Amsterdam: What’s On This Week

March is a good month to visit museums and theatres, because it is still too cold to be outside all day. The cultural season is still in full swing so you have plenty to choose from.

AMSTERDAM FOR CULTURE LOVERS

WHAT: Photography and Astronomy
Photo exhibition documenting the history of astronomy and displaying present-day images taken by telescopes and space probes.
WHERE:Huis Marseille, Keizersgracht 401
WHEN: until 30 May 2010, from 11.00 – 18.00, closed on Monday

WHAT: Oman
Exhibition showing  an exotic world of a seafaring nations.
WHERE: Nieuwe Kerk, Dam Square
WHEN: until 18 April 2010, daily 10 am – 6 pm, Thursdays until 10 pm

WHAT: Pauline Wiertz: Ceramic Bags
The artist makes moulds of bags she found at second-hand markets and uses these casts to create surrealistic bags, taking care to include the minutest details
WHERE: Museum of Bags and Purses, Herengracht 573
WHEN: until 2 May 2010, daily 10.00 – 17.00

WHAT: Tulips in Amsterdam
Exhibition of 17th and 18th century prints and drawings of tulips. The star exhibit is Jacob Marrel’s Tulip Book, a catalogue customers used when ordering their tulip bulbs.
WHERE: Rijksmuseum, Jan Luijkenstraat 1
WHEN: until 1 June, daily 10.00 – 17.00

WHAT: Kienholz: The Hoerengracht (Whore Canal),
Exhibition recreating Amsterdam’s Red Light District alleyways complete with life-size figures of women
WHERE: Amsterdam Historisch Museum, Kalverstraat 92
WHEN: from 20 March 2010

WHAT: Politiek in Prent 2009 (Politics in Pictures)
Exhibition of drawings and sketches depicting the financial crisis, high bonuses for banker, fall of the Dutch DSB Bank, The Royal Household and their Problems and the political situation in Irak.
WHERE: Press Museum, Zeeburgerkade 10
WHEN: until 2 May 2010, Tuesday – Friday 10.00 – 17.00, Sunday 12.00 – 17.00

WHAT: Kamers vol Kunst (Art Cabinets)
Exhibition of Art Cabinets Paintings, paintings of rooms full of work of arts, by Willem van Haecht (1593-1637). . Other masterpieces on display include works by Anthony van Dyck, David Teniers and Quinten Massys.
WHERE: Mauritshuis, Korte Vijverberg 8, The Hague
WHEN: 25 March – 27 June 2010

AMSTERDAM FOR MUSIC LOVERS

WHAT: Johann Sebastian Bach – Matthew Passion
Performed by eighty talented young students and soloists from the State philharmonic orchestra Banatul Timisoara.
WHERE: Westerkerk, Prinsengracht 281
WHEN: 24 – 25 – 26 – 27 March at 19.30

WHAT: Works by Haydn, Purcell, Martin and Andriessen
J. Haydn – Symfonie nr. 49 in f ‘La passione’, Purcell – Fantasias, Martin – Polyptique: Six images de la Passion du Christ and H. Andriessen – Miroir de Peine
Conducted by violinist Gordan Nikolic and sopranao Johannette Zomer
WHERE: Concertgebouw, Concertgebouwplein 2
WHEN: 22 March at 20.15

WHAT: Emilie, opera by the Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho
The life of Emilie du Châtelet, mother and wife but also maitresse of Voltaire.
WHERE: Muziektheater, Amstel 3
WHEN: 20 and 21 March, at 8 pm

AMSTERDAM FOR BOAT LOVING GOURMETS

WHAT: Dinner Cruise
Four-course Gourmet dinner while cruising Amsterdam’ canals.
WHERE: Holland International, Prins Hendrikkade 33
WHEN: daily, November- mid March 19.00, March – November 20.00.

AMSTERDAM FOR KIDS
WHAT: Het Boek van Alle Dingen
Stage play adapted from Guus Kuyer’s book of the same title.
WHERE:  Schouwburg Amstelveen, Stadsplein 100, Amstelveen
WHEN: 21 March 2010, at 15.00

WHAT: De Wonderlijke Reis van Meneer Prikkebeen
Musical about Mr Prikkebeen who goes on a butterfly hunt.
WHERE:  Schouwburg Amstelveen, Stadsplein 100, Amstelveen
WHEN: 28 March 2010, at 15.00

photo credit: personal collection