DK Travel : Amsterdam : History & Culture

Page
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

Carré

Originally built as a circus theatre in 1894, circus troupes still appear at this impressive landmark on the banks of the Amstel – along with anything from opera to ballet, magicians to music. Nothing beats sipping champagne on the balcony overlooking the river on a warm evening (see Koninklijk Theater Carré).
Cees Nooteboom

Prolific man of letters (b.1933) whose fiction is at best observant and poignant, at worst experimental and elusive.
Centraal Station

For many visitors, their experience of Amsterdam begins at Centraal Station, the transport hub of the city, where some 1,400 trains arrive and leave every day. It was built in the 1880s in Neo-Renaissance style by P J H Cuypers, who was also responsible for the startlingly similar Rijksmuseum, and A L van Gendt, designer of the Concertgebouw. Before work on the building could start, three artificial islands had to be constructed and 8,600 wooden piles sunk to support them. The fact that the building blocked Amsterdammers’ view of the sea caused much controversy at the time. The ornate red-brick façade depicts themes of travel, trade and city history, picked out in gold and other colours. If you have time to while away, the station restaurant Eerste Klas serves full and light meals in a splendid Art Nouveau setting.
Claw Piece

Sculptures – frequently of dolphins – were made to fill the right angles of gables, as inOudezijds Voorburgwal 119.
Cobra Museum

This museum of modern art in residential Amstelveen is dedicated in part to the influential Dutch movement conceived in 1948. Its founders, including Dutchman Karel Appelamalgamated the names of their home cities – Copenhagen, Brussels and Amsterdam – to create its name: CoBrA. They wanted to promote art that was spontaneous and inclusive, and were inspired by the work of primitives, children and the mentally ill. Paintings in the permanent collection are shown in changing thematic displays, augmented by temporary exhibitions. The light, spare building, by Wim Quist, opened in 1995.
Concertgebouw

One of the world’s great concert halls, the Concertgebouw was built in 1888, designed by A L Van Gendt in Neo-Dutch Renaissance style with a colonnaded Neo-Classical façade. In the 1980s, the building was discovered to be in danger of collapse. In time for the centenary of both the concert hall and its world-famous orchestra, new foundations were laid, and the building was restored and enlarged. Amazingly, all this took place without its having to close.
Concertgebouw

Thecrème de la crème of international musicians and conductors appear at this palatial classical music venue – one of the world’s most prestigious. Audrey Hepburn had a season ticket when she lived here after World War II, and it’s not hard to understand why. Don’t miss the free lunchtime concerts on Wednesdays (see Concertgebouw).
Cornices

From 1690, gables fell out of vogue and decorative top mouldings came in: examples line the Herengracht.
Coster Diamonds

Founded in 1840 and now occupying three grand villas, Coster is one of a handful of diamond workshops offering guided tours. About 30 minutes in length, they give you the opportunity to observe stone graders, cutters and polishers at work. In 1852, theKoh-i-Noor (mountain of light) diamond was re-polished here for the British Crown Jewels, and a replica of the crown that contains it – incorporating a copy of the fabulous blue-white stone – is displayed in the entrance hall. If your budget will allow it, there are also diamonds and jewellery for sale over the counter.
Cristofori Salon

Classy classical recitals are held within this private, plushly restored concert hall on the upper floors of these former 17th-century coffee and tobacco warehouses. Named after the inventor of the piano, Italian Bartolommeo Cristofori, the repertoire regularly extends to tango and jazz.