#Surinamese Painter

[pintoras]

Iléne Themen is a Surinamese painter!

Thank you, I've added her to the list.

[honeyleesblog]

Providing In-Depth Horoscope and Personality Analysis for May 12 Birthdays

They are individuals with a cordial, very serene and respectful disposition. Close to home, delicate: they show dependability in their connections. They can adjust to life circumstances. They can accomplish huge advantages through associations with others. Genuine companions will help you particularly. They can resolve their lives in an agreeable manner. They are truly keen on singing and music. Because of these interests, they even become craftsmen, painters, or scholars. They show extraordinary adroitness in manual work, which permits them to acquire amazing outcomes in the applied expressions. They can likewise be astounding specialists. Your endeavors and difficult work will ultimately be delegated with progress. They have a fundamental energy in overabundance, and they have it in sports, love or work. A side interest that can hurt them is gastronomic, in light of the fact that it could cause liver or kidney illnesses. Likewise, they frequently show a propensity to put on weight. People brought into the world at sunrise are better and stronger. Imperfections: The lacking sort rapidly ejects out of resentment. He is eccentric, constrained by his interests. Albeit languid, he is fit for playing around. Imperious, excessively basic. Providing In-Depth Horoscope and Personality Analysis for May 12 Birthdays 

 Assuming your birthday is on May 12, your zodiac sign is Taurus May 12 - character and character character: immaculate, kind, determined, erratic, forceful, antagonistic; calling: humanist, nurture, writer; colors: purple, brown, white; stone: lapis lazuli; creature: snail; plant: nasturtium; fortunate numbers: 10,15,23,26,39,54 very fortunate number: 3 Occasions and observances - May 12 Worldwide Fibromyalgia Day. Worldwide Nursing Day. Worldwide Day of the Section of Beginning wine development. May 12 VIP Birthday. Who was conceived that very day as you? 1900: Pedro Puig Adam, Spanish mathematician (f. 1960). 1900: Helene Weigel, German entertainer (d. 1971). 1907: Katharine Hepburn, American entertainer (d. 2003). 1910: Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin, English scientific expert, 1964 Nobel Prize victor for science (d. 1994). 1910: Johan Ferrier, Surinamese president (d. 2010). 1910: Giulietta Simionato, Italian soprano (d. 2010). 1913: Jamelao, Brazilian samba player (f. 2008). 1914: Bertus Aafjes, Dutch author (d. 1993). 1918: Julius Rosenberg, American covert agent (d. 1953). 1918: Mary Kay Debris, organizer behind the beauty care products organization Mary Kay Beauty care products (d. 2001). 1920: Vilდ©m Flusser, Czech author (d. 1991). 1921: Joseph Beuys, German craftsman (d. 1986). 1922: Marco Denevi, Argentine author (f. 1998). 1924: Claribel Alegrდ­a, Nicaraguan author. 1925: Yogi Berra, American baseball player. 1926: Luis Molowny, Spanish footballer and mentor (d. 2010). 1928: Burt Bacharach, American arranger. 1929: Sam Nujoma, Namibian legislator. 1929: დ?gnes Heller, Hungarian logician. 1930: Jesდºs Franco, Spanish movie producer (d. 2013). 1930: Tirofijo (Manuel Marulanda Vდ©lez), Colombian guerrilla, commandant of the FARC (d. 2008). 1935: Felipe Alou, Dominican baseball player. 1936: Guillermo Endara Galimany, Panamanian legislator and attorney, president somewhere in the range of 1989 and 1994. 1936: Honest Stella, American painter. 1937: George Carlin, American comic (d. 2008). 1942: Michel Fugain, French vocalist. 1945: Alan Ball, English footballer. 1945: Claudia Sauce, Spanish entertainer brought into the world in Zaire. 1948: Guillermo Pდ©rez Villalta, Spanish painter. 1948: Richard Riehle, American entertainer. 1948: Steve Winwood, English performer, of the band Traffic. 1950: Gabriel Byrne, Irish entertainer. 1958: Eric Artist, American performer, of the groups Kiss and Alice Cooper. 1959: Ving Rhames, American entertainer. 1962: Emilio Estდ©vez, American entertainer. 1962: Brett Gurewitz, American guitarist. 1962: Einar Arnaldur Melax, Icelandic artist and writer, of the band The Elgar Sisters. 1963: Stefano Modena, Italian Equation 1 driver. 1963: Gavin Hood, South African producer. 1963: Beatriz Valdდ©s, Cuban-Venezuelan theater, film and TV entertainer. 1966: Stephen Baldwin, American entertainer. 1966: Bebel Gilberto, Brazilian artist. 1966: Deborah Kara Unger, Canadian entertainer. 1967: Paul D'Amour, American bassist, of the band Device. 1968: Tony Bird of prey, American skater. 1970: Samantha Mathis, American entertainer. 1971: Alejandro Irarragorri, Mexican money manager. 1972: Antonio Bosch Conde, Spanish author. 1972: Yadhira Carrillo, Mexican entertainer. 1975: Jonah Lomu, New Zealand rugby player. 1978: Sied van Riel, Dutch DJ and maker 1978: Jason Biggs, American entertainer. 1978: Malin Akerman, Swedish entertainer, model and vocalist. 1979: Joaquim Rodrდ­guez, Spanish cyclist. 1980: Keith Bogans, American b-ball player. 1980: Silvestre Dangond, Colombian vocalist lyricist of Vallenata music. 1980: Paula Woyzechowsky, Venezuelan entertainer and model. 1980: Alexandra de la Mora, Mexican entertainer. 1981: Rami Malek, American entertainer. 1981: Erica Campbell, American model. 1981: Andre Brown, American ball player. 1983: Alina Kabდ¡yeva, Russian athlete. 1983: Axel Hervelle, Belgian ball player. 1983: Domhnall Gleeson, Irish entertainer. 1984: Justin Williams, American ball player. 1985: Jaime Gavilდ¡n Martდ­nez, Spanish footballer. 1985: Paolo Goltz, Argentine footballer. 1986: Emily VanCamp, Canadian entertainer. 1986: Mouhamed Sene, Senegalese ball player. 1986: Victor Liz, Dominican ball player. 1988: Marcelo Vieira, Brazilian soccer player. 1991: Joe Dombrowski, American cyclist. 1992: Malcolm David Kelley, American entertainer. 1995: Luke Benward, American entertainer.

[thepastisalreadywritten]

Maria Sibylla Merian (2 April 1647 – 13 January 1717) was the daughter of the printmaker Matthias Merian and the step-daughter of the still-life painter Jacob Marrel.

She was a talented artist who was trained in flower painting by Marrel.

From an early age, she was fascinated by insects and their life cycles and undertook research into the phenomenon of metamorphosis, which was then only partially understood.

She published her findings in a series of books, illustrated with beautifully-composed plates in which each insect life-cycle was illustrated on the appropriate food plant.

In 1699, having encountered exotic insects in the cabinets of natural history collectors in Amsterdam, Merian and her younger daughter Dorothea set sail for Suriname, in South America, which was then a Dutch colony.

There, they studied the life cycles of Surinamese insects until their return to Europe in 1701.

Merian published her Surinamese research as the Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium (The Metamorphosis of the Insects of Suriname) in 1705.

The book was very well-received, and by her death, Merian was well-regarded throughout Europe as both an entomologist and an artist.

[goalhofer]

Famous 1827 deaths.

Caleb Brewster (American spy), 79

Baron Felipe Neri (Surinamese-Mexican businessman & land owner), 67

Count Alessandro Volta (Italian physicist & inventor)(pictured), 82

Ludwig Van Beethoven (German-Austrian composer & pianist)(pictured), 56

Deborah Gannett (American soldier), 66

Samuel Crompton (British inventor & businessman), 73

George Canning (23rd British prime minister), 57

William Blake (British poet & painter)(pictured), 69

Fr. Servando Teresa De Mier (Mexican priest & politician), 62

[sexypinkon]

~Sexypink~  Special Surinamese artist 'Soeki' Irodikromo’ died Today the famous painter, maker of ceramic art and Batik, Sukidjan Irodokromo, died in his native country Suriname. He turned 75 years old. Soeki leaves the world special works of art. Sukidjan Irodikromo was born June 20, 1945 in Pieterszorg in Commewijne District. From 1963 to 1967 he attended a course at the Cultural Center Suriname (CCS school for Visual Arts conducted by Nola Hatterman) in Paramaribo. Back then, American President Johnson bought a painting from him, and a week later, Soeki was told that he was receiving a grant from STICUSA (Cultural Cooperation Foundation with Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles) to go to the Netherlands and study there. From 1967 to 1972 he did the free painting and chart at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rotterdam and from 1971 to 1972 he deepened himself into the ceramic. Afterwards he continued his studies with a batic training at the ASRI in Jogyakarta, Indonesia.

Back in Suriname he introduced batik painting there. Both in his batik cloths and oil paintings and his ceramic (vases and images), Irodikromo achieved a large production of almost constant quality. His work is in collections spread all over the world. He also made the illustrations in various books. From his admiration for Cobra expressionism, he started working in a style that connected the half abstraction of Cobra to themes and symbols from Javanese mythology. With this he was the first Surinamese artist to bring together tradition and modernity in his own idiom. Sukidjan Irodikromo's works of art are inspired by the Wayang game, Kantjil and Anansi tori. He is among the generation and caliber of Erwin de Vries, Ruben Karsters, Rudi de la Fuente and Paul Woei. Important message he leaves us is: ′′ Let your kids go to school. That gives them power. In the Netherlands I had adjustment problems and language problems. But that didn't stop me from moving on. I dared, because it's about the quality of my work ".

Family background

His parents were farmers. The plantation life used to be very simple. Grandpa and grandma could teach us nothing but work, because for other things they had neither time nor knowledge. Working with a ' berang ' (houwer) and ' pacol ' (hoeing) was the only thing that was taught them. Building a house was done with 'gotong royong' (mutual assistance). Neighbors and family helped each other. A lot of ' teloh ' (cassave), ' gedang ' (banana), fresh fish, such as ' teri ' (salted little fish) and ' ikan asin ' (salty fish) were eaten daily. Sometimes the family had nothing and ate rice with the oil in which the fish was baked. Meat was only eaten when someone threw a party and with 'Bada' (Sugar Fest). Father Irodikromo would have saved up for new pants for the kids.

People in that time believed in ' kersane Allah ' (God's will). ′′ I leave it to tomorrow's day was what people said. Closing the plantations was quite a vein release for many families. Also for the Irodikromo family. They subsequently used the possibility to purchase land on the plantation Koewarasan, which the family moved to.

http://www.oas.org/artsoftheamericas/soeki-irodikromo

[deadassdiaspore]

1707, o/d 58 x 46 Kopenhagen Statens Museum for Kunst

Dutch Painter: Dirk Valkenburgiyjj

TITLED: SLAVE DANCE

Article notes:

The Great Suriname Exhibition, in 2019 in De Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam.

Note: THIS EXHIBIT WAS THE FIRST TO BE APPROVED OF THE NUMEROUS REQUESTED IN THE NETHERLANDS....WHY?

"In itself an understandable choice because a ceremony or festivity can be seen in this work of art. The artist has depicted the large group of ‘partying’ people in great detail from myriad vantage points of the Surinamese people in community.( Although descriptions and accounts of this moment )".  

HATE HOW THE WORK IS LITERALLY DEPICTING A CELEBRATION AND RITUAL AND IT STILL ENDED UP BEING

TITLED: SLAVE DANCE.

"This was also the case for another exhibition in the Nieuwe Kerk: Black is beautiful. Rubens to Dumas in 2008, which I curated".

One of the elements that has intrigued me for a longest time about this work is the woman with the bra on the far right. Did they already exist then? Did she invent it (I secretly hope so). 

GIRL , IF YOU DON'T GET OUTTA HERE.

NOTHING I HATE MORE THAN A WHITE PERSON CURATING AN EXHIBIT CALLED "BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL". THIS IS WORTHY OF A KNIFE FIGHT!!!!

[afropea]

Edgar Cairo (1948-2000) was a Surinamese-Dutch poet, author, painter and performer. In 2011, Cindy Kerseborn directed the documentary « Ik ga dood om jullie hoofd » about his life. It highlights Cairo’s role as a pionneer in the thinking about a black identity and a black consciousness in the context of the Dutch colonial history and postcolonial present. #blackeuropeanhistorymonth #afropeanhistorymonth #edgarcairo https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt-hyyRHqTT/?igshid=k5dk14s58job

[serafino-finasero]

National monument in Oosterpark, Amsterdam, commemorating the abolishment of slavery in the Kingdom of the Netherlands on July 1, 1863 -- 155 years ago today, July 1, 2018.

The monument, created by Surinamese painter and sculptor Erwin de Vries (21 December 1929 – 31 January 2018), was inaugurated in 2002 by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and has since been at the centre of official annual memorial ceremonies and celebratory activities.

[dogangel]

(Detail) Women of Prayer in the Palm Garden

by Surinamese painter Ron Flu

1964 Singapore

[partwildflower]

Amsterdam city guide: where to shop, eat, stay and more

It could be said that Amsterdam holds the key to idyllic laid-back living. From minimalist coffee hangouts to hip boutiques, grand canal houses to some of the world’s greatest artworks, the city is an endless treasure trove of secrets and it’s the perfect size for a weekend break – much to explore but not overwhelming. Amsterdam always has its loyal visitors running (or peddling) back for more. Looking for a few tips? Our city guide will help you make the most of this postcard-perfect destination.

Amsterdam. Image: iStock/KavalenkavaVolha

Where to eat

Pannenkoekenhuis Upstairs

When in Amsterdam, pancake-quaffing is the order of the day – so you’d be forgiven for walking into the first pancake shop you’ll find as you amble out of the central station (the sheer number of them will overwhelm you faster than you can say gouda). Hold on to your hotcakes, though, and seek out Pannenkoekenhuis Upstairs: tucked away up a steep set of stairs in a typical Amsterdam-style house, this restaurant is filled with Delftware and old paintings, and offers authentic charm alongside sizeable Dutch pancakes topped with options that range from cheese to Cointreau. It’s no surprise it has been was awarded a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for four years running.

Venus & Adonis

Putting charcoal-grilled surf and turf dishes at the top of its menu, this Prinsengracht restaurant is ideal if you can’t quite decide whether you’re after a perfect steak or a lemon cream crab cake. Open daily for both lunch and dinner, it also offers an intriguing cocktail menu and an extensive wine list – so you can while your post-dinner hours away with a drink, either in the stylish and cosy dining room, or out overlooking the canal. We’d recommend visiting for dinner to make the most of the romantic, low-lit interiors.

My Little Patisserie

Sweet treat connoisseurs, prepare yourselves for a macaron-hued adventure at this bijou patisserie in the cool De Pijp neighbourhood. Its clean, modest and minimalistic interiors make way for scene-stealing gateaux, pastries, chouquettes and other French delights. Sample the white chocolate cheesecake, grab a selection of petits fours to take away with you, and leave room to indulge in the heavenliest of coffee eclairs – featuring light-as-air choux pastry and a delicate touch of flavour that will soon have you returning for more. Head back to the centre via Gerard Doustraat for some of the area’s best independent boutiques.

My Little Patisserie, Amsterdam. Image courtesy of My Little Patisserie

Sampurna

Indonesia’s Dutch colonial history has certainly left its mark in Amsterdam, and foodies will find quite the unmissable Indonesian and Surinamese culinary scene here. If all that sightseeing has worked up an appetite, you’ll find yourself eager to try rijsttafel (“rice table”), a feast of up to 40 small dishes served with rice. It’s the perfect chance for even the most indecisive foodie to try a rich and diverse array of flavours in one sitting, and can be sampled at Sampurna, where statues and wood carvings fill the dining room with a relaxing and traditional atmosphere.

De Foodhallen

If you’re hoping for international produce, plentiful options and a buzzing atmosphere under one roof, head straight to De Foodhallen on Bellamyplein square. The sheer variety of sweet and savoury food stalls here is set to delight any foodie – dim sum, ice-cream waffles, hot dogs, Iberico ham, and even a seafood and oyster bar are all available on tap, amongst others. You’d not want to miss a chance to sink a few drinks at this buzzing day-to-night hotspot. Try the Wine Bar for international labels, enjoy a refreshing gin and tonic or choose from a large selection of beers.

MOOK Pancakes

Providing an American-style, healthy and confidently on-trend option for pancake-seekers, MOOK Pancakes on De Clercqstraat is slightly more removed from the city centre yet entirely worth the tram journey. Its white, plant-filled decor offers a restful space within which to enjoy eye-poppingly colourful, fruit and nut-topped, nutritious pancakes. Whether you’re after a sweet or savoury option, this café is a must-try: friendly service comes as standard, as does a complimentary second dollop of syrup – how could anyone say no to that?

MOOK Pancakes, Amsterdam. Image courtesy of MOOK Pancakes

Where to drink

Monks Coffee Roasters

Whether you’re making a quick stop or looking to kick back and while an hour away, Monks Coffee Roasters on Bilderdijkstraat is a fail-safe pick for a well-deserved shot of caffeine or indulgent smoothie, coupled with fresh breakfast options, sandwiches and salads. Simply decorated and flooded with natural light, it provides an unfussy and contemporary space – perfect for planning the rest of your itinerary as you slow-sip a special house blend espresso or Ethiopian filter coffee.

De Koffieschenkerij

Grab yourself a divine hot chocolate with a serious side of history at this café, housed within the former sacristy of Amsterdam’s oldest building – the 800-year-old Oude Kerk. This red-shuttered and red-brick, cottage-like spot is quite the gem for peace-seekers: tucked away in a popular and very central location, it’s almost hidden from plain sight. Its drinks and pastries are best enjoyed either in the charming courtyard or up on its first floor, styled in a pared-back yet very inviting, vintage retro-inspired decor.

Door 74

Charm and character abound at this 1920s-style speakeasy bar (the first of its kind in The Netherlands), where dark woods, Art Deco interiors, antique barware and elegantly-presented cocktails create an exciting and intimate atmosphere. We aren’t the only ones who’d head straight here for a sophisticated night out – Door 74 has also been listed on World’s Best Bars, so you can rest assured its signature and incredibly creative cocktails will more than meet your expectations.

De Koffieschenkerij, Amsterdam. Image courtesy of De Koffieschenkerij

Café Heuvel

For history with an edgier twist, try this traditionally Dutch “brown café” on Prinsengracht. One of Amsterdam’s oldest, it provides a laid-back setting where jukebox music, refreshing brews and scenic al fresco slow-sipping combine. While located along one of the city’s quieter canalside streets, it’s a small space with al fresco seating, and can be particularly popular amongst locals on sunny days.

Formocha

Those after the capital’s best tea as well as a unique tasting experience should look no further than Formocha Premium Tea House. Here, Chinese tea culture is firmly rooted in a simple and traditionally-inspired setting, complete with handthrown cups, clay teapots, understated decor, and a most serene atmosphere. You’ll find a healthy selection of green, oolong and black teas, as well as jasmine and chrysanthemum blossom, all prepared with precision and lovingly served.

Hannekes Boom

If you can’t quite get enough of Amsterdam’s ultra-laid-back atmosphere and are looking for more ways to unwind into the evening, then make a beeline for this shack-style waterfront café where, post-work hours, you’ll find a bustle of locals spilling out onto its outdoor picnic tables to line the water’s edge. Decorated with recycled furniture and offering light snacks and bar food, it’s your go-to for a fun time near Amsterdam Centraal station.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Image courtesy of Rijksmuseum

What to see

Rijksmuseum

Combine your love for paintings, history and admirable architecture with a stop at the Rijksmuseum: ideally located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Museum Quarter, it easily tops the list of any museum-hopper thanks to its seemingly endless collection, spanning the works of Rembrandt, Johannes Vermeer, Frans Hals and many more. Families will relish the guided multimedia tours on hand here, while drawing lessons provide further entertainment for budding artists.

Amsterdam’s Canal Ring

Amsterdam’s Canal Ring is perhaps the one architectural wonder you would want to lose yourself in. Built during the Golden Age of the 17th century, this UNESCO World Heritage List member offers more than a chance to snap a few pretty pictures. Fashion boutiques, gift shops and bookstores provide a spot of retail therapy, a wide array of bars and cafés offer respite from all the sightseeing, while canal tours and annual overwater parades – such as the extravagant Gay Pride celebration in the summertime – will give you a chance to see this district from a different angle. Take to the streets in the evening for a more peaceful and picturesque stroll, or if you’re feeling up to it, join the city’s fearless cyclists to tour the area like a local – just remember to take a map along with you.

The Smallest House in Amsterdam

Accomplish a mini bucket list-ticking feat – quite literally – with a visit to the world’s smallest house, located at Oude Hoogstraat 22 in the old city centre. Measuring in at 6 feet 8 inches in width and 16 feet 5 inches in depth, and now housing a tea room, this landmark sight resembles a typical canal house and provides an intriguing slice of history as well as an indulgent slice of cake.

Meet Vincent van Gogh at the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. Image courtesy of Bibi Neuray/Van Gogh Museum

Van Gogh Museum

If you find yourself thirsting for more fine art masterpieces, cross the road to indulge in a journey through the works of Post-Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh, at a dedicated museum showcasing everything from his early pieces straight through to his most celebrated. As well as view a permanent collection of paintings, drawings, letters and memorabilia spread across four floors, you’d have a chance to join a free lecture or partake in a walk-in workshop.

Vondelpark

Make the most of fine climes at this expansive urban park, spread across 47 hectares. Its location by the city’s museums quarter, which means it’s the best place to end up in for a contemplative wander once you’ve had your cultural fill. You might even find its Tulip Island in bloom, for a chance to pick a few of your own – although true appreciators of the perennial flower should make time for a day trip to Lisse’s Keukenhof, which showcases every variety of tulip under the sun (combined entry and travel passes can easily be found at Schiphol Airport, too, so you’ve little need to plan the trip yourself).

Foam

Those with a penchant for modern art could never set enough time aside for the eclectic contemporary displays and photography exhibitions at Foam. Located in an old canal house within easy reach of central sights, this small Keizersgracht gem has showcased and honoured the works of internationally-renowned artists – William Eggleston, Helmut Newton and Ai Weiwei, to name a few – as well as hosting debates and educational projects.

Hutspot Rozengracht, Amsterdam. Image courtesy of Hutspot

Where to shop

Hutspot

Set up on opposite ends of the city, on Van Woustraat and Rozengracht, Hutspot’s ultra-sleek decor provides a confident setting for its fashion pieces and special design products, with stocked labels including Samsøe & Samsøe, Elka Rainwear, Monokel Eyewear and more. Inspiring a sense of calm, you’ll be in no rush to leave this haven of contemporary style. Its Van Woustraat branch also houses a barbershop and café – so you’ve little need to look elsewhere if you’re feeling peckish.

Royal Delft Experience Amsterdam B.V

If you’re after a more complete Delftware experience, head to this iconic museum and shop housed within the Munt Tower, for a chance to discover beautiful one-of-a-kind ceramics, watch a painting demonstration, or even take a workshop before picking up a few pieces to take home – perhaps adding a customised plate to the lot.

Wildernis

Green-fingered travellers, rejoice: filled with hanging plants, homeware and other eye-catching bits and bobs, this charming Bilderdijkstraat shop is a true sanctuary for nature and pottery lovers – and it’s certainly worth making a trip out of the city centre for. If you can’t take any plants back home with you, you’ll find plenty of covetable trinkets here and it’s worth the trip just to keep your Instagram grid looking on point.

Wildernis, Amsterdam. Image courtesy of Haarkon

De 9 Straatjes (The 9 Streets)

Comprising nine photogenic streets in the city’s Canal Ring, this character-packed spot is ideally placed just moments from the Anne Frank House to one end and the buzzing Bloemenmarkt – the world’s only floating flower market – to the other. Here, you’ll find a fun and eclectic, vintage-meets-designer mix of fashion, art, lifestyle and homeware boutiques (including marvellous antiques store ‘t Runnertje, Dutch-Scandi label AMATØR and leather goods expert RIKA Boutique), the odd chocolate or cheese shop, plus a long list of cafés, eateries and more – from the cosy and rustic-chic Ree7 to wine specialists De Wijnwinkel Renalda.

Pluk Amsterdam

Set amongst vintage shops and fashion boutiques on Reestraat, you’ll find no shortage of adorable homeware, jewellery and accessories here, all screaming for you to take them home. Also a restaurant with a cosy seating area on its first floor, Pluk offers a healthy (yet no less mouthwatering) menu of drinks, fruit bowls, salads, sandwiches, cakes and more, should all that shopping leave you hungry for more.

Kramer Kunst & Antiek

For home decorators and art collectors wanting to grab a piece or two of Delftware, the white and blue tin-glazed earthenware for which The Netherlands is famous, don’t look further than this antique shop. If you’ve a fairly big budget to work with, it offers endless shelves of miniature canalhouses, baubles, plates and other intriguing ornaments. Your inner historian is certain to find happiness at this family-run spot, as its large and authentic collection of Dutch tiles dates as far back as the 1600s.

Pluk, Amsterdam. Image courtesy of Pluk Amsterdam

Where to stay

Hoxton Amsterdam

Located on Herengracht in the heart of the city’s shopping haven, De 9 Straatjes, this Hoxton base is a mecca of classically cool design and style, with guest rooms offering a dose of quirkiness, mid-century modern sharpness, and a lush blend of cream and warm brown hues. The hotel is home to the hip and happening Lotti’s, where Italian fare meets Dutch traditions, as well as a mezzanine coffee and cocktail den, a lobby bar, and staple canal views.

Hotel Arena

Both inside and out, this modern, Green Key-certified sleep is dressed to impress: housed in a former church that dates back to 1886, it stuns with a historic facade as much as it does through its urban-style, minimalist-inspired, greenery-adorned interiors. Discover its grand staircase on your way up to a gorgeous white-on-white room, or settle down with a Mediterranean-inspired menu at the chic restaurant, where a terrace provides a lovely setting on warmer days. Situated between Oosterpark and the canal, it’s a 10-minute drive from Amsterdam Centraal station.

Villa Nicola

A deserving TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence winner, Villa Nicola is something of a sanctuary for lovers of attentive design, personable service and tranquillity. With just two suites, where vintage and modern decor as well as fine art pieces are blended to create perfect urban and nature-inspired havens, it makes a supremely chic and unique bolthole – and a well-placed one, too, being just a 15-minute stroll from the museums quarter and Bloemenmarkt.

The Hoxton, Amsterdam. Image: The Hoxton

Morgan & Mees

Set a 10-minute walk from Anne Frank House, this Westerpark base delivers cool, functional design, complete with ultra-cosy Coco-Mat beds, up-to-date amenities, a calming grey colour scheme offset by beige tones, and the occasional ethic or rustic decorative touch. No trip to this city would be complete without a pit stop at the hotel’s restaurant where minimalist and rustic-inspired, white-on-wood interiors provide a relaxing canvas for breakfast, lunch and dinner – expect fresh and expertly-presented fare, such as guinea fowl with spinach and cream of artichoke, or sea bass with Dutch shrimp, spaghetti, cockles and chilli.

First time to Amsterdam? Here are a few handy things to know:

A word to the wise: Amsterdam’s museums are rarely free, so pick up a museum card if culture-seeking is the focus of your trip – with it, you’ll have access to a plethora of art-filled attractions and beyond, including the Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House, NEMO Science Centre, Amsterdam Museum, the Oude Kerk and the Royal Palace Amsterdam.

While smoking weed is legal here, doing so is generally frowned upon by the locals – so if you must try it, remember to do so with respect and awareness of your surroundings.

While you may want to explore Amsterdam on foot (or perhaps even grab a bicycle like a local), wandering its maze-like streets will likely lead to tired legs before you know it. We recommend investing in a travel pass, of which Amsterdam offers several options: an all-in public transport ticket that also covers journeys to and from the airport, a one to seven-day pass covering the trams, buses and metros operated by GVB (Amsterdam’s main public transport provider), and another offering comprehensive coverage of public transport links (GVB, EBS, NS and Connexxion) in the city for up to three days. Buying an I amsterdam City Card will grant you access to top attractions as well as a GVB travel pass, while an Old Holland Tour pass is also available for those looking to discover the charms, windmills and cheeses of Volendam, Edam and Zaanse Schans. ■

Villa Nicola, Amsterdam. Image: Villa Nicola

Written for Secret Escapes’ blog, The Great Escape, published 7 July 2017.

[marciamattos]

Maria Sibylla Merian and her daughter Dorothea Graff were pioneering painters and printmakers famous for their scientific illustrations. In 1699 they travelled to Surinam in South America where they made extensive notes and sketches, and collected dried plants and animals preserved in alcohol. They returned to Amsterdam in 1701, and in 1705 Merian published her work on Surinamese insects, which included these watercolour paintings. It was the first scientific work published about Surinam and its wildlife. You can see the work of both Merian and Graff in our free display about the collections of the British Museum’s founder Hans Sloane in Room 90a: http://ow.ly/Yv2C30h5XN1