Quiet Amsterdam

Amsterdam's secrets

City dwellers may be accustomed to the hustle and bustle of modern urban life, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need a momentary respite from our busy lives. Amsterdammers are particularly fortunate in that the city offers numerous spots for quiet reflection – if you know where to find them.

Quiet Amsterdam is a photo book researched and written by Amsterdam-based writer Siobhan Wall, who has been living in Amsterdam since 2000. It introduces t to charming, unsung places that are rarely seen in traditional guide books.

Hidden finds

Twelve chapters, including ‘parks and gardens’, ‘small shops’, ‘cafes and restaurants‘, ‘places by water’ and ‘places to relax’, invite readers to seek out serene and restful spaces to recover from their busy lives. Wall discovered some surprising, rarely seen locations, making this an indispensable guide for both visitors and locals alike. While most of the finds by Wall are within the city’s borders, several are outside Amsterdam, but nothing more than a 45-minute bike ride from Dam Square.

The author recommends

Residents of Amsterdam and lucky visitors will have found their way to the splendid, if busy, Begijnhof by the Spui. At the risk of increasing the popularity (and traffic) of other still tranquil spots, here are several of Siobhan's favourites:

"For me, the most beautiful outdoor locations I found are De Poel (Amstelveen) and Penbos (Diemen); both places are quite hidden, especially if you can't find them on city maps. This is why I put them in the book.

"My favorite restaurant is Marius, (Barentszstraat 243, in the Prinseneilanden). The Chef is quite dynamic and cooks with the seasons. Try the Grand Bouillabaisse de Marcel Pagnal followed by raspberry-almond tart with homemade vanilla ice cream.

"For shops, there is De Zonnemeer (Nieuwe Kerkstraat 8). I like places like this which show that big business didn’t have to always muscle in and take over the world. Going into Zonnemeer is like walking into a local shop from the 1950s except that everything is organic and delicious. Instead of noisy, brash supermarkets it feels really stress-free to shop here."

Siobhan Wall is currently carrying out research for Quiet London, the next title in her photo book series.

For more information

Quiet Amsterdam is published by Image Found Publishers, a new publishing house specialising in limited edition books on art and photography. The print run was 1,000 copies, and according to the publisher is almost sold out. Price: €17.95.