Tag Archives: Amsterdam

War of the Worlds

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I have been intrigued by the H.G. Wells iconic science fiction novel  War of the Worlds since I first read the book as a 10 year-old. The terrifying tale was first serialized in nine issues of Pearson’s Magazine (1897/98) with … Continue reading →

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Always Check Your Bookmarks

Posted on July 10, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Researchers recently discovered an unassuming bookmark in a 19th century French novel that featured three sketches by Vincent Van Gogh. In 1883,  the artist gave a friend the book and more than a century later, researchers discovered that the novel … Continue reading →

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Walk This Way

Posted on March 24, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Most of us have not had the option to travel during the past year, so we have to make do with any virtual alternative that comes along. Until it’s safe again, you can almost satisfy those travel urges with City … Continue reading →

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Reach Out

Posted on March 2, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

This new mural by the award winning young Dutch artist JDL (aka Judith de Leeuw) in Amsterdam’s grand Central Station is appropriately titled Closer in Distance. The tryptic  mural reads like stills in an animation, with two hand gradually getting closer to … Continue reading →

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Amsterdam Says No To Overtourism

Posted on January 15, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Amsterdam has long been one of my favorite cities in the world, but on recent visits I have been put off by the sheer volume of tourists. The notoriously tolerant residents of the city seem to have finally had enough … Continue reading →

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Welkom in Amsterdam 1922

Posted on August 9, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Utilizing archival footage from Amsterdam’s EYE Museum and artificial intelligence,  digital artist Denis Shiryaev  created the amazing video below based on early 1920s filming in Amsterdam. The colorized images offer a rare glimpse into the city’s life before it became … Continue reading →

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Beautiful Amsterdam

Posted on June 6, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Over the years I have spent more time in Amsterdam than any other city outside of the United States. It was one of the first European cities that I visited and captured my imagination from the very first time that … Continue reading →

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Human Hotel

Posted on April 15, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

The Human Hotel project was created last year by the folks behind WOOLOO.ORG — an online community for professional artists. The concept is an AirBnB-like service for artistic types who like to travel and meet like-minded people. Visiting creatives get … Continue reading →

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Strap-on your skates

Posted on February 25, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

Winter Landscape with Skaters  or Winterlandschap met Ijsvermaak is a c.1608 oil on oak painting by the Dutch artist Hendrick Avercamp in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.The painting shows ice skaters of all sorts enjoying a day on a frozen river. People dressed … Continue reading →

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Watching Operation Night Watch

Posted on July 13, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Rembrandt’s famous painting The Night Watch at Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum is not my favorite work from the master, or my favorite painting in the great institution. However, every time that I’m in Amsterdam somehow I find myself in front of the iconic work … Continue reading →

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