Author Archives: Lieke Voermans

Connected, but alone?

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I’ve been involved with TEDxAmsterdam and therefore have seen at least one TED video a week for two years. Some were ok, others were impactful. I just saw Sherry Turkle’s TED talk and wow does this one hit close to home. She discusses “digital technonolgy” and how it can create a feeling of connectedness but isolation at the same time. Although hesitant to admit, I recognize myself a lot in what she describes.

Most important: we all need to really listen to each other, including to the boring bits. Because it’s when we hesitate, stumble or lose our words that we reveal ourselves to each other.

Give Me Love

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I saw Ed Sheeran in De Melkweg over two weeks ago. It is a concert I won’t forget quickly, and not only because it was good. A friend and I were surrounded by British guys who were enjoying the Amsterdam weed a bit too much. At one point one of them bit me in the arm thinking he was Dracula. No joke.

Ed opened the concert with an 11 minute version of “Give Me Love”, which I was very happy to find on YouTube yesterday. On repeat…

Frozen happiness

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The last two weeks it has been quite cold, freezing up to -15 Celsius. Although biking in the cold is anything but fun, it did make Amsterdam even prettier than it already is. Below you’ll find proof…

Amsterdam on ice (c) Freek Batstra

Last week I also managed to get on the canals, just like thousands of others did. It was great to see the city from a different point of view, and to see so many people enjoy it. Just have a look this video and you’ll get a feeling of how great the atmosphere was. I’m so happy I live her.

The picture below is from a city called Leiden. Originally posted on Facebook (over 40,000 likes and was shared almost 12.000 times in a few days), it was taken up by numerous international media.

Leiden on ice (c) Hielco KuipersHere’s yours truly enjoying some glühwein :)

Lieke Voermans on Amsterdam canal

Something old, something new

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I love Instagram and have been an avid user since 2010. Each weekend they do a ‘weekend hashtag project’ and this weekend it was #somethingoldsomethingnew. Below you’ll find my entry, a combination of my 1920′s Remington type writer and my brother’s iPad (with the type writer app, yes it exists).

Something old, something new (iPad and Remington)The first I have in my living room and really need to get it fixed, the latter I’m borrowing while my brother is traveling for five months. Love both!

No

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“A ‘no’ uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a ‘yes’ merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble.” – Ghandi

I came across this quote thanks to my fellow TEDxAmsterdam blogger Barbara (if you’re slightly interested in food, design and sustainability than go read her blog). I read it just after having a vivid discussion with a colleague about a project that a client tries to push but that I, as a consultant, don’t believe in. The quote strengthened my feeling that I was doing the right thing by saying we won’t be doing the project. Now it’s our turn to create something new, have everyone inspired and get a yes from the client :)

I found this Ghandi statue in my former street, Churchilllaan in Amsterdam. I’m ashamed to admit I only noticed it three years after living there.

No such thing as too much art

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Ok, so I moved to my very own apartment. One of the great things about that was that I had more walls to put up more beautiful art. I recently purchased two great pieces that I’m very happy with.

The one above is “Spring” from Martine Johanna, which is my third piece of her. Really love her illustrations, you should check them out. The big, bad wolf that keeps staring at you is by Tarik Arnoutovic, working under the name 215.dk.