Amsterdam - Amsterdam Bruges and Brussels - page 62

s Rembrandt's House (Museum Het Rembrandthuis) —A
middle-aged Rembrandt lived here from 1639 to 1658 after his
wife's death, as his popularity and wealth
dwindled down to obscurity and bank-
ruptcy. As you enter, ask when the next
etching demonstration is scheduled and
pick up the fine, included audioguide. Tour
the place this way: Explore Rembrandt's
reconstructed house (filled with exactly
what his bankruptcy inventory of 1656 said
he owned); imagine him at work in his
reconstructed studio; marvel at his personal
collection of exotic objects, many of which
he included in paintings; attend the etch-
ing demonstration and ask the printer to
explain the etching process (drawing in soft wax on a metal plate
that's then dipped in acid, inked up, and printed); and then, for
the finale, enjoy several rooms of original Rembrandt etchings.
You're not likely to see a single painting, but the master's etch-
ings are marvelous and well-described. I came away wanting to
know more about the man and his art (€8 includes audioguide,
daily 10:00-17:00, Jodenbreestraat 4, tel. [phone], www
.rembrandthuis.nl).
s Diamonds —Many shops in this “city of diamonds” offer tours.
These tours come with two parts: a chance to see experts behind
magnifying glasses polishing the facets of precious diamonds, fol-
lowed by a visit to an intimate sales room to see (and perhaps buy)
a mighty shiny yet very tiny souvenir.
The handy and professional Gassan Diamonds facility fills
a huge wa rehouse a block from
Rembrandt's House. A visit here
plops you in the big-tour-group
fray (notice how each tour group
has a color-coded sticker so they
know which guide gets the commis-
sion on what they buy). You'll get a
sticker, join a free 15-minute tour
to see a polisher at work, and hear a
general explanation of the process.
Then you'll have an opportunity to
sit down and have color and clarity
described and illustrated with diamonds ranging in value from
$100 to $30,000. Before or after, you can have a free cup of cof-
fee in the waiting room across the parking lot (daily 9:00-17:00,
Nieuwe Uilenburgerstraat 173, tel. [phone], www.gassan
diamonds.com, handy WC). Another company, Coster, also offers