On the sensitive plate: Jeremy Witteveen
The Centrum district is ideal for recording on the sensitive. In the series of the same name ‘On the sensitive plate’, Amsterdammers share their favorite photos of the city centre, of the Singel at sunrise. This week Jeremy Witteveen shares his favorites.
Jeremy (Jerry) Witteveen (35) was born in the Amsterdam North Hospital (ZAN, nowadays the NH Amsterdam Noord hotel), his family is originally from the Jordaan and he works in Amsterdam South. You may have seen him there, at the Avezaath-Beune patisserie, where you can get mouth-watering Bossche bollen and airy tompouces. Jeremy is a pastry chef there. He works on the cold side and makes delicious pastries. But you can also spot him in his spare time, on the canals in the city center, with his camera in hand.
Meet Jeremy
Jeremy was very young when he moved from de Banne (Banne Buiksloot) to Purmerend with his parents. “I had nothing to argue with. I was nice, just at 6 months.” He grew up in Purmerend, but the desire for Amsterdam remained strong. “As a little boy I sat in the backseat – we went to visit my uncle – and we drove out of the IJtunnel… That’s when I really saw how beautiful Amsterdam is.”
Nowadays he is in Amsterdam 5 days a week for work. “And every day I get happy when I walk out the sliding doors of Central Station and see beautiful Amsterdam.” Jeremy cycles from Central Station to Amsterdam South. Through the 9 streets, along the Museumplein, to the Johannes Verhulststraat. A beautiful route in which he occasionally takes a few detours through the city center to fully enjoy the city.
A new hobby
“Last summer I cycled to work in the morning and noticed how empty the city was. I thought, now you see how beautiful Amsterdam really is.” He is beauty to capture. First with his mobile phone, but then he bought out a Canon new bhobby to photograph all the beauty the city has to offer.
Although he no longer lives in Amsterdam, Jeremy does feel connected to the city center. His family still lives there, of course, and his favorite cafe, Casablanca, is also located in the Centre. On the Zeedijk he sings along with Amsterdam hits, from ‘I wanted silver, but I now have gold’ to ‘I don’t think about leaving Mokum.’
“The beautiful canals and the beautiful architecture. Sitting comfortably on a bench and looking around me: you never got tired of visiting Amsterdam!”
‘I wanted silver, but now I have gold’
- André Hazes, I mean it
‘I don’t think about leaving Mokum’
Do you also have pictures of Centrum district?
And do you want to share it? Send an email to [email protected] and who knows, your photos may be featured in the next ‘On the sensitive plate’!
Jeremy’s sensitive record
paper mill lock
The most photographed piece should not be missing. Instagram is full of them. “This is surely one of the visible places in Amsterdam. I can sit comfortably on this bench: taking pictures and people watching. Just enjoy.”
The Singel at sunrise
The reflection of the rising sun in the water makes for beautiful pictures. This is how Jeremy prefers to see the city. “A sultry summer morning with a golden glow over the city, where the canals are like mirrors.”
The dawn in the Huidenstraat
Jeremy’s bike route to work runs through the 9 streets. In peace and quiet he tours the streets and the quiet canals. “Delightfully empty around 6 o’clock in the morning. It doesn’t get much better than this beautiful view.”
The Westertoren
“The Westertoren should certainly not be missed. The Westerkerk is the pride of the Jordaan, the most celebrated church in Amsterdam.”
Brouwersgracht
Jeremy’s first real memory of Amsterdam is inextricably linked to the Brouwersgracht. “I had the most beautiful view above the painting company and I fell in love with Amsterdam.”
Knowing more
On the map below you will find the locations where the photos were taken. More photos taken by Jeremy can be found on his Instagram page.