Free Amsterdam

Wireless Stories

2011-02-14T08:36:00.000+01:00

This free event about new media in public space - Thursday February 17th in the Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam - is organised by Sandberg & Mediafonds.

Some of the topics are:

how mobile media technologies shape the construction of personal and cultural identities,
the MuseumApp, based on 7scenes, a community platform for multiuser real-time gaming and storytelling using mobile and location-specific technology,
design as the most ingenious, beautiful and consolatory science in its endeavours to understand human beings — from our molecular origins to our possibilities in the future,
mobile storytelling and interactive mobile film-game.

Art in The House of God

2011-01-21T14:38:00.001+01:00

Exhibition of fifty Gerrit Rietveld Academy students (this is the most famous art school in Amsterdam) who are going to graduate this year. The opening is Friday 21th between 5-9pm, and the finissage is February 5th at 7pm.
Entrance is free with Museumjaarkaart. Otherwise 5 euro.

Location: Oude Kerk, Oudekerksplein 23

Visit a 19th-century Riding School

2011-01-19T21:40:00.003+01:00

This is one of these great locations in Amsterdam where you can place yourself in the 19th century: de Hollandsche Manege (Royal Dutch Riding School) at the Vondestraat, just behind the Vondelpark. It hardly changed since it first opened its doors in 1882! The entrance is free, and on the balcony you have a rest and watch a student practice horse riding. If you want you can have a coffee as well in the cafe or visit the stables. For the last thing you must be able to read Dutch, though, to understand the security rules.

Hollandse Manege, Vondelstraat 140, Amsterdam

www.dehollandschemanege.nl

Saturday Farmers Market

2011-01-19T21:25:00.000+01:00

Each Saturday morning you have this great Farmers Market at the Noordermarkt in Amsterdam. You can do your weekend shopping and buy natural made cheese, biological eggs, fresh fish, bread, honey, herbs, spices, nuts, and home made cakes. Yummy!

Open: 9am-3pm
http://www.boerenmarktamsterdam.nl/ (Dutch)
Noordermarkt

The Chinese New Year

2011-01-19T21:22:00.000+01:00

On February 5th you can visit the spectacular Chinese New Year on the Nieuwmarkt, that mark the Year of the Rabbit. The only Chinese you have to know when visiting is: Gong Xi Fa Cai, which means: Happy New Year!
This New Year spring feats is the most important feast of the Chinese people and they memorialize the beginning of the autumn. Chinese New Year is celebrated on the first day of the Chinese moon month, that's why the date change every year, but it's always between January 21th and February 20th.

In China Town in Amsterdam there's a lion dance with a lot of firework. Afterwards the lion goes in China Town to bring luck to all Chinese people. On the Nieuwmarkt there are also shows of musicians and other artists.

Location: Nieuwmarkt & Zeedijk, between 11am and 5pm.

Free Weekly Techno Event

2011-01-18T13:25:00.002+01:00

What is on your mind? This free weekly Techno Event on Tuesdays is hosted by InDeep'n'Dance Records Amsterdam, and brings the latest sounds from the underground. Styles: Minimal Techno, Techno. Detroid Techno, Acid Techno, Melodic Techno.

23pm - 3am
This is the January program:

Location: Korsakoff, Lijnbaansgracht 16, www.korsakoffamsterdam.nl

Free Concert White Lies in Concerto

2011-01-13T14:36:00.000+01:00

Saturday there's a free concert of White Lies in Concerto. This British, Indie band present their new album Ritual. Concert starts at 4pm, be on time to get in (Concerto is a small cd-shop).

Concerto, Utrechtsestraat 52,60, Amsterdam

Free Missin'Link Comic Calender

2011-01-05T11:31:00.001+01:00

From January 6th you can get a free Missin'Link Comic Hiphop Calender at sneaker store Patta in Amsterdam. It's a limited edition.

Patta, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 142

Free Hugs in Amsterdam

2011-01-05T09:14:00.002+01:00

Regularly you can have free hugs in Amsterdam. This is the most viewed video about the free hug action, a real tearjerker! (We will let you know when there's a new session.)

Free travelling ICE & Highspeed in January (Dutch)

2011-01-04T17:34:00.000+01:00

Voor iedereen die de komende maand naar Amsterdam reist: je kunt zonder toeslag de ICE, Fyra of NS Hispeed nemen. Wel heb je een gewoon kaartje nodig.

Dit is wat de NS erover heeft rondgestuurd:
Treinen rijden vanaf maandag 3 januari 2011 volgens de normale dienstregeling. Wegens defect materieel door de sneeuwperiode zijn treinen in ieder geval de komende weken korter dan gebruikelijk en zal het op een aantal trajecten drukker zijn in de spits. Om de drukte in de spits te verminderen, heeft NS een aantal maatregelen genomen.
- Om vaste reizigers meer kans op een zitplaats te bieden, herintroduceert NS het Zoutkaartje. Het Zoutkaartje geeft reizigers vanaf maandag 3 januari tot en met maandag 31 januari 2011 doordeweeks 40% korting van 9.00 - 16.00 uur en na 18.30 uur met NS-treinen;
- Reizigers tussen Rotterdam, Schiphol en Amsterdam kunnen met een NS treinkaartje zonder toeslag in de Fyra van NS Hispeed reizen;
- Reizigers tussen Amsterdam, Utrecht en Arnhem kunnen met een NS treinkaartje zonder toeslag in de ICE reizen;
- Om drukte in stoptreinen te verminderen, stopt een aantal intercity's in de spits ook op de stations in Houten en Weesp om reizigers mee te nemen. De extra stops zorgen voor enige vertraging, waardoor het kan voorkomen dat aansluitingen niet altijd gehaald kunnen worden. In de reisplanner kunt u zien welke treinen extra stoppen.

Free Lunchconcert Thomaskerk

2011-01-04T08:31:00.004+01:00

Want to have a break from your work? Go to the free lunchconcert in Thomaskerk (12.30, every Tuesday).
Today you can watch and listen to Neva Ensemble, a choir from Sint Petersburg specialised in Russian church songs.

It's worthwhile visiting the church for it's sixties architecture (designed by architect Karel L. Sijmons) as well.

Thomaskerk, Prinses Irenestraat 36

Breakfast with a Book (Dutch)

2011-01-04T07:55:00.004+01:00

Op 19 januari kun je gratis met je kinderen naar het Voorleesontbijt van de Nationale Voorleesdagen. In de Centrale Bibliotheek kunnen kinderen (en volwassenen!) luisteren naar het Prentenboek van het Jaar: Fien wil rennen van Bibi Dumon Tak & Noëlle Smith (10.30), dat wordt voorgelezen door een speciale gast. Daarna kunnen de kinderen aanschuiven voor het ontbijt.

In Bibliotheek Reigersbos leest burgemeester Eberhard van der Laan om 10.30 voor.

De illustraties van Noëlle Smith kun je op de jeugdafdeling van de Centrale Bibliotheek bekijken. Schrijver Harm de Jonge opent de expositie 19 januari om 16 uur.
Toegang van alle activiteiten is gratis. Reserveer wel van tevoren!

Meer informatie over het programma rond de Voorleesdagen (ook in andere bibliotheken in Amsterdam): www.oba.nl/agenda

Monday Match Bimhuis

2011-01-03T08:01:00.002+01:00

Each Monday you can visit a free jazz and dance performance at Monday Match, where a musician and dancer choose each other and improvise through the evening. Afterwards you can dance to the eclectic mix of hidden treasures & crazy grooves with DJ Philippona's Jazz Lost & Found.
8.30pm, Bimhuis, Piet Heinkade 3, Amsterdam, www.bimhuis.nl

Foto: Ramon Frankfort (Flickr)

The Woodwards at Coffee Company

2011-01-02T10:10:00.001+01:00

Still groggy from New Years Eve? Have a big coffee at the Coffee Company, Waterlooplein 129 in Amsterdam, and listen to the acoustic session of The Woodwards (finalist of the Grote Prijs NL for the best Dutch bands in 2008). On January 2nd they will perform a full set including songs from the latest EP 'Burn Everything'. It starts from 1 pm and continues throughout the afternoon.

More information: http://www.coffeecompany.nl/2010/11/05/coffee-music-cc-waterlooplein/

The 3 Best Free Things To Do in Amsterdam On New Years Eve

2010-12-30T19:18:00.003+01:00

1 Watch the fire work at Nieuwmarkt
This is definitely the best place to watch the Dutch fireworks in Amsterdam. You have to be there just before 12 pm and you just have to say: WOW!

2 Party at Museumplein
The free party at Museumplein is also a good place to celebrate New Years Eve. This is the program:
21:00: Event begins
23:00: Show; start TV broadcast
23:59: Countdown
00:00: Spectacular fireworks show
00:08: End of TV broadcast; after-party with DJs
01:00: Event ends

More information: http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/productions/new-years-eve-on-museumplein/ea6964a9-cf09-8ad6-cc072b570de6efe2

3 Walk or cycle through Vondelpark
This is number 3 on the list, but maybe it's the best tip! Nobody goes to the Vondelpark! Two years ago we cycled through the park just before noon, and YES, when the fireworks started, we were the only ones there. Try it, this is really marvelous!

Free Parking Amsterdam

2010-12-28T11:20:00.003+01:00

You don't have to pay for parking your car in Amsterdam this week. Most pay machines are covered up, because of possible damage from fire work. Officially you do have to pay, but they skipped the control this week. Beware: the only places you don't have to pay, are the places where the machines are covered up.

More about this subject: http://www.onzestem.eu/2010/12/gratis-parkeren-in-amsterdam-door-vuurwerkvrees/ (Dutch)

Anne Frank, seen from window

2010-12-27T19:52:00.000+01:00

Watch this: The only known video footage of Anne Frank, seen from the window of her Amsterdam home watching a wedding procession.

Desigual Undie Soho Edition

2010-12-27T19:02:00.001+01:00

Don't know how to show up tomorrow at Desiquals Undie Party Amsterdam? Watch this video from the Soho Edition!

More information: http://freeamsterdam.blogspot.com/2010/12/desiguals-free-undie-party-amsterdam.html

Free Schiphol iPhone App

2010-12-24T08:19:00.001+01:00

Currently number 1 in top 25 free apps in App Store

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has extended its passenger and visitor services with a free Schiphol App. Already, it appears to be the number 1 in the top 25 of free apps in the App Store. The new application enables iPhone and Android mobile phone users to get detailed travel information, including flight information via 'push notification' (flight information and updates that are relevant to you) and details about airport facilities and activities. Schiphol Smart Parking spaces can also be booked very soon by using the App.

Other SmartPhone users can visit Amsterdam Schiphol Airport's new mobile website: www.Schiphol.mobi for more information.

Free Tour of The IJ Brewery

2010-12-24T07:57:00.001+01:00

Every Friday & Sunday you can take a free guided tour of The IJ Brewery, revealing the ins and outs of the business, told by the current brew master. You can take a glass of beer along on the tour, or afterwards you can buy a tasting palette of five different beers afterwards for € 5,-.

The tour starts at 4 pm.
Brouwerij 't IJ, Funenkade 7
www.brouwerijhetij.nl

Finally Free Wifi Schiphol Airport

2010-12-23T23:25:00.002+01:00

Yes, from now on there's free WiFi throughout Amsterdam Schiphol Airport - both before and beyond passport control and even up to the gate itself. The new service means you can connect to the internet wirelessly from any device with login access, free of charge for one hour.

What do you have to do to use the airport's free WiFi service?

- Select the available 'KPN' network on your laptop or PDA.

- Launch your internet browser.

- On the login page you can choose from either the free, time-restricted service under 'Free WiFi' or the premium service under 'Premium WiFi'. The premium service is an extended, paid service that is provided by KPN, which offers higher speeds, a VPN option and a free printing service at one of the KPN Internet centers.

3 Free Things to do in Amsterdam on Christmas Eve

2010-12-23T13:34:00.004+01:00

1 Enjoy a free classical concert of Christmas classics in the Great Hall of the award-winning 19th-century venue Het Concertgebouw, 8-10pm.

www.concertgebouw.nl (Dutch)

2 Listen to a Georgian concert in the Nicolai church at 9m, starring Capella Nicolai.
Listen to Capella Nicolai on YouTube Chanel: http://www.youtube.com/user/CappellaNicolai

Sint-Nicolaaskerk, Prins Hendrikkade 73
Listen to Capella Nicolai on YouTube Chanel: http://www.youtube.com/user/CappellaNicolai

3 Stay home and read the free Christmas Story of Tess Fanke (Dutch) - who's famous of her Amsterdam based crime story's about laywer Femke Wolzak - and drink a glass of cheap Glühwein. Download the Dutch Christmans Story here: http://www.libelle.nl/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Laffizol-Kerstverhaal.pdf

Talents of the Royal College of Art in Kahlmann Gallery

2010-12-23T11:12:00.001+01:00

The new exhibition Talents of the Royal College of Art in Kahmann Gallery Amsterdam showcases works by five recent graduates of the prestigious London College photography master program (see some of their photo's bellow).

Photo: Noemie Goudal

Photo: Lauren Winsor

The work of the photograhers is very different, but what they have in common is their intensity. For example look at the background of the portraits of Sarah Mei Herman (http://sipf.sg/web/sipf-2008/exhibitions-artists/sarah-mei-herman/), they're so emotionally and strong that she beats simular ones from Annie Leibowitz in A Photographers Life!

Photo: Sarah Mei Herman

Kahmann Gallery exhibit a selection of photographs, that were never shown in the Netherlands before.
www.kahmanngallery.com

Desigual's Free Undie Party Amsterdam

2010-12-23T08:09:00.001+01:00

If you show up in your undies at Desigual Store in Amsterdam on Tuesday December 28th you get free clothes. At 10 am the first hunderd undie-wearing people have an hour to shop for a two-piece (top and bottom).
In New York's Soho and Mahnhattan party the undie-action was a great succes.

Desigual Amsterdam: Kalverstraat 8, http://www.desigual.com/desigual/preHome.jsp

See Capeman For 1/2 Price

2010-12-22T12:38:00.000+01:00

Wanna rock tonight for 3 euro? Go and buy a ticket for the Amsterdam band Capeman (see video). Tickets at Last Minute Tickets Shop at the Leidseplein (near the theater hall, the Schouwburg): http://www.lastminuteticketshop.nl/