
I began my blog post with absolute trepidation, having no idea what I could or even wanted to say to the world. However, one thing I did know was that I wanted it to be Amsterdam centric.
After mulling over a diatribe on the tradition of Zwarte Piet and less weighty fodder such as Amsterdam Christmas lights, which by the way were up far too early this year, I settled on entertainment – or more specifically a selection of movies shot in Amsterdam.
On first research it seemed there were only a handful of movies (or at least ones I knew) that were shot here. However, as all roads lead to imdb I soon found out that there were 906 titles shot in or around Amsterdam.
I have pulled together a selection of the best for your viewing pleasure. By best, I mean the oldest, most well known, weirdest, most surprising, most flattering (or not) to Amsterdam scenery and culture and so on.
For those of you whose movie appetite is not satiated by my ten choices click here for the additional 896. Although, be warned a disproportionate number of them involve war stories and/or drug smuggling and prostitution.
Disclaimer – these movies were not all entirely shot in Amsterdam, though scenes from them were.
1. Ocean’s Twelve (2004)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0349903/
A favourite of course, with a great, if utterly preposterous scene, where the 12 lower a canal house to break into a safe.
2. Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
www.imdb.com/title/tt0066995/
Roger Moore is on the case as Peter Franks (or is it Bond, James Bond) as poor old Mrs. Whistler is pulled from the Amstel.
3. Modesty Blaise (1966)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060708/
The perfect follow up to number three, more spies, diamonds, Brits and both frequent and extravagant costume changes. See an Amsterdam canal house explode and a very young Terence Stamp.
4. The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052738/
Perhaps predictable but necessary nonetheless – a major piece of Amsterdam history and source of tourism. Should they both sit in the same sentence? Perhaps not.
5. Amsterdamned (1988)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094651/
Tourists take note, this is what lurks beneath the murky canal waters.
6. Mindhunters (2004)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0297284/
Filmed entirely in The Netherlands, including Amsterdam, yes the plot is a ludicrous as the title suggests but they do manage to pass off a school in The Hague as the FBI headquarters. If that isn’t enough it stars Val Kilmer and he was Ice Man for pete’s sake!
7. Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo (2005)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367652/
A case of serious mistaken identity and gigolo genocide, number seven is purely because this list was becoming too dark, which this movie isn’t, despite the start of this sentence.
8. Alegria (1999)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0123376/
Roll up to the big top to the see movie adaptation of Cirque du Soleil’s Alegria. Yes, you read that right.
9. The Girl With The Pearl Earring (2003)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335119/
Read the book (Tracy Chavelier), see the movie, visit the painting (Mauritshuis, The Hague) and then visit the painter’s hometown. Oh no, wait that is Delft not Amsterdam. At least the movie was shot here.
10. De Heineken Ontvoering (2011)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1846526/
I couldn’t do the list without including a Dutch film and, well, it just so happens that this movie is about a client of ours as well.
Post by Clare Pickens, account director
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