citylikeyou — Volkskrant Buiding — Amsterdam by Simon Wald-Lasowski

A few years ago, the Volkskrant (one of the countries biggest newspaper) moved office to a new location. Their old headquarter now houses hundreds of artists and musician; along with dance studios, a bar/club with panorama over the city, a dreadlock ‘doctor’, a Russian cultural centre, a cyberpunk gallery and my photo studio on the 4th floor. It was a conscious choice by the founders to create a total melting pot. In the basement for example, 3 doors away from our music studio, you will find some cheerful weed smoking hiphop producers from the Bijlmer (the ‘ghetto’ of Amsterdam); an ex-yougoslavian hardcore drummer with a full analogue recording studio and a ballet school run by an obese woman in her 70’s. Ok, it might seem artificial, but it really is quite magical!

Website
volkskrantgebouw.nl

Address
Volkskrant Buiding, Volkskrant buiding, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Photographer Art Director

Current city: Amsterdam

simonwaldlasowski.com

Simon Wald-Lasowski (Paris, 1980) is a freelance photographer and art director. He makes colorful, fun, twisted work by use of bricolage, word play and ‘cliché bending’. Lighthearted at first sight, his images often reveal a certain depth on second inspection. His approach is always very personal, which blur the boundaries between autonomous and commissioned work. He lives in Amsterdam and graduated from the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in 2004 as a graphic designer. Occasionally he also works as a Wedding MC.

More Places in Amsterdam 100

Amsterdam / Cafe

I’m not much of a bar-person, but if and when I do go for a drink, I love to come here. It’s simply the best brown café in Amsterdam. A little off the beaten track, in the middle of a residential neighborhood, you’d really have to go out of your way to come here. Nienke, the proprietress is what we call in Dutch “een topwijf ”. With her warm heart and no nonsense attitude she makes you feel right at home, whether you’re a regular and part of the bar’s furniture, or just pop in occasionally, just like myself.

Amsterdam / Park

Amsterdam is at it’s best when it is covered in a thick layer fresh fallen snow, I like to go out at night and wander through one of the parks, to experience this beautiful metamorphosis of a city landscape.

Amsterdam / Bar

Hannekes Boom is one of the nicest waterfront café in Amsterdam to have a beer when it's sunny. Close to Central Station, the place isn't crowded by tourists, but you need to be there early to get a seat.

Amsterdam / Gallery

Lost & Found is a monthly artist salon held in one of the medieval towers of the Waag on the Nieuwmarkt. In the room where Rembrandt's 'The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp' once took place have since 1997 over 80 sessions of stray images and sound been organized. Artists show material which doesn't fit comfortably into regular gallery contexts; work which demands more concentration than the usual walk-by. Check the Lost & Found website for dates & times.

Amsterdam / Attraction

Since I was a child I always loved to go to the aquarium in Artis. This mysterious world that we will never really get to know makes me wonder and raises questions. I like this mysterious world. It’s a place to relax and think things over.