April as told by Aa

Hayfever, festival lineups, and the return of the fun vegetables.

Apr 11, 2026

Oh. My. God. We made it.

We are not being dramatic when we say that surviving a Dutch winter deserves some kind of formal recognition. A certificate. A parade. At minimum a warm handshake from someone who understands. Because every year, without fail, we forget how grey it gets, how long it lasts, and how genuinely feral we become by the end of it. And then April arrives and we remember. We remember what it feels like to exist.

Daylight savings has done its thing, and we are no longer leaving the office in complete darkness like a pair of very tired vampires. The fun fruits and vegetables are back. Rhubarb.Asparagus. Radishes. Things that are actually exciting to eat. The terraces are full, the jackets are getting lighter, and somewhere between the hayfever and the cautious optimism, Amsterdam has remembered how to be charming again.

Easter weekend has come and gone. We hope you rose accordingly. Tattoo Jam happened, it was everything, and if you missed it that is genuinely on you. Festival lineups are dropping at a pace that is frankly irresponsible for our bank accounts, everyone is feeling a little zesty, and the serotonin is, carefully, returning.

And before we forget, because we are basically clairvoyant at this point: Kingsday is coming. The one day a year we can tolerate the monarchy, and as it happens, one of our brand colours is orange. So keep an eye out for some very special Kingsday content that will help you navigate this big beautiful mess of a national holiday. We have you covered.

As always, here is everything that has been filling our feeds and our minds this month, plus the occasional retail therapy gem, where to eat, what to watch, and where to boogie.

Let’s go.

What keeps us informed

Volkswagen’s new war business: Volkswagen, founded in 1937 by the Nazi Party's German Labour Front and built on the forced labour of concentration camp prisoners, is now in talks with Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to manufacture Iron Dome components at its Osnabrück plant. The factory, which faces losing all vehicle production by 2027, would produce heavy-duty transport trucks, launch units and power generators, with production potentially starting within 12 to 18 months. The pitch: 2,300 jobs saved. The fine print: complicity in an ongoing genocide.
Israel’s selective gallows: The Israeli Knesset passed a bill expanding the death penalty for terrorism-related offenses, with language making clear it will apply almost exclusively to Palestinians. The bill mandates execution by hanging within 90 days, limits access to legal counsel, restricts family visits, and removes judicial discretion. Human rights organisations have been unambiguous: this is discriminatory legislation designed for one population.
Traoré’s case against democracy: Burkina Faso’s military ruler Capt Ibrahim Traoré went on state television to declare that democracy “kills” and that his people must “forget” it. Having already extended his coup-installed rule by five years and banned all political parties in January, he offered no alternative system, just the absence of one. Fascinating timing for a man who once promised elections.
The UAE’s reality, managed: Bellingcat has published a detailed investigation into how the UAE has systematically downplayed, mischaracterised, and in some cases flatly denied successful Iranian drone strikes on its territory since February. In response, the government arrested over 100 people for filming the strikes and threatened expedited trials for anyone sharing footage online. Nothing to see here. Literally, by law.
Vondelpark Victory: On a lighter note for Amsterdam residents, fat bikes will officially be banned from Vondelpark starting May 11. The planet may be on fire, but at least the park might become slightly less chaotic. Small victories.

What keeps us cultured

THE FACE is closing. Again. The iconic British magazine, which originally ran from 1980 to 2004 before relaunching in 2019, has announced it is shutting down for good. #rip
Maison Margiela took its FW26 show to Shanghai, marking the brand’s first show outside Paris and simultaneously launching a four-city archive exhibition across China. 58 Artisanal looks from 1989 to 2025 displayed in industrial shipping containers on a pedestrianised street.
Reuters has published what many are calling the definitive unmasking of Banksy, identifying him as Robin Gunningham, a bespectacled middle-aged man from Bristol. An open secret for years, now officially on the record. He has neither confirmed nor denied it. We wonder who will sue him for vandalism first.
Instagram now allows you to reorder carousel slides after posting without deleting the post. Miracles do still happen.
The Oscars delivered. Michael B. Jordan took Best Actor for Sinners (maybe Timmy T will #stayhumble now), Jessie Buckley won Best Actress for Hamnet, and Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another took Best Picture.
Lentekabinet announced its full lineup for the 13th edition last week and we are so dancing this spring. Chris Stussy b2b Shanti Celeste, DJ EZ and a Saturday stage curated by Amsterdam-Zuidoost’s own Kazerne Reigersbos. 23 and 24 May at Het Twiske. See you there.

What we’re reading

Unforbidden pleasures by Adam Phillips
The Vegetarian by Han Kang
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata
Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico

What we’re listening to

Our music taste is, like us, difficult to categorise. This week: a playlist built with love, a Kelela sketch, Kim Gordon being Kim Gordon, and everything in between. Press play and figure it out as you go

Kissy kissy make my heart feel dizzy playlist by Nick Williams for Aa Magazine
You got time and I got money - MIKE + Zack Sekoff EDIT
Daisy Cutter by Ouri
I’m Da Nicca by DJ Spanish Fly
NOT TODAY by Kim Gordon
Naster by Devon Rexi
idea1 by Kelela
Kiss Cafe w/ Maraschino on NTS

What we’re watching

Anything on A(a) watchlist for the fashion fanatics by Chiara Wagner for Aa Magazine
No Other Choice by Park-Chan Wook
The Drama by Kristoffer Borgli

Crash by David Croneberg
The Secret Agent by Kleber Mendonça Filho
Vortex by Gaspar Noé

Have tips on what you’d like to see more (or less) of?
Any giveaway requests? Wanna rant about the political and economic state of the world right now? Hit reply or comment below!

What we’re shopping

Mais x Frida Alice dress
Ellis Faas brow gel
Liesch PUTIK ring
Sergio Rossi satin mules
Cowboys of Habit It’s not me tee
Kosas revealer concealer
Healthclub electrolytes
Asics x CP Company Gel Quantum 360 trainer
Dr Jart Cryo Rubber mask via Zalando
Niihai pull over crop in pink ice

What we’re eating and drinking

We are, unashamedly, gourmands. And we've decided the best thing about having a newsletter is that it gives us every excuse to explore, overorder, and report back. Boots on the ground, forks in hand. The world is large and the menus are long: we're working through both.