“Life is an unfoldment, and the further we travel the more truth we can comprehend. To understand the things that are at our door is the best preparation for understanding those that lie beyond.” — Hypatia
Folks, today’s episode might make me sound a bit like a travel blogger. Which is ok, because there’s so much beauty and splendor to revere in this world and I want to share with you some of my recent discoveries in hopes that I can inspire you to endeavor towards the extraordinary. Because I think life is best lived when we have things to look forward to. Shows to attend, trips to take, dreams to pursue, and goals to achieve. It inspires us from within and motivates us from without. It helps us in our pursuit of living fulfilled lives, because otherwise, we often get lost in the drudgery of days and weeks that stretch forth with no end in sight, kind of like that Nine Inch Nails song I love so much, ‘Every Day is Exactly the Same’. Setting an event in stone in our calendars gives us something to work towards, look forward to, and helps us decide how we’ll plan actions and organize resources to make it happen.
Every new year shortly after my January birthday, I spend some time looking back on what has passed and sorting through myself to come up with a set of goals. What’s important to me that I should focus my sights upon? Some goals are professional pursuits while others are more geared towards personal development. One such item that fell in the latter category was a desire to finally visit Europe, a place that has always felt kind of like a fantasy world as I’ve only ever seen it depicted and described in books, movies, pictures, and video. To accompany this dream, I decided it would be monumental to witness the King of Hi-Tech minimal, Boris Brejcha, performing before an audience in a foreign landscape I’d be discovering for the first time. I wrote it upon my list, the fourth item from the top, and began conceiving a plan of action for how I could make this dream a reality. Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and France were all serious contenders for my consideration.
One day while speaking with the lovely Minerva amidst the season of spring, she shared how she generally celebrates her birthday the weekend after it occurs near the end of August. With this new information in mind, I checked Boris’s tour dates and discovered he was scheduled to play a special once-in-a-lifetime four-hour set in Breda, Netherlands in collaboration with the Free Your Mind organization. This felt an ideal opportunity to both explore a country with a rich culture and history and enjoy an artist whose catalogue of compositions has come to inspire me within many areas of my life. I purchased tickets to the show, and we set the dates for our expedition. We’d land in Amsterdam on September 1, explore the city and surrounding areas as much as possible, attend this performance on September 5, recover on September 6, and depart for home in the late morning of September 7.
Amsterdam is a beautiful city without a doubt, and we both were impressed with how easy it is to get around. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and automobiles navigate the cityscape through their own dedicated pathways while boats cruise the canals. Buses, trams, and subway stops are easy to access and make the entire city feel accessible no matter where you’re at or where you’re headed. For this trip, we elected to stay at the Volkshotel in Amsterdam Oost for the amenities it offered. A sauna and several hot tubs on the roof with a restaurant just below and a club space located in the basement. There was a metro stop providing access to the subway basically adjacent to the hotel (little more than 160 feet away), and the entire city felt within walking distance. We could reach the city centre on foot with a 30-minute trek, and part of our plan was to get our daily steps in while exploring the city.
Within Amsterdam are eight boroughs harboring a number of historic neighborhoods like Oud-Oost, Jordaan, De Pijp, Leidseplein, De Wallen (Red Light District), Westerpark, and NDSM Wharf each with their own charm and identity. Wherever our daily adventures took us, we appreciated this lively city for its engaging vibe and straightforward people who were mostly happy to interact with us. There were a few activities we scheduled beforehand like a canal cruise, E-bike tour, and unique experiences like AMAZE Amsterdam, but we also felt it prudent to leave plenty of leeway within our schedule to explore our surroundings without anything demanding our presence. All in all, I think that’s one of the best ways to travel. Have some things in mind you’d like to do, but don’t stress yourself thinking you have to fill every moment of a trip with activities. I’m reminded of a couple of quotes from Anthony Bourdain that describe what I view as a stellar approach to vacationing.
“I’m a big believer in winging it. I’m a big believer that you’re never going to find perfect city travel experience or the perfect meal without a constant willingness to experience a bad one. Letting the happy accident happen is what a lot of vacation itineraries miss, I think, and I’m always trying to push people to allow those things to happen rather than stick to some rigid itinerary.”
“I learned a long time ago that trying to micromanage the perfect vacation is always a disaster. That leads to terrible times.”
The food in Amsterdam is exceptional, whether we enjoyed quick breakfast items from the Volkshotel’s lobby café, sitting down for a meal at one of Amsterdam’s excellent restaurants, or purchasing sweet treats like freshly made stroopwafels from the bevy of bakeries and étaliers like Crepes and Waffles. They made an awesome first impression by complimenting Minerva’s eyelashes and makeup, so we visited them on two separate occasions. One of our absolute favorite meals was taken at dinner time from the wonderful Restaurant Heemelrijck De Pijp. Authentic Dutch cuisine and atmosphere that absolutely satisfied our senses. We started our feast with an order of traditional bitterballen, which is deep fried beef croquettes served with a side of mustard. Then, I ordered the classic Dutch dish, Hutspot Stamppotten, and Minerva elected for a specialty dish of slow cooked short rib both of which were set upon a bed of seasoned vegetables, mashed potatoes, and gravy. These entrees were absolutely delicious, filling, and recipes I’d like to think I’ll someday try recreating in my own kitchen. We also enjoyed what I will confidently state is the best Italian meal I’ve ever experienced at Il Mascalzone. It was nothing short of incredible, the flavors and atmosphere absolutely dazzled, and the staff made us feel welcome and appreciated. My tastebuds are still swooning over lemon velvet cocktails and tiramisu.
Now let me return to describing a couple of the experiences I mentioned earlier starting with AMAZE Amsterdam. As Minerva and I are active progenitors of EDM culture, and this trip was building towards a Boris Brejcha performance, we elected to check out this emprise that is described as an alternative to those looking to explore Amsterdam beyond its bars and museums. Folks, let me tell you, I’m absolutely thrilled we did!!!!
The beginning is pretty darn cool and starts with an opening sequence that provides a strong indication of what you can expect. A booming voiceover accompanied by a soaring, grandiose soundtrack and pulsing sequence of visuals makes you feel like something monumental is beginning. After a few minutes, a bridge illuminates with orange lights, and you’re encouraged to cross and move forward. It’s powerful and leaves you feeling kind of awestruck. Is this… how life begins? Are we coronating the start of a brand-new journey? It absolutely set the tempo for all that would follow.
This venture was designed by industry professionals for those who enjoy festivals, culture, and unique visuals. It’s one of Amsterdam’s hidden gems and unlike anything else I’ve encountered in my life. It boasts eight immersive rooms each offering different experiences and filled with festival-style lights, sound, and visual effects inspired by Dutch electronic dance culture. At one point as we’re moving between rooms, we must make our way through a line of mannequins that have been positioned in a variety of unique ways. To Minerva and me, it kind of felt like a line of people waiting to get into a venue or a club. Some of the mannequins were sitting, some smoking, and then I looked to my left and one of them was upside down! It was a surreal episode that had us giggling throughout.
While most museums showcase artwork and exhibits that suggest you take your time peering and leering with focused intensity, AMAZE gave us the opportunity to interact with several of the rooms. At one point we entered a chamber with four stations set up for controlling light and sound features. Since we were essentially four couples, we rotated between the stations taking turns controlling the rooms production elements. Now, we were a bit baffled to start with what we were supposed to do, but as time went on our efforts in collaboration improved. To me, I felt this space granted insight towards the uninitiated as to what producing an electronic event is potentially like. There are many professionals behind the scenes mastering and monitoring lighting, visual, and sound technologies to make sure everything looks and sounds prime to delight audiences. With that in mind, let me tell you about my incontestable favorite room!
We entered a chamber big enough to host a full-fledged event, and it had the technological chops to ensure it would be an absolute banger. Two couches awaited us and as we sat, a series of audiovisual presentations played on a loop. Visual accoutrements alongside sonic standards showcased a variety of genres like techno, house, and dubstep. Personally, the dubstep one was my favorite, and I sat through them all a second time just to enjoy it again. After that, we finished the last rooms and exited into the waiting area from whence we came. Before we entered the experience, they reccommended storing our personal objects in a locker. We retrieved our items, and before leaving, enjoyed a spirited and lively discussion with one of their managers who asked us about our experience, answered any questions we had, and gave us some insight into the backstory of AMAZE. Without a doubt, this was one of my favorite parts of our trip. It only takes about an hour to complete, though I would milk it for as much time as you can, and the entire experience is well worth the price of admission.
We also enjoyed a delightful E-bike tour scheduled through a collective known as, Those Amsterdames. It was certainly a bit more relaxed than our previous adventure, but I really appreciated the candor and pace they preferred. We took a ferry across the IJ to Amsterdam Noord and pedaled through the Dutch countryside to visit a windmill, customary dairy farms, and pleasant fishing villages for nearly two-and-a-half hours. This is where we learned a couple of Dutch sayings. Firstly, “We are not made of sugar,” as it does rain frequently in Amsterdam and unless you’re related to the Wicked Witch of the West, you won’t melt. Secondly, “God created the world, but the Dutch created the Netherlands.” This alludes to how the Dutch created dams, dikes, and networks of waterways which is an impressive feat to behold and the reason the Netherlands is as it is. They did it to battle flooding, but if they hadn’t, Amsterdam as we know it today wouldn’t exist. Fun fact, around 17% of the Netherlands current land area has been reclaimed from the sea or lakes over the past several hundred years. WOW! Want to know more about Dutch efforts in land reclamation? Check out BrilliantMaps.com for more information.
After our E-bike tour, we made way to A’DAM Lookout. The A’DAM Lookout is most notable for its ‘Over The Edge’ experience, Europe’s tallest swing standing at over 100 meters. However, it’s more than just a cool swing that offers a must-see perspective for thrill-seekers from far and wide to visit. There are also panoramic indoor and outdoor Skydecks offering breathtaking and gorgeous views in every direction. Within the indoor observation deck, you’ll find binoculars that allow you to zoom in on sights like Centraal Station, Vondelpark, and other points of interest in the city. It also hosts a Skybar and restaurant that converts into a club-style space as the night springs to life, which they call Madam Skyline Sessions. Additionally, they offer a freaking sweet VR ride which simulates exploration through much of Amsterdam as if you’re riding a rollercoaster. And all this is accessed by a lift which takes you from the 1st to the 20th floor in twenty seconds with scintillating sound and light effects viewed through a transparent ceiling.
A’DAM Lookout is a great place to see just how far Amsterdam stretches in all directions, and if you like collecting photographs, I highly reccommend this be a stop you make during your stay. And from here, the NDSM Wharf isn’t far away. Originally a shipyard, the area holds historical status and was converted to an art and cultural center during the 1990s where creativity is always on full display. Street graffiti, art exhibitions, and an agenda filled with a well-rounded mix of programs and events that deserve to be explored. Amsterdam hosts a number of unique festivals throughout the year, and several of them are exclusive to NDSM.
I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface on how Minerva and I spent our time in Amsterdam, and I haven’t even gotten to sharing my accounts of Boris Brejcha’s concert in Breda, getting trolled by Frieder and chatting with Jakob, the Netherlands phenomenal Spoorwegen train line, the differences between coffee shops and cafés, thoughts about the historic Red Light District, and the architecture of Zaandam. Heck, I haven’t even told you about the mask shop we inadvertently discovered which has been making Boris’s masks since 2009! However, I want those details to stand out, and I’ve already given you a plethora of information and I believe it would be sensible to let you sit with it before I load you up with more. Thus, I’m going to bring this first part of my travel Amsterdam episodes to a close, but don’t you worry. There’s a whole lot more still to come!
This is Bear Swiftly, signing off. Sayonara all you samurai.
Be well, be successful. Bear Swiftly.
–Electro Scribe–
