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Noord: a hidden, off-the-beaten-track Amsterdam hipster neighborhood! Eye Film Museum, restaurants, art studios.

long clothing dollskill dolls kill

This girl is all smiles (despite what my Long Clothing top says)… because I’ve discovered an Amsterdam district filled with inspiration! 

Have you heard of “Noord,” the waterfront area north of the city center? Home to EDM festivals, artist studios, and transformed warehouses, this is a side of Amsterdam that very few tourists see.

space goth fashion uchuu kei

Like intrepid astronauts (or… space cadets), my friends and I will take you to the most cutting-edge hangouts in Noord. It’s incredible to see how these run-down shipyards have been transformed into hipster heaven.

(Above, I’m wearing this Long Clothing Drippy sweatshirt.)

bbc radio the why factor goths gothic black friday

But first, a quick announcement: I had the honor of being interviewed by BBC Radio about Goth lifestyle and culture! The show “talks to Gothic blogger, La Carmina, about the extraordinary and extreme goth scene in Japan that includes body modifications.”

Here’s the link to my BBC Radio Worldwide interview, and you can hear my voice throughout in the entire program for “The Why Factor” show. Thanks everyone for the positive reception so far!

amsterdam alternative tour guide

Now, back to Holland. The team at I Amsterdam (the city’s tourism board) matched me with the perfect guide for an insider tour of Noord. I instantly clicked with Faustina, who shared my love of glamorous fashion and cat-eye sunglasses!

She met us at Hotel The Exchange, and did an introduction with maps to get me oriented. (Soon, I’ll take you around this stylish boutique hotel).

bicycle racks netherlands

We walked to Centraal Station, where Faustina locked her bike next to literally thousands. Notice the “parking lot” above her, filled to the brim. Amsterdam truly is the city of bicycles.

ferry to noord, uptown amsterdam

Noord is located only 5 minutes from the central station, making it a convenient yet off-the-beaten-path destination.

Anyone can hop onto the Buiksloterweg ferry. The ride is free, departs every 10 minutes, and can accommodate bicycles and scooters. Before you can figure out how to pronounce the ferry’s name, you’ve crossed IJ Lake and arrived at NDSM wharf.

noord bicycle rental

Step off the little ferry, and you’re arrived in northern, uptown Amsterdam. Right away, you can sense that Noord has an artistic, young vibe. (All photography by Arina Dresviannikova)

noord street art hipsters

“I see a little silhouette of a man”… that’s the one and only Freddie Mercury, next to a decorative wall overlooking the waters.

adam tower amsterdam edm

It’s impossible to miss A’DAM Toren, named for “Amsterdam Dance And Music.” This 22-storey tower looks over the waterfront, and was opened by a creative team that includes EDM pioneers. 

As you might expect, this is a one-stop place to party. ADAM Tower contains nightclubs, bars, cafes, hotel rooms, and a revolving restaurant (the square-shaped disc at the top rotates around). The top floor has a 360 degree panoramic terrace, and Europe’s highest swing that sends adrenaline junkies “over the edge.”

eye filmmuseum architecture building

There’s another space-age building nearby: EYE Film Museum.

Named after the river IJ (which is pronounced “eye”), this modern structure is a film buff’s dream. You’ll find four cinemas and a restaurant inside, plus an extensive archive, and rotating exhibitions about filmmakers. 

interior eye film museum cafe

The Eye is the vision of architects Delugan Meissl. Like a projected film, the building seems to be in constant motion. As the designers put it,  the concept is a “sustained encounter between urban reality and cinematographic fiction.”

film museum amsterdam movie posters

When I visited, EYE Film Museum had a fascinating exhibit dedicated to Hungary’s Bela Tarr, auteur of melancholic films about the human condition.

His films played in sets that re-created his world — including a decaying tree surrounded by barbed wire fences, with leaves blasting though the room. (We weren’t allowed to take pictures inside, so you’ll have to use your imagination — or better yet, visit for yourself).

north amsterdam waterfront

On the ground floor, the Eye has an open-plan cafe with spectacular views of the IJ harbor.

cinema museum netherlands

Eye Filmmuseum hosts frequent screenings and lectures. They have an annual Imagine Film Festival, dedicated to exploitation, cult and lower budget films.

Within these walls, there lies an extensive film archive with close to 40,000 Dutch and foreign titles. The collections also include posters, photographs, soundtracks and other archival material: a treasure trove for studies.

dutch films history museum

In the lower level, we saw historical cameras, projectors, and clips of Dutch films dating back to the late 19th century. This museum is a must for movie-lovers.

noord waterfront warehouses

We continued our walk through Noord, and Faustina told us about its history. In the 1600s, sailors and merchants moved to the northern banks, to work in the maritime industry and find affordable housing.

This was a shipbuilding area until the 1980s, when the industry declined. Before long, Noord turned into an industrial wasteland, filled with the ghosts of the past.

hip graffiti amsterdam north

Lured by low rents, artists moved in — followed by creative companies like MTV. They revitalised Noord, transforming these decrepit lots into a graffiti-covered wonderland.

Today, Noord is a lively neighborhood with a diverse population. Many tech startups and artistic firms are headquartered here.

street style amsterdam fashion blog

The Netherlands gives generous support to young artists, including providing studios for them to create.

Faustina took is to NDSM Wharf, a giant collective of creative minds. As we approached, the street art grew more and more vivid.

artist collective studios noord

NDSM stands for Nederlands Dok en Scheepsgebouw Maatschappij (Dutch Dock and Shipbuilding Company): one of the largest European shipyards before going bankrupt in 1980.

The abandoned warehouses fell into disrepair, until street artists from around the world turned them into colorful canvases.

space astronaut mural

We peeked into design studios, and posed in front of this intergalactic mural. There was even a cheeky, hot-pink installation called a “Barbie Peep Show.”

amsterdam hipsters, artist neighborhood

“Make art, not Euros.” That’s the DIY spirit at NDSM.

industrial cool north amsterdam

As we kept walking, I was impressed by the myriad of ways that locals turned industrial skeletons into art.

Crane Hotel Faralda Amsterdam

Case in point: Crane Hotel Faralda. In this old shipyard, an abandoned 50-meter-high crane was turned into a three-room boutique hotel! 

pllek shipping containers restaurant

I witnessed one of the coolest transformations at Pllek, a modern restaurant built out of shipping containers. (Address: TT Neveritaweg 59, Amsterdam)

It’s easy to mistake this entrance for a pile of rusting compartments. However, when you walk in, you’ll discover a spacious glass-front eatery by the river. 

hip restaurant noord amsterdam

Pllek continues the upcycled theme inside, with furniture made from salvaged maritime artifacts. Concrete floors maintain the industrial feel, while a disco ball adds fabulosity.

The diners tend to be young, hip foodies… an alien would fit right into the picture!

dutch desserts, apple pie

The menu relies on organic, sustainable meats and produce. I ordered a pumpkin ravioli, and it was one of the best meals of the trip.

Desserts are a must at Pllek: Dutch apple pie, creme brule, chocolate cake, ahh.

pllek beach NDSM wharf

Outside, Pllek has picnic benches and a strip of sand. When the sun shines, this is “the” place to hang out by the river.

Pllek also organises regular cultural events, ranging from photography exhibits to yoga and Tai Chi on the beach. At night, they bring in DJs for some of Amsterdam’s best dance parties. 

Restaurant Lt. Cornelis Amsterdam

Back in the city center, I had another spectacular meal at Restaurant Lt. Cornelis (Address: Voetboogstraat 13, Amsterdam).

As you might guess from the “chiaroscuro” portraits, they specialize in traditional Dutch cuisine, prepared with locally sourced ingredients.

dutch traditional restaurant amsterdam

However, a peek into the open kitchen, and you’ll see young chefs with tattoos working with flames. Restaurant Cornelis draws from the past, but gives all their dishes a modern flair.

holland fine dining, wine tasting menu

I recommend going for the “Menu Cornelis,” a four-course tasting that will surprise your palate. Each dish also comes perfectly paired with wine.

The friendly servers brought out dishes that I had never tried before, including melt-in-your-mouth bitterballen (Dutch croquettes). Everything was beautifully plated and prepared: highlights included the sustainable sirloin, and a chocolate/citrus/white chocolate dessert with foam.

alternative amsterdam underground tour

Cheers to all the new friends we made on this journey! I’m glad I got the chance to see the underground, alternative, obscure side of Amsterdam. 

If you’re planning a visit, check out the I Amsterdam website. You can find more suggestions for attractions in Noord and other areas.

weird bizarre amsterdam murals

What’s next… a space-disco journey throughout the galaxy? You’ll have to stay tuned to find out where I’ll be next!

SHARE & COMMENT

17 Comments

  1. Sawa
    Posted May 15, 2017 at 11:36 pm | Permalink

    <3 <3<3 <3

  2. ESSA ESS
    Posted May 15, 2017 at 11:37 pm | Permalink

    loves this outfit on you. ESSA

  3. Goulia
    Posted May 15, 2017 at 11:37 pm | Permalink

    ah I love this

  4. bee
    Posted May 15, 2017 at 11:38 pm | Permalink

    It’s really great to see you enjoying Amsterdam!

  5. Danny
    Posted May 16, 2017 at 8:26 pm | Permalink

    ❤️❤️❤️

  6. lacarmina
    Posted May 17, 2017 at 3:02 am | Permalink

    yes!!

  7. lacarmina
    Posted May 17, 2017 at 3:02 am | Permalink

    hehehe

  8. lacarmina
    Posted May 17, 2017 at 3:02 am | Permalink

    :) :)

  9. Cathy Baleda
    Posted May 18, 2017 at 3:30 am | Permalink

    Lovely outfit and cool images. Looks like you enjoyed a lot in Noord, eh. :)

    XoXo,
    Cathy at rebel style shop reviews

  10. Devon Genser
    Posted May 18, 2017 at 7:32 am | Permalink

    Just FYI, I don’t believe the paste-up is Freddie Mercury. It’s a tribute to undocumented refugees by Domenique Himmelsbach de Vries: https://www.himmelsbach.nl/?portfolio=een-papieren-monument-voor-de-uitgeprocedeerden

    • lacarmina
      Posted May 19, 2017 at 8:20 am | Permalink

      Oh, thanks for the link! That’s a fantastic art project.

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