This vibrant area is almost a city on its own, with lots of ADE Festival & Playground activities and multiple accomodations to choose from.
With ADE's conference taking shape and ADE's festival program nearing completion it might be a good time to sort out travel. In case you’re still in doubt, we’ve put together four reasons to choose Amsterdam's East side for your visit to Amsterdam:
New Life
Amsterdam’s East Side includes the eastern dock area, the district around the Artis Zoo (Plantage) and ‘the Indonesian Neighbourhood’ (Indische Buurt), a former working class borough built in the 19th century. After decades of neglect, Amsterdam has reclaimed its waterfront and the open skies of the IJ bank present an experience rather different from the close quarters of the inner city.
Both BIMHuis and Muziektheater aan ‘t IJ (which features Ellum and Life and Death showcases) are part of the refurbication of Amsterdam’s eastside harbour area of the 1990s. The building stands prominently on the harbour front, next to the mooring spot of party boat Ocean Diva. It is just minutes by foot from two venues that are well-known to Amsterdam’s dance aficionados, Panama (nights with James Zabiela, Paul Oakenfold, Coyu and Hernan Cattaneo & Nick Warren) and Amsterdam Roest, who will host a special Canto Ostinato concert.
Festival highlights
Smack dab in the heart of the dockland district you will find two venues that represent the industrial roots of electronic music. Cruquiusgilde programs techno (VBX x Fuse, Motiv) of the underground variety, while Recycle Lounge Gallery Club, RLGC44, stages a series of showcases of underground labels, progressive and left field techno (Luis Junior, Dave Seaman and Guy J) Canvas features strong line-ups with The Black Madonna and Osunlade amongst others.
Studio K, a cinema and cultural venue run by students, is located near Javaplein, the very heart of the Indische Buurt. Both Javaplein and creative hotbed Studio K are exemplary of the neighbourhood’s recent rejuvenation; it’s bustling with eateries and sidewalk terraces. The latter caters to lovers of bass music with a special night organised by 44bass, Roots and Fat Kids Cake. Q-Factory is another example of the area’s upgrade; it is home to, among others, the Red Bull Studio. During ADE, Studio K and Q-Factory will stage a series of ADE Festival & Playground activities.
Playground and Conference program
The Oosterpark area features lots of hotels and hostels, in walking distance of both Desmet Studio, Q-Factory and Volkshotel. The latter stands opposite the location of the former Trouw club and does a pride job of retaining some of Trouw’s awesome reputation. Volkshotel hosts a boast of Playground events, among others expositions by Nick Helderman & Isolde Woudstra, talks with Heleen Blanken & Donato Dozzy, the screening of a visual portrait of Arthur Russell and loads more. Pakhuis de Zwijger, located in the eastern harbour area, features ADE Beamlab, the conference dedicated to visual technologies and high-end stage design.
Food & Culture
Amsterdam’s east side is a great place to get some nice food away from the busy city centre. Make your way to Brouwerij ’t Ij (Funenkade 7) to taste some of the best local beers Amsterdam has to offer or get some kroketten at their next door neighbours, Langendijk. The city zoo, Artis (with restaurant De Plantage, Plantage Kerklaan 36), and the Hortus Botanicus (with restaurant De Hortus, Plantage Middenlaan 2a) are great if you want to recharge for the next night of ADE.
Text: Alfred Bos
Photo credits: Jelmar van Belle
The Amsterdam Dance Event takes place October 14-18, 2015. For more information about ADE and to purchase tickets: http://www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl
The Amsterdam Dance Event is organized by the Amsterdam Dance Event Foundation, an initiative of Buma. Official Partners ADE: KPN | Samsung
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