Netherlands

Essays on bicycles, casinos, and typography by adventurer Nick Martens, who studied at the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Netherlands: Best of Amsterdam in Pictures

by Nick Martens on May 23, 2008

Wrapping up his stay in Amsterdam, Nick Martens presents a photo story recapping his favorite spots in the city. Categories include Best Place for Nerds to Get Stoned, Least Surprisingly Empty Women’s Clothing Store, and various awards for typographic signage.

Netherlands: The Littlest Comic Shop

by Nick Martens on May 16, 2008

Nick Martens explores Lambiek, one of the world’s oldest comic book shops and the starting place of acclaimed writer/artist Chris Ware.

Netherlands: Cookie Cavalcade

by Nick Martens on April 11, 2008

Nick Martens reports from Amsterdam with an exclusive exposé on the dark secrets of the city’s chocolate cookie industry.

Netherlands: The View from Dam Square

by Nick Martens on March 28, 2008

Nick Martens contrasts a typical scene in Amsterdam’s Dam Square with a picture of the plaza during a protest.

Netherlands: Superheroes and Schlemiels

by Nick Martens on March 21, 2008

Megageek Nick Martens visits Amsterdam’s Jewish Historical Museum’s new exhibit on the history of Jewish comics artists.

Netherlands: Canal Culture

by Nick Martens on March 7, 2008

Nick Martens delves into the history of Amsterdam’s intricate and pervasive canal system, which runs through the city like blood vessels.

Netherlands: A Curious Casino

by Nick Martens on February 29, 2008

Nick Martens takes a trip to the Holland Casino and finds that Amsterdam’s idea of gambling is nearly the opposite of what we come to expect from Las Vegas.

Netherlands: The Bicycle

by Nick Martens on February 22, 2008

Though Amsterdam is often associated with its sexual promiscuity and liberal policies regarding recreational drug use, adventurer Nick Martens discovers that the city’s most stimulating feature is its bicycle culture.

Netherlands: A Hotel and a Cautionary Tale

by Nick Martens on February 15, 2008

This is the first installment in a series of essays by adventurer Nick Martens, who is currently studying at the University of Amsterdam. Arriving a few days before his program at the University of Amsterdam begins, Nick Martens relates a pair of anecdotes regarding the quirks of descending into an unfamiliar culture.