jamsterdam2012

[jamsterdam2012]

Amsterdam, we love you. Thanks for an amazing week. xoxo forever. ps. Thanks to the MSLGroup for making this mind-manifesting experience possible. Cheers!

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Allison, Brandon, and Larissa's last full day in Amsterdam! All (Simon) smiles as we head back to Seattle!

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Clockwise from upper left: Allison whispers secrets to Anne Frank; Larissa cradles Rembrandt's beer belly; Allison squeezes in a quick workout with David Beckham; Larissa poses with the Duchess of Cambridge.

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Previously on Jamsterdam2012, starring Larissa and Allison: Dank je wel, MSL Amsterdam! Fancy concerts and fried shrimps: the best of high and low below, and on Twitter (@jamsterdam2012). And don't forget about Instagram (@jamsterdam2012), where we're posting #damadverts we see around the city. Culture in Amsterdam is off the hook. And by "culture" we mean "legit culture," like famous paintings, and "kitsch culture," like surreal horror tours (find out what that means below). We've been mainlining A'dam art, architecture, and history -- here's a rundown of the past few days. Van Gogh Museum. Everyone says, "Holy moly, you HAVE to go to the Van Gogh Museum." Everyone is right, especially about the first floor, which contains Van Gogh's greatest hits. Canal Tour. Amsterdam is home to more than 100 kilometers of canals, most of which were built in the 17th century. So, for an hour, we floated around on a pointy boat that resembled the head of a crocodile, craning our necks to take in the glut of beautiful buildings, and pretending it was 1663, the year before the plague killed off most everyone. Vondelpark. The Dutch are so chill. At EOD, when the sun is shining, they head over to Vondelpark -- described to us by one of our MSL Amsterdam colleagues as "the city's backyard." They barbecue, eat kroketten (see pic; basically, deep-fried cylinders of mouth-watering gravy + mayo dip), and play reggae music. Okay, not everyone listens to reggae music, but we heard at least three boomboxes blasting Bob Marley. What's up, Trench Town Noord!! Madame Tussaud's. Wax museums are the best. They are just uncanny enough to be creepy, but they are also educational: we learned all about the Dutch royals! Albert Cuyp Market. Blocks and blocks of goods and foods. A must-do for anyone looking for Levi's 501s, frozen yogurt, deodorant, and neon zebra-stripe bandeau tops. One-stop shopping, really. Museum van Loon. The original estate of Willem van Loon, co-founder of the VOC. Well-manicured gardens, cool ironwork, tastefully appointed rooms. Canal house chic at its finest. The Amsterdam Dungeon. This is kind of hard to believe, so get ready. The Amsterdam Dungeon is an interactive tour (read: actors and audience participation) that chronicles terrifying moments in Amsterdam history. Like the aforementioned plague of 1664, the shady ops of the VOC, and the Grim Reaper rollercoaster. Larissa was thrown into a cell by a kooky torture expert who looked like a zombified Chloë Sevigny. Allison was found guilty of witchcraft by a high Inquisitor; he sent her into a dark room with a man who appeared to be the horrifying progeny of Ludwig van Beethoven and Scylla, whereupon she had a panic attack. The Tattoo Museum. Pretty much what it sounds like. Body art from all over the world, plus a working parlor. We are considering matching ink because together tattoos're better. Centraal Station Bike Park. Three stories, three zillion bikes. The true meaning of Amsterdam.

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Tattoo Museum Hanky Panky

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Spin Around Amsterdam Take a look at Amsterdam through Allison and Larissa's eyes -- from Dam Square and De Waag, to huge bike lots and their view overlooking the Artis Zoo.

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In Amsterdam, you have to lock up your bikes. Also your tiny cars, and your rhinos.

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Larissa + fried shrimps. Oh yeah, and a McKroket.

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I've got a castle. Now I've got a moat. Now I've got 160 moats. Just TRY to storm my castle. BOOM!

-- Larissa recounts the expansion of Amsterdam, following our canal cruise

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Oh yes, yes we did. #touriststchotchkes

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The MSL Amsterdam team (with bespoke Simon smiles courtesy of Larissa) bids us adieu. Thanks, all, for your hospitality and unmatched verve!

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Previously on Jamsterdam2012, starring Larissa and Allison: Lost keys, brainstorms, and good beers (duh) -- all this and more below, and on Twitter (@jamsterdam2012). Wednesday. Final day in the office. We almost cried. We love MSL Amsterdam so much! After reviewing the final document for the aforementioned upcoming pitch, we walked to the Concertgebouw for a FREE lunchtime concert. The program -- featuring two quartets, string and saxophone -- warmed the cockles of our hearts. Allison did a crazy-good job translating the Dutch program notes (not really). On the walk back to the office, we had an epiphany: the Concertgebouw is situated at the end of De Lairessestraat. Allison's (assuredly incorrect) translation: Larissa's Street. Amazing, right?!? We farewelled our colleagues, and even got a chance to meet Anders Kempe, President of MSLGroup's European operations. Thanks again to all at MSL Amsterdam -- we learned so much, including how to eat sandwiches with flatware, which is so genteel. We popped over to Dam Square to see the Royal Palace (that's the dome in the photo), then headed down Spuistraat for some serious Euro shopping omg! We saw sweet graffiti art in the alleyways, and discovered that, in the Netherlands, McDonald's serves Shrimp McNuggets. Larissa is drooling.

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Fiets of Strength! Watch the Jamsterdam 2012 team cycle along the Amstel. (Look, Ma! No hands!)

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Wait. What?

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Previously on Jamsterdam2012 with Larissa and Allison: A great first day in the office at MSL Amsterdam! Read more below, and most definitely follow us on Twitter (@jamsterdam2012), where we're not just tweetin' it up -- we're also Instagrammin' advertising we see around the 'dam: #damadverts.

Day two with the MSL Amsterdammers was kind of the best day ever.

HERE ARE THE REASONS WHY:

1) Larissa completed her Tuesday Jamsterdam2012 Challenge: She cycled hands-free without running into any cars or small children. (We cannot guarantee that she did not hit a pigeon.)

2) Allison completed her Tuesday Jamsterdam2012 Challenge: She cycled in heels. Her pedi did not survive repeated buffeting by her pedals. But whatevs.

3) We were asked to participate in an afternoon brainstorm around a project for an MSL Amsterdam client! It was awesome; we collaborated on refining strategy, creating a "wrapper" for an upcoming campaign, and even b'stormin' some digital and experiential executions. BOOM! Thanks to Marine, Sara, Peter, and Judith for inviting us to join. And good luck with the pitch. And remember: Goonies never say die.

4) We totes brought some outraegeously HOT weather to Amsterdam. Example: 80 degrees and probably 150% humidity. Swampy and summery. Yeeeeah! And you're welcome, Holland.

5) Allison lost her keys. This did not contribute to Tuesday being kind of the best day ever.

6) Fieke, the MSL AMS receptionist, found Allison's keys.

7) We saw some rad Deco/Arts 'n' Crafts and late-60s mod architecture, even amidst the amazing 17th-century buildings.

8) We drank local Amsterdam beers IN A WINDMILL. The IJ Brouwerij, to be exact. That's pronounced "AYE BROW-RYE," kind of. But not really. Dutch is difficult for us.

9) We ate dinner and drank more Dutch beers on a terrace at 22h00. And it was still hot. When we walked home, here's what happened:

LARISSA: WHOA! Those are huuuuuuge ducks!

ALLISON: Those are geese.

Looking forward to our last day in the office on Wednesday, when we'll get to read through the final client presentation, meet Anders Kempe (President of MSLGROUP's European operations), and hopefully pop out for a lunchtime concert at the Royal Concertgebouw.

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Fuzzy geese along the canal.

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Oh, Amsterdam. You are so divine.