Books
(note: Forget the guide books, dive into some evocative novels and histories to really get the feel of a place!)
Apothecary's House by Adrian Mathews
Set in modern day Amsterdam an art historian begins looking into the true ownership of a Nazi-looted painting hung in the Rujksmuseum. She begins receiving dangerous threats, but presses on, only to discover secret symbolism within the painting.
Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank (1947)
A 20th-century classic; the diary of the young Jewish girl hiding out from the Nazis, yet still sustained by a sense of hope and the memory of Amsterdam’s beauty.
The Embarrassment of Riches: An Interpretation of Dutch Culture in the Golden Age, by Simon Schama (1987)
A masterwork of a popular history that examines how and why Amsterdam became one of the first truly modern cities.
Amsterdam: A Brief Life of the City, by Geert Mak (1999)
A popular historian and storyteller, Geert Mak offers a lively, often surprising story of the city.
Rembrandt’s Eyes, by Simon Schama (1999)
This biography of the painter also evokes the dynamic, multicultural city that embraced him.
Amsterdam, by Ian McEwan (1989)
Booker Prize-winning novella featuring a composer desperately trying to finish a work scheduled to premiere in Amsterdam.
The Undutchables by Colin White & Laurie Boucke
A funny, clever book that dissects every habit and trait of Dutch life for the expat, from beer to 'strippencops', the long-winded art of debate and much more.
The Grijpstra & de Gier Mystery series by Janwillem van de Wetering
http://www.goodreads.com/series/61059-grijpstra-de-gier-mystery
Tulipomania: The Story of the World's Most Coveted Flower & the Extraordinary Passions It Aroused
For history buffs or gardeners who enjoy more than just digging in the dirt, Tulipomania presents a fascinating look at the tulip frenzy that took place in Holland in the mid-1600s. Beginning as gifts given among the wealthy and educated folk of Europe and Asia, the tulip rapidly became a source of incredible financial gain--similar to today's Internet start-up companies or Beanie Baby collections. Stories of craftsmen discontinuing their trade and focusing on raising tulips for public auction, where they sold for prices comparable to that of a manor house, are astonishing. Poets, moralists, businessmen--it seems everyone was involved at some level.
The Garden Lover's Guide to the Netherlands and Belgium
Gardening writer Barbara Abbs explores over 100 of the most beautiful Dutch and Flemish gardens, highlighting their most striking features, describing their distinctive characters, and revealing charming aspects that will delight every garden lover. From the exquisite formal gardens of the Paleis Het Loo to the lavender expanses of the Kasteel Twickel, this volume reveals many of the best-kept secrets awaiting travelers in Europe.
Film
Antonia’s Line (1995)
Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1996, this story of a family of strong-willed Dutch women evokes Holland’s abiding feminist spirit, and faith in autonomy.
Turkish Delight (1973)
An early film by Dutch director Paul Verhoeven starring Rutger Hauer, both of whom went onto become Hollywood players; follows the dizzying bohemian life of an Amsterdam artist, and captures the decadent look of the city in the seventies.
Anne Frank Remembered (1995)
A British documentary that offers the most complete biographical account of Anne Frank’s life and her father’s attempt to keep her memory alive.
Black Book (2006)
Filmmaker Paul Verhoeven, after his Hollywood stint, returned to the Netherlands to film this story of a Jewish resistance fighter surviving the Nazi occupation; ultimately moving despite some gratuitous sex scenes.
Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003)
A young peasant maid working in the house of painter Johannes Vermeer becomes his talented assistant and the model for one of his most famous works.
Lust for Life (1956)
The life of brilliant but tortured artist Vincent van Gogh.
(note: Forget the guide books, dive into some evocative novels and histories to really get the feel of a place!)
Set in modern day Amsterdam an art historian begins looking into the true ownership of a Nazi-looted painting hung in the Rujksmuseum. She begins receiving dangerous threats, but presses on, only to discover secret symbolism within the painting.
Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank (1947)
A 20th-century classic; the diary of the young Jewish girl hiding out from the Nazis, yet still sustained by a sense of hope and the memory of Amsterdam’s beauty.
The Embarrassment of Riches: An Interpretation of Dutch Culture in the Golden Age, by Simon Schama (1987)
A masterwork of a popular history that examines how and why Amsterdam became one of the first truly modern cities.
Amsterdam: A Brief Life of the City, by Geert Mak (1999)
A popular historian and storyteller, Geert Mak offers a lively, often surprising story of the city.
Rembrandt’s Eyes, by Simon Schama (1999)
This biography of the painter also evokes the dynamic, multicultural city that embraced him.
Booker Prize-winning novella featuring a composer desperately trying to finish a work scheduled to premiere in Amsterdam.
The Undutchables by Colin White & Laurie Boucke
A funny, clever book that dissects every habit and trait of Dutch life for the expat, from beer to 'strippencops', the long-winded art of debate and much more.
The Grijpstra & de Gier Mystery series by Janwillem van de Wetering
http://www.goodreads.com/series/61059-grijpstra-de-gier-mystery
For history buffs or gardeners who enjoy more than just digging in the dirt, Tulipomania presents a fascinating look at the tulip frenzy that took place in Holland in the mid-1600s. Beginning as gifts given among the wealthy and educated folk of Europe and Asia, the tulip rapidly became a source of incredible financial gain--similar to today's Internet start-up companies or Beanie Baby collections. Stories of craftsmen discontinuing their trade and focusing on raising tulips for public auction, where they sold for prices comparable to that of a manor house, are astonishing. Poets, moralists, businessmen--it seems everyone was involved at some level.
Gardening writer Barbara Abbs explores over 100 of the most beautiful Dutch and Flemish gardens, highlighting their most striking features, describing their distinctive characters, and revealing charming aspects that will delight every garden lover. From the exquisite formal gardens of the Paleis Het Loo to the lavender expanses of the Kasteel Twickel, this volume reveals many of the best-kept secrets awaiting travelers in Europe.
Film
Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1996, this story of a family of strong-willed Dutch women evokes Holland’s abiding feminist spirit, and faith in autonomy.
Turkish Delight (1973)
An early film by Dutch director Paul Verhoeven starring Rutger Hauer, both of whom went onto become Hollywood players; follows the dizzying bohemian life of an Amsterdam artist, and captures the decadent look of the city in the seventies.
Anne Frank Remembered (1995)
A British documentary that offers the most complete biographical account of Anne Frank’s life and her father’s attempt to keep her memory alive.
Black Book (2006)
Filmmaker Paul Verhoeven, after his Hollywood stint, returned to the Netherlands to film this story of a Jewish resistance fighter surviving the Nazi occupation; ultimately moving despite some gratuitous sex scenes.
A young peasant maid working in the house of painter Johannes Vermeer becomes his talented assistant and the model for one of his most famous works.
Lust for Life (1956)
The life of brilliant but tortured artist Vincent van Gogh.
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