If you’re gearing up to head to the first in-person International Broadcasters Conference (IBC) in Amsterdam since 2019 you’re probably busy making travel and accommodation plans. But after you’ve booked your hotel and made your packing list, you might forget to take advantage of everything around you when you’re there. VITAC is busy gearing up for IBC, too, and we’ve even put together a list of things to see and do while in town. The best part? You don’t have to worry about long car rides or ground logistics, these five things are within five miles of this year’s IBC Show at the RAI Amsterdam convention center.
1. Micropia: Not your average museum, Micropia focuses on the little things. Micropia is the first museum dedicated to microbes, the smallest organisms on the planet. The premise might sound small-minded, but the museum offers plenty of opportunities to see how microbes shape and change the world around us, sometimes in really big ways. If you’d prefer to take a gander at some of the earth’s larger animals, you can choose to combine your ticket with admission to the Amsterdam Royal Zoo. So, if you’d like to see the tiny animals responsible for making flamingos pink and then see those flamingos, this stop can be a two-in-one for you.
2. Moeders: If your travel has you feeling homesick, Moeders might be just the ticket. With a name meaning “Mothers,” the restaurant specializes in creating a homey vibe and cozy fare “like mom used to make.” The caveat being, as the Travel Man himself Richard Ayoade once said, “It’s like mom used to make. If your mom was Dutch.” Moeders offers those unfamiliar with Dutch cuisine a chance to try something new in possibly the least intimidating environment possible.
3. Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam: If you’re looking for a tranquil respite from the busy convention center, it might be time to get back to nature. And you don’t even have to travel outside the city in order to do it! Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam boasts a blend of new and old architecture, housing history and plants cultivated by scientists dating as far back as the eighteenth century. Don’t think plants are your thing? You can try making friends with a few winged friends instead, with the hundreds of tropical butterflies that call the location home.
4. The Heineken Experience: Speaking of a break, if you’d rather take yours with some refreshment, the Heineken Experience has you covered. Offering a self-guided tour with interactive elements and staffed with knowledgeable assistants, it’s a chance to regroup while learning a little history, chemistry, and a new skill, all while enjoying a beverage. Football (or soccer, for our fellow Americans) fans can combine the experience with a tour of the Johan Cruijff ArenA, home to the Dutch national team.
5. Rijksmuseum: Drawing an impressive 2 million visitors each year, Rijksmuseum’s mission is to tell the story of Dutch history, from the Middle Ages through today. To support this mission, the museum is home to famous works from the likes of Rembrandt, Vermeer, and more, alongside historical objects. Located in the Museum Quarter, there are other museums to check out nearby if you manage to find extra time on your hands or want more to explore.
And one thing more: Check out VITAC and Take 1’s IBC booth (5.G36) at the RAI Amsterdam convention center. All right, this one’s a bit self-indulgent, we admit, but we couldn’t resist! And as a quality caption provider for more than 36 years, we think we’re worth checking out for all your video and audio content accessibility needs. If that’s not enough to entice, we’ve got giveaways as well as lots of insight and information from our knowledgeable professionals.