Derek Vandivere
@vandivere.net
Ex American Dutch guy living in Amsterdam. Professionally, an enterprise architect. Recreationally, spends too much time making vegetarian food, playing jazz and classical trombone, and tending to the cats.
Posts mainly stuff about Amsterdam
Posts mainly stuff about Amsterdam
When you're walking backstage just before the sound check and startle the shit out of yourself
November 16, 2025 at 1:59 PM
When you're walking backstage just before the sound check and startle the shit out of yourself
You know you're in a proper Dutch mens troon when they have 7 different products for setting your hair.
November 12, 2025 at 5:35 PM
You know you're in a proper Dutch mens troon when they have 7 different products for setting your hair.
In my defense, we're supposed to be learning how to use GenAI at work...
November 10, 2025 at 11:38 AM
In my defense, we're supposed to be learning how to use GenAI at work...
Well, this seems dodgy - came in as a chat request, *apparently* from Bluesky...and a really weird link address.
Oh, just noticed the bit at the end "message should not be shared with others." It must be a phishing attempt.
So, if you get one of these, I'd recommend ignoring it.
Oh, just noticed the bit at the end "message should not be shared with others." It must be a phishing attempt.
So, if you get one of these, I'd recommend ignoring it.
November 10, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Well, this seems dodgy - came in as a chat request, *apparently* from Bluesky...and a really weird link address.
Oh, just noticed the bit at the end "message should not be shared with others." It must be a phishing attempt.
So, if you get one of these, I'd recommend ignoring it.
Oh, just noticed the bit at the end "message should not be shared with others." It must be a phishing attempt.
So, if you get one of these, I'd recommend ignoring it.
Another view of the park
November 9, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Another view of the park
It's a lovely day for a walk in Zuid Kennermerland National Park
November 9, 2025 at 2:08 PM
It's a lovely day for a walk in Zuid Kennermerland National Park
Emergency power nap after heavy lunch this unseasonably sunny day...
November 7, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Emergency power nap after heavy lunch this unseasonably sunny day...
Looks like there's been a bit of a translation error here in the Netherlands, unless this is a special Al Jolson version of the song.
November 3, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Looks like there's been a bit of a translation error here in the Netherlands, unless this is a special Al Jolson version of the song.
How I spent yesterday afternoon...solo went pretty well, and it's always nice when your hair matches your horn.
(Credit: Tjerk Laan Photography)
(Credit: Tjerk Laan Photography)
November 3, 2025 at 11:05 AM
How I spent yesterday afternoon...solo went pretty well, and it's always nice when your hair matches your horn.
(Credit: Tjerk Laan Photography)
(Credit: Tjerk Laan Photography)
Good to see that Hegseth is recognizing that logistics is vitally important to an Army but there really must be better ways of moving spare parts.
November 2, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Good to see that Hegseth is recognizing that logistics is vitally important to an Army but there really must be better ways of moving spare parts.
Well, how about that. I'm staying an extra night in Manchester for work by myself, take a wrong turn on my way to a restaurant, and find one of my favorite bands is playing tonight and isn't sold out! Looks like in seeing Cat Empire tonight!
October 21, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Well, how about that. I'm staying an extra night in Manchester for work by myself, take a wrong turn on my way to a restaurant, and find one of my favorite bands is playing tonight and isn't sold out! Looks like in seeing Cat Empire tonight!
Oh, not much, just getting a standing ovation at the Concertgebouw...
October 19, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Oh, not much, just getting a standing ovation at the Concertgebouw...
Holy shit it's really happening
October 19, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Holy shit it's really happening
Fuck yeah I'm an artist
October 19, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Fuck yeah I'm an artist
Perhaps not so handy to have a concert while the Amsterdam Marathon is underway
October 19, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Perhaps not so handy to have a concert while the Amsterdam Marathon is underway
Off to find the artists' entrance of the Concertgebouw!
October 19, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Off to find the artists' entrance of the Concertgebouw!
Off to find the artists' entrance of the Concertgebouw!
October 19, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Off to find the artists' entrance of the Concertgebouw!
Well, that's a nice discovery on the way to the metro - they're doing the art festival with local wood sculptors on Amsterdam again! Abbie said the crow smells like a Norwegian church.
www.houtkunstroute.nl
www.houtkunstroute.nl
October 11, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Well, that's a nice discovery on the way to the metro - they're doing the art festival with local wood sculptors on Amsterdam again! Abbie said the crow smells like a Norwegian church.
www.houtkunstroute.nl
www.houtkunstroute.nl
Very happy with this improvised recipe: polenta cooked in bullion, sesame spinach, and gochuyang marinated baked tofu and tempeh.
October 3, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Very happy with this improvised recipe: polenta cooked in bullion, sesame spinach, and gochuyang marinated baked tofu and tempeh.
And here's the monument to Walraven van Hall, the Resistance Banker who masterminded probably the biggest bank fraud ever to finance the resistance. Tortured and killed. In the background you can see the memorial to Navalny and the current Dutch National Bank.
September 30, 2025 at 6:16 PM
And here's the monument to Walraven van Hall, the Resistance Banker who masterminded probably the biggest bank fraud ever to finance the resistance. Tortured and killed. In the background you can see the memorial to Navalny and the current Dutch National Bank.
Here's where the resistance paper Het Parool was founded. Many of its writers and distributors were imprisoned and killed.
September 30, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Here's where the resistance paper Het Parool was founded. Many of its writers and distributors were imprisoned and killed.
This was a Jewish school until 1938. Pretty much all the teachers and students were sent to the camps in the East.
September 30, 2025 at 6:16 PM
This was a Jewish school until 1938. Pretty much all the teachers and students were sent to the camps in the East.
Here's a monument to the time they shot 30 political prisoners in reprisal for an SS officer being shot, forced civilians to watch, and left the bodies to rot for days.
September 30, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Here's a monument to the time they shot 30 political prisoners in reprisal for an SS officer being shot, forced civilians to watch, and left the bodies to rot for days.
Interesting - Google Maps is suggesting I drive home from the garage, park one canal, break into the Indian restaurant across the canal, dive out their back window, and swim back home.
September 26, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Interesting - Google Maps is suggesting I drive home from the garage, park one canal, break into the Indian restaurant across the canal, dive out their back window, and swim back home.