Quiet Places to Sit

A music-free cafe in Amsterdam

2011-10-21T04:24:00.000-07:00

I sold the very last copy of the first edition of Quiet Amsterdam today- to a neighbour. He also bought a signed copy of Quiet London and we had a short chat about Derek Jarman. I have been reading his journals and share his antipathy to having to endure loud music in restaurants.

There wasn't room to include Cafe 't Smalle in the second edition of Quiet Amsterdam, so I have included a photograph of the exterior here instead.

Huis Frankendael and Park

2011-05-04T05:18:00.001-07:00

Quiet London published 7th April 2011

2011-05-04T05:12:00.001-07:00

2010-05-26T05:57:00.000-07:00

Near Holmfirth in Yorkshire

2009-07-13T06:42:00.001-07:00

Some recently discovered places to sit

2009-07-13T06:21:00.000-07:00

Quiet Amsterdam has nearly sold out!

2009-07-10T05:45:00.000-07:00

On June 18th I gave another reading in Amsterdam and it was nice to see a few people whose B&B's are in the book there at the event. In particular, Paul and Karen whose lovely house on Sloterkade is in the section on 'places to stay'.

The Book Launch in Amsterdam

2009-05-22T10:26:00.000-07:00

It wasn't quiet at the printers...

2009-05-22T08:29:00.001-07:00

This huge pile of paper was about to become the book

Each sheet went through the huge machine at high speed

The first glimpse of printed pages...

The best way to get to the printers is by ferry

2008-11-11T03:50:00.001-08:00

Quiet Amsterdam was published in November 2008. In six months it has almost sold out...In it you'll find information about around 140 tranquil places in and around Amsterdam, including cafés, hotels, parks, gardens, small museums and art galleries.

For details of stockists and forthcoming events other events see www.imagefound.com

Some bookmarks for the book about quiet places in and around Amsterdam

2008-08-18T05:39:00.000-07:00

Some exceptionally quiet places

Stream by Amsterdamse Bos

Amsterdam Bookshop

Bookmark White House

Quiet places to sit

2008-08-18T02:18:00.000-07:00

Bench in Frankendael Park

Bridge Over the Prinsengracht

People reading in the Botanic Garden

2008-07-31T03:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon there were three people reading in the Botanic Garden in Amsterdam

One woman was sitting near to the pond

This man was by the glasshouses

This man was sitting reading on a bench opposite the Hortus Botanicus

...and this is the new sign at the entrance to the Hortus.
It is now a mobile free zone!

Beautiful places to sit in the cemetery Huis te Vraag

2008-07-17T03:18:00.000-07:00

Forthcoming exhibition

2008-06-27T05:09:00.000-07:00

Shashin Art Bookshop

Yesterday I met with Yannick Bouillis, the owner of Shashin Art Bookshop, to discuss the launch of the book Quiet Amsterdam, which will take place in late September. I was invited to show black and white photographs from the book in the small gallery at Shashin.

Another shot of Plantage Westermanlaan

2008-06-26T08:43:00.000-07:00

This park is by a main road but it's still quite peaceful. The lawn is surrounded by lime trees and there are a few straggly rose bushes next to some green painted benches.

Lime Trees near the Zoo

2008-06-26T08:35:00.000-07:00

Plantage Westermanlaan

Last week the streets nearby smelt wonderful as the lime trees were in bloom. I then went away to Northumberland for five days to take photographs and when I returned the blossom had gone. Despite the absence of spring flowers on the linden trees, there were at least six people sitting on benches in this small park near to the Zoo this afternoon.

Other quiet places to sit

2008-06-18T05:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon I went to take photographs in Kastanjeplein near Oosterpark, as I liked the bronze abstract sculptures under the trees. They look like giant split open conker shells. It was really nice to see people sitting on benches under the chestnut trees in the dappled shade.

On my way home through Oosterpark I also saw around forty granite benches arranged in a semi-circle around the old bandstand. They reminded me of a ring of standing stones. No one was sitting there, however. I think I would feel self-conscious reading a book here as this area is like a performance space. This is the sort of place where I imagine an imaginative communal book reading event could take place. Would everyone read the same book, I wondered..?

Quiet Places to Sit

2008-06-16T04:10:00.000-07:00

At last, the text has been written and the photographs sent off to the designer. 'Quiet Amsterdam' is almost ready! While I'm waiting for the typesetting to be completed (and this will be September, as the designer is away on holiday until August), I'll be posting some of the photographs that can't be included in the book. (I took far too many while wandering through the prettiest corners of the city).

This will be my unofficial guide to the best places to sit and read a book in Amsterdam and as the organisers of 'Amsterdam World Book City 2008' don't seem to be doing much to include non-Dutch speaking people, please share this with your friends, whether or not they plan to visit this beautiful city this year.