It is a banner year for Amsterdam as the city celebrates and commemorates a number of its monuments, museums and neighborhoods. One such celebration is 24H Amsterdam, a series of five events happening throughout 2013 that explore the various neighborhoods of the city, bringing you the best of that area during a full-on 24-hour period, showcasing the areas museums, shops, restaurants and clubs.
The spotlight was recently on the oost – or east – district, and I was excited to find out a little bit more about this part of Amsterdam. Since Amsterdam Oost is one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in Amsterdam, with a large Surinamese, Indonesian andIndian population, it seems appropriate that the Koninklijk Instituutvoor de Tropen (Royal Tropical Institute) is located there.
The Royal Tropical Institute, formerly dedicated to Dutch colonialism, now studies tropical cultures around the world and is home to the Tropenmuseum. This anthropological museum that highlights the developing world, has a specific focus on former Dutch colonies, Indonesia and the Dutch Antilles.
Amsterdam Oost is also where you can find a number of the city’sparks and green spaces. Oosterpark is a favorite of couples and families and the setting for the free, open-air portion of the Amsterdam Roots Festival, the world music festival held every June in Amsterdam.
Another park in Amsterdam Oost is Park Frankendael. The 17th-century country estate is known for its period and landscape gardens and the Huize Frankendael (Frankendael House) where cultural events are held. Also in the park is the restaurant De Kas.
Michelin-starred chef Gert Jan Hageman took what was once a dilapidated greenhouse, and transformed it into one of Amsterdam’s most celebrated restaurants. Hageman and the De Kas staff tend two greenhouses offsite, each the size of football field, and a smaller one adjacent to the building, which supply most of the vegetables and herbs used in the restaurant.
Housed in a chic greenhouse that sits next to a towering chimney dating from 1926, De Kas’ setting is as authentic and unique as itscuisine and definitely worth a visit.
To see more of what Amsterdam Oost has to offer, or to find out about the next 24H event, which is happening June 22 -23, 2013 in Amsterdam Zuid, visit the website.
Comments