On 20 November over twenty thousand people demonstrated on the Leidseplein, Amsterdam against severe cuts in the Cultural sector. The campaign is called ‘Nederland Schreeuwt om Cultuur’ (The Netherlands Scream about Culture), with people demonstrating their anger by symbolically screaming. This makes for some very noisy protest, great for recording!
Podcast: Download (2.4MB)
The Dockworkers Statue in Amsterdam was the setting for a demonstration against racism and fascism on Saturday. Between eight hundred and a thousand demonstrators from several groups were at the event, called as a response to a pro-Wilders demonstration organised by the violent extreme-right English Defence League.
Many spoke at the rally, with the high point being a speech from Martin Smith of Unite Against Fascism, who had been invited to speak by the organisers Platform tegen Vreemdelingenhaat. His speech can be listened to in this podcast
Podcast: Download (7.2MB)
Residents in the area around the Museumplein in Amsterdam are beginning to get fed-up with the number of big festivals and parties held there, and have signed a petition against the New Year’s party due to be held this year.
There is a limit of six big events per year on the Museumplein, but due to screening of the World Cup matches and the 5-yearly Liberation Day festival this year, that limit has already been reached. Residents complain of high noise levels, nuisance and the mountain of litter generated. They also fear violent outbeaks, as alchohol and fireworks are forbidden on the square, and inaccessability for the emergency services.
The New Year celebrations were moved from Dam Square last year owing to the difficulty of safely clearing large crowds from there.
The Amsterdam news and current affairs broadcaster AT5 has started producing bulletins with subtitles in English.
Not only will this thoroughly welcome development be of enormous benefit to those who live in Amsterdam but have not yet learnt Dutch, it will also be useful for actually learning the language (and you should), and to those who understand Dutch but want to improve their English.
Perhaps one of the best-recognised graffiti artists in Amsterdam is ‘laser 3.14′. His poetic one-liners in English can be seen around the city, always on things where it causes no damage, such as boarded-up windows. If you have any examples of laser’s work you’d like to donate to this gallery, please contact us.
The Stedelijk (City) Museum in Amsterdam is celebrating its 115th birthday on Tuesday 14 September. Entrance to the temporarily re-opened museum will be free, and all visitors will receive a piece of birthday cake. At 18:30 British artist Rory Pilgrim will will perform a piece of music he has composed for the Museum.
The Museum will be staying open until 19:30
source: het parool
