Open Monday mornings and Saturdays all day, there’s always something to find at this market. Lots of vintage items, the most gorgeous florals, and fresh food for making an amazing dinner that night.
In the ever growing conservative political scene in the Netherlands, the ADM is a reminder of the freedom and chaos that Amsterdam must have once been. It gives me my dose of dirty grittiness, something which is miss in this city in constant renovation and gentrification. Evolving around a main building on an industrial shipyard on the outskirts of town, it's an area where modern gypsies, anarchists, artists and free thinkers build their houses, park their caravans or dock their house boats. It's not entirely my scene, but I am happy to know that it's there. And they throw some amazing festivals!
Since I’m a graphic designer I'm obviously into books and my favourite bookstore in Amsterdam is Boekie Woekie. This small shop is located in the Nine Streets and they sell nice and special publications that are often hard to find because they are self published or published by small press publishers. If you are into graphic design you should really check it out.
The portal between the Leidseplein nightlife area and the Max Eeuweplein is pompously accentuated by a classical looking façade, designed in 1991 by Zaanen Spanjers Architects. On the frieze, supported by columns, the architect has carved an inscription: ‘Homo sapiens non urinat in ventum’ - ‘A wise man does not piss into the wind’. A ‘wisecrack’, disguised in Latin.