7 questions to writer, columnist, MC’er and sidekick Yuki Kempees
In the new stories series “Sunday 7” Your Little Black Book interviews special Amsterdammers about their Amsterdam. Yuki Kempees is author of the book “Cirkels zijn alleen mooi wanneer ze rond zijn,” columnist for Glamour, MC’er with DJ act Kris Kross Amsterdam and sidekick in the live program Xite on television Daily Noise. Yes, this guy is a busy bee! And handsome too! Some people have it all ;-)
Win!
Haven’t you read his book yet? Than we have a great surprise for you! Leave a Facebook comment at our blog and maybe you win an autographed version!
My Sunday
“Every Sunday I visit the Volkshotel to write a bit and check my email. But most of the time I’m just staring out the window”.
Love for Oost
“My favorite neighborhood? Amsterdam East! 10 years ago I moved from Brabant to Amsterdam by train, and I saw the Javastraat. A big street, high mansions, lots of trees; my ideal picture of Amsterdam captured in one street! I always thought: that’s where I want to live. And now – ten years later – I’m living there!”
Best hotspots
1. Bar Bukowski: Besides Fridays and Saturdays, this is the most beautiful bar in Amsterdam!
2. Surinamise-Chinese miracle restaurant Mi Lobi: I come there so often that the owner started giving extra vegetables in my dish. He thinks I don’t eat enough of those.”
3. Hair salon Javaplein: Saïd is the best hairdresser in Amsterdam! But next to being a haidresser, he’s also the father of 4 boys. They make a big mess of the salon, clean it up again, pick fights with each other and get you your coffee. I’ve been coming to this salon for 5 years now, and can’t remember a visit where one of his kids had to stand in a corner for punishment. He raises his kids while he’s doing his job.
Wanted: ice
“I still want to ice-skate over the canals of Amsterdam. A few years ago, the canals were completely frozen, but I didn’t have ice-skates. So the next winter I bought ice-skates and ever since I am waiting for ice… it takes fucking long! ”
Unreplaceble
“My mother’s spicy chicken! With coconut milk, chili paste, some vague plant and a couple of ingredients that are my mothers secret. She serves it with rice and cabbage, but I only eat the chicken. No restaurant can compete with my moms chicken.”
Snorkling and fishing
“In Corfu, Greece, there is a restaurant in the bay (unfortunately I forgot the name). In the afternoon I went snorkeling in that same bay, and I met the owner of the restaurant. He was there to fish and promised me that if I came by that night, he would serve me the fish. That night I sat down at his restaurant next to the grill and saw him preparing my fish. I have no clue what the man did to the fish, something with lemon and a handful of herbs, but it was the best fish I’ve ever eaten.”
Bucketlist
“One day I’ll write a book about my grandfather and I will make the same trip he made from his place of birth in Indonesia to the Netherlands.”
Tip: follow Yuki via @Yukikempees on Instragram of Twitter.
Favourite tracks:
http://open.spotify.com/user/yourlbb/playlist/2VXycBXR7U90C1bz1RbWed
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> Check out more Sunday 7 stories and discover the Amsterdam favs >>
Amsterdam Bucketlist
THINGS TO DO:
⋙ Canal Cruise by day or in the evening
⋙ A bike tour through Amsterdam OR Rent a bike by yourself
⋙ The best view over Amsterdam from the A’DAM Lookout
⋙ Visit Artis Royal Zoo
FAVOURITE MUSEUMS:
⋙ Rijksmuseum with the Dutch masters
⋙ Van Gogh Museum, a staple in Amsterdam
⋙ Stedelijk Museum for modern art lovers
⋙ MOCO Museum for street art
⋙ Photography museum FOAM
SEASONAL:
⋙ Amsterdam Light Festival (during winter months)
⋙ Cruise like a local with your own boat (great with good weather!)
ONE OF A KIND:
⋙ Discover the Instagrammable experience WONDR
⋙ Red Light District tour
⋙ Get out of town and into the Dutch country side of Giethoorn
| TIP: Buy an I amsterdam City Card. Save money on entrance fees to museums and attractions, public transport and profit from discounts on everything from restaurants to concerts. You can also skip some lines to make the most of your time in Amsterdam! You can buy a card for 24 hours up to 120 hours. Check the prices here >>
Our favourite hotels:
AFFORDABLE // €
☾ Generator Hostel: the best poshtel of the city located in a park.
☾ The Student Hotel: budget proof in trendy East.
☾ Het Volkshotel: affordable and with a cool rooftop bar.
☾ CitizenM: all you need is that XL bed (location near Amstel is great).
☾ Motel One: budget design hotel with locations at
VERY VERY NICE // €€
☾ Hotel V: with two locations and a great restaurant, in the city center and East.
☾ Sir Adam: with the coolest view over Amsterdam.
☾ Sweets: a unique stay in former bridge houses.
☾ Park Plaza Vondelpark: located next to Vondelpark and beautifully renovated.
☾ Hotel Dwars: small scale around the corner of the trendy Utrechtsestraat.
☾ Pillows Anna van den Vondel: great hotel close to Vondelpark.
☾ Hotel Mercier: new hotel in the cosy and historic Jordaan district.
☾ INK Hotel: lifestyle hotel in the heart of the city.
☾ The Hoxton: favourite lifestyle hotel right on the canals.
☾ Morgan & Mees: boutique hotel in Amsterdam West.
☾ Conscious Hotel Westerpark: in a beautiful building at the industrial Westergas area.
☾ QO Amsterdam: eco design hotel with a great skybar.
TOP LUXURY // €€€
☾ Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam: if you have something to celebrate this is the one.
☾ Pulitzer Amsterdam: on the canals at the border of the Nine Streets and the Jordaan.
☾ L’Europe: this hotel has the best spa with a view in Amsterdam.
☾ Conservatorium Hotel: located in one of the most beautiful buildings in town.
☾ W Amsterdam: with great restaurants and a rooftop bar with swimming pool.
Let’s get social
I really hope you enjoy your time in Amsterdam! On my Instagram account @yourlbb you can find more recommendations and new hotspots in town.
Follow @yourlbb on Instagram
| PS: Traveling to Amsterdam with kids? My other website Travelkids.co & @travelkids.co is dedicated to family friendly travel. Check it out here >>
