Insider: Roy Rietstap
"...sit in the Vondelpark and just watch Amsterdam going by"
MENDO is Amsterdam's design bookstore par excellence, or as some locals term it: "a candy store for book aficionados", where one will find the essence of the latest in fashion, photography, architecture, interior and graphic design. Roy Rietstap is one of the bookstore's co-founders. At the end of last year, MENDO released its first book: Amsterdam, A Metropolitan Village.
"We've been a bookstore for over 11 years and people have asked us on almost a daily basis if we have any beautiful books about Amsterdam. Up until now, the answer had always been 'no, not MENDO worthy'. That's why we decided to create a book of our own," says Roy. Thus, for a whole year, photographer Ewout Huibers was given the freedom to wander through the city and capture what he thought was interesting. The result is a visually surprising and detailed story about the city's many faces, drawing the viewer to get acquainted with the Netherlands' capital from a multitude of unusual perspectives. Here are a few of Roy's comments regarding his home city.
What do you love most about Amsterdam?
I love the fact that it is a village in a city. You can be downtown, take your bicycle, ride it for half an hour and end up in the middle of nowhere. Everything interesting is within walking distance, which makes Amsterdam a very friendly city for tourists and for the local inhabitants.
What do you hate about Amsterdam?
Well...nothing much. It is good fun living in Amsterdam.
Which is your favourite Amsterdam neighbourhood and why?
From a business point of view, I'm tempted to say that Nine Streets is my favourite area, because this is where MENDO is based. Nine Streets really is a lovely neighbourhood, with many shops, bars and cafés. However, my all-time favourite area is Prinseneiland, where I live. Twenty years ago, nobody wanted to live there. It was the dock workers' area. Now the houses there are priceless. It's a real island, five minutes from the centre, where people say hello to each other!
Describe a perfect day in the city.
I wake up early and take a shower, from where I get a good view over Prinseneiland, grab my bike and have breakfast in a small Amsterdam café while reading the paper. Then I walk around Haarlemmerstraat and go to FOAM (the city's photography museum - ed). I take my bike again to the boat behind Central Station and have dinner at the Hotel de Goudfazant.
Which are your favourite design shops and why?
It's difficult to be original with this question. Go to the Hotel Droog on de Staalstraat, to Frozen Fountain on Prinsengracht, to the Monday morning market at de Noodermarkt (Westerstraat), or to Gallery 33, an initiative by my friend Nalden.
What should a visitor be sure to do in Amsterdam?
Do the biggest cliché of all and get yourself on a canal cruise. True, this is the main tourist attraction, but for good reason, as it remains a magnificent way to see the city. Make sure that you get on a boat that does the Prinseneiland route as well. After that, have a long rest in the Vondelpark and just watch Amsterdam going by.
Which are your favourite restaurants/cafés and why?
That changes very regularly, because new restaurants are opening every month. Among the classics are the Hotel de Goudfazant, located in up-and-coming Noord neighbourhood (and its new sister restaurant, the Café Modern), Tunes (a superb restaurant at the Conservatorium Hotel, which is worth visiting anyway) and Lion Noir by Casper Reinders, who has a talent of creating unique restaurants and bars.
Which are your favourite architecture landmarks in Amsterdam?
I love the Westelijke Eilanden (Western Islands). They were once built from scratch and look amazing. You really should take some time and stroll among them.
Can you tell us a secret about Amsterdam?
Are you planning to visit the Anne Frank House? Then go in the evening. The museum is open until 9 PM and if you visit at around 7 or 8 PM, then almost nobody is there, so you don't have to stand in line for two hours. Check the opening hours for other museums as well and go see them in the evening. Your visits there will be far more enjoyable than during the crowded daytime hours.
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