It's as easy as abc

The cities of amsterdam, brussels and cologne have teamed up for unforgettable travel experiences. The three cosmopolitan cities invite you to come and discover this cultural triangle.

Enjoy picturesque medieval streets and houses, lively squares, trendy shopping streets, cozy cafes, top restaurants, world-famous museums, stunning art galleries and cutting edge architecture.

With three international airports being conveniently located in the area – each offering direct flights from the US and connecting flights to and from almost every other European airport visiting this exciting cultural triangle really is as easy as a b c. Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam offers the largest gateway in Europe and a railway station located right under the airport gets passengers on their way in no time. Whether you travel from amsterdam to brussels, from brussels to cologne or any other order within the triangle, your travel time will be less than two and a half hours.

Make the most of your visit. Travel off season and enjoy the cultural highlights of amsterdam, brussels and cologne after the crowds are gone. A sample of what we offer follows and is sure to get your travel plans going.

Would you like to know more about a b c? Contact us for information, story angles and press trip arrangements.

Cultural Highlights in Amsterdam - Fall / Winter 2006

11.24.2006 – 04.04.2007
Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam

Van Gogh and Expressionism

Between Van Gogh’s death and the outbreak of the First World War his paintings came to symbolize ‘international’ and ‘modern’ art. Van Gogh was more popular in Germany than anywhere else. Expressionist artists based their own innovative art on Van Gogh’s paintings. German artists such as Kirchner and Kandinsky were particularly drawn by Van Gogh’s intense brushwork and the sharp color contrasts. Austrians Gerstl and Kokoschka were influenced more by Van Gogh’s emotional approach, as in his psychological portraits. Superb examples of both categories are featured in the exhibition. www.vangoghmuseum.com

 

10.7.2006 – 04.11.2007
Hermitage Amsterdam

The Taste of St. Petersburg

Peter the Great called his city ‘the window on Europe’. Until the 1917 Revolution St. Petersburg was one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe, expanding rapidly in the 19th century as a result of industrialization and growing prosperity. The arts flourished, and art collections grew. This exhibition introduces four collectors, each with their own preference for a particular school, country or period. They collected ‘old masters’, paintings from the 16th to the 18th century, or concentrated on contemporary art from the mid-19th century. www.hermitage.nl

11.09.2006 – 02.27.2007
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

Maritime Power

The famous 17th century artists Willem van de Velde, father and son, sketched from their sailboat how enormous fleets attacked each other at sea in the 17th century. Later, in their studio, they worked on these impressive paintings and extraordinarily detailed pen drawings. Their drawings, made at a short distance of the war violence, can be considered as war journalism avant la lettre. The Rijksmuseum owns a large number of works by both artists, which will be on display at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The only airport in the world with a museum! www.rijksmuseum.nl

 

11.10.2006 – 04.04.2007
Jewish Historical Museum, Amsterdam

The Jewish Rembrandt

It has become increasingly common to find Rembrandt described as a ‘Jewish’ artist. For many years Rembrandt lived and worked in the heart of Amsterdam’s Jewish quarter; many of his paintings depict biblical scenes and he introduced written Hebrew words into some of his works. From the 19th century on a number of the characters he had painted were considered to be Jews. But is there any basis for such beliefs? The Jewish Historical Museum sets out to unravel the mystery and explain the myth. www.jhm.nl

 

Cultural Highlights in Brussels - Fall / Winter 2006

Through 02.03.2007
Royal Museums of Fine Arts

Retrospective Leon Spilliaert

Sixty years after his death the Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels focus attention on the original and extensive oeuvre of Leon Spilliaert. More than 300 works will be on show illustrating his stylistic diversity and the range of subject matter he covered. The work of Leon Spillliaert is often categorized as being abstract with a mix of surrealism and expressionism. He rarely used oils, preferring an immaterial substance such as aquarelle's, pastels and gouache to express the spiritual content of his work.

www.visitbelgium.com/mediaroom/SpilliaertExhibition.htm

 

Through 04.29.2007
Royal Museums of Art and History

Masters of Pre-Columbian Art - The Collection of Dora and Paul Janssen

The famous collection of Dora and Paul Janssen is going on show to the general public in Belgium for the first time. The exhibition is organized by the Royal Museums of Art and History and the Museums are taking this opportunity to add fifty items from their own pre-Columbian collection to the show.

www.visitbelgium.com/mediaroom/MasterofPreColumbianArtExhibition.htm

 

New in Brussels - La centrale Electrique
European Center for Contemporary Art of the City of Brussels

Since June 23rd 2006, the City of Brussels has a new museum dedicated to contemporary art. The opening exhibition of la Centrale électrique, called ZOO ~ takes on the question of the animal in contemporary art. The new museum is located in the heart of Brussels, Place Sainte-Catherine, at walking distance from the Grand Place, in one of the liveliest quarters of Brussels where fashion, design and artistic creation flourish.

www.visitbelgium.com/mediaroom/LaCentraleElectrique.htm

© Marcel Vanhulst

End of November 2006 – First week of January 2007

Christmas in Belgium

As the year’s end draws near, the Christmas markets blossom in many cities and towns in Belgium. The festivities really begin with St. Nicholas on December 6th. Shops display holiday treats such as marzipan, flat hard cakes known as ‘klaasjes’ and ‘speculoos’, a hard gingerbread molded in the form of St. Nicholas. In all major cities, shopping will be possible on the four Sundays preceding the holiday.

Details on the numerous christmas markets, concerts and other seasonal events are
available here: www.visitbelgium.com/mediaroom/ChristmasMarkets.htm

 

Cultural Highlights in Cologne- Fall / Winter 2006

Through 11.26.2006
Ed Ruscha - Photographer

His photographic work at the Museum Ludwig

The main focus of the Ed Ruscha exhibition in the Museum Ludwig is on the artist’s early photographs from around 1960, which he took in Europe and the USA, and his photographic works from the 1970s, which above all led to such acclaimed artist’s books as ‘Every Building on the Sunset Strip’. The most important lender apart from the Whitney Museum of American Art is the artist himself, who will contribute photographs from his own collection that have never been shown before! www.museenkoeln.de/museum-ludwig

11.01. - 11.05. 2006
Art Cologne – International Art Fair

This year, the international art market ART COLOGNE will be held for the 40th time – and for the last time it will take place in the fall. New developments and innovations will take place in this anniversary year as change is the hallmark of ART COLOGNE, one of the world’s leading art fairs. The number of participants has been reduced to 180 galleries to further increase the the quality of this art fair. The exhibitors’ stands will present a comprehensive overview of the artwork of the 20th and 21st centuries. Additionally many museums and Cologne’s active art gallery scene offer their own programs.
www.artcologne.com

11.04.2006
Long Night of the Museums – visit over 40 museums in Cologne until 3 a.m

The quantity and quality of Cologne’s museums and art galleries are often compared to those of New York.Wherever your interests lie, Cologne has something to offer. Once a year Cologne hosts the Long Night of Museums which is a public magnet for all lovers of art and culture with museums and collections as well as concerts, lectures, parties and performances open all night long. Free shuttle buses bring you from one attraction to the next. www.koelntourismus.de

 

11.23. – 12.23.2006
Christmas Markets in Cologne


When the christmas markets of Cologne open their doors this year their festive atmosphere and multiple event programs will again attract millions of visitors to the cathedral city. You can choose between six markets, each having its own special flair and unique assortment of goods. A medieval christmas market will take place at the Schokoladen-Museum (all about chocolate) and another unique christmas market will be set up floating on the river Rhine. Christmas music, the scent of mulled wine, gingerbread and hot chestnuts make for a memorable festive experience. www.koelntourismus.de

12.09. - 03.04.2007
Paul Klee at the Museum Ludwig

 

An exhibition featuring Paul Klee’s later works will take place this winter at the Ludwig Museum. 200 of his late works on paper have been loaned from the recently opened Paul Klee Center in Bern and showcase one of the 20th century’s most important artists who taught more then 10 years (1921 - 1931) at the Bauhaus in Dessau and still influences generations of artists.

www.museenkoeln.de/museum-ludwig