Tag Archives: Netherlands

Amsterdam Goes Green(er)

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

This October, Reuben Beugel’s new company Hopper launched an innovative, eco-friendly taxi service in Amsterdam using chauffer-driven electric scooters. Charging a flat-rate fee of just € 2.50 regardless of the distance traveled Hopper’s service is quicker than traditional taxis, as … Continue reading →

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Art in the Metro

Posted on November 24, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Many visitors to Amsterdam never ride the city’s limited Metro system; in fact many don’t even know that it exists. But the GVB’s clever campaign to refurbish the Zilbermeeuwen metro cars may encourage art-loving tourists to take a ride. When … Continue reading →

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No Dikes Yet

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

In 2009, the RTL television network in the Netherlands filmed a feature in New York City on a proposal to construct a Dutch-style storm barrier across New York harbor. In light of last week’s visit by Hurricane Sandy, it seems … Continue reading →

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The Worst Hotel In The World

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

A dirty, cold, tiny hotel room can put a damper on your trip. But for the Hans Brinker Budget Hotel in Amsterdam, those attributes are essential to the promotional pitch. That’s because the Hans Brinker is proud to be dubbed the “worst … Continue reading →

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No Assembly Required

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Love it or hate it, IKEA is known the world over for its cleverly designed home furnishings, innovative marketing campaigns and big box stores. Now the global colossus has set its sights on an entirely new market—budget hotels. Inter IKEA, … Continue reading →

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Rembrandt’s Facebook Timeline

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Amsterdam‘s celebrated Rijksmuseum may be over 200 years-old, but it’s hip to 21st century social media marketing. The museum has cleverly “imagined” what Rembrandt’s Facebook Timeline would look like. “I made a self-portrait. Let me know what you think!”

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Amsterdam Aglow

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

There are only a handfull of places around the world where water is natually illuminated due to micro-organisms living in shallow waters, but now the Italian architect Carlo Morsiani has an ingenious plan to add one more surprising location to … Continue reading →

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Koninginnedag (finally)

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Every April 30th, the citizens of the Netherlands celebrate Koninginnedag or Queen’s Day, a national holiday that commemorates the reigning Queen’s birthday. Like Mardi Gras in New Orleans, New Year’s Eve in Times Square, St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin and … Continue reading →

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City2Cities

Posted on April 22, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

City2Cities: International Literature Days Utrecht is an exciting international literature festival. Each year City2Cities, in short C2C, connects the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands with two other literary cities. In 2011 those cities were Edinburgh and Stockholm, this year … Continue reading →

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Mild, Mild West

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Brian D. Butler

Next month’s issue of Budget Travel magazine (old-school version) will be featuring an excellent short article on Amsterdam’s West neighborhoods by Maria Robertson-Textor. The city’s former industrial area has been undergoing a slow, but inexorable gentrification for the last decade … Continue reading →

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