Amsterdam-Noord

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This is not real – but we’ll get to something almost as scary that is!

We’d never before had cause to visit Amsterdam-Noord, the area across the IJ River from the centre of the city, but since our last visit we had read about new attractions opening up there. And it’s so easy to get to – a free ferry from behind Central Station only takes about 5 minutes. Off we set!

First port of call was the EYE Film Institute. I confess we didn’t look at any of the exhibits or see any films, but it was a great coffee stop.

Ferry to Amsterdam-Noord
Yarn-bombing at EYE Film Institute
EYE Film Institute Cafe
EYE Film Institute
EYE Film Institute and A’DAM Tower

Our main purpose for visiting was the A’DAM Tower, seen in the background of the last photo above. Formerly the offices for Shell Oil, which has since moved elsewhere, the 22-storey building now houses electronic dance music companies. However, it has a café and a restaurant near the top and a Lookout on the roof with Europe’s highest swing, Over The Edge. We had to try that.

On arrival, we were asked to sit on the beam at the top of this post – safely set on the ground, of course! I think we made quite a good job of pretending to fall off. Then we took the lift to the roof – unfortunately, another dull, misty day, so the views weren’t great as you can see.

On top of A’DAM Tower
On top of A’DAM Tower

So – onto the swing then! This is the couple before us. I was a bit nervous at this point …

Over The Edge

Then it was our turn to get strapped in before the swing moved upwards and outwards to leave us dangling over the edge and moving gently back and forwards. Eep!

Strapped in
Away we go!

It wasn’t too bad! I felt quite secure, except that I didn’t like the sensation of slipping forward on the shiny metal seat when the swing went backwards, so I gripped the side bars very firmly all the way through. I’m glad I did it, but I felt I definitely deserved my beer and frites in the café downstairs. Spot the selfie in the model tower!

Beer and frites
Model tower

After lunch, we walked up river to NDSM-werf, a derelict shipyard turned arts community. If we thought we’d found quirky areas before, this time we surpassed ourselves! Graffiti everywhere:

NDSM-werf
NDSM-werf
NDSM-werf
NDSM-werf
NDSM-werf
NDSM-werf
NDSM-werf
NDSM-werf
NDSM-werf

We had coffee in Pllek, made out of old shipping containers. A lot nicer inside than out!

Pllek interior
Pllek exterior

We decided that, given the frequent ferry service, this wouldn’t be a bad place to stay. There are choices! There’s a Doubletree and a Botel.

Doubletree
Botel

Or – there’s a crane! Yes, really – the Faralda Crane Hotel has just three rooms, so make sure you book well in advance 😉

Faralda Crane Hotel
Faralda Crane Hotel
Faralda Crane Hotel

Lots of other boats were berthed, mostly not functioning because it was out of season – I fancy the pancake boat next time, but maybe not the rusting submarine.

Pancake boat
Kapitein Anna
Pollux
Pollux
Wrecked submarine

By this time, the light was fading and it was bitterly cold. Time to get the ferry back – it had been an absolutely brilliant day!

Ferry ride into the sunset
Netherlands , , ,

84 Comments »

  1. Brilliant stuff, looks like you had a blast. I get nervous about anything too high or fast but usually let the kids twist my arm (and the husband buy me a stiff drink later haha). We are hopefully off to a holiday park near Amsterdam later in the year, maybe we’ll divert for a day and give this place a look.

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  2. Pingback: April Squares: Over the Edge – The Glasgow Gallivanter

  4. I’m heading to Amsterdam next month and will look into checking all of this out. Looks like so much fun! Thanks for sharing, it looks like a great day!!

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  5. What a great adventure! The swing looks amazing. I think I would be holding on tightly too. It’s years since I last visited Amsterdam; you’ve definitely made me want to return!

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  6. Hi Anabel – well that was some visit and you really brought it to light … despite the cold and gloom – amazing to know about … thanks … I’m quite glad I’m going out to lunch shortly!! Cheers Hilary

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  7. It is many decades since I visited Amsterdam (40 years to be exact), and your description and photos make me want to go back again.

    When my son was 14, he and I (and our dog) did a driving tour across Canada, and we stopped at every theme park along the way. Despite my fear of heights, I rode with him on every roller coaster and gravity drop ride. Your swing ride reminded me of that.

    Jude

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  8. I love the photo of the two of you on the beam – you did do a great job posing! The swing looks scary, and I’m not keen on heights, so I’d probably give it a miss, but it was brave of you to go on. I’d definitely be up for a ride on the pancake boat though, especially if they actually serve pancakes! I love poffertjes, and those big thin Dutch pancakes aren’t half bad either – there’s a chain in London called My Old Dutch that serves them, and I go in once a year and eat so many pancakes that I can’t face it again for another year…though now that I think about it, I’m due for a visit!

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  11. Oh wow! Now MrB would love the docks but can’t see me getting him on that swing. And I’m not sure I would either!!! Looks like you had a fabulous day 😊

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  12. Looks like a very interesting and fun day. Love the shipyard graffiti and the crane hotel – I don’t think you could get more unusual than that 🙂

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  13. How interesting! I have to admit that I am far too scared of heights (and I’m not nearly as bad as my husband in that department) to try that swing, but I would still love to see that area. The hotel on the boat look especially fun.

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  15. Wow, Anabel. Thank you for exposing this unknown (to me) part of Amsterdam. So many funky and fun things to do in the noord. The swing looks awesome, how exciting to be doing that! And then all the businesses in boats and cranes. Love it! I’m keeping this in mind next time we go to Amsterdam. And, is that mayonnaise with your fries? A combination made in heaven, although not many Americans would agree. 🙂

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    • That is indeed mayonnaise – a European tradition which I like (tomato ketchup is more common here, though I like that too). It was a fun day – quite unlike Amsterdam’s “normal” image. You are the most enthusiastic person so far about the swing!

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  20. Oh yes! Even before I saw the photos, as soon as you described it, I was primed! 🙂. What a unique idea!

    The Netherlands has been doing so many interesting things with container boxes, I guess it’s not a surprise that restaurants would be added to the list. Not sure how I feel about the lack of windows – although it’s not any worse than your typical shopping mall I guess.
    The giant spider however is a different issue!!

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    • Ah, but the front was all glass, looking onto a patio and artificial “beach” (stones) – strangely, we seem to have omitted photographing the more attractive side! Never gave the spider a moment’s thought, it didn’t bite 😉

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  25. OMG-I would never do that swing! You rock for just doing it. I am so glad that they have converted so much into something useful like the cafe and places to stay. I would never stay in a crane even though it is pretty cool. In your last photo the high building on the left look like they would be condos…or is that a new hotel?

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    • I guessed it was Birgit! You’d gone into my unapproved comments this time. I also guessed that you’d be horrified by the swing. I don’t know what the building is – it was in our sights all day, but we were never actually close to it. I put the picture in because I liked it with the sunset behind it.

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  28. How funny, Anabel. The second I saw you and John in that first photo, all I could see in the rest of the photos was height. Everything, even the shipping containers and the art, made me think vertical and vertigo wasn’t far behind. I’m not like your other commenters who say they’re not sure if they could get on that swing. I couldn’t/ wouldn’t Sam I Am, full stop!

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  29. Wow. You’re certainly very brave ! Not sure I’d get on that swing.
    We haven’t been over the other side of the Ij. Something for our next visit I think

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  32. What a fun and quirky day, Anabel! That swing looks terrifying. I think I would have been gripping the handles for dear life, especially slipping around on the seat as you did! That first photo is crazy. I love it! I love all the graffiti and I also am in awe of how people convert metal storage containers into cafes and cranes into hotels. I admire such creativity in recycling industrial relics. 🙂

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  33. I looked very carefully at that first photo – and it really does look real! You are so brave.

    I recognise some of those buildings, especially the one on the slant. Last time I was at a meeting in Amsterdam we went for our evening meal to one of the barges – massive inside – and they told us lots of the students have accommodation in those converted containers. It’s an idea that is now widespread in port cities. (and that was five or more years ago)

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  35. I chuckled at the first photo. You are very adventurous people aren’t you! Wouldn’t get me on the swing. I recall being in a twister at a fairground with my young boys and they were sliding out from under the rather useless bar with me desperately trying to keep them back, The stupid man on the ride didn’t even see what a frightening situation we were in. Put me off fairgrounds forever. Wouldn’t mind staying in that Botel, but you can have the crane to yourself 🙂

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  36. As secure as it is, that swing would scare me. You definitely deserved your beer and frites. Love the photos — especially the opening one!

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