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The Anne Frank House Joins YouTube With New Footage

A museum's newest treasure has become an international sensation thanks to the magic of Web 2.0. The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam has already strengthened its international profile in 2009 by sending a traveling exhibit called "Anne Frank - A History For Today" all around the world, from San Antonio to Soweto.

Last week, the museum—commemorating the teenage girl whose wartime diary chronicled her family's attempts to avoid the Nazis by hiding in the attic of an office building—took its subject to your home. Yes, you, sitting right there in front of that computer; the museum launched its own YouTube channel. The centerpiece is not a chat with Nelson Mandela or the testimony of diary finder Miep Gies, but instead a recently discovered bit of footage of Anne herself, the only such known moving image of her in the world.

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Tags: Travel Advertising / Amsterdam Travel / Hostels / Budget Travel / Travel Ads / → All Tags

'The Worst Hotel In The World' Has The Best Advertising Campaign

The UK's KK Outlet ad agency was tasked with selling a generously described no frills hostel in Amsterdam.

The hostel in question, as you undoubtedly figured out from the ads, is Amsterdam's Hans Brinker Budget Hotel. Lest you think they're joking about the lack of amenities, or that their self-deprecation is a passing thing, the establishment website hawks a book titled The Worst Hotel in the World: The Hans Brinker Budget Hotel Amsterdam. They're proud all of it, from the nonexistent bedding to the subpar customer service. It's like they're the Ryanair of hostels.

Via Advertising Is Good For You, Pure genius:

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Tags: Gay Travel / Amsterdam Travel / Tourism Boards / Tourism Campaigns / → All Tags

Gay or Straight, You're Gay in Amsterdam

Remember, back in the day, when "gay" was just a synonym for happy? The tourist board Amsterdam is harking back to those times a bit with their new Everyone's Gay in Amsterdam campaign. The main target is LGBT travelers, but it goes deeper; they want to:

promote the city’s unique sense of openness and inclusivity that resonates with any visitor to Holland.

Print ads, half-hour travel specials and co-hosted events make up most of the campaign, plus a beautifully-designed website full of people looking really happy. In fact, it takes a bit of digging on the website to find anything specifically aimed at the LGBT target group, but there is a list of gay-friendly pubs and clubs if you look hard enough.

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Tags: Musuems / Art Galleries / Art / Amsterdam Travel / → All Tags

The Hermitage Amsterdam Looks Pretty But Needs a Better Opening Exhibit

You know how when someone tells you they’re going to Amsterdam you give them a knowing look and think “I know what you’ll be up to, you dissolute human being”? Well you’d better stop doing that because this summer the 'Dam is all about the culture.

The Stedelijk Museum is running a mobile exhibition round town while it’s under refurbishment, the Royal Palace in Dam Square has just reopened, and on June 20, the Hermitage Museum of St Petersburg, no less, opened up a branch in a 17th-century building that used to be an old folks’ home.

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Vincent van Gogh's Letters To His Brother Will Be On Display in Amsterdam

Be careful what letters (or emails) you write: if you become famous, like Vincent van Gogh, the letters might end up on display for thousands of people to see. That's what's about to happen at the impressive Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, with a new exhibition including 120 letters written by van Gogh opening in October this year.

Most of the letters are from van Gogh to his younger brother, and it sounds like they give you some insight into his mental illness and his passion for art. The hundred odd letters they've picked will be displayed next to artwork that they refer to; in fact, there are another 800 letters around and many of them are about to be published in a book.

You can get into the Van Gogh Museum every day between 10am and 6pm – or until 10pm on Fridays – and at the moment the adult entry fee is €12.50 ($17.50). The letters – sensitive as they are – will only be on display for three months so don't leave your planning too long. Whether or not the letters solve the cutting-off-his-ear mystery is something we're keeping secret.

Related Stories:
· Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam [Official Site]
· Van Gogh Letters To Go On Display in Amsterdam [AFP]
· Amsterdam Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: Van Gogh Museum]

Tags: Amsterdam Travel / Art Galleries / Art / Netherlands / Amsterdam / → All Tags

Russian Art Branches Out To Amsterdam

Who says the Russians aren't good at sharing? A little to our surprise, the Hermitage Amsterdam is opening next month in a new art gallery in an old seventeenth century building which is basically a branch of the famous and original Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, Russia. They've been running minor exhibits in another building for a few years, but now the real Hermitage Amsterdam is ready to thrill.

We've had a couple of trips to the Russian version and always been dazzled by the suggestions it would take a lifetime to view every piece of art there – and only if they rotated their display in time with your visits. The opening of the Amsterdam branch means there's another place for the Hermitage to exhibit some of their vast number of art treasures, and we're excited about that.

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Tags: iPhone / iPhone Travel Apps / Amsterdam Travel / → All Tags

Amsterdam iPhone App Will Guide You Through Your Coffee Shop Haze

Whether you're using your iPhone for fun distraction on your trips or tracking your travel plans, for many of us they're becoming an indispensable part of getting away from home. We always keep an eye out for new apps and one for those headed to Amsterdam caught our attention – not least of all because it's come from the Netherlands Board of Tourism and we figure they should know just a bit about their capital city.

The Amsterdam Mobile Guide is free (very nice), and available both for iPhones and its rivals. It includes details of around 200 popular Amsterdam venues, and you can directly phone, email or Google map them. There are also a few itineraries if you need hints for your Amsterdam stay, ranging from 8-hour stopovers to three-day trips.

You can also use this app to quickly get an idea of what places are within walking distance from where you are at that moment. It all looks pretty – the tulip logo isn't even too kitschy – and includes quite handy photos so you can really figure out that you're in the right place. Above all, if you don't have to pay for it, you can't really go wrong. Right?

Related Stories:
· Amsterdam Mobile Guide [Official Site]
· One iPhone Travel App To (Almost) Rule Them All [Jaunted]
· The Five Best iPhone Apps For Your Next Trip [Jaunted]

Tags: Bars / Drinking / Amsterdam Travel / → All Tags

Amsterdam Has the Key To Your Private Mini Bar

Picture this: you're out for an evening in Amsterdam with a few friends, intent on experiencing the city through much wandering and even more drinking, when you get handed a key to your very own, private mini-bar. Thanks to a new bar concept freshly arrived in the "Venice of the north," Amsterdam's late-night, laid-back folk can help themselves to a little bit of whatever is in stock.

The spot, simply and aptly called "Minibar," is set up thus: check in with the Minibar concierge, turn over an ID or credit card for a key to a personal minibar stocked with everything from beer to sodas to champagne, pop open whatever your heart desires, and pay on the way out.

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Urban Active Travel: More European Bikes

Since the city has more than one million bicycles, traveling by foot can be hazardous in Amsterdam. Step unknowingly into a bike lane--and there're so many of them it's not hard to--and expect to incur the wrath of dozens of oncoming cyclists. So rather than spend your visit fearing a painful collision, why not adopt a "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" approach and hop in the saddle with Mike's Bike Tour.

Now in its 11th season, the company's guided tour will take you on a four-hour journey from city to country, taking in sights from the Red Light District to a cheese farm and clog factory.

The ride is leisurely rather than strenuous, and at €22 ($32) for a four-hour tour, it's an inexpensive and enjoyable way to acquaint yourself with the city. Just one word of advice: Save that coffee shop visit for after the tour.

Related Stories:
· Mike's Bike Tours Amsterdam [Official Site]
· Amsterdam coverage [Jaunted]
· Biking coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Incase Designs]