I don’t really know why that is, where it comes from. I’ve been quite obsessed with this cinema these last few weeks (months?), talking about it, regretting that the theatre could not be visited during the Openmonumentendag – certainly because it’s private. Well, I’ve finally been able to enter the Groote Zaal, the main stage, of the wonderful – and possibly, a bit magical – Tuschinski Theatre.
Located between the Flower Market and Rembrandtplein in Amsterdam, the monument is impossible to miss – and to not notice – if you’re heading to one of the city’s most lively places, to drink a beer at Coco’s or just to take a picture near the statues representing The Night Watch. Some find the façade particularly ugly, some completely eccentric, some – like me – become very curious of what it looks like inside.
Eccentric is indeed the adjective that first comes to your mind when you step inside the building. Founded in the 1920s by Abraham Tuschinski, the theatre is an encounter between three architectural styles: Art deco, Art nouveau and the School of Amsterdam. The cinema has been renovated several times since its opening in 1921: for example, the soft, bright-colored Moroccan carpet in the entrance dates back from 1984 – it was brought in one piece to the Netherlands, using a KLM plane for this single purpose.
What will strike you most – and why it has become my favorite cinema here – is its timeless, cosy – even a bit creepy -, atmosphere. The lights are subdued, the lounges transport you in another time, and the main stage is a true gem. The stunning ceiling, the balconies and the curtains that open to reveal a – suddenly very modern – screen remind you that there was something before Netflix. Paris has its Grand Rex, Amsterdam has its Tuschinski Theatre.
Want to discover the cinema? Two options: buy a ticket for a movie in the “Grote Zaal” (around 12 euros) or purchase an Audio tour on Pathé’s website (10 euros including coffee or tea).
Sauce Hollandaise 