by Adam Wojtanek 
The Polish Hippy 



On the Atlantic Ocean in 1969 

To continue the story about my hippie years in the 1960-70s, I've dedicated this entire page to The Netherlands (Holland), and especially to the City of Amsterdam.

The hippie movement was a youth revolution born in the United States of America. The movement quickly spread across the western world, and took on different forms in different parts of the world. In my opinion, the most faithful to the original hippie ideas of Peace & Love were hippies mainly in England, The Netherlands and in Denmark. The reason why I haven't included among those Germany, France and the youth revolt in Japan is because the youth protests there sometimes resorted to violence, and demolition of private property in the 1960-70s. And as far as I know, there were no hippie movements behind the Iron Curtain; though some hippie fashions, and music were also brought in to those parts of the world by travelers.

The Netherlands was a popular destination for many hippies; especially those on the hippie route to India, and those that left America for Europe to avoid the military draft, or to find exile from drug related legal issues. At first, the Dutch didn't know how to deal with crowds of hippies invading their small country. But it didn't take long for them to accepted us and welcome us with open arms, and their open public spaces. Thus, Amsterdam was born as Europe's leading hippie heaven.

The first Dutch city I visited was Rotterdam. It was just before my eighteenth birthday during the Vietnam War in 1969. Many young Americans such as I left the country for Canada, South America or Europe to avoid the draft. After leaving Chicago for Montreal in Canada I boarded a transatlantic Ocean liner and headed for Europe. Many probably don't know this today, but in those days young men had to register for the armed forces on their eighteenth birthdays. Most of those from my generation that were enlisted were sent to fight in the Vietnam War. And yes, I lost a few friends in that war. So, I wasn't too eager to join them, and I wasn't ashamed of being an American. I was just ashamed of my government.

So there I was, on board a passenger ship headed for the Old Continent. I didn't want to leave home, but the situation drove me to it. Now, looking back, I think it was the right decision for many other reasons. It was an eye-opening experience that taught me that if one wants to find oneself then one should pack a backpack, and head for the Old World; either in Europe, Asia or elsewhere. And that's what I've done, and that experience transformed my life for ever.

So I was on the Atlantic for about two weeks headed for Europe. That's also when I realized how small we are on the face of our planet, and how much we are at the will of Mother Nature. At one point towards the end of that journey, our ship went into a storm on the North Sea. I'll never forget those winds, and huge waves that kept throwing our ship in all directions. Finally, after docking in Rotterdam, and setting my foot on Dutch soil for the first time, I felt as if I returned to a long forgotten home. And I still feel that way every time I cross the Dutch boarder, even though I'm not Dutch, and I don't speak the language at all. But there was no problem with that, because most Dutch people spoke English as a second language. And believe me, there's nothing that divides people more then different languages.

I don't know what it is that I love about Holland? It's a paranormal type of thing. Perhaps I lived in Amsterdam in a past life, or perhaps there may be some other reasons. However, I didn't stay in Holland long, on that first visit. But, I promised myself to return there in the future, and have done that on many other occasions.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono's first Bed-In was in Amsterdam, 1969.

For those that are interested, I'd like to share some information about Amsterdam in The Netherlands* (Holland). It's been once said that The Netherlands is where the richest poor people in the world live, and also the poorest rich people in the world. That's probably because The Netherlands is a Socialist country where residents enjoy many more social benefits and freedoms then people in other countries, but all of that at a steep price.

Amsterdam was built on the river Amstel. Many dams were built on that river to hold back the waters. Hance, the city was called Amsteldam, and later Amsterdam. There are also those that believe it's a Japanese mispronunciation of "Amsteldam" that the Portuguese went with because they needed to trade with Japan. Whatever the the truth may be, Amsterdam is inhabited by about 1,350,000 tourists, all kinds of bohemian type pilgrims from all corners of the world; including aliens from Area 51 and Area 52, so I heard. The city also has been called the Venice of the North and became a sort of Disneyland for hippies, artists, bohemians and gays from all sides of our planet. Perhaps it's the magic of the canals, the houseboats, red lights, or the crooked canal houses that make people feel high in Amsterdam. Or perhaps it's the mixture of the peculiar sweet scent in the air, and the high concentration of healing minerals from the sea that act like a narcotic on people, or the Heineken beer that gives then a high spirit? I don't know, and no one knows where the magic of that part of Europe comes from. It could be the coffeeshops, Smart Shops, Head Shops, bicycles, night clubs, gay scene, bathhouses, parades, house music, gigolos, prostitutes, Red Light District, museums, bars, rainbow flags, cozy hotels and hostels, live shows, shops, parks etc. Heaven knows?

Coffeeshops and other attractions are an important part of the layed-back Amsterdam culture. Without them the city would loose a lot of its charm. But there are some folks that feel ashamed of what the city has come to represent. Some folks would like to close down some of those attractions. Well, all I can say is that I'm ashamed for them, and proud to say that I love Amsterdam.

Amsterdam is the Capitol of the Netherlands, but the seat of the government is in The Hague (Den Haag). The Hague is also hometown of two legendary 1960s Dutch Rock Bands:
- Golden Earring - recorded the top USA hit single "Radar Love".
- Shocking Blue (1967-74) - recorded "Venus", #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit single in February 1970.

There are more canals in Amsterdam then in Venice, and more bridges then in Paris. Bicycles are the primary form of transport throughout The Netherlands. Generally speaking, The Netherlands are like another world parallel to ours. It is what the rest of the world could be like if people would become less restrictive, and more pragmatic minded. But that doesn't mean that everything is perfect. Amsterdam has many problems. And yes, not every is as pragmatic minded as it may seem. Though much progress has been made in resolving some issues, there's still a lot to be done. However, problems will not be discussed here. But the Reader should be aware that roses have thorns, and that not everything is as rosy as it seems anywhere in the world, not excluding Amsterdam.

The Dutch have a great understanding of human nature, its weaknesses, and need for happiness. Sociologists believe that's because of the form of reformed Christianity that the Dutch have decided to follow. Others believe that the many Dutch colonies, in many parts of the world had such a mind-opening influence on the Dutch. Whatever it was, there are at least three types of opinion groups about Amsterdam. And not all of them are so open-minded. The first are the liberals and non-conformists that would like to see more places like it in the world. The second are less tolerant folks, and conformists that would like to limit some of those freedoms the Dutch are known for. There may also be some among those that may hope to see Amsterdam fall, so it could serve as a bad example to follow. Finally the third, and the least noticed are those that take the pragmatic Dutch culture to be as normal as topless sunbathing is in Germany, Sweden, and other countries, for example.

To simplify Europe a bit for those, who have never been to the Old Continent, and that's probably about 95% or more of Americans and Australians, I'll begin by explaining the difference between Eastern and Western Europe. So, imagine that most of Western Europe is a bit like many parts of Northern United States. And imagine Eastern Europe to be a bit like the Sun Belt States (Bible Belt) in the South accept for the climate, with Russia in the role of an oil rich and uncontrolled Lone Star Republic of Texas. Monaco could be compared to a gambling Disneyland like Las Vegas or Atlantic City, and Amsterdam would be a lot like San Francisco. Imagine The Netherlands as an over-populated, and below sea-level Bangladesh on the map of Europe; except for its wealth, of course... Well, there you have it in a nutshell, the magic caldron that's called Europe.

The Dutch have incorporated many elements from their former colonies in Bali, Indonesia, Africa, India, the Far East or the Caribbean especially in their cuisine making it a truly cosmopolitan place, already in the Middle Ages. Remember the Middle Ages? Amsterdam and Venice were the only places in the Christian world where books forbidden by the Vatican could be published. And do you remember the Dutch Masters that painted naked women? How about the world's first true central bank that was created in Amsterdam. Amsterdam was also the birthplace of the first stock market. Dutch cows revolutionized the milk industry, which I believe Amsterdam's main shopping street Kalverstraat takes it's name from. Well, that's the free and innovative Dutch spirit. Though Holland** has changed much through the ages, Amsterdam has managed to keep some of the charm that used to be in Haight-Ashbury, Chicago's Old Town or New York's Greenwich Village in the 1960s.

Amsterdam has been the most congenial urban environment we've seen*** . Therefore, I'm proud to say that it's my "Paris", as Paris was to Balzac, Gertrude Stein, Tennessee Williams, and Ernest Hemingway. The well traveled young emperor of Russia Peter the Great studied ship building in A'dam. He was greatly inspired by Venice and Amsterdam. So when he returned to Russia he decided to build Saint Petersburg, a historic Russian port city built on canals, and the second largest city in Russia.

On the down side, the city has become one of the world's top tourist traps with all the problems that come with it, and the cost of living is very high. Though A'dam hasn't lost much of its old charm, sometimes the old city center resembles an exotic bazaar lined with shops, and herds of residents and tourists from all walks of life, and from all parts of the world.

Perhaps it's just like a beautiful pipe-dream... But wasn't the world built on ideas, dreams, and by dreamers? And weren't people like Albert Einstein, Walt Disney, Wernher von Braun, Martin Luther King Jr., John Lennon or the many men and women that received Nobel Peace Prizes, or Academy Awards (Oscars) some of the greatest dreamers we've had? So, there's nothing wrong with being inspired, and nothing wrong with dreaming of a better world for a better future.

Footnotes: 
* The name means "low-lands" because much of the Netherlands is far below sea level. 
** The name comes form the words "holt" and "land" i.e. forest-land. 
*** So far, I have been only to England, Holland, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Rep., France and Canada. 

 

All photos on this website 
by Adam Wojtanek 

Amsterdam 2008 Amsterdam 2006 Amsterdam 2005

The Royal Palace (Koninklijk Paleis) on The Dam Square 
Dutch Royal House (Het Koninklijk Huis)

That's me at the Dam Square in Amsterdam. The Dam Square was the 1960s hippie center of the world.  It still is a popular meeting place in Amsterdam. In the background, Grand Hotel Krasnopolsky established in 1866 by a Polish immigrant. Click here to see it on Google Maps.

Hippies used to gather, play music, sing, practice free love and also crash for the night in their sleeping bags  around this phallic shaped Monument Of The Unknown Soldier.  It was also the place where the Provo freedom action group used to hold its PROVOcative rallies in the 1960s.

Concept CD music album inspired by the 1960-70s, 
and created in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Written and recorded between 2005 - 2006. 
Full album was released 
August 8, 2009. 

AdamsCrib.com





I apologize for some possibly out-dated links 

Guides & Info

I Amsterdam Holland Travel Guide Online Netherlands Tourism - Amsterdam Artsy’s Rembrandt Van Rijn page AViewOnCities - Amsterdam Internet Guide To Amsterdam Time Out Guide to Amsterdam Smokers Guide to Amsterdam Dutch White Pages Dutch Yellow Pages Public holidays in the Netherlands

Maps

Google Maps - Amsterdam Metro/Bus Rout Planner Departure = Van, Destination = Naar, Town = Plaats, Street = Straat, House Number = Huisnr, Date = Datum, Time = Tijd

Online Dictionaries

Google Translate Dictionary.com - Translator

Miscellaneous Links

Overheid.nl (in English) Dutch News (News in English) DutchAmsterdam.nl Amsterdam.nl Panoramas Of Amsterdam Amsterdam.info | Amsterdam Webcam Amsterdam Connect Kalverstraat Online The Amsterdam Site Amsterdam Webcams Amsterdam Expat Meet In Amsterdam Expatica.com All About Houseboats Dutch American - Wikipedia Music of the Netherlands - Wikipedia

Although I hope visitors find links on this website useful, I make no representations whatsoever about any of the companies or the websites to which I link, and am not responsible for the content, any use of same, or consequences arising there from.

A flower stand on a street in A'dam