About town with... Abdelkader Benali
In April, author Abdelkader Benali (34) began presenting his new television programme Benali in Boeken (Benali in Books). His latest book is De Zandloper (The Hourglass). Born in Morocco, Benali headed to the Netherlands in 1979 and has lived in Amsterdam for the last eight years.
Culture in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a city of minorities; a city of contrasts and liberties. It is home to people with ideas and dreams. You can easily lose yourself in the labyrinth of the historical city centre. The Amsterdam sense of humour is typical – Amsterdammers are headstrong and never afraid to say what they really think.
Theatre
I saw two of my own plays in Frascati and De Brakke Grond theatres: Onrein and Yasser starring Mohammed Azaay and Sabri Saad El Hamus. I think it's magical to see how the text on paper comes to life on stage. It's like looking at a parallel universe.
On the town
I'm from the generation of people who were often refused entry to clubs and because of that, a night on the town has somewhat negative connotations for me. Still, I did used to hit the dance floor at Paradiso and sometimes I go to Club Up at De Kring.
It's pretty much a school disco – a chance to dance with kindred spirits. It's recently got a lot busier and you have to queue to get in. A couple of years ago, you could just walk right on in.
Restaurant
There are literally dozens of restaurants where I love to have a bite to eat. I like restaurants that are simple and good quality. Issa, a Japanese restaurant on Stadionweg, is decent – it's unpretentious and fairly priced. It's true that the food at Warung Mini on Ceintuurbaan may be no stranger to a microwave, but they know what they are doing – the Surinamese and Javanese fare they serve is warmed up with care and attention.
I also like Pekingharing on Van Woustraat, that's good for French and Mediterranean food. At Kilimanjaro, an Ethiopian restaurant on Rapenburgerplein, you just dig in with your fingers. The food is nice and spicy, served with pancakes. If you're in love, you should eat Ethiopian food, then you can lick each other's fingers when you're finished!
Bars
Kingfisher in Ferdinand Bolstraat combines the easy-going atmosphere of a traditional brown café with the transparency of a grand café. Lots of newspapers are available if you want to catch up on the day's news. I also like to hang out in Diva's in Waalstraat, it's a proper rough and ready rock ‘n’ roll bar with a painting of Herman Brood hanging on the wall.
Museum
I like conceptual art, video art and installations. Art Centre De Appel showcases refreshing, contemporary art. It moved to a new location on Eerste Jacob van Campenstraat last February. Ann Demester, the Director of Arts Centre De Appel has got impressive plans for the place.
Favourite place to exercise
I jog two or three times a week alongside the Amstel. All the way to Ouderkerk and back again – it's about fifteen kilometres in total. I relax when I'm jogging, it helps me get my head together. I'm a keen jogger, I have been ever since I saw the Moroccan runner Saïd Aouita as a child. He won the 1,500 metres World Championship title in the 80s and was Olympic 5km champion. My book The Hourglass is about a Moroccan athlete trying to make his way to the upper echelons of his sport. I also participate in competitive events, such as the Middenmeerloop, the Midzomernachtloop, the Dertig van Noord and even the marathon.
Best book about Amsterdam
Kees De Jongen (Kees, the boy) by Theo Thijssen is about a true Amsterdammer: bold, worldy-wise but also a touch naïve. I think there's a bit of Kees De Jongen in every Amsterdammer. People who decide how they go about things, in zwembadpas. (Translator: a unique way of walking as if in a swimming pool. Described in Kees De Jongen, it’s arguably symbolic of a strident approach to life).
My motto
Don’t let anyone stop you taking your own course through life.
Interview by Anne-Rose Bantzinger
Translation by David Nice
First published in the Uitkrant, April 2010.
More about town with...
- Tell a friend