On the second day of Christmas (the 26th of December), Dutchman and I went out for a dinner date and a stroll around Amsterdam, admiring the outdoor light art projections and installations of the Amsterdam Light Festival. As usual I took gazillions of pictures, so I will post our dinner date separately.
Apart from the light festival, I also managed to take pictures of some of the usual winter lights and scenes in the city. The camera I am using is a point-and-click camera, an old Sony Cybershot DSC-HXSV. My relationship with my camera has its highs and lows, after all you can only do so much with a point-and-click, right? Most of the times I shoot using the most basic of all settings: Easy Shooting, even in the evening, because I am lazy. But even with that, I think I managed to take nice pictures =)
Amsterdam Light Festival
Website: Amsterdam Light Festival
Dates: 06 December 2013 – 14 January 2014
‘Amsterdam Light Festival is a winter light festival for all ages. For 50 days, the historical center of Amsterdam will present a unique décor for this international light and water festival.’ – excerpt from website
This is the Fly’s Eye Dome by Buckminster Fuller in front of the Amsterdam Centraal Station, this is part of the Water Colors Boat Route. There are TWO ROUTES for the Amsterdam Light Festival and these are:
(1) The WATER COLORS: Vaar Route (Boat Route) – you can take one of the tour boats for a fee (17,50 euros) in the city but because the canals in Amsterdam are not very wide and huge, you can also view the light art projections and installations from the ground.
(2) The ILLUMINADE: Wandeling Route (Walking Route, only until 05 January) – we did this but we failed to follow the route because we got confused with the online map we downloaded from the site. The route is pasted on a white background which is then pasted on top of the map, so instead of seeing the actual map, we are seeing the white background of the route. Very annoying! Graphic designers working on maps, please pay attention.
Below are the rest of my pictures. We were not able to see every light art projection and installation which is a pity, so if you are curious, please check the websites (links) or go to Amsterdam!
The Astera light art installation by T.I.L.T. on the Oosterdoksbrug in front of Double Tree Hilton, part of the Water Colors Boat Route. The 2000 Light Years From Home light art projection by Gerald van der Kaap at the Appel Arts Centre, part of the Water Colors Boat Route. This one is very interesting as it also reflects a huge snake and horses mating (which I didn’t get a photo! jammer, haha.) The Kalmen (left boat with the colourful sail) in Oosterdok by Harm Bremer of Aerosol Light Textures, part of the Water Colors Boat Route. In the background you see a replica of a colonial VOC-ship that is part of the permanent exhibitions of the Maritime Museum. The myhouseyourhouse light art installation on the windows of an apartment building along Nieuwe Herengracht by Femke Kempkes and Machteld Aardse, part of the Illuminade Walking Route. The Cave of Light by Job van der Sande in the Plantage Park laan, part of the Illuminade Walking Route. The Palm Greenhouse of the Hortus Botanicus, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the Netherlands. The Hotspot by Carla Monchen in the Hortus Botanicus, part of the Illuminade Walking Route. The Floating Light by Wouter Brave in the Hortus Botanicus, part of the Illuminade Walking Route. In the gardens of the Hortus Botanicus, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the Netherlands… I actually like this picture because it looks like a medieval painting. This is one of my favourite pictures for the evening. Lightscape by Blauwe Uur at the Jonas Daniel Meijerplein, part of the Illuminade Walking Tour. The Portugeuese (Jewish) Synagogue in front of the square where the light art installation is placed is also lighted up.
Lightscape light art projection and installation by Blauwe Uur, part of the Illuminade Walking Route.
Lighted ophaalbrug (draw bridge) on the Nieuwe Herengracht (New Gentleman’s Canal).
The Our House light art projection by Tom Dekyvere of Them Sculptures at the Diaconie, part of the Illuminade Walking Route. A short video to appreciate this light art projection:
The light art projection comes to life with the music!
Part of the Illuminade Walking Route: Our House light art projection by Them Sculptures.
The Magerebrug (Skinny Bridge) on the Amstel River.
Walking on the Magerebrug and the Big Tree light installation by Jacques Rival, part of the Water Colors Boat Route. The streets of Amsterdam have many of these winter display canopy street lights.
Entering the underpassage of the Rijksmuseum we saw another cool light art display installation.
The Lightbattle light art installation by Venividimultiplex in the bike tunnel of the Rijksmuseum is not part of the Illuminade Walking Route but is one of the Extra Light Arts of the Amsterdam Light Festival sponsored by the Rijksmuseum. Cool huh, and I must try on one of these stationary bikes =) Digital art: a Christmas tree hologram in the lobby atrium of the Rijksmuseum called the Tree of Light, in green and then it turns white, the tree bedecked in snow. The view of the Rijksmuseum from the Museumplein.
The big ice skating rink at the Museumplein (Museum Square) with a mini-scaled installation of the Magerebrug (Skinny Bridge) is only open until 22:00. Website: Ice Amsterdam However, the skating rink at Leidseplein is open until later.
Here is a short video I took:
They are open until late, so if the skating rink at the Museumplein has closed and you still have itchy feet, come here.
Kalverstraat – Amsterdam’s longest and busiest shopping street.
The Royal Palace Amsterdam on the Dam Square and trees with gift wrapped presents lights display at the Beursplein. The Bijenkorf on the Dam Square, Netherlands’ upscale department store is decked in elegant lights display.
On the Damrak and Beursplein, in front and beside the Bijenkorf is the Amsterdam Winter Market open from 11 in the morning to midnight, daily until 12 January 2014.
A huge Christmas Tree in front of the Amsterdam Centraal Station. Information about the neverending works going on in the railway station and future plans: Amsterdam Centraal (only in Dutch) Visit Period: December 2013
Destination: Amsterdam Centrum (Amsterdam – North Holland), The Netherlands
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Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
