PlanetEye

When clearing out my attic, I found a drawing I made when I was eleven. (my mother dated all my art works). A bride in a long ivory-coloured dress with heavenly-blue polka dots stands next to a groom. She sniffs at a bouquet of pink flowers. He wears a black three-piece suit. His top hat conceals his eyes. Red hearts dotted around their heads complete the picture.

I drew this when I was deep in love with Peter, a class mate. Hearing his name spoken out loud made my heart leap. My secret wish was to marry him and wear a white wedding gown with blue polka dots. But children don't get married.

The world has changed since I was a kid. Children can get married these days. On Wednesday 9 July BovenNEMO organises Kids' Wedding Day. Twenty-five kid couples will say I will and children champagne will flow. This is romance at its best. The good thing is that that all weddings will be annulled at sunset.

For more information look at http://www.e-nemo.nl/?id=1&s=40&d=1066

Don't feel like getting married? No problem, just watch the ceremony and the party. Raise your glass and wish the newly-weds a happy day.

The festivities take place at NEMO from 12.00-17.00 pm.

Address: Oosterdok 2, next to Centraal station.

Here is a list of what to do and where to go in July.

28 June - 31 August

What's on: Robeco Zomerconcerten

Location: Concertgebouw, Concertgebouwplein 2

Wide variety of concerts from Tsjaikovski to recitals, jazz and opera.

http://www.robecozomerconcerten.nl/

1 - 12 July

What's on: Juli dans

Location: various places near Leidseplein  

Contemporary dance festival in which dance, music and theatre merge  

http://www.julidans.nl/

2 - 6 July:

What's on: 5 Days Off

Location: Melkweg, Paradiso, the Nederlands Instituut voor Mediakunst and Heineken Music Hall.  

Electronic music festival. The performing artists are: Kabale und Liebe, Polder en Pitto Hercules and Love Affair, Supermayer, James Holden, Roni Size & Reprazent en Mr. Oizo.

5daysoff@myspace.en/nl)
hyves (nl)
3voor12 (nl)

http://www.5daysoff.nl

3 - 13 July

What's on: Over het IJ festival

Location: NDSM-werf, Amsterdam-Noord    

Over 30 performances in which theatre, music and visual arts play a central role.  

http://www.overhetij.nl

5 july - 10 August

What's on: Kwakoe

Location: Bijlmerpark, Amsterdam oost  

Kwakoe is a multi-ethnic, cultural festival. It takes place every Saturday and Sunday during July and August.

http://kwakoe.nl

29 juli - 3 August

What's on: Gay Pride

Location: city centre and along the canals

Gay Pride is the main gay and lesbian event in Amsterdam. Street and dance parties followed by the canal parade on 2 August.

http://amsterdampride.nl

July - August

What's on: Sitting in the sun and dreaming away.

Location: NEMO, Oosterdok 2

Picnics, sunbathing and lounging at Amsterdam's largest and highest roof terrace

http://www.e-nemo.nl

July - August - September

What's on: Climbing Church Towers and enjoying the views

Location: Westertoren, Zuidertoren, Oude Toren

Westertoren, Prinsegracht 281, 85m high, view of the canals. Open Mond - Sat 10.00 - 18.00 hours. Guided tour every 30 minutes

http://www.westerkerk.nl

Zuidertoren, Zuiderkerkhof 72, 80 m high, view of Amstel and Nieuwmarkt, New Market area. Open Mon - Sat 12.00 - 16.00 hours

Oude Kerktoren, Oude Kerkplein 23, view of Medieval Amsterdam and Red Light District. Open Sat and Sun 13.00 - 17.00. Guided tour every 30 minutes.

http://www.oudekerk.nl

July - August

What's on: Zoomeravonden Artis

Location: Plantage Kerklaan 38

Musical and theatrical programme every Saturday evening. Guided tours during which the keepers tell about the special needs of their animals.

http://artis.nl

July - 24 August

What's on: Open Air Performances

Location: Vondelpark  

Amsterdam's largest public park is the venue for open air performances ranging from pop to classical music and everything in between.

http://www.openluchttheater.nl

July - 31 August

What's on: The House of Orange

Location: Amsterdam Historisch Museum, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 357  

The exhibition, The House of Orange, gives a survey of the love / hate relationship of Amsterdam with the Royal family. Amsterdam was full of enthusiasm at Queen Wilhelmina's investiture in 1898, but divided over the marriage of Princess Beatrix and Claus van Amssberg in 1966 and emotional about The Kiss on the balcony of the Royal Palace on Dam Square at the occasion of the marriage of Prince Willem Alexander and Princess Maxima on 2 February 2002.

http://www.ahm.nl

Hotel l'Europe with fin-de-siecle charm is located right in the centre of Amsterdam. Rooms are large and luxurious and well-furnished. That is what I would expect at € 420 per night. Liveried staff and the red carpet on the pavement will make you feel like a celebrity. Be there on 27th June, not to stay in a luxurious room but to sit on the attractive riverside terrace and watch people blow their last.

Hotel l'Europe organises on 27th June a farewell smoking party. Guests will be pampered. Coctails and tantalising canapees will please the taste buds. Cigars and cigarettes will make the party complete, because from 1st July all bars, restaurants, cafés and discoteques all over the Netherlands will become smokeless zones.

Inveterate smokers need not despair. Smoking is still allowed in designated areas, but service is not allowed. Staff should work in smokefree surroundings. If smokers want to have another coffee or drink, they will have to go to the non-smoking part to get them.

This new law also applies to coffeeshops, infamous for their coffee, famous for mind-enhancing products. Aren't these places meant for smoking? Of course,  they are. But law is law.

Don't feel like preparing a meal tonight? No problem, simply turn up at Museumplein, Amsterdam's culinary centre until Sunday.

A selection of the best Amsterdam restaurants have set up their kitchens, pots and pans, cooks and utensils, to prepare culinary delights on the spot. Three days long you can enjoy food from all corners of the world, French, Oriental, Italian, Indonesian, Indian and more accompanied by music and dance.

Don't think you'll be the only one to taste the food, because 20,000 wine and food connaisseurs are expected over the weekend.

Amsterdam Culinair 2008 takes place from Thursday 19 - Sunday 22 June

Shopwindows display goods to tempt passers-by to buy things they often don't need. At least this was my opinion until today.

This morning I walked on Dam Square along the shopwindows of department store de Bijenkorf, wanted to turn right into Damrak but stopped short. De Bijenkorf's shopwindow was different; more graceful and more attractive. The mannequins looked elegant and glamorous like artists. I could not believe my eyes but they came to life and began to dance. Passers-by stopped, nudged each other and watched the mannequins dancing.

These mannequins are professional dancers who perform during the Holland Festival from 31 May to 22 June. During this period music, opera, theatre and dance performances are staged in various theatres all over Amsterdam. The festival showcases over thirty productions and is a mix of established and new talent.

Mini shopwindow performances at de Bijenkorf attract people's attention and aim at making the performances known to a wider public. Every day there are two twenty-minute performances at 11.00 am and 2.00 pm.

You can hear and see:

Vasile Nedea, young Roumanian musician who plays the cymbals and specialises in gypsy music, two actors bringing to life T.S. Elliot's poem The Waste Land, The Siamese twins from Monstruos y Prodigios tells the history of the eunichs and is an all in Spanish production but Dutch subtitled, and many others.

The Holland Festival website gives the complete programme. http://www.hollandfestival.nl

At Boom Chicago stand-up comedy sketches and improvisations are staged all year round. The mainly British / American comedians perform a few planned sketches and lots of improvised ones with audience participation. It is comedy about world leaders, politics, American / British / Dutch culture. Members of the audience are picked out to participate. Seats in the back row do not guarantee that you will be overlooked.

Even if you go to several performances during your stay in Amsterdam, you will never see the same cast twice, as they rotate on a very regular basis. This also means that the show is always different and always surprising and entertaining.

During Euro 2008 Boom Chicago transforms itself into a mini stadium. Football fans gather together to watch to Dutch team play and win.

The four-metre wide TV screen is a pleasure for the eyes. Every goal and foul play is projected pinpoint-sharp. Smaller screens in the corners make it impossible for the fans to miss one single minute.

Brendan Hunt, comedian, sports commentator and (Dutch!!) football fan is your host and will make sure that you won't get bored.

While other fans squeeze together in cafés chock-a-block with people, the Boom Chicago theatre is comfort itself. Book your seat in advance or even better book 'The Football 2008 Package' which includes dinner at the moderate price of € 20. (drumsticks served with asparagus, cherry tomatoes and garlic mayonnaise).

Tickets are available from

Boom Chicago Ticket Office

Leidseplein 12

031 20 423 01 01

or book online http://www.boomchicago.com

Doors open at 7.30 pm for dinner and seating

Games start at 8.45 pm

 9 June - Holland - Italy
13 June - Holland - France
17 June - Holland - Romania
(21 June - if Holland plays)
(22 June - if Holland plays)
25 June - Semi Finals
26 June - Semi Finals
29 June - Finals