IBC 2022 : Insider tips to enjoy your trip to Amsterdam

#ibc2022 #amsterdam

IBC 2022 : Insider tips to enjoy your trip to Amsterdam

INTRODUCTION

Two weeks left to prepare for IBC, the world’s most influential media, entertainment and technology show, held every year – bar last year because of Covid - in Amsterdam, NL. This year I feel from LinkedIn posts that everyone is excited to meet again IRL. So let’s make IBC great again !

Covid is definitely over in Amsterdam and the tourists are back. Not yet as many Asians as in pre-Covid times but more Americans (the strength of USD / weakness of Euro probably helps !). The weather has been absolutely gorgeous the whole Summer, even a little too warm at times (courtesy of Global Warming), but as I write these lines the weather forecast predicts rain just before the start of IBC … . Fingers crossed.

I am not going to help you with the work side of your stay, but rather, as the show is only from 9am to 6pm, I will give you a few tips to make the remaining 15 hours per day as enjoyable as possible.

As someone who has been going regularly to IBC for about 20 years and who has been living in Amsterdam for 10, I am happy to share my experience.

WHAT IS SPECIAL THIS YEAR ?

I mentioned that Covid was over but some of the consequences are still felt. Somehow there is a significant shortage of manpower for frontline positions. Consequences for the IBC traveler is that the Airport (Schipol) which used to be super-efficient is now a total mess with security lines sometimes dragging on for … a mile ! (they have even installed tents outside the terminals). What used to be a 15mn affair can now take up to 3 or 4 hours and I know many people who missed their flights because of it. If you can come by train, foot, bicycle or private jet, do so !

Inflation is also quite significant and that leads some categories of workers to go on strike. As I write these lines the NS workers (train) are on strike. So beware that public transports might not be as efficient as usual. Inflation is also visible on the price of hotels (see below).

You might also notice that the city is not as clean as before. With the absence of tourists last year, the Municipality’s resource declined dangerously and they cut on OPEX such as street cleaning. Luckily they maintained investments : the number of streets, canal walls and bridges (in the Center) which are being repaired at the moment is impressive … but with quite some impact on the fluidity of motorized traffic. This year more than ever, wear comfortable shoes or opt for a bike to move around.

?GETTING TO THE CITY/RAI FROM THE AIRPORT/TRAIN STATION

Landing at Schipol Aiport, you have several options to reach Amsterdam. From the cheapest to the most expensive :

-??????train directly from the airport to Amsterdam Centraal Station or directly to the RAI (about 17mn ride and about 5 euros. Get your ticket from the machines in the terminal or online at ns.nl)

-??????bus 397 from the Airport to the Western part of the Center of Amsterdam (good option if your hotel is close to Museumplein or Leidserplein). Order your e-ticket online from connexxion.nl (about 35mn and 6.5 euros one-way)

-??????Uber X (about 20mn and about 35 euros to the center)

-??????Taxi (about 20mn and about 45 euros to the center).

?If you came by train (Thalys from Paris or Brussels, Eurostar from London, or ICE from Germany, for example), you will arrive at Amsterdam Centraal from which a plethora of trams and buses are available to reach your final destination. Ubers and Taxis are available too, but in the center they tend to be ultra slow because of one way streets, delivery trucks and road construction.

FINDING ACCOMODATION

If you have not yet made a reservation as you read these lines you have a serious problem ! I have a few suggestions, depending on your budget, of hotels with personality, charm and comfort, located in interesting neighborhoods at a cycling distance from RAI (more on that later), but it looks like most of them are already fully booked for the IBC period (still useful if you want to book for next year !).

-??????high–end (600 euros a night and more) : Conservatorium, Andaz, Pulitzer, W, Soho House (members only), The Dylan, The Hoxton, Okura

-??????mid-range (around 350 euros/night) : Arena (re-styled in April 2021), Roemer, Sir Adam, Volkshotel, INK hotel, Zoku, Conscious Hotel (Museumplein) and the recently opened Nhow Amsterdam RAI right next to the Convention center.

-??????low-range (less than 200 euros/night) : here if you want to stay not too far from the center and still avoid the dodgy run down hotel you will have to turn to a “capsule” hotel (CityHub) or a hostel (Generator Amsterdam or The Bee Hostel – opened in 2022). Otherwise you will have to go much further from the center which will probably entail a cab ride every morning and evening.

You might also want to check AirBnB. The rules for hosts have been severely tightened by the municipality in recent years resulting in a reduction of available accommodations and as I checked (24 August 2022) there was next to nothing still available below 500 euros a night for the time of IBC … .

MOVING AROUND

Now that you are hopefully settled in your accommodation, you will need to figure out how to get to the convention center : “RAI”. Amsterdam is rather small but you will probably still have to rely on something else than walking to get around. If your hotel is close to tram line 4 or the new metro line 52 (Europaplein stop for RAI), then all you need is to pick up a free travel card given out to IBC visitors inside the RAI. If you are not so close or not too fond of promiscuity, then a great option is to rent a bicycle (about 10 euros a day and there are shops providing this service absolutely everywhere). If you don’t want to arrive sweaty at your booth or simply have a significant distance to cover, you might want to consider an electric bike. A growing number of shops (Het Zwarte Fietsenplan, Mac Bikes, etc.) offer that option in some of their shops for around 30-40 euros a day (and a credit card caution of about 500 euros in most cases). Insider tip : you should always lock your bike using the integrated lock for the back wheel and run the chain lock through the front wheel and the frame and attach it to a fixed pole. Follow this advice and your chances of getting your bike stolen is close to zero, don’t follow this and the chances climb very quickly.

LUNCH OPTIONS

You have now spent your first morning at IBC and it is time for lunch. Luckily options are much nicer than at NAB (IBC’s equivalent held in Las Vegas every year). If you want a quick something to eat on the go, the food trucks outside (mostly in front of the main entrance) tend to offer decent options (think burgers in particular) or head to the Beach Bar and have fish and chips with the beer drinking crowd ?. If you have clients to entertain and prefer a quieter and seated option, there are a few decent options at a short walking distance from the RAI :

-??????Visaandeschelde (high end seafood, in business for 23 years),

-??????Sapporo (Japanese),

-??????Orbit (contemporary pan-Asian).

But I would argue that you probably better off staying on the RAI premises and book at “First Floor Restaurant” or if you want a more outside/festive ambience at “Strandzuid” next to the Beach Bar.

On a budget, you can also grab something from the Albert Heijn grocery store on Scheldeplein.

DINNER OPTIONS

It is now the evening and you are still hungry after having nibbled in the happy hour parties held on your favorite booths and/or in the parties held across town by the larger exhibitors for their favorite clients. Amsterdam’s restaurant scene has greatly improved in the last ten years, and Covid has also brought some changes, so I have updated my list from 2019. ?Below are a few names of restaurants with good food, good décor/ambience/service, in quite central and interesting neibourhoods and not too small so that you stand a chance to get a table even if you are with a group of clients/colleagues. However, since IBC is held mostly during a week-end, reservations are nearly always compulsory.

On the company platinum credit-card with clients to impress (think Michelin star or not far) : Daalder (my personal favourite for the food. It received its first Michelin star in April 2021), Flore (the ex-Bord’Eau revamped but with the same team as before), Ciel Bleu (gastronomic with a view).

On business expenses with clients you know quite well or colleagues : NENI (the “it” restaurant of the moment. Eastern Mediterranean fare in a former Citroen garage), Toscanini (authentic Italian in an airy setting), Le Coeur (French with a twist and Champagne bar in the middle of the 9 little streets. Opened in 2021), BAUT Oost (urban large open space with bar and restaurant in the East), Rijks (in the Rijkmuseum), Café-restaurant De Plantage (elegant modern bistro near the zoo), Cannibale Royal (meat in the Pijp), Domenica (creative Italian in the Jordaan), Restaurant Floreyn (opened 2021, seasonal Dutch cuisine with many vegetarian options in the Pijp), De Juwelier (opened in 2021 on Utrechsestraat by two ex-Michelin 2 star restaurant), Bar Pif (small plates and great wines by the glass in the Jordaan), La Oliva (tapas).

On business expenses for a badly funded start-up or simply if you don’t want to break the bank and still want an enjoyable experience : Fou Fow Ramen on Elandsgracht (best in town as the queue outside the door suggests, no reservation) or its cousin Fou Fow Udon on the Prinsengracht, De Hallen (food court in an old tramway warehouse, but beware that the air extraction is not great so come with casual clothes), HappyHappyJoyJoy (Asian colourful bistro), La Perla or Pazzi (pizza).

If you are broke but still want a Dutch food experience : Febo (Dutch fast food you get from an automat), Fabel friet (French fries in the 9 little streets) or the “Haring” stands (raw herring trucks. You’ll find some scattered around town : one between the W Hotel and the Dam, one on Koningsplein for example).

And if you want to avoid going out, if you are in an AirBnB, you might want to order from UberEats (personal favourites :?Shah Jahan (Indian) and Koh Chang (Thai)), Deliveroo or Thuisbezorgd or order groceries from Getir or Gorillas and cook yourself.

?EVENING DRINKS

If you are actually not that hungry (anymore) or would not mind a drink (other than a beer in a pub or brown café as they are called here), you might want to try : Glou-glou (natural wines and small bites), the bar of the Hoxton (cocktails for well funded digital nomads), the bar of the W (to see and be seen), Tales & Spirits (good cocktails and small bites) or Bar Oldenhof (proper speakeasy with great cocktails. Ring at the door and wait …).

The next morning, in case you need (just saying …), the drugstores for a paracetamol fix usually operate under the brand “Etos” and in most “Albert Heijn” supermarkets you have a machine pressing fresh orange juice ! And for coffee, the number of coffee places around town has exploded in recent years, so it is difficult to keep track but Lot 61 and Rum Baba are still my favourites.

Voila, with these tips in hand you should be able to avoid waiting 30mn in line to get a taxi at RAI, ending up eating a soggy pizza with a beer in Rembrandtplein or Leidserplein, or sleeping outside the A10, i.e. things that no Amsterdammer would wish for his worse enemy.

See you in Amsterdam !

Disclaimer : I have no business relationship with any of the Hotels and F&B establishments named in this article but I have personally enjoyed them or heard great recommendations from trustable friends !

?N.B. : If you have a little time off before or after the show, and have already visited all the Amsterdam “must sees”, you might want to check STRAAT, a new museum showing graffiti and street art in a 8000m2 former warehouse on the NDSM wharf or the “It’s our F***ing backyard” exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum (designers using new materials to deal with the climate crisis).