Watch Inauguration of King Willem-Alexander of the NETHERLANDS LIVE

Watch this LIVE STREAM from outside Holland....enjoy!

UPDATE: I have now changed this post to a video of the moment Willem-Alexander became King

Practical Advice for Queen's Day

BOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRIIIINNNNNNNGGGGG....

........but practical none-the-less.

Best place to visit is the iamsterdam.com site

Amsterdam RAI Station is CLOSED FOR THE ENTIRE DAY 

For Museumplein, Vondelpark or Leidseplein to go Amsterdam Zuid Station

Trams will be ram packed, end of.  Public transport routes will be 'adapted' which basically means cut waaaay down, with routes running up to the outskirts of the city. The restrictions on buses, taxis and trams last all day and are only lifted very late on the night of 30th

Please take time to visit this *fascinating and helpful website from the lovely transport people at GVB

This is quite interesting though;

"Getting around on foot

Large signs will be erected to help you navigate the city, with coloured pedestrian routes guiding the way to major events and points of interest. There are 8 coloured (I only counted 7) pedestrian routes:

Dark purple - To Museumplein (from Amsterdam Zuid Station & Amsterdam Central Station)

Yellow - To the ferries to Amsterdam Noord (from Amsterdam Central Station)

Light green - To Java-eiland (from Amsterdam Central Station)

Dark green - To the Jordaan neighbourhood (from Amsterdam Central Station)

Red - To the EYE / Oeverpark (from ferry on Amsterdam Noord)

Light purple - to King’s Land at the RAI (from Amsterdam Zuid Station)

Blue  - To the Kings Day Festival at the Olympic Stadium (from Amsterdam Zuid Station)"

Let's face it, you're best off walking; you're going to be knackered, you're probably going to cry at some point, but it's QUEEN'S DAY!!! MAN UP!!

VERY IMPORTANTLY , if you are with someone else or a group of people take 2 minutes to decide on a meeting place if you get separated. It will save time, heart ache, friendships and potentially danger.

Decide on somewhere everyone understands and make sure it is a fixed point FOR EXAMPLE 'The door of H&M in Dam Square" or "XXX Statue'

DO NOT arrange to meet up at someone busking or a mobile food vendor because GUESS WHAT? THEY MOVE and they might not be in the same place when you decide to inadvertently wander away from the pack

BE SAFE

*not fascinating

Queen's Night 29th April 2013 WHAT'S ON??

MELKWEG has Dave Clarke presents with Paul Ritch , Cari Lekebusch, Steve Rachmad, Perc, Delta Funktionen, Estroe, Mr. Jones, Mirella Kroes. Starts at 22.00 and costs €29.00 on the door


PARADISO presents Diplo with The Flexican, Girls Love DJs, FeestDJruud and many others. €35.00, open at 23.00 

STUDIO 80 has 100% Pure Queen's Night with 2000 and One, Monika Kruse, Frankie Dep and 2nd Sequel, €15.00 (which is quite cheap compared to others) from 23.00

Trouw is sold out already I'm afraid.......whichever venue you decide to go to, I would recommend trying to get tickets earlier rather than later.

Heineken Music Hall RFLX 29th April

There is a superb line up for the Heineken Music call RFLX night tomorrow; it starts at 22.00 and tickets are  €36.00 from Live Nation, click here to go directly to the ticket site Sub Focus & ID, Datsik and Zeds Dead amongst many others

Todd Terje Trouw Amsterdam Sunday 28th April

I LOVE THIS

Check out Todd Terje at the Trouw Amsterdam (my favourite place in Amsterdam) tonight from 18.00.

It's €8.00 before 20.00 OR, and this is FANTASTIC... €15.00 before 20.00 to INCLUDE A MEAL at the fabulous Restaurant Trouw 

This is just a no-brainer. You have to go.....go on, get the in shower, decide what you're wearing and get to it

Gay Dance Heaven with Rapido at Paradiso

Rapido is without any doubt the best and the most popular gay circuit party in Amsterdam at this moment.

Guys from all over Europe come to one of the most prettiest venues in town to dance all afternoon and evening to the uplifting tunes by international DJ's and enjoy the big shows. A bit of Ibiza on the canals.

"Together with 2 international guest DJs 3 different dance-floors your hottest event in Amsterdam. With 2 balcony floors overlooking the main dance-floor the old church Paradiso adds its charme to this gay heavens dance paradise"

Paradiso, Weteringschans 6, Amsterdam

DJ Line-up Rapido Sunday April 28 , 2013 15.00 til 02.00Main room : Ralphi Rosario (USA), Abel (USA), Dikky Vendetta (B) 
Second room : DJ RW (NL), DJ Jack Chang (UK)
Basement hosted by Destynee music by Bloom 

Dutchgrub - Where to eat on a Sunday

I've found this super little website called Dutchgrub..... 

Dutchgrub is a really well laid out, comprehensive but reader-friendly site with bundles of recommendations, reviews and suggestions with concise information that you need to know; how much, type of food, where and when.........here's their blurb

Welcome to dutchgrub!

Good Amsterdam food from a trusted source - not a vending machine.

I am a foodie. I love food. Any kind of food. As long as it’s good! I live in Amsterdam. A city that prides itself with food from vending machines. Whose idea of a good lunch is a meager cheese sandwich with a glass of milk.

Do you love food, too? And do you spend hours planning every meal of an upcoming trip? Or do you live in Amsterdam? Disillusioned by the local food scene? Then please join our quest for good restaurants, food and drinks in Amsterdam.

--dutchgrub

I just know I'm going to be on this site like flies on sh**e (as my grandmother would say). I love food recommendations and eatery advice; nothing like trapsing around the streets, starving, gormlessly dribbling into countless windows whilst simultaneously trying to avoid eye contact with target driven hosts....only to end up in somewhere uncomfortable eating not-niceness.

They recommend Jason Hartley's Lovefood which really caught my eye. A trendy vibe in the Dam neighbourhood with a €25 per head price, they are open for brunch Saturday and Sunday from 11am - 4pm

I see the words Eggs Benedict and Full English breakfast and I am a fickle food whore. Give me. Now.

Supersized Queens Day in Oderkerk Park in Etten-Leur

Here's a little taster trailer for the Queen's Day party in Oderkerk Park on 30th April

Click here for the full line up and ticket info...

..............bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce......................

What's on Amsterdam Saturday 27th April

Following up from my posts earlier in the week, here's a summary of What's On tonight in an excitable pre-Queen's Day Amsterdam weekend

Here's the LIVE MUSIC GIG GUIDE from Live Around Amsterdam.com

ESCAPE CLUB with dance music at Brainwash

AIR A Decent Night Out, with several DJ's including guys from Major Lazer

STUDIO 80 has lovely bang bang House Music7

MELKWEG for R&B an Hip Hop

SUGAR FACTORY has disco and house

PARADISO Major Lazer getting around 

TROUWAMSTERDAM has Dawn Hunger

Live Music Around Amsterdam 26th April 2013

Well; this is nice and handy. The website www.livearoundamsterdam.com has a concise billing of recommended live gigs around the city. Please click on the link or have a look at the summary below...in fact, you should have a look at their website because they have lots of good stuff on there.

Friday, 26th April 2013		CC Muziek Cafe
20:00	Day Out	DonDerDag!	€5.00
Friday, 26th April 2013		Volta
20:30	Punk Night	The Mollesters, X-Offenders	€5.00
Friday, 26th April 2013		The Waterhole
21:00	Harry Doesn't Mind
Friday, 26th April 2013		Old Nickel
21:00	Kim Stevens	with Top local acts
Friday, 26th April 2013		The End
22:00	Karaoke	over 40,000 English/Dutch songs to choose from. Open til 3
Friday, 26th April 2013		Molly Malone's
22:00	The Boardwalkers
Friday, 26th April 2013		Hotel Old Quarter
22:30	Some Band - Unplugged	Live music with Stan van den Busken, Micky Llewellyn & Joyce Grimes
Friday, 26th April 2013		Maloe Melo
23:00	The Moggies	rockabilly (Italy)	€5.00
Friday, 26th April 2013		The Waterhole
23:00	Whatever

Nightlife Guide Friday 26th & Saturday 27th April Amsterdam

Start planning your weekend NOW!!! ......well, maybe after a cup of tea.......here it is 

FRIDAY 26th APRIL 

MELKWEG and PARADISO, please click the names or scroll to the below posts

STUDIO 80: €5 before midnight, €9,50 after midnight, no pre-sale. HOUSE MUSIC


Room 1 Musclefarm (Aron Friedman + Eric De Man) Victor Coral, Kevin Duane


Room 2 Hosted by White Rabbit, Bas Amro, FLem



This is awesome "A place where togetherness is achieved on the dancefloor. A place where troubles evaporate and new friendships are born. A place where you will hear the most heartfelt house music on a Friday night" For this and other verbal diarrhea on their website, click here

ESCAPE  €8,00 Open 23.00 - 05.00

House Rockers Presents ROOG, Mitchell Niemeyer, Gelnn S, Jare Arem Sion Tius (Live) MC D-Jay



SATURDAY 27TH APRIL 

STUDIO 80: €15,00 Open 23.00 to 05.00

Hector Couto, Daniel Sanchez, Aike & Dickson
" Thick Fat House Baby!! This edition of Blabla is dominated by Dickson & Aike all night long, with the top off the Spanish DJ / Producer Hector Couto, Daniel Sanchez, Dirty Bastards and De Leau." For more, click here



ESCAPE  €16,00 Ladies are 2 for 1 (BuyOneGetOneFree Presale Only) Open 23.00 - 05.00 

Raymundo, Joshua Walter, Mike Scot, Mc Pryme, LJ/VJ Joury Eclectic and Urban

Paradiso Nightlife - What's on Thursday 25th April and Friday 26th April

Click here for Paradiso Agenda Weteringschans 6-8 1017 SG Amsterdam + 31 20 626 4521


Thursday 25th April 




* Valerie June and Band American blues, folk, gospel, soul and bluegrass. Small Room Start 20.00 €12.50 + Membership (€3.50 per month) 

* Noodlanding - VJ Academy Night Alternative Dance Night. VJ talents get the chance to show their skills; the four best performers receive full training offered on the VJAcademy. €3.00 Start 23.00 - 05.00











Friday 26th April 

* Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes + Daniel Norgren Rock, soul and blues (similar to Bon Jovi apparently) Door 19.00 Start 20.30 €24.50 + Membership 









* Bassline Now the longest running Hip Hop festival in the Netherlands DJ's Voc Crezee abstract and FS Green, MC's Lenini & Fit VJ Nitan Sing Start 24.00 €13.50, not sure if membership additional 

MELKWEG Nightlife What's On Thursday 25 April to Wednesday 1 May

Melkweg Club, Lijnbaansgracht 234/A 1017 PH, Amsterdam, + 31 20 531 8181 

Thursday 25th April
* Artwork @Cable - Powered by Exit Festival Bass, Dubstep & Hiphop €5.00; Doors Open 23.30

Friday 26th April      
* Boss @Klinch Unbeatable 8-bit beats, Old Hall €11.00; Doors Open 23.00  (Membership Not Requird)
* Kill All Hipsters, The Max €9.00; Doors Open 23.30

Saturday 27th April 
* Encore - Girls Night Out Hiphop and R&B, The Max & Old Hall, €10.00; Doors Open 24.00; 
Girls Free Before 1am

Sunday 28th April
* Miracles You Gotta Believe Old Hall €15.00 + Membership; Doors Open 20.00

Monday 29th April 
* !!(Chk chk chk) THR!! Album Release Party Old Hall €16 + Mem; Door 18.30 with Start 20.00
* Dave Clarke Presents @Klinch with ao Paul Ritch, Cari Lekebusch and Steve Rachmad, The Max & Old Hall, €27.00 Pre-Sale; Doors Open 22.00

Tuesday 30th April QUEEN'S DAY
* CABLE QUEEN'S DAY 2013 @ GALAXY CAFE Outside the Marnixstraat FREEEEE!!!!! 
* Kolsch & Barnt @ klinch Queen's Day, Old Hall €15.00 Door, €13.00 Members; Door 21.00

Steve Aoki, Playing Kings Day Festival, Olympic Arena, 30th April

What to do during Queen's Day, Tuesday 30th April 2013

There are literally hundreds of parties and events going on all over Amsterdam during Queen's Day.

One of the most concise summaries can be found on the iamsterdam.com site

An event that is bound to be amazing is the King’s Day Festival at the Olympic Stadium.  You can buy tickets here, but there are only a few left by the looks of it

Following the success of last year’s QDAY Festival, Apenkooi, GirlsLoveDJs and Valtifest once again join forces for the King’s Day Festival. Featuring a monumental line-up including Boys Noize, Steve Aoki, Joris Voorn and Dr Lectroluv! 11:00 - 22:30, tickets: 27.50 euros.

You have got to see Steve Aoki if you get the chance...

Queens Day 2013: What is Queens Day?

There was Once-Upon-A-Time a Queen called Wilhelmina

Willy had a daughter called Juliana who was actually born on 30th April 1909

Konninginnedag or Queen's Day has been celebrated on 30th April ever since in accordance with lovely Juliana's birthday

The current Queen (and the lady who decided to retain 30th April as Queen's Day in honour of her mother) is Queen Beatrix                               Queen Beatrix>>>>>

However (and this is where it gets exciting) THIS YEAR will also mark the official abdication of Queen Beatrix

Her eldest son Willem-Alexander, currently His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange will become King Willem-Alexander. His spouse, Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of the Netherlands will become Queen Máxima. 

King Willem-Alexander will be the nation’s first king since 1890 and will be 46 years old when he ascends to the throne.