Amsterdam boasts more art-house theatres than any other European city, each with an interesting history and unique atmosphere of its own.
Where else to start than with The Movies, the oldest functioning cinema in Amsterdam? Located on the fringes of the picturesque Jordaan, housed in a characterful 17th-century building with four theatres and 400 seats, The Movies offers the perfect conclusion to a day of consumerism on indie shopping stalwart, the Haarlemmerdijk.
In October 2012, this cinema, which started life as Bioscoop Tavenu, celebrated its 100th anniversary. During the Second World War it was a modest local theatre, playing big releases in their second run. After the war, The Movies (then called Cinema Hollandia) focused on action films. Now the theatre has found a comfortable middle ground between smaller art-house films and directors’ movies with ‘slightly’ bigger budgets, from Michael Haneke’s Amour and Thomas Vinterberg’s Jagten to 3D spectacles such as The Hobbit and Life of Pi. It also caters to parents with young children via Cinemum, with regular screenings on Friday and Saturday mornings. Speaking of catering, the restaurant (serving dinner from 5.30pm) offers decent meals and nice package deals, including the popular dinner and a movie arrangement (be sure to book a seat in advance). The Movies breathes nostalgia. Before and after the film, take a moment to relax and admire the plush surroundings in the bar. The art deco interior makes The Movies a more modest sibling of the majestic Tuschinski Theatre near Rembrandtplein, while its smaller scale adds a cosy fe
The Movies
Haarlemmerdijk – www.themovies.nl
