For years, I went to Vlieland every summer with my family, just like the entire Ten Brink family, including singer Charlotte. Later that summer, I traveled to Tuscany with my father and sister, and there too we always ran into the Ten Brinks in the square of Siena. For this Black Book, I called Charlotte, who is now busy writing and recording her debut album that will be released in 2014. “It’s going to be a really beautiful album, I’m really going to show myself for the first time. Lots of beautiful songs and lyrics, a bit of a folk-like pop album, haha that sounds very clear, right?” Dear Charlotte, tell us, where should we eat, where should we drink? And where can we find the best pizza in Amsterdam?

FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN AMSTERDAM?

Of course, I had already thought about it a bit beforehand, and how difficult I find this question, I choose Donna Sophia in the Amsterdam Jordaan. It’s an Italian restaurant and only real Italians work there. Especially in the summer, it’s really nice, then you can sit outside and it feels just like you’re in New York. I usually order the melanzane, that’s my favorite. With mozzarella and eggplant, really delicious. The desserts are also fantastic, by the way.

BEST COCKTAILS?

Well, I don’t drink a lot of alcohol, but I do find cocktails very tasty. At Tao in New York, I had a divine mojito. That was about 25 dollars, so I could only order one, which turned out to be good. In Amsterdam, I think Franklin Bar is a really cool place. Great food and amazing cocktails, the atmosphere is also very nice. Yes, and the bar at the Okura Hotel of course, with that beautiful view. But that’s not somewhere I go very often.

UNEXPLORED PLACE IN THE NETHERLANDS?

Maybe Vlieland is still a bit unexplored. We have a little house there, and when I take a beach walk, I might run into one person. I try to go once every two months, and sometimes if I’m lucky, I go more often. But Donna Sophia might also be such an unexplored spot, not many people know it. By the way, the best pizza is at La Perla in the Jordaan. There’s always a line, but only from people who live nearby; outside the Jordaan, it’s not that well known. They have a real pizza oven, so the pizzas are, just like in Sicily, truly divine.

BEST ONLINE SHOP ADDRESS?

Oh, I’m really addicted to online shopping. I shop way too much online. Especially at Zara.com, because you can return it for free, and that’s very dangerous for me. Asos.com is just as delightful, and I’ve often ordered from Topshop.com as well. But I don’t always buy something, just browsing is already fun for me. It’s really the ultimate relaxation, just looking a lot and then ultimately buying nothing. I also do that with the housing site funda.nl, and then dream big by setting the minimum amount to 2 million. Wonderful.

BEST HOTEL?

I’ve never stayed there, but I really think the Conservatorium Hotel is amazing. I work out there, and it’s really the nicest space ever. I also like to drink tea there; it’s just incredible. It’s funny because I’ve been rejected three times at the Conservatorium, but now I can finally go in and I’m staying. Just right.

LAST MINUTE GIFT STRESS, WHERE DO YOU GO?

Usually, I just go to the Utrechtsestraat because there are so many different shops that I always find something. So I know it will be fine.

VACATION WITH MOST CHERISHED MEMORIES?

It gets a bit boring when I start talking about Italy again, haha. But still, I say the vacations to Sicily, so lovely, with the whole family on the beach. And also, a few years ago, I went to New York. That was really a dream come true because I actually have a lot of fear of flying. It was quite a hassle because there was that ash cloud which made everything take even longer, but it was so cool to be there, so it was worth it.

MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN ITALY?

That’s Sicily. That’s where my mother was born, in Trapani, and a lot of family lives there. It’s really a beautiful little town, and you eat the best ice cream there, even better than in Siena! That’s the other most beautiful place in Italy, the square of Siena. It really makes me so happy, being with the whole family in that square, in a summer dress and with an ice cream, that never gets old, and every year it’s so beautiful.