. This wasn't confirmed by an eye witness. Police: no comment.
Sunday they searched the drivers home. The driver btw is still in custody. And the result: no it wasn't a terrorist attack.

I got the feeling that the media and the people wanted it to be a terrorist attack.

So ... that's why I'm annoyed.

And here a photo from the Independent, the crash at sunset.

Elon Musk's Boring Company

Elon Musk's new idea of tunnels below the city is fascinating. I think a lot of people make fun of him but respect for someone who tries to find a solution and not only on paper. This is the video he showed during his TED Talk in Vancouver.

In Amsterdam that would be a problem, Amsterdam is build on poles. We have a metro 'system' that has cost too much money already, one metro, going from South to North, the North-South line. I refuse to use this one. Why? First the money it has cost us, second safety, third the damage it did to beautiful old buildings already.

But back to Elon Musk. I like the way he doesn't sit on the couch and complain but tries to work on a solution. Take a look at this video.

Trip down memory lane

Since a couple of months the office I work at moved to WeWork Metropool, Weesperstraat, Amsterdam. It's around the corner from where I grew up. Last week I walked around a bit during my kindof late lunch break to see if it changed a lot. It did ofcourse. But I still recognized the hood.

De Nieuwe Prinsengracht, I started on the Roeterstraat looking towards the Weesperstraat. On the left side the houses, on the right side the 'old men's home'. I don't know if this was the official name at that time but that's the name people gave it. An old people's home with only grumpy old men.

The Roeterstraat - Nieuwe Prinsengracht. When I was standing here I remembered me on my bicycle waiting till the tram would approach and crossing the road, right before the tram. It always would ring its bell like crazy. Very dangerous, because the road wasn't straight and there is a bridge. I remember my mother standing on the corner with an apron on and curlers in her hair not making a sound, only pointing in the direction of our home. She was so angry with me.

This is the corner from the Roeterstraat and The Nieuwe Prinsengracht. For ages, till I think a couple of years ago there was a night shop. Now a Bagels & Beans (also nice).

And here it is (I think), 2nd floor. I lived there from 0 till almost 9. 2/3 rooms and a kitchen, no shower at that time. And as you can see a french balcony or balconet. Everything very small.

And this was the view on the other side of the canal, the 'old men's home' full of scary grumpy old men. They were often walking in the hood and screaming at you, and waving with their walking sticks, when you passed them very fast.

A small side road. Where the new buildings are was the entrance of my school, dr. E. Boekmanschool. The entrance now is on the Roeterstraat.

My small trip down memory lane. It was fun to see, especially that it all changed but not a lot.

How I woke up this morning

There's a huge power outage in Amsterdam. Very weird waking up in the dark. And very lucky I also had an alarm set on my mobile phone! This was the view from my living room. The first thing that came to mind was ... Shit, now I can't drink my very necessary coffee!

Baby it's cold inside!

Oh my ... Now I'm feeling guilty

One of my friends told me I was on Dutch television, a documentary about noise polution :). At about 8 minutes and 3 seconds you see me on my moped in Amsterdam. Do I have an excuse? Yes, money. Yes, I would like an electric moped or an electric bicycle because I care about polution in general. No I don't have the money to buy it.

The only thing I hope is that this friend was the only person who knows me who has seen this documentary :).

via (in Dutch)

I'm Back & I'm Looking For ...

I'm back ... back in Amsterdam (yeah!) and back on SylK's Playground. Finally. Three months homeless and now living between boxes. Waiting for quote contractor, waiting already for almost 2 weeks. But happy being back in Amsterdam in the awesome hood named BoLo.



Story of my life, all things happen at the same time. Ah well, if you live and make decisions shit happens. So I'm looking for a new challenge as they always say on LinkedIn. Or more straightforward, I'm looking for a job / project / freelance / permanent / part-time / fulltime, as long as it pays. The company I work for is reorganizing, last in - first out.

You're wondering probably "... a job ... I want to help ... but what kind of job?". So here we go: image research and / or negotiation, photography, workshop 'How To Deal With (Stock) Photography', sales, account management, social media. But anything will do, as long as it pays the bills.

Thanks for looking into this matter.

Yeah ... That's Dutch

Check out the Amsterdam office from Google. Localized ... definitely dutch. Even the snacks from the wall. It's designed by D/Dock.

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Comfort Chic In Amsterdam

Amsterdam style ... inspired by dutch bike culture. NYT. I rest my case.

JR @ Unseen

Last wednesday my day was good. After a very hectic monday and tuesday, preparing a fair, preparing a presentation, giving a presentation, I had almost no energy to go to the opening of the photography fair Unseen. But because of a friend of a friend I could go as the VIP biotch! Opening was as every other art-scene opening. My friend and I decided to go and walk around to see if anything else was already open. I passed the location on the Westergasfabriek where one of my favorite artists JR was showing his new project Inside Out. And guess what, they were still building the installation but I could go in, take photo's and talk to a project manager. Unfortunately JR himself wasn't there, he has a solo show in the States.

Amsterdam Unseen was the first city the Inside Out van went to. Next stop is London. You don't know JR? Shame on you! Perhaps you heard about his Women Are Heroes project in Kenya. One of the producers told me they're still going back to work on this project. It's spreading out. This year when they arrived they got questions like: You took photographs of my neighbour, why nog from me?

The Inside Out project he started after winning the TED prize in California in 2011. It's a global participatory art project with the potential to change the world.

Why I like JR's projects so much? I'm always a sucker for  art combined with street art and giving back to the community. Below the photo's I took at Unseen. Feel free to re-blog but be nice, mention me as copyright holder of the photo and JR as copyright holder of the project.

Home Recording

Nice project in Amsterdam, on IJburg, a residential area build in the sea, part of Amsterdam. Mainly young families or urban professionals. One of the buildings Home Recordings is the home of 69 music students. They share their music. That's the way to do it. (Thanks Yam)

HOME RECORDING from Victor D. Ponten on Vimeo.

Sue The Amsterdam Local Government

Sorry, it's in dutch. Local tv did a news item about a friend of mine. She lives next to an building that's being demolished. Weird enough, because it was an elderly home. But the neighborhood is upcoming so get rid of the elderly, we better can put expensive apartments over there ... stupid economics.

But okay, back the original story. For 2 months already they live in hell. Stones fall on their roof and patio. Very dangerous to live there. My friend, her sister who lives next to her, two dogs and two cats are now living in their small garden house. Ridiculous!!!!! Local government does nothing, company who takes care of demolishing don't give a shit. They all say it's safe. You don't have to understand dutch if you watch the video to see that it is dangerous over there.

Thank you Amsterdam, thank you economics ... Sue them!!!!!!

the killing machine

Arnold Bike

Just my humble opinion, but Arnold had the best delegate for Cannes: Arnold Bike.
Had its own blog, twitter account and LinkedIn page.

I'm Arnold Bike. The Spokesperson of Arnold Amsterdam.

I'm in Cannes this week.

Connect with me on Linkedin to follow who's riding down La Croisette.

Follow me on Twitter @arnold_bike

See who's riding down La Croisette on Instagram #arnoldbike

Ding ding.

Ice Amsterdam

Not anymore unfortunately. Nice choice of song.

"Let us take you on a journey across the beautiful canals of Amsterdam. For the first time in 15 years they are completely frozen and set the scene for a lot of ice fun.

The beautiful song is called 'To Build A Home' by Cinematic Orchestra.

Video made by Jaap van den Biesen and Justin Knaven"

Waterdwellings

Okay! Sold!

Marlies Rohmer: waterdwellings IJburg, Amsterdam

Follow link for more.