.. Dutch Island..

Some weeks ago we had a weekend without children to visit one of the 'wadden' islands in the north of Holland, called Terschelling.

 

The islands are famous for its landscape. Terschelling meant wide beaches and in low season that means you can be completly alone in these amazing landscapes. Sandsculptures on the beach made by the wind. Lots of beachcafé's where you are glad you have arrived after an hour cycling to get there.

We loved the Restaurant 'de Loods', a building from black wood had these lovely cushion made from old blankets.

..Hello Hamburg..

When modelling a long time ago I lived in Hamburg several times and always with Carmen. We are still friends and with schoolholidays we had the chance to visit Hamburg. It became a wonderful reunion trip, where we not only met with Carmen and her daughter but also with architect and former colleague Anke and her son.

 

Anke made a program for all of us to see the IBA, Intenationale Bau Ausstellung with the first algae apartment building BIQ. One facade is made of algae, which provides energy but also gives shadow through the algae that grow faster when there is more sun.

 

Very known in Hambrug is Planten und Blomen, a great park and playgarden from the seventies with matching plastic mountains. The children loved it.

 

Carmen took us to the neighbourhood Karolinenviertel where we walked through the Marktstrasse, an upcoming neighbourhood where you can find green courtyards, cool shops, have stroll in the fleamarket and eat a nice cake somewhere.

..International Film Festival Rotterdam..

This weekend was all about the IFFR, international filmfestival Rotterdam. Just giving you some Instagram impressions of the festival. 

Me and my mother have been going there for over 10 years. It is a sport to find good movies and at the same time enjoy the great atmosphere. A festival like that gives the city something extra. 

My highlights, seeing Bernardo Bertolucci in the 'big talk' before the screening of his movie Io e Te and the film 5 Jahre, a very impressive movie about a German prisoner in Guantanamo Bay.

.. Eat out of your own city..

 

 

Urban farming is everywhere and here in the Rotterdam fruit harbour opened 'uit je eigen stad', 'out of your own city'. They have their own farming grounds, the products they grow can bought in the shop or eaten in the restaurant. What they can't grow they get from other farms around the city of Rotterdam. The place has a nice, laidback atmosphere where we could read and have a coffee and the kids where happy outside with their sand and shovels.

..Fabra i Coats..

Back again to work after a nice and sunny holiday in Barcelona and surroundings.

My friend Raquel had a nice surprise for us, her boyfriend Sergi works in developing the old thread and fabric factory Fabra i Coats in the neighbourhood Sant Andreu. Constructed in 1890 walking there feels like being in a movie set from another era.

Most amazing is the re-use of furniture from the factory, it gives it this 50’s atmosphere but with a twist. We had a lot of fun getting a tour. There will be opening an exhibition space soon, so if you want less tourists, Fabra i Coats fabric and neighbourhood are great to visit.

..Happy Ascending..

What better way to spend ascension day with our good friends Celinda, Marcel and Loek at Singeldingen. This great initiative, by people from the neighborhood, at the Heemraadsingel in Rotterdam where from spring until late summer one can hang, play and relax in the park.
They have a cute pavilion for drinks and cakes.

So just for good coffee, our sons playing soccer, receiving a diamond necklace from Celinda’s latest collection and just be, one is ready to quote our famous philosopher and humanist from Rotterdam Desiderius Erasmus.

“The summit of happiness is reached when a person is ready to be what he is”

..LONDON Bright and Shining..

It seems LONDON was all about bright colours and patterns.


Highlights: Views of windmills at the Northsea, Cosmopolitans at Tom’s Kitchen, The V and A British Design exhibition, Kate Spade shop, Orla Kiely ( where I got a very nice bag on sale) Paintings by Yayoi Kusuma were impressive, more impressive then the Damien Hirst exhibition in the TATE modern, La fille mal gardee ballet at the Royal Opera House, with their lovely costumes, laughkicks with Eli and my mother and last but not least my dear friends Tanya and Phil with their incredible hospitality.

..AAN ZEE..

We try to do a small trip every weekend. So the boys can get their energy out and we get to see some architecture or other interesting place. As you can tell the sun is shining in Holland so it was a good opportunity to visit recently opened AAN ZEE. A sustainable restaurant in swamp like area in the extended harbour of Rotterdam. It has some odd views in between landscape and industrial areas. The building by EMMA architects seems a reference to a sand sculpture. And you can go all the way up in the tower see the views even better. The atmosphere was relaxed and we had a good time climbing dunes.

..Magic Mountain..

We just visited the Tiger & Turtle Magic Mountain in Duisburg Germany. This amazing walking Rollercoaster is situated in the Angerpark. It is a design by Heike Mutter und Ulrich Genth, who won a competition for a landscape sculpture in 2009. You have to walk to the top of the mountain to get there and you get a view of the very industrious landscape, typical for the area. But the rollercoaster walk detaches you from the surroundings because you experience it. It frees itself and yourself.

..C Mine..

This old mine in Waterslag Belgium has been converted in a creative place C-mine, for expositions, education, concerts and entertainment. The surroundings are impressive with the old mining equipment.

Inside the main building I found a tear off information board which is very creative. All the different region information is put together in a very graphic way. Each piece of information can be taken apart. Just wonderful.

..Vostok Printing Shop..

Barcelona is a wonderfull city for discovering new shops, bars and  restaurants.

Last December I came across the Vostok Printing Shop. It is a specialized shop in printing items and materials. The owners also make their own prints which hang in the shop. They are gorgeous. He even told me they won a price in Rotterdam. What a coincidence.

Ever since I saw the work of yellowowlworkshop I wanted to make some stamps myself. Well Vostok even shows how to make things on their website an they were very helpfull explaining me everything.

I am glad that it is still possible in cities to open these specialized and cute shops because that is what makes a difference.

.. Barcelona Tips for kids..

Where to go with your children in Barcelona? 

from up to down

Want to let your kids (up until age 5) be able to just play in the city? Then go to the Ludotheca de la Cuitadella in the Parc de la Cuitadella. Located on your right handside when you enter from Passeig de Isabella II. They have lots of different toys outside and parents can sit around and relax or play along of course.( for free)

Cosmo Caixa: one of the ‘social’ works that the bank La Caixa set up. My kids love Cosmo Caixa, the ramp to run down, the exhibitions ( dinosaurs, science, etc) but also the rainforest with real animals. When you get that it doesn’t seem like a big museum but when your are inside it is quite spectacular. You and your children can spend hours here.

Museu Blau, the building of Herzog and the Meuron was built for the Forum 2004 exhibition, but has been struggling ever since to find a good function. This year they put the museum of natural sciences  inside and still the public ground floor level could use some more life but the museum itself is great fun for children. Educational, the big bang and how did life start, exciting, real (dead) animals and dinosaurs with good animations and a great water place where you can run through virtual water.

..CASAS Barcelona TAPAS 24..

Since half of our family is Catalan we always go on holiday to Spain, Barcelona to be exact. Barcelona is such an inspiring city. So I thought to post, in the coming time, some great places to visit, eat and play, that are not always on the ( tourist) map. 

TAPAS 24 is a small tapas bar, where you have to wait a bit to get seated. But this is our newest place where we always want to go. Decoration is Spanish kitsch with a wink.The tapas are delicious (the chef used to work at El Bulli) I love the sepionetas, small squids with black ink, or try the bold chocolate desert. Enjoy!

..Pick Your Own Flowers..

Today we went to pick our own bouquet of flowers at the farm Landzicht in Strijen. This farm is known for its biological grown vegetables. They sell them in vegetables bags that you can subscribe to every week. I think it is a great way to eat food that does not have to fly 3000 kilometres to get to your table. Every year they hold a farmers market with a flower pick day. My sons loved to cut their own flowers so we ended up with a very colourful and big bouquet.

..Oud Zuid Amsterdam..

My aunt turned 90 years old and we celebrated it with a surprise dinner at the restaurant Oud Zuid in Amsterdam. My brother Sjoerd de Rooij is the chef and his food is delicious! The place is very poppy, they have a bright poppy wallpaper and a art deco feel to the place. But most important you feel like your are in neighbourhood restaurant where you just can eat well and relax. My aunt loved the surprise and I wish I still look and feel as good as her if I ever turn 90.

..Urban..Chocolate..

I love chocolate, which woman doesn’t, so my love gave me this beautiful box of Santomiele chocolates called Polis. The packaging and chocolate is inspired by the tough Torre Velasca built in 1954 by BBPR architectural partnership.

The rajoles, tiles, from Barcelona with the flower print also have turned into chocolate. Enric Rovira has them in different types of chocolate. The look gorgeous as well as delicious.

Geneva has very characteristic paving stones , Pavès de Genève, which turn into also very tasty chocolate, with thanks to my friend Gloria.

Probably only cities with good quality urban space and characteristic materialisation have their own urban chocolate. I still have to find the first Dutch chocolate pavement.

..Sweet..Place..

No better way to spend a lazy Saturday morning than to visit a cute place for some coffee.

Lof der Zoetheid is located at the Noordplein in Rotterdam and has wonderful cakes ( home made)

and good cappuccino. With its charming decoration and use of original tablewear it was a treat to go there.