About town with... Sven Ratzke
Dutch-German entertainer Sven Ratzke (33) hosts a Late Night show in the DeLaMar Theatre every Saturday until the end of April. 'In a theatre in a metropolis,' he says, 'something should be going on after 11 at night.' When he’s not at his residence in Berlin, Ratzke lives in Watergraafsmeer in the Oost District of Amsterdam. Click on the map further down for a better view of the streets in Watergraafsmeer.
Living in Watergraafsmeer
It's like a village here. It's quiet, and it's a posh area with yuppies and forty-something women that work at the VPRO (Dutch public broadcaster). Watergraafsmeer is like an old lady that's gone to lie down for a bit. Someone to pat lovingly, but not really someone to spend a wild night with.
Theatre
We'll have to go into town for that. The DeLaMar Theater has the allure of a national theatre. If I had a say I'd make it move to Watergraafsmeer!
My show there, every Saturday in the foyer, is like the Kit Kat Klub from the musical Cabaret: Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome! I'm the host, with an amazing jazz band, bizarre underground acts and various other guests, from Ellen ten Damme to Wouter Hamel. This is a metropolis - something should be going on in a theatre after 11 at night.
Going out
Amsterdam isn't as experimental as it used to be - everything is so organised! In Berlin, there's still exciting places. I live in East Berlin, in the Prenzlauer Berg neighbourhood, and there you get these obscure David Lynch-style cocktail bars. The Saphire Bar, for example: dimmed red light, plush curtains and one of these real, proper cocktail bartenders. Affordable, too.
Restaurant
Polder in the Science Park has been here for two years this month. The building looks like an enormous tin box, placed in the midst of a meadow. The food is decent, with a French twist. They have a delicious pumpkin dish with rice on the menu. The customers are mixed. Recently I was sat next to [prominent former politician] Femke Halsema. Funny.
Café
Merkelbach in Park Frankendael is a beautiful restaurant which is great for lunch. Especially in summer, because they have a lovely garden. It's located in the old coach house of the Huize Frankendael mansion, where an old lady lived until 2005.
They have great coffee and amazing chocolate cake and lemon cheesecake. And Frankendael is a beautiful park in this neighbourhood anyway.
Film
I have my own home cinema, with a screen that's 3.5 by 2.5 metres. Sort of like the small screen at The Movies cinema. Sometimes I invite friends over and then I screen mad art house films such as Roy Andersson's You, the Living. Or The Ghost Writer, because I'm a Roman Polanski fan. Or just a James Bond.
Delicacies
De Pure Markt, from March onwards every last Sunday of the month in Park Frankendael. Stalls and little shops, and everything's organic. It's almost like a festival each month, with all these crazy things these people have crafted... and weird pumpkin sandwiches.
Amsterdam with animals
I often walk my Labrador, Gucci, along the sports grounds by the Jaap Edenbaan ice rink. Gucci goes everywhere with me, to Berlin, too, and to gigs. When Gucci jumps at a theatre director in a friendly manner, I know I’m dealing with a decent person.
For a quick bite
Snackbar 't Wethoudertje on Wethouder Frankeweg. It's all organic, even the wines. They do nice daily specials and salads. And great chips.
Watergraafsmeer's surprise
I've been living here for one and a half years now and I still get surprised again and again by the beautiful houses. You get them in the Rivierenbuurt and in Oud-Zuid as well, but Watergraafsmeer has this Barcelona vibe, or that of a French town.
Interview by Anne-Rose Bantziger
Translation by Sarah Gehrke
First published in the Uitkrant, February 2011
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