About town with... Chantal Janzen
Musical star and TV presenter Chantal Janzen (31) is the shining light of musical production Petticoat. She shows us around the Oud Zuid neighbourhood of Amsterdam, her home for the past twelve years. Click on the map further down for a better view of the streets in Oud Zuid.
Living in Oud Zuid
It’s an inspiring neighbourhood with beautiful houses. When I went to theatre school, aged 18, I rented a room on the Valeriusstraat.
My live-in landlady was the mother of Ad van Dijk, a composer and my mentor at the school. Previously, she was the landlady of [cabaret artist and musical script writer/translator] Seth Gaaikema and also [TV personality] Albert Verlinde.
Music
I like going to the Concertgebouw. One and a half years ago, I saw [chanson and pop singer] Wende Snijders there. Fantastic! I’ve also hosted some events there, such as the Pink Ribbon Gala in 2008 and, in the same year and together with [cabaret artist] Jörgen Rayman, the Caseco Crossover Concert, a tribute to the Surinamese singer Lieve Hugo.
Theatre
That makes me think of the pick-up point opposite the Concertgebouw, where the theatre tour buses leave each day. From that point we get carried off to theatres all over the country.
Going out
Dancing… I do that every night. On the stage.
Restaurants
Restaurant Oud Zuid on Johannes Verhulststraat does good French cuisine. And it's not overly formal. Le Garage on Ruysdaelstraat is also good. However, I don’t go there too often because sometimes it’s nice not to keep running into people from the industry! Also, they could use a dimmer on their lamps, if you ask me. And fewer mirrors.
Bars
I did enough of hanging at bars while I was still at school, in Tegelen where I used to live. But Bodega Keyzer on Van Baerlestraat is a nice location for interviews.
Museum
I was at the Rijksmuseum last November for the launch of De Musical, Het Boek [‘The Musical – The Book’], a book about 50 years of musicals in the Netherlands. The book was made with support of the VandenEnde Foundation and was presented in front of Rembrandt ‘The Sampling Officials’ by Rembrandt.
Delicacies
On Cornelis Schuytstraat there’s the Chris van Nugteren greengrocers. It’s good, but very expensive. That’s why it’s also called the ‘vegetable jeweller’s’... On the other side of the street, at the corner of Johannes Verhulststraat, you’ve got the Van Dam butcher’s - they’ve got delicious meat - and further up Cornelis Schuytstraat, the Van Dam brasserie and catering shop. And on Willemsparkweg there’s a wine shop called De Gouden Ton. According to my father and my husband it’s very good – and they’re wine experts.
Fashion
On Willemsparkweg, both Centre Neuf Sud and Dressmania have great dresses in all shapes and sizes. French Connection on Cornelis Schuytstraat is good for both chic and more casual stuff. Apart from that, my stylist Dani Bles gets clothes for me from all over Zuid.
Specialty shop
I always get great advice at Parfumerie Louise on Cornelis Schuytstraat. Further on from there, there’s bookshop Boekhandel Mulder. I read a lot, because I’m often on the bus - and it tends to get stuck in traffic.
For a quick bite
Valerius on Valeriusstraat is great for breakfast, lunch or just a coffee. The people that run it are really nice and relaxed.
Oud Zuid's surprise
When I had just moved to Valeriusstraat, I found this nice little idyllic park. A while later, I went there for a walk and it just went on and on… turns out it was the Vondelpark.
Amsterdam with children
My son James is two years old now. We often go to Vondelpark to feed the ducks. Or to the playground by the Melkhuisje café.
Interview by Anne-Rose Bantzinger
Translation by Sarah Gehrke
First published in the Uitkrant, January 2011
- Tell a friend