The Oud Zuid neighborhood

September 17, 2009 20:05

I have alreay made some great friends in Holland. Here is Leo , the big guy at Gulpener brewery.

Upon arrival in Amsterdam, Klaas and I first went to Cafe Welling to meet a local tv reporter, Leon, from AT5 tv. I was introduced to and trained at the bar in front of tv cameras. I met the cat; and made (and ate!) one of the bar snacks, Kass Ham Tosties - toasted ham ad cheese sandwich. We also  prepped Kass - cheese- for the cheese plate ;inspected the osso wurst - raw sausage; visited the basement draft beer system; and practiced pouring the draft pils. Quite a lot for a new comer!

Welling (as it is affectionately called by its regulars ) is in the Oud Zuid, near the concert hall. The neighbourhood reminds me of Boston, 100 year old, with well designed "dutch new style" buildings. Electric trams. Lots of bicycles. And its very quiet. In fact, Welling does not play any music at all and was awarded a "quiet: award from a gree anti-noise group.

Older writers, lawyers actors, and other prominent thinking elite of Amsterdam are regulars. By regulars, i mean some have been coming a few times a week for 30 years! A great clubby crowd, as many as 300 patrons have accounts.Each has a number. If you get an account number at Cafe Weling, then you have arived! I was not issued one, yet.

They all soon wanted to meet and speak with me in english. Klaas has managed the bar for over 10 years, so it is like a family. They had all followed Klaas  visit to NYC with the Job Swap program.

The Job Swap is an initiative of the Henry Hudson 400 Foundation and BKB, in cooperation with the NY400. The Wildcard contest is organized together with newspapers Het Parool (Amsterdam) and AM New York (New York).