The Flying Pig Hostels Amsterdam Pig Newspaper

Film has a deep rooted role in Amsterdam. All across the city, a wide range of genres and styles are available in the commercial and arty-farty movie theatres. It’s one of the great things about Amsterdam really. Because no matter how far away from home you are, or how much you enjoy the new countries you get to, to watch a few movies during your visit is a must. It’s just one of those things; It’s a film thing.

Below I have set out a few good reasons which explain why Amsterdam is thé city to watch those movies in - Even though some releases are a bit out of date -. First of all, there are many films showing which are hard to find anywhere else in the world. The Filmmuseum - which is ideally located in the middle of the Vondelpark - holds a massive, exclusive and unique film-stock simply because all other copies in the world somehow died out over time. Most of these pearls are silent films dating from between 1895 to the 1930’s. The museum organizes viewings accompanied with a live, piano back up - In the old days there used to be a whole orchestra company but the museum isn’t big enough - If you can’t get yourself to watch dusted, eroded celluloid and you’d rather pay for more up to date material, don’t worry. There are several really good ‘Art Cinemas’ to get your fix at. Because there are a fair few of them -all trying to show something different than the usual- you’ll have quite a selection to choose from. Kriterion is one of these Art Cinemas located just a little to the east of the centre. -which qualifies as my personal favourite-
The Movies in turn is the oldest Cinemas in Amsterdam. Movies here include diner to make sure your stomach doesn’t distract anyone during emotional scenes. Both Cinemas are nice and have a good atmosphere. The other main ones are De Uitkijk, Rialto, Het Ketelhuis, Cinecenter and De Balie. Next to these The Milkyway club also has a cinemas attached to it.

Another interesting Pathé building is the Pathé Arena, erected in 2002. Unlike Tuschinsky this is a big, modern one with lofty chairs which leave lots of room for smelly feet and Coca Cola. Located outside of the centre, but easily accessible by metro, Pathé Arena is often confused with the Amsterdam Arena Stadium which is located next to it -does this building need any explanation?- Now that I mention it, besides the stadium there are actually many other interesting buildings in the area so why not tour around a bit before buying your popcorn and Coke?

Film festivals
Next to the Cinemas, Amsterdam holds various, large film festivals too. The Shadow Festival for example aims at the fantasy genre and is held in November 2005. An even bigger event is the International Documentary Festival of Amsterdam -Don’t make me type that again- which is held each year in November and December. In the summer there’s BeeldvoorBeeld an international anthropology film festival -why not- Oh, and just a little note; THE DUTCH DON’T DUB -Hence, our famous American accent-

Movie theatres and Art cinemas
-Find movie schedules for all cinemas on www.bios.nl-

Cinema De Balie
Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 10
-next to Leidseplein-
Reservations 020 553 51 00

Fimhuis Cavia
Van Hallstraat 52-1
Reservations 020 681 14 19
Tram 10, get off at Van Hallstraat

Cinecenter
Lijnbaansgracht 236
-next to Leidseplein across Milkyway-
Reservations 020 623 66 15
Tram 1,2, 5, 6, 7, 10 or 11, get off at ‘Leidseplein’

City
Kleine Gartmanplantsoen 13-25
Reservations 0900-1458
Tram 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10 or 11 get off at Leidseplein

The Dive-in
Erasmusgracht opposite no. 49
www.thedive-in.nl
Cinema on a boat in the west of Amsterdam, films and other cultural & audiovisual activities on the Amsterdam canals!
Reservations 06 426 22 22 86 Summer season only.
Tram 14, get off at Bos en Lommerplantsoen

Filmmuseum
Vondelpark 3
Reservations 020 589 14 00

Het Ketelhuis
Haarlemmerweg 8-10, Westergasfabriek
Reservations 020 684 00 90
Tram 10, get off at the Van Limburg Stirumplein. Walk towards the Westergasfabriek, it’ll be on your left.

Kriterion
Roetersstraat 170
Reservations 020 623 17 08
Tram 6, 7 or 10 to ‘Weesperplein’

Milkyway Cinema
Lijnbaansgracht 234a
-next to Leidseplein -
Reservations 020 531 81 81.

The Movies
Haarlemmerdijk 161
Reservations 020 626 70 69
Tram 3 or bus 18 or 22 to Haarlemmerdijk.

Pathé Arena
Pathé cinema Pathé
reservations 0900-1458
Subway or train Bijlmer station, next to the Amsterdam ArenA

Pathé De Munt
Vijzelstraat 15
-next to Rembrandtplein-
Pathé reservations 0900-1458
Tram 4, 9, 16, 24 or 25, get off at ‘De Munt’

Pathé Tuschinski
Regulierbreestraat 26-34
Pathé reservations 0900-1458
Tram 4, 9, 14, 16 or 25, get off at ‘De Munt’
-next to Rembrandtplein -

Uitkijk
Prinsengracht 452
Reservations 020 623 74 60
Tram 1 and 2, get off in the Leidsestraat, on the corner with Prinsengracht.

Rialto
Ceintuurbaan 338
Reservations 020 676 87 00
Tram 3, 12, 24 or 25, get off at Ceintuurbaan

Film Festivals

Shadow Festival 2005
Amsterdam
November 21st till November 30st
www.shadowfestival.nl
-website in English-

IDFA
International Documentary Festival of Amsterdam
November 24th till December 4th 2005
www.idfa.nl
-website also in English-

BeeldvoorBeeld 2005
Amsterdam
June 1st till June 5th 2005
www.beeldvoorbeeld.nl
Festival for Visual Anthropology
-website also in English-
Theme: ‘Images of Evil’and ‘Morocco’

International Film Festival Rotterdam 2006
Rotterdam
www.filmfestivalrotterdam.nl
Dates are unknown at time of writing, but the next festival is expected to be held in January - February 2006

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April 30th: Queensday
Don’t miss out on this crazy, orange colored, national birthday party of our -former- queen! Never heard of it? Let me explain:

On Queens-day our beloved queen Juliana first entered the world -called Holland!-. Nowadays Beatrix is holding the scepter, but for our convenience the 30th of April was decided to remain the party date for our Queens birthdays. The royal madness starts on Queens-night, the 29th of April; when orange colored crowds slowly take over the city streets…There will be open stages with live music and DJ’s everywhere around while crazy parties kick off in bars and clubs all over Holland! But we’ve only got started: When the night tiptoes into day, Queens-day pulls in on the 30th of April. Especially Amsterdam, Den Haag and Utrecht will attract huge crowds gathering in the streets & parks and cruising through the canals in tiny boats! There will be a ‘vrijmarkt’ a market for anyone and everyone to sell their attic crap, old clothes and ‘whatever-you-can-think-of stuff’ in the streets. There’s always something in there for you! The bands and DJ’s will continue playing those funky beats but tonight they will be blasting their hearts out on every street corner! At night, parties rave on in the bigger cities’ clubs.

NOTE! The great celebrations of the Queen’s birthday will not only be happening in the bigger cities. Smaller cities like Noordwijk will have its bars and clubs packed with rocking orange and during the day you can experience a true Dutch Queens day with a market- fair. Last but not least, this year the amazingly successful pop festival named Grentpop is added to the fun. www.grentpop.nl

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A Tulip Tale

As crazy as it may sound, many years ago the Dutch tulip was considered to be just as valuable as a nugget of gold! There are various stories going round about the rich and famous of that era who payed -for those days and even for today-ridiculous amounts of money to get their hands on a tulip bulb. It’s said that one man only barely escaped imprisonment after having eaten a bulb mistaking it for a potato! Nowadays the tulips go without that huge price tag but they still spread that magical look through the green heart of Holland every year. From the middle of March till the middle of May you will find various rainbow coloured flower fields scattered all around the historical town of Noordwijk. The ‘Bollenstreek’, as the area is called, is the world’s biggest flower garden with as its highlight the ‘Keukenhof’: The world famous Dutch flower exhibition. It so happens The Beach Hostel is the ultimate spot to explore the ‘ Bollenstreek’and its surroundings. Come by and check out that magic for yourself either by foot or by bike. Pay a visit to the Keukenhof and marvel at this spectacular display of millions of flowers. You can find more info on: www.keukenhof.nl or just ask about the tulips at our reception desks.