Tag: art

Welcome to STMPD

Hola everyone.

Guys, you know that I love talking about music more than anything. But as I guess that all these music lists are getting a little bit boring, I thought I’d change it up a bit. So, today I have the honor of introducing you to one of the coolest music labels on this planet.

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But before I begin I wanted to give you guys a little update on my last post and party a little bit, because it seems like Trump stopped working against the ban for elephant trophies. He stated that he stopped it because he wants to investigate further on how the conservation works, but I’m pretty sure that he stopped because the whole world was literally screaming at him and his administration. So yey and congratulations to all of us. Seems like we just helped to save this planet – at least for some time. Well done guys and whoever got active – thank you so much. You’re awesome.

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Okay, there’s that. Now let’s get back to this very special music label. The EDM fans among you will probably already know this supercool label called STMPD RCRDS. It was founded in May last year by the one and only Martijn Garristen – also known as Martin Garrix. And before any of you guys question my opinion about this label, no I’m not just interested in it because it’s his label. I mean, I was at first, but now that I’ve actually taken time to get to know it, it’s like Martijn introduced me to this amazing thing that I am now exploring on my own while being so damn thankful for the introduction.

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So yeah, it all started in May 2016, so you could say that the label is still pretty young. Martijn founded it after having some severe arguments and a disagreement about the ownership rights of his music with his older label Spinnin’ Records. And as the genius he is, instead of signing to another label, he just created his own, which now gives him complete freedom when it comes to his music and pretty much everything else. If I’m right the label now “belongs” to Sony Music and it seems like Martijn himself couldn’t be happier. Until today there are about 15 or so artists signed to the label, including Martijn himself (unfortunately I couldn’t find a complete list) and I have to say, all of them are freaking amazing.

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What I think is especially cool is that the label mostly consists of pretty much still unknown DJs and artists – I mean, at least I didn’t know them before. And also, like I said, Martijn is totally free when it comes to his own music and productions and so on, but of course he has his portfolio and type of music that people expect him to release and stick to, so he can’t just release anything. That’s why – another genius move – he just created side projects like GRX or Area 21, so he can release other music he enjoys to produce too. And I think that’s so damn amazing, because that way he’s able to show the world even more of his talent.

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STMPD is based in Amsterdam (like Martijn, of course) and just about a few months ago he and his team took over one of Amsterdams coolest recording studios called FC Walvisch, a spot used by international superstars like Pharrell Williams, Lady Gaga and of course Martijn. Actually, in the last of his videos YouTube series “The Martin Garrix Show”, you could see him and his team celebrating the official opening of their new headquarters. You can now find the studio under the new name STMPD Recording Studios – here’s a link to their website.

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I have to say that I am incredibly proud of Martijn for bringing this whole thing to life and making his dream come true. It makes me kind of speechless too. And let’s not forget the fact that all the signed artists are seriously so damn good. I mean, how perfect can a label get? Cool headquarters, fresh young vibes, the most amazing boss ever and freaking good artists and breathtakingly good music. That’s all anyone in the music business could wish for. Oh, and if you’re wondering why the label is called STMPD – the name was actually inspired by Martijns father’s stamp auctioning company. So it’s basically just another cute tribute and link to his family.

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Okay, so, that’s pretty much all the most important information about this amazing label that I can provide you with. And now let’s get to the most fun part, which is getting to know some of the artists. I actually highly recommend following the label on Spotify (if you do have Spotify), their playlists are amazing and also quite addictive. I’ve been listening to them on repeat the past weeks. So, without further ado, let me present you some of my favorite song releases:

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As you can see it’s pretty hard for me to not just add every single song the label ever released. I of course had to put Area 21 on the list, because I just love this side of Martijn so freaking much, and also CMC$ as his song features the one and only Conor Maynard. Like, can you believe it? Two of my favorite guys are working with and for the same label. That’s so damn crazy.

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And yeah, that’s pretty much it. There you go guys. Welcome to STMPD RCRDS. I have to say that I’m truly so thankful to Martijn for founding and introducing me to this amazing label and awesome kind of music and awesome artists. And it would actually make me so happy if some of you enjoy it too. So please don’t hesitate to leave a comment down below, I’m really curious. And yeah, I really hope you enjoyed this post and I wish you all an amazing week. And, as always, thanks for reading. x

Let’s get cooking

Hola everyone.

Today I’d like to talk about something I myself am and probably the whole population (at least I hope so) is very passionate about. Food and cooking.

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I just love cooking. And food. I mean, of course. It’s food. How can you not love food? But according to other people, cooking and food are two completely different and separate things. And I in some points have to agree. And this may come as a shock now, but sometimes I truly enjoy the cooking part more than the eating one. Super crazy, I know. But I just love it so freaking much.

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But actually I think the whole cooking aspect and the huge interest for food pretty much lie in my genes. My mum is a professional health manager, dietologist and vegan nutritionist. And it was always normal for us to cook meals at home. So it was always normal for me to think about food and the ways you can work with it and turn it into amazing, super delicious meals. That’s the most fascinating aspect of cooking. For example, you take a plain potato and just by boiling it and then frying it in butter in a pan you can turn it into one of the tastiest pieces of food ever. I mean, who doesn’t love fried potatoes with ketchup? Everyone. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The possibilities in cooking are literally endless and that’s what I love so much about it. It’s so creative.

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I actually know quite a lot of people who don’t cook themselves and it shocks and surprises me every single time. Because cooking is such a big part of my life and such a big hobby of mine. It’s something I do to calm down. I forget everything around me. And it makes me so happy. I even have my own Spotify playlist just for when I’m cooking. I think that says it all, right?

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But of course I understand that some people just don’t get so often in touch with food as I do. And most of the time those people actually want to cook and want to learn how to do it. An here comes my tip for everyone who wants to start cooking – find yourself someone, preferably a cook of course, who inspires you. That special person was Jamie Oliver for me. Besides my mum and my grandma, of course. But Jamie is and always has been my biggest idol when it comes to cooking. I still have no idea how he does it, but somehow this guy can take a plain carrot and peas and turn them into the most beautiful dish you will ever lay your eyes upon. I mean, even just a bowl full of cabbage looks mouthwatering beautiful in his books. Plain cabbage. Seriously? Jamie, please teach me your ways. And besides that, all of his recipes are just so damn inspiring and creative and tasty. Whenever I’m looking for a nice meal to cook, I usually just search for something on this website, because he and his recipes never let me down. And judging from all the videos and articles I’ve seen from him, he seems like the nicest person ever. And his kitchens in his TV shows are always literally kitchen goals. I know they are sets, but I have no doubt that his kitchen at home looks just as amazing or even better.

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Okay, so that’s that. But in order to not just repeat myself in a post I’ve already written, I thought, as I’ve been cooking quite a lot in the past months, I’d share my favorite meals with you guys. Let’s go.

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  • Pasta with tomato sauce and tuna
    • This is literally my go-to comfort food and I usually cook it at least every two weeks if not even more often. Also it’s pretty easy too. Just grab your favorite noodles and favorite tomato sauce, elevate them and make them tasty and there you have it – super fast and easy comfort food for all you pasta lovers out there.
  • Mashed potatoes with pretty much anything
    • This is the kind of meal that I immediately associate with my home. Mashed potatoes is the meal my mum raised me with, because she never wanted to feed me those typical baby food glasses. So she just made her own. And since then her mashed potatoes are the best mashed potatoes I will ever eat in my entire life. Nothing can beat the love of a mother.
  • Ramen or Pho
    • Here comes the asian aspect of my culinary favorites list. I actually had my first Ramen last summer, in Brighton at the local Wagamamas. It was a seafood ramen and the moment I tasted it, my life changed. Since then I’ve been on the mission of finding the best ramen / pho in the world. Right now my favorite is the bowl you get at the popular restaurant called Monsieur Vuong in Berlin. It’s freaking amazing. If you ever get to Berlin, you need to check by this awesome restaurant.
  • An amazing salad
    • Since I’ve been living on my own here, I’ve discovered my special love for a good salad. The important part is the dressing. If the dressing is good, I could eat tons and tons of salad. Like caesars dressing. Oh my god. So good. So yeah, I’m one of those people who actually love eating salads. But not for the healthy aspect, but because I could just bury myself in a good salad. Oh and of course the more colorful and freaky the salad is and the more various ingredients are in it, like fruit or nuts, the better.
  • Any kind of rustic stews
    • Yeah, I love stews. Comfort food right there and then. I mean, what’s easier than chopping vegetables, putting them into a pot of soup and just waiting for them to cook? That’s pretty easy. Seriously. And it’s literally one of my favorite dishes to cook in winter when it’s cold and rainy outside and I know that I can later curl up on the sofa with a nice, hot bowl of stew. What a dream.
  • Pasta, pasta and more pasta
    • I’ve already mentioned one of my favorite pasta dishes, but let’s be honest. It’s pasta. How could you not love pasta? And what else should I say? It’s pasta. It even tastes freaking amazing just by adding butter to it.

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So, there you go guys. That’s my love for cooking and some of my favorite dishes. Honestly, I could go on and on and on with babbling about food and my most beloved meals, but I think it’s better to stop now. And I mean, I haven’t even started about my love for baking and desserts. God. Desserts. But I guess I’ll have to save this for another day, another post. Until then I hope you enjoyed this little one here. Please don’t hesitate to leave a comment down below so we can all talk about who much we love food. How amazing does that sound? That would be my favorite discussion ever. And yeah, besides that I wish you all an amazing week and, as always, thanks for reading. x

Quick update

Hola everyone.

You know what? I was just thinking about what to write today and then I thought, it’s been quite some time since I just talked to you guys, about everything and nothing. And I thought the weekend is just around the corner and I’m quite in the chilled mood, so why not chat a little bit today? So, maybe get a cup of tea, put on some good music and enjoy me babbling about things.

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First of all I have to say that today started off amazingly – I woke up to Joe (= Joe Sugg) posting literally the cutest videos of Conor on his Instagram site and they just made me so smiley. But that’s no surprise, actually. I mean, what else can I do besides being happy at the look of Conor, smiling widely, wearing a goddamn white shirt? That’s basically the most natural reaction to something like this. And I’m really glad that Conor looks happy again and doing better. Thank god. Seems like the sunny LA is working miracles on him.

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And yeah, I just had another exam on Monday, which I gladly aced. It was the last exam of one of my optional courses and I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am that this is finally over. I mean, I literally chose this myself and god, it was so damn boring. I mean, actually the last exam, so this one, was pretty interesting. But all the others ones… Nope, not at all. And if you’re wondering which subject I’m talking about – it was culture anthropology. And I have to say that I expected it to be more on the “this is how cultures work”-side, but no, actually I learned about small tribes in Africa. I’m a hundred percent sure that this could be the most interesting subject ever for other people, but for me, not so much. But yeah, I finally finished it and I’m really glad about that. And it also means that I now have some time to chill and relax until my next exam in December. After nearly two months full of studying and thinking about all the things I still had to do and always feeling bad when I did something else than study, this feels like being on holiday.

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Oh and right now I’m actually on my way home. I’ve now been in Vienna for over a week and I seriously can’t wait to get home again, even if it’s just for two days. I think I’ll always be one of those people who just can’t wait to get back home. Pretty paradox if you think about it, as I’m planning to move to the UK next year. Ad speaking of that, I know I always babble about my future and amazing colleges in the UK and I know, I have something new every single time. But this time it’s different. I really found my place to be. It’s a music college where I could study music journalism, including all the PR, marketing and amendment stuff and that’s literally so amazing and exciting. And, yes, I know, I said that I first said that fashion journalism was my dream, then lifestyle journalism and now music journalism. But I’ve noticed something. If I want to get a good job that truly makes me happy, I just need to pick one that I can work with. I mean, I love fashion. I really do. But I noticed that I just don’t spend hours with it every day. It’s not my biggest hobbies. Other than music, which is basically my whole life. Apart from the not-playing-a-musical-instrument-part, I would say I live music. Seriously. I spend hours and hours on and with music. It’s a subject I can work with, which I know I’m good at. And then I found this college and it just made click. So yeah, I’m currently trying my best to get a spot at this amazing college. Wish me luck. Oh and if you’re interested, the college is the British and Irish Modern Music Institute.

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And besides that, there hasn’t much happened. Oh, right. Two amazing bands – Coasts and The Hunna – announced a tour together for next year and I can already not wait to see them. They are both bands I got to know through Spotify – thanks Spotify – and I immediately fell for them. And now that they are seriously visiting Vienna, I’m quite shocked to be honest. I pretty much expected them to be two of those bands you always listen to but will never be able to see live as they are just far too unknown in your country. But seemingly I was quite wrong and I’m so glad about that. If you’re interested, here are are one of my favorites from them:

 

 

 

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So guys, that’s pretty much it. It makes me really happy that I’m able to talk to you guys and that I get to share all of this with you. And I really really hope you enjoy it too. Oh and please don’t hesitate to leave your thoughts and comments down below. I’m really interest in what you’ve been up to. And yeah, until then I wish you all an amazing weekend and, as always, thanks for reading. x

Why I love Marvel so much

Hola everyone.

Marvel. Oh yes. I’m letting the geek out today. Yes I am. Embrace the geek I say.

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So, Marvel. I don’t really know where to start, but today I’d like to discuss this very important topic with you guys and tell you why I love it so freaking much. I mean, I have already reviewed Marvel movies on here, but let’s start right at beginning, shall we? The very first contact I had with the MCU (= the Marvel Cinematic Universe) was when I turned on the TV and the first Iron Man movie was playing. And without knowing anything about it all, I just watched it and oh my god, I fell for it. Since then Marvel has wrapped me around its finger. No joke. And I think this was also on free TV, so there were already other Marvel movies out too. I mean, I wasn’t late, but also not the earliest. But since then I am, I can tell you.

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That was also the moment I became #TeamIronMan. Yes, I am in that team. I have already had quite some discussions with #TeamCap members and no argument could ever change my mind. I just think that Tony Stark is literally the coolest guy ever. I mean, yes he was quite a douche in the first movie, but if you have seen every movie, you could really see his personality develop throughout the stories. Of course I don’t want to spoil anything for you guys, but just to warn you, there might be some spoilers. Like right now. I mean, in the last movie, Captain America: Civil War, he really shows his sensitive side. I know, I’ve told you all about that (here is the link), so I’ll not repeat myself all over again.

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So, that’s the story about my favorite Marvel character. But apart from that, the MCU means just so much more to me. I mean, I don’t read the comics, so I’m not a pro when it comes to all the different stories and details you don’t get to see in the movies, but I don’t even mind at all. Because the MCU on its own is just a big freaking amazing universe that gets me every single time I watch one of its movies. I mean, Marvel movies are the kind of films that keep me on the edge of my seat through the whole time. I remember watching Captain America: Civil War and not only that I cried, but that towards the end my whole body was tensed and shaking. And I’m not joking right now, I was indeed really shaking. And no, I wasn’t cold. I mean, how freaky is that? I was so into the story and everything was just so exciting and thrilling that I couldn’t even calm myself down anymore.

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But what I probably love about the movies the most is how they are all connected with each other in some special ways. That means, that if you want to watch a Marvel movie and Iron Man 3 is playing right now and you’re thinking like “well, I guess I’ll just watch this one” and you do that before having seen any of the movies before, you’re basically screwed. That’s how you know that those people next to you in the cinema are true fans, because you can’t watch one of the new movies without having seen the past ones. And that’s what makes it so exciting, because throughout every story there are so many references to other movies and other stories which you really only get if you have seen this particular movie and I think that’s so cool.

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Oh and of course Marvel basically trains their fans. I mean, we don’t just have to watch all the movies to be up-to-date. No no no no. You also have to stay until the very last second of the movie, as there are always some post-credit scenes and sometimes those few seconds are one of the most important ones of the whole movie. Sometimes they tease an upcoming movie, sometimes they show what happens to another character and so on. And that’s so funny when you’re sitting in the cinema and the lights go on and after the big post-credit scene, which comes up a few seconds after the movie has ended, all the other people just leave and you’re left with about ten other people in the room, all desperately waiting for the end to see what’s Marvels next big thing or next secret to be revealed. I always say that that’s the moment you really see who’s a die hard Marvel or MCU fan and who isn’t.

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And last but not least, the movies themselves are just freaking mind-blowing. Every single one of them. I mean, the stories are amazing, the actors are incredible, the characters are so damn cool, even the evil guys are awesome, all the details and the performances are so well done and it just looks so real. Like, Groot, from the Guardians of the Galaxy. He’s basically a tree and he looks so damn real. That’s crazy. And somehow they always perfect the mix of both thrilling action and funny humor. Because you get this totally serious scene, people are battling, some are dying and one of the heroes comes into the shot and is about to save everything and then he suddenly runs into something or falls off or something like that. And that just lightens up the whole moment and makes you laugh, but then you get back to the action and it’s just such an amazing rollercoaster of emotions. And onto that I just love that Stan Lee, the genius of a writer that wrote all the stories, has a part in every single movie. I’m always waiting for him to show up at some point. In the last Thor movie (spoilers ahead) he was the one who cut Thor’s hair and I mean, how funny is that? I just love it.

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So guys, there you go. That’s my love for Marvel and the MCU in a nutshell. I really have to say that I’m truly a huge fan of this incredible cinematic universe. I’m looking forward to every single movie and I love the characters and I’m already so excited for all the upcoming movies and I just love that I get to experience them all. But what about you guys? Are you also as deep in love with Marvel as I am? And who’s your favorite hero? Please don’t hesitate to leave a comment down below, I’m really curious. And until then I wish you all an amazing week and hope that you enjoyed this post. And, as always, thanks for reading. x

New Music Friday

Hola everyone.

Another beginning of the month, another music list, right? And as it’s just the beginning of November, I thought we’d start this one off together with some amazing music. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

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For this month – and this won’t come as a surprise – my music is pretty heavy on the EDM side right now, due to Martijns show and my longing to relive the show over and over again. But of course there’s something for everyone on there – at least I hope so. So, let’s get right to it, shall we?

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Area 21 – Girls

The EDM fans among you will probably know this – Area 21 may not sound like Martijn, but it actually is Martijn together with the singer Maejor. And I don’t know about you but I’m literally addicted to this side of him, no joke. I usually don’t listen to this kind of music, but I could bury myself in this. And don’t even get me started on how amazing this is live. Holy moly.

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Saint Raymond – Nightcrawling

He is back. FINALLY. I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am that Callum is finally back with awesome new music. And I’m still so thankful to Ed for taking Callum on tour with him and introducing me to him in 2014. Thank god.

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Hippo Campus – Monsoon / Tuesday

I found this band through another Spotify list and I’m so happy that I did. Just another reason for me for being so deeply in love with Spotify. And this band, oh my god. And this song. I have to say, when I found this song as a live version, I nearly fell off my chair. Seriously. Like, how is it possible to sound this good live? And there is that part when the upbeat part starts and it always feels like a spark of light lit up in my soul. I love it so much. Goosebumps guaranteed, every single time.

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And as one song is far too less for this amazing band, I have of course got another song of theirs to show you. This one is called Tuesday and it’s literally such a calming song. I can’t really tell why, but it just is. And it’s literally the most perfect song to listen to while cooking. Actually all of their songs make the most perfect cooking playlist.

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The 1975 – Milk

Yes, that really is the title. I really have no idea why, but somehow The 1975 thought they’d just upload this song again, as it is actually pretty old. But that doesn’t make it any less amazing. And that’s how I found it again. I especially love the guitar in this one. And personally I’d say it’s one of their best songs ever.

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Brooks & Grx – Boomerang

And another EDM track – what a surprise. And again Martijn, of course. Yes, he has more than one side projects, here under the name of Grx. I can just say that when I heard this live I freaked out completely and since then I’ve been listening to it every single day and am falling for it more and more. The drop is freaking amazing. What an awesome piece of music.

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BØRNS – 10.000 Emerald Pools

Some of you may know this song from the movie “The Space Between Us” – one of my favorite movies ever, just to mention it. To be honest, the first time I heard the song I thought that Børns was a woman. Really. But the fact that he’s a men doesn’t change the awesomeness of the song. I really really really love it and I think it’s truly a one of a kind song.

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Zuli – follow you

Another song I found through Spotify. Thanks Spotify. It’s the kind of song that perfectly describes my taste in music. Especially the end of it and the guitar part. What can I say? It’s just a great song that puts you instantly in a good mood.

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Tom Rosenthal – Pingu in the Igloo

What other good way to end this list is there then to end it on another amazing piece by Tom Rosenthal. I’ve already introduced my love for this guy and his music to you, so of course I had to include him here too. It’s the perfectly calm song, for a nice evening on the couch, preferably with tea and a comfy blanket.

 

 

So there guys, there you go. Here’s a small selection of the songs and music I’ve been listening to the past weeks. I hope you enjoy it. As always, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment down below. I’m really curious whether you know or like the songs or not. Oh, and yes, that is indeed Martijn in the cover picture. And, yeah, until then I wish you all an amazing weekend and, as always, thanks for reading. x

Amsterdam

Hola everyone.

So, as recently mentioned in my last post about Martijns amazing show at ADE I was luckily able to visit myself (here’s the link), I was in Amsterdam a week ago for a short trip with my friend. And I can just tell you guys, it was freaking amazing. What a lovely city.

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Okay, so first things first. We stayed in Amsterdam for four days, from Thursday until Sunday. Martijns show was on Friday so we thought it would be better to fly home on Sunday, as Saturday was our literal hangover day. God, was I tired. I think we got home at about 5 o’clock in the morning and as excited and hyped I was, I just couldn’t sleep and basically slept for about three hours that night. But oh well. Sleep is underrated, right?

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Apart from Martijns show, which of course was the highlight of those four days, the trip was really really really amazing. I loved it so much. I mean, the city is so cute and you just feel so welcomed there. All the people are so nice – as you can see down below in one of the pics, as some guys came up to me all of a sudden while my friend was taking a picture of me and placed themselves around me for the picture. First I thought that they wanted to make fun of us or anything, but they actually were so nice and funny. Like, just look at the picture. How funny is that? And it came out looking so perfect, I just love it.

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And the city overall has such a cool vibe to it. I mean, I’ve never seen so many good-looking people in a matter of four days. No wonder I want to move somewhere up North.  And all the stores and restaurants and cafés are so cool too. They all look so modern and new and stylish, it’s nearly overwhelming. I couldn’t stop looking around in total awe. It was actually my first ever time visiting The Netherlands, but after those four days I fully understand why it’s one of the happiest countries on the planet. It was really hard for me to not smile during those days. Seriously.

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What made the weekend even more special for me was of course ADE. It’s so crazy to be in a city that is filled with people who share the same love for music. And let’s not forget all the DJs that were there too. I got a teeny tiny heart attack every time I saw the yellow flags around a corner. God, I can’t wait to visit the city and ADE again and make the most of it – go to all the different shows, of course visit Martijns shows on Friday and Saturday and go to different talks and masterclasses. The festival is literally such a cool opportunity to see different artists and meet so many different people from all over the world.

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And I think apart from ADE, we also made the most of our trip. We went to different museums – the museum for modern art and the Van Gogh museum -, walked around the city pretty much the whole day, went to supercool restaurants and cafés and visited basically all the important places you should see when you get to Amsterdam for the first time. I really really really loved it.

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Also, I just have to mention that Dutch is such a cute language, oh my god. No is Nee there. Nee. How cute is that? And the architecture, it’s so charming. All the crooked windows, walls and houses, the cute bridges and holy moly, so many bikes. I’ve never seen so many bikes in one place. And I think that also shows the amazing mentality of the people there, because most of them use bikes or if they use cars, they are mostly e-cars. What a green city. Really.

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So yeah guys, there you go. Those were the four days in Amsterdam in a nutshell. I really enjoyed my stay there and I can’t wait to come back, preferably during ADE. I can quite understand Martijn for living there and not moving to LA or something, like all the big names in the music business. Good choice.

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But guys, have any of you ever had the chance to visit Amsterdam or ADE? Did you enjoy it as much as I did? And do you maybe have some tips for me what to do the next time I get there or which city I should visit next? Please don’t hesitate to leave a comment down below. And until then I hope you enjoyed this post and the pictures down below. I’m pretty sure that Amsterdam is one of the most photogenic cities I’ve ever been to, so please enjoy. And, as always, I wish you all an amazing week. Oh, and Happy Halloween. x

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