Oof I have a 5 year old and am based in Scotland where the anti trans situation is so insidious. And I don’t even want to introduce my son to Harry Potter? Like it’s in the ether but I’m not actively going to encourage it... and if he wants the books, we will buy them used. It’s a drop in the ocean but we have to be allies.
Enjoy Amsterdam! I’ve only been briefly and we are hoping to do a Home Exchange for a month next summer. Just need to find an exchange buddy and a day camp for kiddo so we can work part of the time.
My 1st grade teacher, Mrs Keisel, went to Amsterdam and sent me a postcard of Starry Night because I really loved it when we did an art unit. And now T is equally obsessed.
The Corrie Ten Boom House is a quick train ride away, and I highly recommend it! It usually has a lot of availability compared to the Anne Frank House, and covers the same time period of Dutch history. https://www.corrietenboom.com/en/home
I was going to recommend the same one! It's called The Witch Trials of JK Rowling. If you don't have the time to listen to the whole thing, the last 3 episodes have JKR discussing the tweets she made, two incredible interviews with two trans critics of JKR, and her responses to those criticisms.
I was going to recommend listening to the same podcast and reading her defence. Everybody thinks they know what she has said, but end up quoting others and not the horses mouth. JKR is definitely 'left' in her politics and a feminist (your opening paragraph suggests she's the opposite). It's interesting reading other feminist views for measure. Also Hannah Barnes' Time to Think.
I love your imagining of JKR coming to recognize her own prejudices and correcting them. It reminded me of a non-fiction picture book I read of Dickens doing this very thing! Dear Mr. Dickens recounts how Eliza Davis wrote to Dickens and made him recognize his own prejudice. I think if Dickens could do it, JKR should be able to too! https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/56989089
Sorry about the things that are booked already, but it just means you'll have to go back again sometime. Hitting tulips, is great timing. I did go to the Heineken experience 20+ years ago when I was in Amsterdam. I don't even drink alcohol, but I found the tour interesting. If you have already been to a brewery, it might not be high on your list. The Rembrandt House was supposed to be reopening this spring. Not sure the timeline, but might be of interest. LOVED the van Gogh Museum and just riding bikes out in the countryside. I went to see a cheesemaking demo and bought cheese as well as got in a flea market visit. Looking forward to seeing your travels since I have a family member who now lives in the Netherlands and might get back there myself.
I honestly hadn't thought of approaching writing (like real writing, getting published, etc) with later editing your own work as an option. I'm terrified that something I may one day publish might offend someone. And hurt is absolutely worth regretting and fixing.
We spent two summers in Amsterdam and loved it so much! The city is a museum unto itself
A few recommendations.
Eat Surinamese food at Swieti Sranang. So delicious and one-of a kind (although there are two locations). Near one of its locations is a place called "Sweet Bob" which has Brazillian brigaderos which are something else.
The Jewish Historical Museum is a real gem.
Get some Dubbel Friss at the super market Albert Heijn. It's a fun kids juice drink that is amazingly delicious. Comes in juice boxes and larger containers.
Climbing the tower of the Westerkerk is amazing. And it's right next to Anne Frank.
Taking a canal cruise at night is stunning and almost more fun than during the day.
The National Maritime Museum
(Het Scheepvaartmuseum) - is fascinating for all ages.
A quick train ride to Haarlem is amazing. It's a mini-Amsterdam. Get food here at the Shalom Grillhouse- Botermarkt 1, 2011 XL Haarlem, Netherlands
The town square and the Grote Kerk is amazing (St. Bavos).
Delft and Leiden are equally amazing and a short train ride away.
As I always say, when visiting Europe, the best places are those that were not heavily bombed, and the Netherlands was very lucky in that way.
While I disagree completely on your characterization of Rowling, I am so glad you envision the author editing herself. I have read multiple people fantasizing about various ways to edit this woman’s work without her permission, remove her from her work, and/or remove her ability to profit from her work. Of course those are only the economic punishments people would like to mete out against an outspoken woman they disagree with. The others are far, far more disturbing.
Oof I have a 5 year old and am based in Scotland where the anti trans situation is so insidious. And I don’t even want to introduce my son to Harry Potter? Like it’s in the ether but I’m not actively going to encourage it... and if he wants the books, we will buy them used. It’s a drop in the ocean but we have to be allies.
Enjoy Amsterdam! I’ve only been briefly and we are hoping to do a Home Exchange for a month next summer. Just need to find an exchange buddy and a day camp for kiddo so we can work part of the time.
My 1st grade teacher, Mrs Keisel, went to Amsterdam and sent me a postcard of Starry Night because I really loved it when we did an art unit. And now T is equally obsessed.
The Corrie Ten Boom House is a quick train ride away, and I highly recommend it! It usually has a lot of availability compared to the Anne Frank House, and covers the same time period of Dutch history. https://www.corrietenboom.com/en/home
Haarlem (where this museum is) is well worth a visit.
I recommend this podcast I recently listened to which interviews both JK Rowling and her critics from the trans community. https://open.spotify.com/show/2K186zrvRgeE2w0wQjbaw7?si=NYmxDxvvQsuVavmfyCk3RA
I was going to recommend the same one! It's called The Witch Trials of JK Rowling. If you don't have the time to listen to the whole thing, the last 3 episodes have JKR discussing the tweets she made, two incredible interviews with two trans critics of JKR, and her responses to those criticisms.
The other podcast I'd recommend is called Harry Potter and the Sacred Text which also takes a critical look at many of the problematic issues in HP. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/harry-potter-and-the-sacred-text/id1096113994
I was going to recommend listening to the same podcast and reading her defence. Everybody thinks they know what she has said, but end up quoting others and not the horses mouth. JKR is definitely 'left' in her politics and a feminist (your opening paragraph suggests she's the opposite). It's interesting reading other feminist views for measure. Also Hannah Barnes' Time to Think.
I saw this poem on social media written by a 73 year old Aunt for her church writing group.
THEY
This person I know
Wants to be called They.
It could bring us much closer
To see them this way.
It's a strange thing to think
And harder to say,
But They is so happy
When the effort is made.
For all the Theys and Thems
It is this that I pray,
We be kind and accepting
And just let them be They.
They should make it legal to plagiarise from transphobes.
What a lovely reimagining!
In Amsterdam, visit the Resistance museum: https://www.verzetsmuseum.org/en/world-war-ii-in-the-netherlands
I was going to recommend this. I haven't been, but it is on my list for if I ever get back there.
I love your imagining of JKR coming to recognize her own prejudices and correcting them. It reminded me of a non-fiction picture book I read of Dickens doing this very thing! Dear Mr. Dickens recounts how Eliza Davis wrote to Dickens and made him recognize his own prejudice. I think if Dickens could do it, JKR should be able to too! https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/56989089
For Amsterdam:
The very best waffles are at a stand behind the Rijksmuseum - by the big fountain/pond. Get the ice cream too!
GPSMyCity has some great walks - all free on the app
If you want to get out of town, Madurodam (in The Hague) is fabulous! Even my grown children had a ball.
Mike's Bike Tours does a lovely ride into the countryside.
I can't wait to see what you discover in Amsterdam. I'll be back next spring for a work conference.
Sorry about the things that are booked already, but it just means you'll have to go back again sometime. Hitting tulips, is great timing. I did go to the Heineken experience 20+ years ago when I was in Amsterdam. I don't even drink alcohol, but I found the tour interesting. If you have already been to a brewery, it might not be high on your list. The Rembrandt House was supposed to be reopening this spring. Not sure the timeline, but might be of interest. LOVED the van Gogh Museum and just riding bikes out in the countryside. I went to see a cheesemaking demo and bought cheese as well as got in a flea market visit. Looking forward to seeing your travels since I have a family member who now lives in the Netherlands and might get back there myself.
I honestly hadn't thought of approaching writing (like real writing, getting published, etc) with later editing your own work as an option. I'm terrified that something I may one day publish might offend someone. And hurt is absolutely worth regretting and fixing.
We spent two summers in Amsterdam and loved it so much! The city is a museum unto itself
A few recommendations.
Eat Surinamese food at Swieti Sranang. So delicious and one-of a kind (although there are two locations). Near one of its locations is a place called "Sweet Bob" which has Brazillian brigaderos which are something else.
The Jewish Historical Museum is a real gem.
Get some Dubbel Friss at the super market Albert Heijn. It's a fun kids juice drink that is amazingly delicious. Comes in juice boxes and larger containers.
Climbing the tower of the Westerkerk is amazing. And it's right next to Anne Frank.
Taking a canal cruise at night is stunning and almost more fun than during the day.
The National Maritime Museum
(Het Scheepvaartmuseum) - is fascinating for all ages.
A quick train ride to Haarlem is amazing. It's a mini-Amsterdam. Get food here at the Shalom Grillhouse- Botermarkt 1, 2011 XL Haarlem, Netherlands
The town square and the Grote Kerk is amazing (St. Bavos).
Delft and Leiden are equally amazing and a short train ride away.
As I always say, when visiting Europe, the best places are those that were not heavily bombed, and the Netherlands was very lucky in that way.
Dignita - great food - great cause - several locations to choose from
https://eatwelldogood.nl/en/dignita-vondelpark/
I'm pretty 'meh' about Amsterdam overall (It's fine! It's pretty! But...meh.) however -- Best. Apple. Pie.: https://winkel43.nl/
This was our FAVORITE museum in Amsterdam:
https://grachten.museum/en/
The museum of the canals! My daughter it there now and wanted to make sure to go back! We took her there 10 years ago.
I hope you see it!
I can also promise the kids and adults will love it!
While I disagree completely on your characterization of Rowling, I am so glad you envision the author editing herself. I have read multiple people fantasizing about various ways to edit this woman’s work without her permission, remove her from her work, and/or remove her ability to profit from her work. Of course those are only the economic punishments people would like to mete out against an outspoken woman they disagree with. The others are far, far more disturbing.