Babyccino Amsterdam

Posts filed under 'Old West'

Marqt

I’m sure I’m telling the food-concious Amsterdam inhabitant nothing new when I say the word ‘Marqt‘. Because Marqt came and conquered, almost a year ago!
The concept behind Marqt (not a supermarket but a ‘fresh market’) is fresh food, mostly organic, coming from local farms in the neighbourhood of Amsterdam and of very high quality. Everything is presented in a sublime and spacious interior (think wood, brick and stainless steel).

For people living in NY or London, where fancy food experiences (we don’t call them supermarkets any more) such as Whole Foods are around your corner, this concept might be nothing new. But to us here in provincial Amsterdam, organic shopping used to be limited to a couple of over-prized, sexless bio-shops where the shop assistants were as slow and un-enthusiastic as the food they were selling. But with Marqt in town, Amsterdam is back on the organic map!

xxx Esther

P.S. When you go shopping at Marqt (BTW the bread is divine), you can leave your cash at home, because they only accept cards.

Esther in Amsterdam December 20th, 2008 1 comment

The Hollandsche Manege

The Hollandsche Manege translates to ‘The Dutch Riding School’, and the manner in which it is spelled (in Dutch) conveys that we are talking about an OLD riding school here. The building, based on the Spanish Riding School in Vienna and located on the Northern edge of the Vondelpark, dates back to 1882 and was meant to serve the recreational needs of the rich and/or aristocrat inhabitants of Amsterdam. Membership was expensive, and you can still tell by the heavy decoration and the feeling of grandeur!

Nowadays you don’t have to be rich or aristocratic to enjoy the Hollandsche Manege…
Classes are open to everybody, and you can always walk in to have a look at the horses (there is one horse, Queenie, who is extremely sweet toward children and is always happy to be caressed)! My kids love it, and I make sure to take them every now and then. My daughter is especially fond of horses — she can’t wait until she is old enough to start lessons! I won’t mind it either, because there’s a lovely tearoom on the first floor overlooking the arena…

Or maybe I should start riding again?? I’m tempted!

xxx Esther

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De Hollandsche Manege
Vondelstraat 140
1054 GT Amsterdam
+31 (0)20 618 0942
*Map*
Opening hours:
Mon – fri 9 am-1 am
Sat 8 am – 8 pm
Sun 8 am – 5 pm

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Esther in Amsterdam September 1st, 2008 1 comment

Kinderkookcafé

On the edge of the Vondelpark in Amsterdam there is a wonderful place to bring your kids: the Kinderkookcafé (Childrens’ Cooking Café). The fact that it is a café is good news for the parents – they can meet up and have a cup of coffee and a simple snack like a sandwich, soup or apple-pie. The good news for the kids is that while their parents are catching up and drinking coffees, they can ‘cook’! They have a choice of:

Making pizza
Decorate cookies / cup cakes
Making sausage animals
Making sandwich faces
Making carrot or cucumber puzzles

There are also plenty of toys and books around, and a lovely outdoor area to sit and play. For all ages. Mini chairs, high chairs, kiddies toilets and baby changing facilities are available.