DICKENS EXHIBITION
Last night you have been welcomed by
Tuindorp's Harmony Brass Band.
The faintest heart turns bold,
when tuindorp's trumpets blaze,
and clean away they chase
the tremblings of the old;
and spring and youth take hold
of every man and maid
which makes, if truth be told,
my puritan soul afraid.
Morning dialogue
We: Good morning, hope you slept well.
You: Mph, ough, mmmmmmmmmph.
We: Here is a busy day for you.
You: Thump! (sound of a Dickensian jumping out of his bed)
We: Get ready!
You: Yes! (at least we hope you will say so)
And read the program:
Saturday, 16th May
10.00 a.m. Business meeting at Conference Hotel Krasnapolski.
15.30 p.m. Excursion by boat through the canals of Amsterdam and a surprise planned
by our hosts.
20.00 p.m. Official reception by the Municipality of Amsterdam I.C.C., Paviljoen
Vondelpark 3.
Luncheon or Dinner at respective hotels (half board).
A SHORT GUIDE FOR THE BRITISH VISITOR TO AMSTERDAM
(for the reader's convenience the guide is arranged alphabetically)
Bicycles If you want to avoid a serious
accident, stay in your hotel during the
rush-hours: 8-9 a.m. and 5-6 p.m. The
Dutch ride wheel to wheel, indifferent to
safety. Couples in love link their arms
while riding.
Bridges Spitting from bridges is still a
favourite pastime of children. They are
very interested in Dickensians, but they
won't do them any harm.
Conversation The vocabulary of the Am
sterdammer in the English language may
be somewhat limited, though his flow of
talk is not.
Motor-cars Those who visit Amsterdam
by car will inevitably dip into one of the
canals thanks to their unprotected bor
ders. The Fire-brigade will come to the
rescue in no time at a rate of 4 gns an
hour. Small cars are hauled out within
half an hour.
Musical entertainments Amsterdam will
offer this to one's heart's desire. Carillon
chiming will give delightful sleepless
nights, street-organs invite you to dance
on the streets, rattles announce the arrival
of the dustman.
Mystery All Dutch people wear wooden
shoes unless they meet a foreigner.
Possibilities Amsterdam is inhabitated by
13000 bachelors.
Pub-crawling Near the Conference hotel
at BOLS, Rozengracht 106, drinks are
served in brimming glasses, which one
nips, "biting the top off", by bending
down and sipping without touching the
glass with the hands. This will be highly
appreciated and shows that you are an
habitué and a connoisseur.
Qualities of character The Amsterdam
mer has a great sense of humour coupled
with an intense dislike of any interference
with his liberties. If you want something
done, demand the opposite. With the
above suggestions in mind, you will easily
find your way through Amsterdam.
Continuation of foregoing page
selves on skates and little tents are seen
on the ice, selling hot drinks and buns.
The master of the house has just come
in and looks over his spouse's shoulder.
Dignity envelopes him like a cloak of
ermine. He muses: "Let the riff-raff enjoy
themselves, it may be noisy, but it keeps
them quiet". "Mijnheer" is weary. The
meeting of the Chamber of Regents has
been long and tiring. At times it had struck
him to be much like a lesson in World
geography. He had approved the exchange
of that island of Manhattan for these huge
tropical forests somewhere near Brasil.
New Amsterdam was a bother, always
crying for more craftsmen and more
money. And these Americans did not
know what work meant - good riddance
Now let the English worry! Don't we
hold the pursestrings, as our fathers had?
But he can't keep pondering and says to
his wife: "That painter fellow from Haar
lem is waiting in the scullery to do our
portraits. I shall tell him I stand for no
slurring of important details. If there are
jewels to paint, we pay to have them
painted and no back-talk. And my por
trait must also show that I am a man of
solid convictions and with grave respon
sibilities!"
This is were we leave our Regent and
his wife, he might be annoyed being with
us to-day and seeing the several changes
made along his canals. Many of the old
houses have been turned into offices, a
row of motor-cars, parked within inches
at the unprotected border would shock
our patrician couple as much as it fright
ens us. But whatever the dangers and
inconveniences of the canals may be,
much of the old charm has remained: the
picturesque aspect of the green elms re
flected in the dark, somnolent water;
skating in wintertime, offering the same
colourful picture which inspired the paint
ers of the 17th century to put it on
canvas. Any projected plan to convert
them into broad boulevards will always
raise a violent protest from all true Am
sterdammers. Amsterdam without the
canals would be like a crown without
jewels.
At the "Bijenkorf" (the Beehive) right opposite the Conference Hotel
an exhibition will be held during the Conferencedays of 50 large framed
photographs, showing the haunts and places of Dickens's characters
the topographical setting of his novels. The exhibition has been arranged
by Mr. D. Coleman, manager of the British Travel Association at
Amsterdam, the captions are written by Godfried Bomans.
