The idea of an OD trip to Amsterdam was hatched at a lunch your secretary had with
Duncan Bull (O, 1971, left) in May this year. Duncan, who has worked at The Rijksmuseum for nineteen years, is the Curator of non-Dutch pictures. With a hugely impressive CV packed with international experience and academic qualifications, he is a long way from a prematurely trimmed post-matric when he and Bishops disagreed on his political activism strategy, quite tame at the time, but a step too far for the School. He hasn't looked back, and now on the threshold of retirement, has made his mark at this, one of the most iconic of international art museums.
What, in initial discussions was going to be a short talk to UK ODs in London, developed into a mini break in Amsterdam itself.
Cormac Petit (O, 1973) a native of that city for the past 27 years was dragooned into the organising team and what an asset he proved to be, not least for his membership of the Royal Industrieele Groote Club, a very grand and exclusive establishment on the Dam where we had dinner on our first night. He also has a deep and loving relationship with the City and we benefited from this on a walking tour on our first afternoon.
Allister Wilson (G,1971) who is currently on secondment for E&Y to The Hague (where he heads global the Shell audit) most generously entertained
Waine Lawton (F, 1965) and Liz and your secretary to a pre-tour dinner in the amazing Brasserie van Baerie where we pushed to the limit their stocks of their delicious and, in the end, limitless, Armagnac.
The rest of the trip is described below.
(My apologies for the quality of the photos which were taken with a mobile phone - a very unsatisfactory plan B after the lead camera was left in London. Click on the pictures to enlarge them).
The curtainraiser, 4th November:
As mentioned, the first evening was, for Waine and Liz Lawton and me, spent in the entertaining and generous company of Allister Wilson. The restaurant was amused to find themselves attending to the needs of three Bishops boys (two of whom were Founders boarders) and allocated one Vivienne to head the service. The food was fabulous, the wine exemplary and the service - thanks to the super-resilient Vivienne - superb. For the evening experience and the inspired choice of restaurant, thank you Allister.
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At the Brasserie van Baerlie: Waine Lawton, Nicky Bicket, Vivienne (taking the photo), Liz Lawton and Allister Wilson |
Lunch and the walk, 5th November:
The following day, we met at Cafe Luxembourg for lunch and a quick refreshing of the party details (to include the Beekmans who your secretary had somehow managed to omit from the lists). With all well since it ended well, we then staggered out to follow
Cormac Petit who showed us parts of the City even the well-travelled and highly knowledgeable
David Jordan (W, 1962) hadn't seen. We started at the Begijnhof, seeing the secret church there and the
English Church (with pulpit panels by Mondriaan). We then followed the pilgrim’s route past the
pillar marking the Miracle of Amsterdam, through the Oudemaanhuispoort into the
University District, past the Agnietenkapel and via the Oudezijds Voorburgwal
to the Red Light District (not entirely unfamiliar to some of us). We passed the Condomerie and came to the oldest
building in Amsterdam, the Oude Kerk (unchanged since Rembrandt’s day). Finally
we walked past the hidden church of Our Lord in the Attic to the St. Nicolaas
Basilica (patron saint of Amsterdam, seafarers, and children). There we ended
our walk.
Cormac has a deep love and knowledge of Amsterdam and that showed through in spades as we walked off an energy-building lunch, orientating ourselves with the city and preparing physically and mentally for dinner.
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Cormac Petit and Marjan Beekman |
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David Jordan, Waine Lawton and Rudi Beekman |
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The English Church in the Begijnhof |
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Cormac, Rudi and David |
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Waine, Cormac and David |
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Cormac, David, Waine and Rudi |
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Rudi and David |
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Rudi, Cormac, David and Marjan |
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Such a beautiful city |
Dinner, 5th November:
Founded (as the De Groote Klub Doctrina et Amicitia) in 1788, now The Royal Industrieele Groote Klub combines the membership criteria of academia and indusrty in a very grand premises on the Dam. Cormac is a member and very kindly hosted our first evening there. Pre-drinks were held in the members' bar and a very sumptuous and beautifully laid table, replete with gifts and OD-branded menus greeted us as we made our way to dinner. After dinner, Duncan Bull gave us a short interactive and, in his inimitable style, deeply knowledgeable and engaging talk on both the Rijksmuseum and his side passion, Robert Jacob Gordon (think Gordon's Bay and see:
www.robertjacobgordon.nl). This was the perfect set up for the following day, give or take a few post-prandial ... well, Armagnacs, of course.
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Claire and Jeremy Friedlander |
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Waine and Liz Lawton, Claire Friedlander and Peter Arthur |
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Waine and Peter |
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Duncan Bull, David, and Diana Arthur |
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Duncan and Nahnya Petit |
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David and Rudi |
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Duncan and Allister Wilson |
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A welcome from Cormac |
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Claire, Rudi, Waine and Marjan |
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from right: Diana, Jeremy, Marjan, Waine and Rudi |
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Waine and Marjan |
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Liz and Allister |
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Nahnya, David, Liz and Allister |
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Duncan, Peter and Cormac |
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Waine, Marjan, Jeremy, Diana and Duncan |
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David Jordan finishing off with a few well-chosen words |
Wednesday 6th November: Robert Jacob Gordan and the Rijksmuseum:
Not everyone gains access to the Rijksmuseum Reading Room. And even fewer have the rare privilege of seeing the drawings - some up to eight metres in width - and notes of Robert Jacob Gordon which are brought out only every two years. Top that, then, with Duncan taking us through the historical, political and social commentary surrounding Gordon. A truly incredible money-can't-buy experience. Duncan's passion is for the life and times of Robert Jacob Gordon for whom he has curated a website, well worth a visit (
www.robertjacobgordon.nl)
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The Rijksmuseum Library |
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Examining the paintings and drawings of Robert Jacob Gordon |
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Cormac and Allister |
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The imposing facade of the Rijksmuseum - and if you think it reminds you of the Amsterdam Central Station, you wouldn't be wrong. The same architect, Pierre Cuypers, designed both |
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A man who needs no introduction and Frans Hals's The Meagre Company |
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Cormac, Peter, Diana and Duncan |
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Duncan, David, Nahnya, Rudi, Cormac, Marjan (just) and Peter |
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Marjan, Rudi, Diana, Allister, Duncan and Claire |
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Duncan, David, Rumer Ramsey and Nahnya under the watchful eyes of The Company of Captain Dirck Jacobsz Rosecrans and
Lieutenant Pauw, by Cornelis Ketel (1588)
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Rumer, Diana, Peter, David, Duncan and, struggling, Jeremy |
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Finally, and, depending on whether one had seen it before, disappointingly or interestingly, Rembrandt's The Nightwatch, the centrepiece of the Museuem, being prepared for a restoration. |
Supper, Wednesday 6th November:
d'Vyff Vliegen, founded in 1939 following the joining of five 17thC canal houses, is one of Amsterdam's most interesting, delicious (and quite expensive) restaurants. It consists of a warren of rooms, all packed with diners - local and tourists - enjoying local cuisine at its finest. A fitting close to the trip.
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Our (branded) menu and a photo of the restaurant entrance |
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Jeremy, Rudi, Liz and Waine |
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Peter, David, Diana, Marjan, Rudi, Liz, Waine and Duncan |
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Peter and David |
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Add captionClaire, Duncan and Rudi |
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David and Marjan |
And then it was over!
On the trip were:
Peter Arthur (W, 1965) and Diana Arthur
Jeremy Friedlander (F, 1972) and Claire Friedlander
Rudi Beekman (O, 1962) and Marjan Beekman
Waine Lawton (F, 1965) and Liz Lawton
Cormac Petit (O, 1973) and Nahnya Petit
David Jordan (W, 1962)
Allister Wilson (G, 1971)
Duncan Bull (G 1971)
Nicky Bicket (F, 1973)