While it may not look like it when you walk the streets and look up at the sky, it is summer here in Amsterdam. And here on Trippist, lots of our favorite contributors are off doing who-knows-what in who-knows-where.

So in an effort to bring some new adventures and fresh posts for your enjoyment, today we welcome Jayne to the show. Jayne's a Torontonienne transplanted to Amsterdam back in 2005. And to further complicate things, rumor has it she's moving back at the end of the summer. So not only do we get her unique insights but there will also be alot of all those things you want to do before you leave this place.

Welcome Jayne, make yourself comfortable.

It's finally working! Our Cell Phone Freebies feature that is...

While reading Trippist before your trip to Amsterdam or just as a reminder of things you want to know more about you can now send yourself a text message with Trippist's favorite Art, Coffee Shops, Cool Stores, Dance & Music, Drinks & Bars, Food, Stay and To Do suggestions.

Just click on the Cell Phone Freebies section on the home page & enjoy!

You've exactly one month left before Gay Pride Amsterdam 2007, which will go from the 3rd to the 5th of August.

Aside from Queen's Day, Gay Pride is hands down the funnest and friendliest festival in Amsterdam, featuring the most creative floats cruising down the beautiful canals.

Over the years I've noticed not only young people out on the town enjoying the music and entertainment, but also the elderly, that set up their lawn chairs along the canals to get a good view of the floating parade.

There's already alot of press this year regarding a float that will feature 11 to 17 year old homosexuals. The big fuss is coming from people who deem it too young or unacceptable for whatever reason. But the fact is whether you're 11 years old or 80 years old, Pride is nothing to be afraid of... it is a beautiful party where everyone is welcome.

Anywhere and everywhere you go in Amsterdam, at some point you'll run into the Space Invader:

Invader is actually an artist who leaves these strategically placed mosaic's of little alien ships (inspired by the old game space invaders) in cities all over the world.

Apparently down in southern France, in the city of Montpellier, invader placed them so that when you see them on a map they make one big space ship.

Anyway when you get here, keep a sharp eye out, you'll find invader's work on many random street corners on the side of buildings, bridges, and who knows what else. I'm getting into the habit of snapping pictures of the invaders whenever I run into them... maybe you will too.

For a mere 39 euros, you can enjoy the experimental sounds of Bjork, the beloved Icelandic. On Sunday the 8th, Bjork will present her new album filled with electronic sounds, african beats, and more perhaps unidentifiable noises at the Westergasfabriek, the old gas factory and now culturepark. Although 39 euros is quite a lot, yes indeed quite a lot of money, you can be sure that the performance will be fantastic. Bjork will be joined by Jamie Lidell, the British soul singer of "A Little Bit More" and "Multiply". I like him a lot. Also present, DJ Wiekes, who I do not know. The concert starts at 8PM! But get there early and enjoy a drink along the water.

Modern Gonzo visited Berlin and Amsterdam on one of his recent trips to Europe. Funny story, even funnier video! Good tips on where to Eat, Sleep & Play.

FESTIVALS
Over 't IJ Festival: ten days of theater, music and art. Also fun for non-dutch speakers; check out Conversations with Ice, Ins Blaue Hinein II or Que Pasa?. The festival takes place around the NDSM werf in Amsterdam North and can be easily reached by ferry, bike and bus. There is a free 10 mins ferry ride from Amsterdam Central Station twice an hour. Tickets can be bought through the website or at the Uitburo Ticketshop at the Leidseplein.
July 5 - July 15
Prices vary

International Dansfilmfestival Cinedans: Six days of dance movies, from short to long films, black and white to color, different budgets and 25 premieres. A jury decides, together with the public vote, who gets the Cinedans Award.
Rialto, Paradiso and Filmmuseum
July 6 - July 11
6 Euro per movie

CONCERTS
Live Earth Day on 7/7/7: this global event focussing on our climate crisis takes place on 7 continents. From Amsterdam you see performances by Ali B, Fedde Le Grand and others but there will be screens broadcasting the performances from Live Earth's 24 hours of music with Madonna, Red Hot Chili Peppers etc.etc. Visit the website to check your live impact.
Westerpark
All day, free

Björk. Read our earlier posting on Trippist about this concert.
Westergasfabriek
July 8 at 8PM
39 Euro

MMM! Herring season is in full swing (since May), and although other countries around the North Sea like to pickle, broil or salt cure their herring, the Dutch style is more.. Japanese. Raw.
Don't be distracted by the white bread roll on offer, or by the side order of chopped pickles and onions- these just distract you from the delicate flavour. The true, traditional way to eat fresh raw herring is by pinching the tail between your thumb and forefingers and lowering it straight down the hatch (your throat!). A fresh herring should melt in your mouth, and not taste too fishy -or its old, same rule as sashimi.
Just like the poster you will see on the shops, at least once on a visit to the Netherlands all of you tourists should try local herring this way, if you can stomach it!

Here, my friend clearly can't and takes it with all the fixin's:

I was jogging by the Vondelpark Open Air Theater yesterday and realized the performance season is off and running! Yes. From dance to theater to music from around the world, every summer the amphitheater tucked into the heart of Vondelpark comes alive.

Events take place from thursday to sunday for most of the remaining summer weeks. Have no fear of a language barrier, the schedule features mostly dance and music, though watching theater in Dutch might still be an interesting experience for you.

This week I see there's classical music on thursday, modern dance on friday, and cabaret on saturday (!?). I'm likely to be at the cabaret since the name in itself always sparks my curiosity. As per tradition, my most favorite Portuguese-Dutch singer and guitarist will play on Sunday: Fernando Lameirinhas.

Naturally the open air theater is free as the air we breathe. However it is recommended you arrive on time or early, as both the seats and the standing room go quickly. Alternatively you can just sit in the park somewhere nearby, lay back, and enjoy the sounds.

You probably have seen the posters around town that read I AMsterdam. What does this mean? Set up by the City of Amsterdam in collaboration with the Amsterdam Toursim Board and others, the website was "created as a portal to the City of Amsterdam for the City's international visitors, expats, students and businesses." It is a very useful site for those who come as either tourists or on a more permanent basis, and will provide information on many of the current events, travel to and from the city, tips on living and conducting business, and simply how to enjoy a vacation here.

Right now, there is a link on the website asking for opinions and impressions of Amsterdam. Submit something interesting, and you may win "big prizes", including hotel rooms and dinners! See the website to enter and become a online reviewer of your new favorite city.

It’s a strange collection of lemongrass and luggage. Fish and g-strings. Freshly-squeezed orange juice and incense. Bed sheets and bike locks. Chicken feet and tulips. Penis-shaped salt & pepper shakers and flip-flops.

Albert Cuyp market is probably my favourite place in Amsterdam. Certainly it’s an economic alternative to the evil Albert Heijn but it’s the crazy hustle and bustle that keeps me coming back for more.

The market is one of the oldest and largest open-air markets in Europe. It sets up Monday to Saturday in temporary stalls run by seasoned salesmen, some of whom shout their deals out to the shoppers in deep tenor voices.

For the most part, I try to do my grocery shopping here. The vegetables and fruits are abundant and most stalls offer an extensive variety. And the fish can’t be beat – the salmon, tilapia and cod are all cheaper and fresher than my local fish monger. I’ve recently been inspired to cook a lot of Thai dishes and the AC market is the only place I’ve found things like lime leaves and Thai ginger.

My favourite store has to be the Peper Bol. Located about halfway down the strip, I can guarantee that you’ll smell this place before you see it. In addition to the space it occupies on the street, the Peper Bol continues on into a large shop directly behind it. It sells every spice, sugar, oil, essence, cooking implement, container you could ever hope to find. At first the place overwhelmed me but once I understood the logically alphabetical organization of it, I began to enjoy shopping there. The staff is very helpful and friendly and they’ll go to great lengths to translate your English ingredient list into Dutch.

Another great thing about the Albert Cuyp market is that it’s smack in the middle of De Pijp. De Pijp (or the Pipe to us English speakers) is home to many great bars and restaurants and cute little shops. You can easily spend the better part of a day here poking around and tasting all that it has to offer

I always encourage tourists to get on the tram and check it out. You may not be buying a 10 kilo fish or a dozen sunflowers but you can’t beat the selection and price for some great picnic munchies. It’s also a good place to pick up some souvenirs and some cheap luggage to carry it all back home in. But more than that, it’s a place where locals of all ethnic backgrounds mix with tourists. It’s Amsterdam at its best.

Boring things interest me. And I KNOW I'm not alone.

Recently I found myself in Rotterdam, walking the streets, taking photos, and poking my nose in places where it may or may not belong.

One of those places is the Tax and Customs museum. The what? Tax and customs... oh yeah!

Located right next to the lovely waterfront, the museum is actually a cool piece of architecture to begin with, which is not obvious from the outside. It houses 20 centuries of Dutch tax information.. that's 2000 years.. unbelievable. This also gives you a chance to learn about things like what things were taxed and how. Example: the old rule that people were taxed based on how wide the front of their house was. Hence-- the famous tall thin houses in Amsterdam, with the annexes in the yard.

The museum is open everyday but monday and is free of charge -- what a bonus! (directions)

Haven't found a place to stay in Amsterdam yet? Ibis Hotels is offering 10 Euro discount when you book your hotel room online at www.ibishotel.com. They have four hotels in Amsterdam of which two are located in the city center. All Ibis Hotels are basic but comfortable with 24 hour reception and food & drink facilities.

This deal runs from July 9 - August 26 and is also offered in 18 other European countries.

Out of 16.5 million Dutch people, about 11 million are online. This according to a recent survey that shows the number of net users just keeps on growing.

Which is one of the fundamental reasons I love it here. 11 million people plus me, enjoying the internet.

Average time on the net is also up, 7.3 hours per week, compared to last year's number: 6.

In this same survey it shows that most of this internet time is being taken from the time they used to spend on old media, like television and newspapers. Radio is still a bit of an exception, as more time is spent listening to the radio than last year.

What does all this mean? Well, if you love the internet, you've come to the right place. If you enjoy radio, you're amongst friends. And everything else, well, there's plenty of that, but its not as loved as it used to be.

MUSIC
For all you jazz fans with a little cash to spare: don't miss the North Sea Jazz Festival this year. Day tickets for Saturday are apparently sold out already, but there are still tickets for Friday and Sunday! (Ticket Information)
Ahoy Rotterdam
July 13, 14 & 15
From 70 Euro

Open air concert in the middle of the Vondelpark. This Sunday: José Rivero at 2PM, Beatriz Aguiar at 3PM and Fernando Lameirinhas at 430PM.
Vondelpark Openluchttheater
July 15 from 2PM
Free

SEE
The Dutch Air Guitar Championships are here again! The best air guitarist of Holland will compete for the 2007 champion title.
Paradiso - Weteringschans 6-8
July 14 at 815PM
10 Euro

I have mixed feelings about zoos. I agree that a well-managed zoo is an effective animal conservation effort. It helps parents, like me to teach our children about the other things that share our planet with us. I’ve visited many zoos across Europe and North America and clearly, some do it better than others. My unease stems from seeing animals in enclosures that are really too small or incongruent to their natural habitat.

The Artis Zoo in Amsterdam does most things really well. (Sadly, the big cat enclosures and the polar bear habitat aren’t up to snuff due to the constraints of the Victorian zoo design and the lack of room to expand the zoo. I hope they’re working at improving that.)

In particular, it recently opened a butterfly pavilion that is home to about 1000 butterflies of 20 different varieties. I’ve been there several times since it’s inception in October and it has become a “must-do” for my young son. It has a magical feeling about it – the exotic and fragrant tropical flowers, plants and treees, the babbling brook running through the pavilion, and the flitting flashes of colour as butterflies circle around your head. It’s hilarious to see adults getting all giddy and excited, often heard exclaiming, “Did you see that one? Look at that blue butterfly! It tried to land on me!”

They also have a large cocoon case which houses hundreds of butterflies-in-waiting. Each time we’ve been there, we’ve watched butterflies hatch and released. You can also catch the leaf-cutter ant exhibit which is incredibly cool. The entire enclosure is made up of clear plexi-glass and you watch these tiny titans go through the paces of their very, busy lifestyle.

The zoo itself is quite diverse, in addition to the regular animals that you would expect; there is a small but entertaining aquarium (a great place to hide out from the rain for a bit) with electric eels, octopus and piranhas. You can also check out the zoological museum, geological museum and a planetarium.

Another nice detail of Artis is the Japanese Stone garden complete with an impressive stone Buddha and gingko trees. Recently, my son and I sat under the gaze of the Buddha and enjoyed a delicious packed picnic lunch.

A great hit with the kids is the penguin habitat. (Perhaps this has to do with last years animated movie, Happy Feet) A couple of months ago, we spent a rainy and cold afternoon watching the black and white birds waddling around and swimming when the zoo keeper came over to us and a few others and asked if we wanted to see something special. He took us around the back of the enclosure and let us into the Staff Only door. Close to a large rock and under a heater lamp stood a baby penguin, small and downy. The zoo keeper fed the bird some pureed fish mush whilst explaining the finer details of caring for this kind of animal. He spoke only Dutch but we managed to understand the gist of what he was saying

The Artis Zoo, the oldest zoo in the Netherlands is a beautiful gem tucked away in the middle of the city, accessible by tram, bicycle, car or boat! It’s a well-laid out city zoo that is accessible for small children and older people alike. Just don’t forget to bring your umbrella!

Tired of walking or biking around Amsterdam? You can now hop on tram 5 which covers tourist spots such as Dam Square, Leidse Square and Museum Square. Even better, you can download an English spoken audio tour to your Ipod or MP3 explaining the different attractions along the route. Tram 5 leaves from Central Station.

Tucked away on a corner of Rembrandtplein, Vivelavie is a cute gay bar with nice atmosphere for all sexual persuasions. I flew by on my bike for almost a year before noticing it! Inside, photos of old movie stars doesn't remind of Hard Rock Cafe but rather a glamorous past. Vivelavie made me feel like an outsider at first, as everyone inside were friends, but after a few visits I am now more than comfortable. Its great for an aperitif or nightcap, depending on when you may be passing through the square.

Last weekend, when the very shy sun made its way out from behind the clouds, we made our way to one of our favorite summertime spots. Zandvoort aan Zee is a sweet little beach town located about 25 km from Amsterdam on the coast of the North Sea. We drove and with the crazy summer vacation traffic it took us the better part of an hour, however you can easily catch the train from Centraal Station to the Zandvoort station and be there in about half the time.

The beach is stunning with 9 km of soft, white sand peppered with beautiful seashells. It’s a wide beach, tucked in against a bit of cliff and there are many beach-themed restaurants along the strip. One of my favourites is a place called, Vooges Strand located in the Strand-Zuid (South Beach) area. Its modern décor is clean and slick and they have large pillows that you can lounge on while you sip your beer and enjoy the view. And their washrooms are clean!

For about 12 Euro you can rent a wind screen and a pair of loungers and enjoy your beach time in comfort. But if you’re up for some exercising, check out the 45 sq. km of rolling sand dunes behind the beach. It’s popular with hikers, dog walkers, dune buggy drivers, mountain bikers etc. The water is a bit cold for my liking but others seem to enjoy swimming, kite surfing, wind surfing and kayaking.

Another quaint detail about sea-siding in Holland is the mobile fish wagon that makes it way along the beach hawking herring and all sorts of deep-fried fish bits and fries, too. Mmmmmm, lekker!

So if you’re stuck in the city this summer and with no plans to jet off to beaches of Portugal, Spain or Greece, then grab your sunscreen and a towel and catch the train to Zandvoort.

Lets say you want to eat a nice candlelight dinner in a neighborhood that is absolutely not touristy, yet VERY Amsterdam? You might be willing to spend money for such quality but maybe you don't want to have to go to far out of the Center of the city?

On such occasions I recommend the Bosboom, located right in the middle of Bosboom Toussiantstraat... just outside the Jordaan, one bridge and a few steps away from Leidseplein.

The cuisine is gourmet (french chef, they say). The decor is downhome yet slightly high brow. The people are 100% locals on the verge of going yuppy. And the experience is excellent. Best of all if its full they'll send you across the street to its sister restaurant. Go try it!

So some reason I find myself at Schiphol airport the other day, looking out across the tarmac at all the pretty planes. Besides enjoying how busy and humongous that airport is, I started to notice a whole lot of dot something airlines. You know the time, "low cost" they like to call them in europe.

First I see the old stand byes: easyjet and transavia. Then there are those that Ive never taken but have been around for a while: Vueling, which specializes in flights to Spain. And Skyeurope which specializes in the whole eastern europe scene for cheapy cheap.

Then I start to notice names that I've never heard, like clickair. What a bizarre name.. click air.. very web two-point-oh. anyway if you're seeking the latest in cheap flying and you also want to head to spain, clickair might be for you. Oh and there are also some small names that go to and from the United Kingdom, BMIbaby and Jet2. Good luck with those and remember to pack a snack as they don't give you a thing for free on the flying bus.

Not far from all the hoopla of all the new buildings along the Amsterdam harbor, there are a bunch of old factories that the developers have done a great job of converting to other things. One of my favorites is the huge factory they turned into a theater, appropriately named "Theater Fabriek". In the past I've seen artists from the cirque du soleil perform there, and marvelled at how cool the building was from the inside.

Currently, and running all summer, the theater is featuring a very familiar name to most North Americans: The Blue Man Group. Maybe you've seen them, I know I haven't. Either way it is a good option in a very cool Amsterdam venue. Tickets run about 30 euros, and for such a quality Greenwich Village born show, it is a fair bargain.

What shall we do? Are we here on holiday? Have we been here for quite a while? How to decide between the Bitterzoet and Paradiso?
Well, I can't answer those questions, yet. When I make my choice, it will be spir of the moment. But what I can tell you is this: My very coolest (really!) Dutch friends tell me that Bitterzoet is on for thursday nights now, and its been a while for me.
On the other hand, while Simian Mobile Disco is playing at Paradiso, I'm not much in the mood for zap zap, zap zap zap music right now. Yet following them, from midnight till 5am, is a special electro Noodlanding dance party. And the guests will be To My Boy, who I love. Well, good luck in making your decision. Either route you take will provide you with an authentic experience apart from the majority of the tourist crowd. Click the links if you're not in the know to find directions, schedules and prices. See you somewhere..

Amsterdam fashion. It definitely does not leave something to be desired. Highly experimental, rarely classic, when fashion week hits its worth it to attend.
Enter OffSchedule, the biannual event presenting 10 young designers. The opening party, at Hotel Krasnapolsky in Dam Square, is free, but I remember last time we barely got in intact. What serious fashionistas can do is guarantee their entrance with a 25 euro coverage charge. Otherwise, get there early. The show starts at 930PM and the party at 11PM.

The first dutch girl I ever met in Amsterdam dropped her bike on me. I remember it well; I'm outside what was then the University computer lab, speaking with a spanish friend as I unlocked my bike. At that same moment, this cute redhead with a very unique and anti-stylish spring dress on, fumbled around with the lock on her bike, just behind me. Before I fully realized what was about to happen, a bike - her bike - comes crashing down onto my foot.

"Oooh Im so sorry", she shouts, coming over to look at my foot, "I was just listening to your conversation, are you from Spain.. I was just studying there."

A few days later I'm sitting across from this hilarious girl, notebook in hand, and a few Dutch language books she managed to round up for me. It's a thursday night and most students are talking it up and drinking the night away. Meanwhile me and Dutchgirl have decided to making this the first of many Dutch lessons, in the hope that one day I grow to become a real Dutch speaker.

Of course, things never work out exactly as you plan them. After only a few minutes of work, we would inevitably drift off into gossip and life talk. Becoming more like best friends than teacher-student. At the very least she made sure I got a healthy dose of a Dutch social life and plenty of new friends.

Later my Dutch tutor fulfilled a life's dream, and moved to Spain. After several years we finally met up again last week. Walking through Vondelpark, reminiscing about which cafés we attempted to have tutoring sessions in.. it was like no time had passed. The biggest difference: I now knew the city better than she did.. oh and the whole conversation was in Dutch, to her great pleasure.

I don't know the first thing about fashion. Wait thats not true.. I know it is expensive and attracts attention. So as it turns out, I know one or two things about fashion. Which is good because word on the street is that it is fashion week in Amsterdam.

In typical fashonista style, events are taking place in only the coolest venues throughout the city, and some are opened to the public. They include tomorrow (Wednesday the 25th) at Boom Chicago, 18h30, Boom's Fashionweek Edition. Later you can try to get in at the FOFF Sneak Preview Soiree, Rosengracht 207B, 20h. I wouldn't claim to know what FOFF stands for, but maybe it stands for Fine Outfits and Funky Fashion. No?

Beyond that you can expect lots of beautiful people, drinks, occasional snacks, and lots of trade fairs. To be certain of which events are open to we the mortals, you can find the public schedule on a funny titled website: Laundry Days.

And for those who can't attend Fashion Week with their physical beings, you can experience it with your virtual being online. they're doing daily video posts on the Amsterdam Fashion Week website.

Frommer's has a fun podcast called Berlin and Amsterdam for the Next Generation . Listen or download here.

"Just back from Berlin and Amsterdam, Frommer's editor Jennifer Polland joins host Kelly Regan to explain why these capital cities are getting attention from a new generation of cool hunting travelers. Polland talks about Berlin's summer beach bars and a stretch of buildings that seems straight out of a sci-fi flick, then explains how to live it up with the locals in Amsterdam -- without breaking your budget."

Photo: Robin Esrock

Over east you will find one of the few (if only?) authentic windmills in the center of Amsterdam. Brouwerij t'IJ, located at Funenkade 7, is the local spot for homemade brew. Several varieties are on tap, including Columbus, the strongest at 9%, and most are strong- starting at 6% and up. Also available is a large selection of bottled beers. Recently having undergone an internal facelift, the Brouwerij is open rarely, and in the midst of last Thursday's sun I found myself there and luckily, a handful of people on the terrace. I like to order a selection of Dutch cheeses for 3.50, and they also have nice dried meats.

The official opening hours are Wednesday till Sunday from 3PM to 8PM, but I have found from experience that they also open seasonly and according to the weather.

You may have heard it is raining alot in Amsterdam. Thats what all my friends seem to be talking about this summer... the rain. But if rain was ever any reason to stop the fun and good things of Amsterdam... well.. they would have condemned the town long ago.

Therefore you must make the best of what you've got.. and thankfully.. besides the bad weather, everything else is wonderful, especially in the mild and relaxing summer.

My suggestion of the day for you involves food. Specifically sandwiches. Now my family, besides being a full fledged New Jersey family, is actually Portuguese. And as such, lunch was always a huge meal with full plates. In the Netherlands it is all about the sandwich. While that may not sound filling or exciting... it can be.

Take Singel 404... right in the Jordaan not far from Spui and the flowermarket, they have the best menu with many many sandwiches. There prices will also not break the bank, and even if its raining, you can probably take a seat under the awning, and watch soaked people run by.

Bicycle Mark has been talking about fashion week, and I am going to too. I went last week to the Hotel Krasnapolsky party to open the events, and I remembered with great hesitation the long line to get in to last year's events. That time, I was with friends who knew the DJ. Without them, I probably would have been left standing in the clear night air for hours.
This time round, without a little ingenuity, I would have been left standing in the rain. Instead, I managed to inadvertendly sneak right into the the preview show, while all those ticket holders waited outside. The show was fun, or funny, depending.. Always amusing, always daring, silly and wild, Dutch fashion made another interesting mark on the legacy of clothing as art.
See below, my friend's homemade raincoat that was a big hit at the event, particularly for those who'd waited long and hard to enter!

Photo: Mylou Oord

FESTIVALS
The new Streetlab Festival, organised during Amsterdam Fashion Week, presents over 100 young Dutch and international "street based" makers and designers in the field of fashion, design, film, photography, street art and music. The heart of the festival is the large scale exhibition showing their work. Check out the world famous sneaker exhibition Sneaker Pimps (USA) with over 1000 unique and customized sneakers.
Westergas area - Haarlemmerweg 8-10
July 27, 28 & 29
Tickets 5 Euro

The name says it all: Me Bike - The Dream Bike Festival is all about Holland's favorite transportation mode, the bicycle. Artists show off their dream bike and there are lots of workshops, films and parties. Highlight is the Big City Tour on Saturday, bring your own bike and make some noise!
Carhartt Store - Hartenstraat 18 (July 27), Westergas area (July 28 & 29) - Haarlemmerweg 8-10
July 27, 28 & 29
Free

No matter where I go this summer, down the street or across the continent to visit family, I use podcasts as a way to keep up to date with what is going on around the world, and that includes - in the Netherlands. And many of these podcasts are actually in English, produced by the wonderful publicly funded Radio Netherlands.

RN has a long tradition as a broadcaster on regular radio, not to mention streaming live via internet. But I've only come to know them through podcasts, as I listen when I'm on a train or a plane or riding my bike somewhere.

Besides the news, my two favorite programs, which I wanted to recommend to you are Amsterdam Forum and The State We're In.

Amsterdam Forum is a weekly program that lines up diverse guests to talk about topics that not only effect the Netherlands but also people around the world. That said, they do an especially good job on topics relating to the Netherlands.

The State We're In is a program that focuses on human rights around the world. Hosted by a former classmate of mine from the University of Amsterdam, the program covers alot of news you won't often hear about on the big news sites, and they do it with a great amount of care and detail.

Now go forth and subscribe, whether you're already here or planning to come visit, Radio Netherlands podcasts will allow you to tap into the pulse of things that matter in this country.

Last week we had the sun rather sporadically. Remember? Of course you do, if you were lucky enough to be around. It is always a momentous event.

In this city of nearly perpetual gray, I typically see the Dutch doing what they would do if the sun were out, even in the pouring rain. This includes shopping, biking, jogging. Recently however, special little events took place. Below, this man was more than happy to have his picture taken on top of having his portrait painted. Definitely not a shy Dutch grandpa, but certainly a cute one!

It has now been a year since World Cup madness hit Europe. Likewise it has been a year since the headbutt heard round the world, when French soccer player Zidane headbutted that Italian guy and got himself kicked out, France lost, etc.

Most people have long put that behind them, but for those who like to relive the glory and learn more about the iconic player, one of the most famous in the world still today, there is a new film out!

Yes, it is called Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait. And apparently it gets into who the man is, his very difficult life story, and well.. probably alot of soccer. So if you're into that, the film premiers on August 9th at the film museum. Oh, and be warned, its in French with Dutch subtitles, but I still recommend it, because you can either know one of those languages or just watch the images and you'll get a good idea of his life regardless of language.

Goodies is the kind of place that attracts tourists without even trying. You see the little streetside tables, on a street that runs between the canals of the Jordaan, where its mostly bikes whizzing by, occasionally ring-ringing their bells.

But Goodies isn't just about looking good, its about eating well too. Especially tapas, the occasional soup, and pasta. Its reasonably priced and the outdoor seating can't be beat.

If you like the Jordaan and you want to people watch while snacking.. take a seat at number 9, Huidenstraat, you can't miss it.