I discovered the Blijburg Beach last week when biking through my new neighborhood in the oost. The beach is really nice, not nearly as crowded as Zaandvoort, and super close to Amsterdam.

You can get there really quickly by hopping on Tram 26 from central station in the direction of ijburg or you can ride your bike. From central station go behind the station and head east for about 30-40 minutes on the same road, the road will start as De Ruyterkade, then turn into Piet Hienkade, and then eventually into ijburglaan. You will start to see beachy areas and there are plenty of bike signs that lead you straight to the beach!

Here’s a map of your final destination.
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Hot and sunny, doesn’t even look like Amsterdam.

According to the NDSM website: A former shipyard on the northern banks of the IJ and larger than 10 football fields, the NDSM wharf is now a center for underground culture in Amsterdam. This huge area contains the NDSM hall, a hangar-like structure 20,000 sq. meters in area and 20 meters in height, and two historic ship slipways (Hellingen) housing workshops and artists’ studios.

If you wander around the surrounding area, you’ll notice that bohemians and anarchists alike have taken to alternative living quarters from broken down buses, to abandoned buildings and manholes.  Make sure to check out Noorderlicht, which is a really cozy cafe with delicious snacks housed in an old greenhouse.

1. Go with another person if you are a female but try not to be more than two total, there’s just not enough room in most cars.

2. Carry cardboard and markers to write your destination.

3. The best places to start and be dropped off are gas stations. It is a lot easier to walk up to someone and ask if they are heading in the same direction and join rather than hold a sign on the side of the highway.

4. Make sure you are being dropped off somewhere safe with lots of people. It can be a nightmare trying to find another ride if you are dropped off in the middle of nowhere so be clear about where you want to go before you get into a drivers car. We made that mistake in one car and it got us off track about 2 hours.

5. Leave early and don’t plan to be somewhere by a certain time. Hitchhiking is all about luck, it might take 3 hours or 9 hours to get to a certain destination based on who picks you up so don’t expect to be somewhere within a certain time frame.

Yeah thats about it. Hitchhiking in Europe is really really easy and fun! Here are some pictures from my trip.

Pumping gas with a trucker on the way to Maastricht.

Got stuck at a rest stop until..

We rescued by drunken Belgian footballers!

Our final destination, the beautiful Ardennes, Belgium

“Our next conference will gather one thousand participants to explore the most overlooked aspect of innovation: people. Known in techno-parlance as users, people ultimately define the success of all technological and entrepreneurial projects. Their approaches are unique, influenced by cultural and generational diversity. Let’s explore the myths and uncover the reality behind the “connected people”.

The conference will host sessions on:
Understanding the different uses of technologies by each generation.
The redefinition of privacy.
The dynamics of online communities.
The myths and realities of online politics.
The future of media.
Mobile platforms, business model design, travel 2.0, creativity, democracy, innovation, etc.

Over the next three days, I will be attending workshops and blogging about “Reinventing books, magazines and newspaper in the digital age”, “From virtual to real world value : Collective Intelligence as an alternate source of media power”, and “Social networks and TV : love-match or marriage of convenience?”. If you are interested in learning more about the conference follow me on the Masters of Media blog for the University of Amsterdam this week!

Posts related to Amsterdam will still be published this week.

Boat parties all over the Jordaan

Friends!

Live concert out of a canal side window

hangin on the houseboat

ORANGE

Every year World Pillow Fight Day is celebrated in many cities around the world. It is a free event that is all about fun. Last year Amsterdam participated for the first time and we all had a feathery blast

Our world is increasingly obsessed with regulations, security and commercialism. This threatens our freedom and creativity. That’s why we must reclaim the streets as a place where everybody can simply have fun – without meddling authorities or corporate sponsors. So grab your pillow and join the massive pillow fight on the Dam Square!

There are usually free after parties happening after the pillow fight that last deep into the night. Keep your eyes and ears open for some serious pyjama partying

This is an event that is even more fun if you bring your friends. So invite them through the menu on the right. Everyone can join!

How to join the pillow fight in 5 easy steps:

0. Invite all your fluffy friends
If you hadn’t done so already

1. Dress for press and mess
Wear something photogenic and feather-proof.

2. Bring your own pillow
Soft pillows with feathers are the best!

3. Get there in time
Be there before 5pm and wait for the signal.

4. Fight fluffy
Swing subtly and don’t hit anyone without a pillow.

5. Clean up after yourself
Use public space responsibly. It is not ours only.

According to the EAH! website: “The pop-up store is an initiative of designer Eva Anna Hekking, founder of EAH!, and NV Zeedijk, a dynamic organization which purchases properties in the centre of Amsterdam. Over the past years, the Zeedijk has positively transformed into an upcoming fashion area. Well-fitting within this upcoming new image, NV Zeedijk offered Eva Anna Hekking an empty space at the Zeedijk. As curator she restyled the place into a creative ‘underground’ exhibition versus shop-space.”

The pop up shop essentially houses a new collection of young local designers each month, including women’s clothing, jewellery, furniture, linens, arts, lighting and baby clothes (helloooo colour-by-numbers baby jumpsuits!).

It’s located at Zeedijk 37 and make sure to drop by this Saturday, March 6th when they launch their newest collection with drinks and snacks.