Free Parking Amsterdam

You don't have to pay for parking your car in Amsterdam this week. Most pay machines are covered up, because of possible damage from fire work. Officially you do have to pay, but they skipped the control this week. Beware: the only places you don't have to pay, are the places where the machines are covered up.

More about this subject: http://www.onzestem.eu/2010/12/gratis-parkeren-in-amsterdam-door-vuurwerkvrees/ (Dutch)

Anne Frank, seen from window

Watch this: The only known video footage of Anne Frank, seen from the window of her Amsterdam home watching a wedding procession.

Desigual Undie Soho Edition

Don't know how to show up tomorrow at Desiquals Undie Party Amsterdam? Watch this video from the Soho Edition!

More information: http://freeamsterdam.blogspot.com/2010/12/desiguals-free-undie-party-amsterdam.html

Free Schiphol iPhone App

 

Currently number 1 in top 25 free apps in App Store

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has extended its passenger and visitor services with a free Schiphol App. Already, it appears to be the number 1 in the top 25 of free apps in the App Store. The new application enables iPhone and Android mobile phone users to get detailed travel information, including flight information via 'push notification' (flight information and updates that are relevant to you) and details about airport facilities and activities. Schiphol Smart Parking spaces can also be booked very soon by using the App. 

Other SmartPhone users can visit Amsterdam Schiphol Airport's new mobile website: www.Schiphol.mobi for more information.

Free Tour of The IJ Brewery

Every Friday & Sunday you can take a free guided tour of The IJ Brewery, revealing the ins and outs of the business, told by the current brew master. You can take a glass of beer along on the tour, or afterwards you can buy a tasting palette of five different beers afterwards for € 5,-.

The tour starts at 4 pm.
Brouwerij 't IJ, Funenkade 7
www.brouwerijhetij.nl

Finally Free Wifi Schiphol Airport

Yes, from now on there's free WiFi throughout Amsterdam Schiphol Airport - both before and beyond passport control and even up to the gate itself. The new service means you can connect to the internet wirelessly from any device with login access, free of charge for one hour. 

What do you have to do to use the airport's free WiFi service?

- Select the available 'KPN' network on your laptop or PDA.

- Launch your internet browser. 

- On the login page you can choose from either the free, time-restricted service under 'Free WiFi' or the premium service under 'Premium WiFi'. The premium service is an extended, paid service that is provided by KPN, which offers higher speeds, a VPN option and a free printing service at one of the KPN Internet centers.

3 Free Things to do in Amsterdam on Christmas Eve

1 Enjoy a free classical concert of Christmas classics in the Great Hall of the award-winning 19th-century venue Het Concertgebouw, 8-10pm.

www.concertgebouw.nl (Dutch)

2 Listen to a Georgian concert in the Nicolai church at 9m, starring Capella Nicolai.
Listen to Capella Nicolai on YouTube Chanel: http://www.youtube.com/user/CappellaNicolai

Sint-Nicolaaskerk, Prins Hendrikkade 73
Listen to Capella Nicolai on YouTube Chanel: http://www.youtube.com/user/CappellaNicolai 

3 Stay home and read the free Christmas Story of Tess Fanke (Dutch) - who's famous of her Amsterdam based crime story's about laywer Femke Wolzak - and drink a glass of cheap Glühwein. Download the Dutch Christmans Story here: http://www.libelle.nl/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Laffizol-Kerstverhaal.pdf

Talents of the Royal College of Art in Kahlmann Gallery

The new exhibition Talents of the Royal College of Art in Kahmann Gallery Amsterdam showcases works by five recent graduates of the prestigious London College photography master program (see some of their photo's bellow).

Photo: Noemie Goudal

Photo: Lauren Winsor

The work of the photograhers is very different, but what they have in common is their intensity. For example look at the background of the portraits of Sarah Mei Herman (http://sipf.sg/web/sipf-2008/exhibitions-artists/sarah-mei-herman/), they're so emotionally and strong that she beats simular ones from Annie Leibowitz in A Photographers Life!

Photo: Sarah Mei Herman

Kahmann Gallery exhibit a selection of photographs, that were never shown in the Netherlands before.
www.kahmanngallery.com

Desigual's Free Undie Party Amsterdam

If you show up in your undies at Desigual Store in Amsterdam on Tuesday December 28th you get free clothes. At 10 am the first hunderd undie-wearing people have an hour to shop for a two-piece (top and bottom).
In New York's Soho and Mahnhattan party the undie-action was a great succes.

Desigual Amsterdam: Kalverstraat 8, http://www.desigual.com/desigual/preHome.jsp

See Capeman For 1/2 Price

Wanna rock tonight for 3 euro? Go and buy a ticket for the Amsterdam band Capeman (see video). Tickets at Last Minute Tickets Shop at the Leidseplein (near the theater hall, the Schouwburg): http://www.lastminuteticketshop.nl/

Free Lunchconcert Concertgebouw

It's not easy to get tickets for a concert at the Concertgebouw, but every Wednesday afternoon you can walk in for a free lunch concert, 12.30-1pm, and look at the Royal Orchestra practising a new piece (or catch another concert).

In the main hall there are a lot of seats, so normally there's enough space for everyone. For the concerts in the small hall you have to come half an hour before starting time to quarentee your seat.

See the program here: http://www.concertgebouw.nl/concerten-tickets
Concertgebouw, Concertgebouwplein 10

Take the Ferry To the Other Side

The three ferry's to Amsterdam North are free (leaving from behind the Central Station). First take the NDSM-veer back and forth and enjoy the views. If you want you can visit the Sirius at NDSM-werf (the Greenpeace boat).

 

When you're back at CS take the second boat, the Buiksloterwegveer. Drink a cup of coffee at the Pont, just at the other side of the ferry, and read the free newspapers and magazines.

 

More info Sirius:
http://www.greenpeace.nl/about/lespakket-plus-excursie-naar-d/routebeschrijving-naar-de-siri - (Dutch).

3 Ways to Stay Warm in Amsterdam for Free

Because of the snow you only need money for a hot chocolate or coffee these days in Amsterdam to enjoy yourself. If you don't have any money we have three good tips to stay warm in the center of Amsterdam: 

1 Take a coffee at Albert Heijn at Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 226 (the building is amazing too). 

 
 















2 Read a dozen magazines at Athaneum Nieuwscentrum, Spui 14-16.
A magazine heaven in Amsterdam, they have the best national and international magazines.
This snowy photo of the newscenter was published in the Guardian:

Photograph: Margriet Faber/AP

http://www.guardian.co.uk/weather/gallery/2010/dec/17/europe?intcmp=239#/?picture=369853790&index=6

3  Visit the American Book Center opposite of the newscenter (Spui 12) and start reading. 

Vintage at Amsterdam's Noordermarkt

On Monday there's this great flea market at the Noordermarkt. It starts at 9 am, and the early birds will find the best vintage stuff. From old photo collections to designer shoes. Don't forget to go to the stand of King Louis, a Dutch label selling their prototypes and out of stock clothes. It's one of our favorites.

Chinatown in Amsterdam

Until the end of the month you can see the free photo exhibition 'China town 100 years' in the NH Barbizon Palace in Amsterdam (Prins Hendrikkade 59-72). Open: Tuesday-Sunday 12-17pm.

Afterwards visit the He Hua Temple at the Zeedijk (free as well) and eat something at New King (much better than Nam Kee!), good meals below 10 euros.

These photo's from Ab Koers were published in
fashion magazine Avenue in the seventies.