Meetup in Amsterdam

August 26, 2007 10:48 AM

Wanna meetup in Amsterdam? The Amsterdam Bike Culture thread is a good moment to drag the attention of dutchies and others in the neighbourhood to this metatalk thread to gauge the interest in a meetup.
posted by jouke to MetaFilter Gatherings at 10:48 AM (68 comments total)

I'm interested in how many people we can get together here.
Of course Den Haag or Utrecht is fine too.
Especially Utrecht. But that's just me.
posted by jouke at 10:53 AM on August 26, 2007

Okay, I suppose it could be fun. Though any place located below Amsterdam or Utrecht is a bit too far to the south for me.

And all this is of course 'ijs en weder dienende'.
posted by ijsbrand at 10:58 AM on August 26, 2007

I'll try and make it this time for real. I'm in the Dam to see Modest Mouse on Wednesday the 5th, so allow me to boldly suggest that date, early evening, in or around Leidseplein?
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 11:06 AM on August 26, 2007

Also, jouke, I've been collecting the skulls profiles and email addresses of Dutch Mefites for a while now - I'll send out emails tonight or tomorrow.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 11:08 AM on August 26, 2007

That's great gnfti.
posted by jouke at 11:14 AM on August 26, 2007

I'd like to be there but I just moved back to Germany for now. I'll be in Den Haag on the 10th though.
posted by snownoid at 11:25 AM on August 26, 2007

Extra points if y'all bike there.
posted by hangashore at 11:25 AM on August 26, 2007

Oh, hangashore, if the meetup is in ones own town I'm sure most will. Utrecht - Amsterdam is too far though.

Hey, that's a pity Snownoid. Is that the only date that you'd be able to come?
posted by jouke at 11:32 AM on August 26, 2007

I was always under the impression that cheap, legal weed is key to Amsterdam's bike culture
posted by matteo at 11:47 AM on August 26, 2007

"I was always under the impression that cheap, legal weed is key to Amsterdam's bike culture"

I don't know any pot smokers with enough ambition to pedal a bicycle. Not even to the 7-11 for Chee-Tos.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 11:50 AM on August 26, 2007

No matteo, that's key to our tourist culture. Lots of stoned Italians in the streets of Utrecht at the moment.
posted by jouke at 11:52 AM on August 26, 2007 [1 favorite]

That's nice, count me in! (Disclaimer: this is a Dutchman who does not own a bike)
posted by Psychnic at 12:06 PM on August 26, 2007

I'm not sure, I miss Amsterdam already, so if I get enough work done this week and manage to find a place to sleep (or if we meet really really early [or the meetup lasts really really long]), I might be able to make it after all. I can buy the train ticket until the 2nd, so I guess I'll just decide then.
posted by snownoid at 12:07 PM on August 26, 2007

I don't know any pot smokers with enough ambition to pedal a bicycle. Not even to the 7-11 for Chee-Tos.

That's a shame. You should meet cooler smokers.
posted by lazaruslong at 12:50 PM on August 26, 2007

I'm in the netherlands until the 5th of September, it would be great to meet up! Since I'm way over in the northeast of the country Utrecht would be best, but Amsterdam sounds good as well.
posted by sebas at 1:04 AM on August 27, 2007

I might be able to make it if it is in Amsterdam, but not on the 5th or the 7th.
posted by Skyanth at 4:12 AM on August 27, 2007

i'm arriving at Schiphol on the morning of the 10th but back to stay the weekend of the 15th/16th of sept.
posted by infini at 4:25 AM on August 27, 2007

Shall we keep it the 5th, then? I'm afraid we can't please everyone - but it would be criminal to idly sit by while sebas escapes to neutral territory again.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:04 AM on August 27, 2007

Argh, it seems I have to go back during the day on the 5th, not in the evening as originally planned, but please plan whatever is best for everyone else.
posted by sebas at 8:00 AM on August 27, 2007

Midweek is not doable for me. Friday would be perfect.
posted by jouke at 8:04 AM on August 27, 2007

Saturday?
posted by Skyanth at 12:31 AM on August 28, 2007

I've got 4 up to now:
ijsbrand
gnfti
skyanth
jouke

snownoid only on the 10th
infini only in the weekend of 15-16 if I understand correctly
sebas can't attend

That's rather meager.
Gnfti did you send those emails?
posted by jouke at 1:25 AM on August 28, 2007

... and psychnic. Let's not forget psychnic.
posted by jouke at 1:26 AM on August 28, 2007

Thanks, Jouke. I'm watching this thread...
I do have some preference for the weekends, but any date is fine with me, except for saturday 8.
posted by Psychnic at 2:16 AM on August 28, 2007

No - I was kind of holding out in expectance of a more definite date. I'll email you now.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:59 AM on August 28, 2007

I'm sending out an email to as many dutch mefites as I can find.
I asked the admins to provide an update to the Metafilter Google Earth kml file. That way I can direct as many mefites to this post as possible.

Then we can choose a date and place.
posted by jouke at 8:46 AM on August 28, 2007

yes jouke, only that weekend. the rest is a rushed tour through three countries with an academic study group ;(
posted by infini at 9:25 AM on August 28, 2007

My gramschmidt sense is tingling.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 1:54 PM on August 28, 2007

How serendipitous, I may be able to make the Meatbomb traveling roadshow intercontinental!

If something can happen between the 10th and 16th September, I am so totally there.

And as a data point for mr_c_d, if it happens I will arrive very stoned, on my bicycle.
posted by Meatbomb at 1:59 PM on August 28, 2007

I have a few propositions.

1) A small meetup is not necessarily a bad meetup. In fact, this was rather swell.

2) I am going to be in Amsterdam for this coming weekend only, to visit a friend. I would be overjoyed to be able to share a Netherlandish beer with anyone and everyone in the vicinity, on Saturday night. I realize that this is not precisely in line with the above-mentioned dates, but I just saw this thread. I sincerely hope that no one feels displaced by such a suggestion and, to that end,

3) more than one small meetup might be in order.

Saturday, 1 September 2007 is my humble request. I will be accompanied by at least my host, a girl of indescribable elegance and humor, and perhaps some of her friends.

Barring that, we will instead collectively ingest turpentine from a wooden shoe in the third toilet stall at Station Centraal.
posted by gramschmidt at 2:36 PM on August 28, 2007

Even sweller, though, was this correct link. Dammit.
posted by gramschmidt at 2:42 PM on August 28, 2007

Hey, meatbomb! What a surprise.
So we have 3 potential non-dutch attendants. Great!

Gramschmidt, I really want for once to get as many mefites together as possible. It seems as if saturday 15 september is a convergence point.

I'm sending out an invitation email tonight.

Hopefully we can decide this week.

Btw gramschmidt I'd like to have a beer with you too. But that's a maybe depending on how things I've planned pan out.
posted by jouke at 3:11 PM on August 28, 2007

I'd love to head to Holland for a meetup. Most of my relatives are there, so it'll be fun. But of course it looks like too soon for me to travel from Colorado. Maybe when I make my plans to visit there can be an impromptu meetup, or series thereof.
posted by Eekacat at 9:38 PM on August 28, 2007

Okay, I'm just going to write down my schedule here. For once and for all. Yes.

Not available: on any wednesday evening, friday evening, sunday afternoon. Also not available on the 10th of september as I'll be attending a Josh Ritter concert (yay!).

I can do Saturday 1st. Also the 8th. Also the 15th. Also all other times that are not in the list above. So:

Gramschmidt: I would have a beer with you, if you and your friend(s) will have me. My elegance has been disputed but I have been known to make witty comments, though usually by accident. If nothing else it will be funny to see me fail completely in my attempts to resemble a normal human being. Also, I have a hat.
posted by Skyanth at 2:40 AM on August 29, 2007

Also, I say "also" a lot.
posted by Skyanth at 2:41 AM on August 29, 2007

Excellent, Skyanth. If jouke doesn't mind too heavily, perhaps I can rudely piggyback on this thread to arrange a mini-meetup for this weekend. A small, subdued, and oppressively dignified affair as a prelude to the Dutch insanity-fest that will probably occur on the 15th.

jouke, can you come? And where shall we gather? I know nothing of the city, but my host does, and she lives not too far from the Central Station. I'm sure she'd have a suggestion or two, but she's not currently a MetaFilter member, so her ideas and opinions are immediately suspect.

gnfti will also be there, because the alternative is an objective impossibility.
posted by gramschmidt at 4:01 AM on August 29, 2007

Ok, I sent out the email to 35 Dutch mefites and the 3 international mefites who pitched in on this thread.

So now we have to decide on a location and time.

I'd like to start with a simple meal at around 18:00. So a suggestion for a nice restaurant would be nice.

And of course a café that isn't to loud and crowded.

Any suggestions? I haven't been to A'dam in a while so I'm not up to date on good locations.
posted by jouke at 5:34 AM on September 3, 2007

Saturday 15th? I'll be there.

How about Pacific Parc for food/drinks? It's a very nice laidback place.
posted by Skyanth at 5:38 AM on September 3, 2007

Sounds great to me Skyanth.
posted by jouke at 5:56 AM on September 3, 2007

I will do all within my powers to attend on Saturday the 15th of September. I think it is important that there is an international witness to confirm that Dutch people do indeed always speak English, and this "Dutch" thing is just funny sounds they make to fuck with the tourists.
posted by Meatbomb at 6:43 AM on September 3, 2007

Thanks for the email, but I've actually fled Amsterdam to the greener meetup pastures of London. Have fun though!
posted by fvw at 6:43 AM on September 3, 2007

Ok fvw I've removed you from the list of email addresses.

Actually Meatbomb, we're just clearing our throats a lot. Foreigners erroneously assumed that was our language.
posted by jouke at 8:04 AM on September 3, 2007

Hoi,

not sure yet if I can make it on the 15th, but here's a shoutout to all the dutch mefi-ers! (the "people near you" feature never seemed to work for me...).
posted by spherical_perceptions at 9:33 AM on September 3, 2007

This sounds like fun; I promise to make lots of those throat sounds, so people might even think there is a conversation going on. ;)

Could anyone offer a place to sleep? Otherwise I'd have to get back to my village near Utrecht afterwards, and that gets more problematic the later it gets...
posted by willem at 1:23 PM on September 4, 2007

Willem, that's great.
I myself I live in Utrecht, so that's not much help wrt a place to sleep.
Having to take the train at 22:52 from Amsterdam Centraal is a tad early, I have to admit.
posted by jouke at 1:46 PM on September 4, 2007

Those who live cycling distance from Utrecht (like me) can leave much later than 22:52. There are trains 17 past the hour all through the night from Amsterdam central station, and the last bus from the place Skyanth suggests leaves at 2:45...

I'll try to make it, but my weekends are filling up with weddings and birthdays so I can't promise anything.
posted by cameleon at 4:54 AM on September 5, 2007

Sorry, I can't make it; I need to be at some conference in a sunny country far away. Thanks for the invitation by mail, nevertheless. Have fun!
posted by swordfishtrombones at 3:08 AM on September 7, 2007

Jazker, we're at the top of the mefi meetup list. We're next!

Tomorrow or wednesday I'll try to make reservations at Pacific Parc.

Please reply in this thread wether you want me to count you in for the reservations for having dinner at Pacific Parc.

Also indicate here if you'd rather join us later for drinks there.

How to get to Pacific Parc?
Google Map of the location.
If you'd like to walk there from the Centraal Station: the Haarlemmerdijk is a very nice street to walk through with interesting quaint shops and nice bars etc.

There are a few busses that will get you there from the central station. Go to 9292ov.nl and
select "treinstation"
enter "amsterdam centraal"
select "adres"
enter "polonceaukade", "23", "amsterdam"
enter date and time that you want to be there
enter "aankomst"

You'll get a few options to get there. I think bus lines 18, 21 and 22 are suitable. Make sure you take the bus in the right direction though! :-)

Instead of "station" you can also select "adres" and enter the addres of your hotel or the Leidseplein for instance.

On friday I'll send a last confirmation email to all who will or may come with my cell phone number.
posted by jouke at 10:36 AM on September 10, 2007

I'm still not sure whether I'll be able to make it. I'm planning on staying in Amsterdam over the weekend, but I still haven't found a place to stay.
posted by snownoid at 2:34 PM on September 10, 2007

I can't make it, have a great time and thank you for the email!
posted by kudzu at 3:46 PM on September 10, 2007

Thanks for the invitation, but my weekend will be spend on working instead of pleasure, because of Prinsjesdag, Tuesday next week.
posted by ijsbrand at 3:32 AM on September 12, 2007

I can make and and I'm planning to be there, but I'm coming down with a cold so I'm not sure I'll be up and running this Saturday. Still, count me in. I'll send you a whimpering text message on beforehand if I'm too sick that night.
posted by Skyanth at 4:53 AM on September 12, 2007

Ijsbrand, the Kingdom of the Netherlands depends on you for its' financial planning. Don't let us down.

Beterschap Skyanth
posted by jouke at 6:25 AM on September 12, 2007

Sorry, I've got musical obligations I can't really abscond from.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 6:47 AM on September 12, 2007

I'm in, as per previous statement.
posted by Meatbomb at 3:07 PM on September 12, 2007

I can't make it, sorry. Have a great time!
posted by spherical_perceptions at 3:56 AM on September 13, 2007

cameleon did let me know that he might make it a bit later for drinks.

So the tally is as follows:

Will attend
meatbomb, jouke

May attend
snownoid, skyanth, cameleon

Unknown
psychnic, infini & willem
posted by jouke at 4:29 AM on September 13, 2007

Since there would otherwise be only two of you, and after some careful planning, I'll also make it for dinner, if that's still on.
posted by cameleon at 4:30 AM on September 14, 2007

I've made reservations:
meatbomb, cameleon, psychnic & me
I hope infini will join us too although I haven't heard from him yet. But that's probably on account of the fact that he's traveling.

willem will join us around 20:00

Skyanth will join us if her health permits.
Snownoid I haven't heard of recently but probably she's still in need of a place to crash.
posted by jouke at 1:29 PM on September 14, 2007

Infini & a friend from the UK will join us for dinner.
posted by jouke at 3:05 PM on September 14, 2007

I found a place to stay. A good one even.

So I'll be there and maybe I'll bring a friend, too. Also, depending on when I'll manage to catch the train, I might join you a bit later. I don't have any beltegoed left, so if you change locations before I arrive, please text me.

tot straks!
posted by snownoid at 7:06 PM on September 14, 2007

At what time do we meet? And how do we recognise each other?
posted by cameleon at 4:29 AM on September 15, 2007

I've made reservations for 18:00 for dinner for 7 people: meatbomb, cameleon, psychnic, infini + friend, skyanth , me

I'll put a paper on the table with the word MEFI. As a last resort you can call me on my cell phone. I've put the nr in the email.
posted by jouke at 5:35 AM on September 15, 2007

What a zoned out moron I am, I am sitting here in Amsterdam and forgot all about this until now, too late. Oops, sorry guys, hope it was fun!
posted by Meatbomb at 2:23 PM on September 15, 2007

8 people! That was, like, the largest dutch meetup ever!
yes, I'm still drunk
Actually cameleon, psychnic, skyanth, snownoid, raout, willem, infini & her friend are very cool and I had loads of fun.

I must admit meatbomb that I surmised about your being 'zoned out'.
posted by jouke at 3:57 PM on September 15, 2007

Yes, a merry evening it was. And I didn't cough the whole night even though I inflicted hell on my throat!
posted by Skyanth at 12:46 AM on September 16, 2007

Not that I'm in a position to make demands, but:

Pics or it didn't happen.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 9:52 AM on September 16, 2007

infini has pictures, but with her travel schedule, who knows when she'll have time to post them...

And it was a lot of fun!
posted by cameleon at 12:06 PM on September 17, 2007