Thank God It's Friday: Maartje Diepstraten

If anyone is the perfect person to appear in this column, it is Maartje Diepstraten. As founder of Bart's Book she knows all the perfect spots that fit every mood, time, season, and need. After she has scoured and tested almost all brunch, lunch, and dinner locations, it is now time for Bart's Wedding and Beauty.

When I go out, my favorite routine is to start drinking wine around 5 PM

Maartje, of all people, I think I am most curious about what your Friday night looks like. Tell me?
Haha, first of all: I am fortunately no longer solely responsible for the content on Bart's Book, so I also happily spend many Friday nights on the couch (especially since Thursday nights are usually always busy). And this way, there is also fresh energy for Saturday, as my two kids have no idea what sleeping in is. When I go out, my favorite routine is to start drinking wine around 5 PM with a snack at the new ‘in the know’ spot in Amsterdam (whatever that may be) or in a nice hotel bar like the Hoxton (the new one) or Hotel de l'Europe. Tip: if everything is always full, go early and grab a spot at the bar. Success guaranteed. Then preferably join a good classic (it can also be a new classic). Then you definitely want to know where? Café Grand Caron for example, or De Gouden Reael (from the same owners). Or Koevoet, or the Goudfazant, Café Parlotte or Zoldering... That school, so to speak.

I am an absolute recidivist when it comes to restaurants. If all goes well, I keep coming back. Difficult for you, I think. Do you know that need to return and where do you go more often?
Here I like to repeat that I am fortunately no longer solely responsible for everything on Bart's Book, haha! Since I have small kids, I have also become a huge recidivist. I still inherently long for ‘new’ and am always curious, I just don't always have the energy right now and just want good and tasty. It will come back, I am sure of that, but for now, recognition and knowing what to expect also gives me a lot of peace. The restaurants I mentioned above are part of the regular recipe, just like Café Restaurant Amsterdam, Café Beurre, De Willem - especially in and around the Jordaan and Westerpark, because close to home. But the need to return is particularly evident in our vacations: with kids aged 5 and 1, it is so nice to know the way. And within an area, there is always so much more to discover than what you can see (and do!) during a vacation. So we actually go to Ibiza and South France every year, and if it works out, Cape Town. What I find very nice there, with the Bart's Book cap on, is that you can really give good advice.

 Tip: if everything is always full, go early and grab a spot at the bar. Success guaranteed.

What is Spotify playing on Saturday morning, what are you drinking and reading, and is there a lovely scented candle burning?
Always a scented candle! That is funny enough also my regular souvenir: no vacation where I don't take one home. Scents evoke memories and I find that so lovely. As for the Spotify playlist (this will definitely lead to unfollowers), I am a sucker for folk music. Dutch-language yes, but I am also a big country fan. Whoops. I prefer to read (although that never happens on Saturday morning) those nice whodunnits, although I also devoured The Seven Sisters (ah, again a club of unfollowers).

Suppose earthly matters like flight shame, time difference, and limited budgets don't matter. What does your ideal weekend look like? Do you start in Japan and end in New York or would you rather go to a Dutch island?
Then I would spend that weekend from A to almost Z in New York. That is my favorite place on earth (but yes, if only I had the money), and then I would finish it off with a Sunday afternoon and evening on the beach of Trancoso, Brazil. Or otherwise a beach I have never been to, with a Sancerre in my hand. Yes, bring it on.

And... Bart's Wedding, does that come from a private need?
Need to get married, you mean? We have been married for ten years this year, and so Bart's Wedding has secretly existed for ten years, but a person only has a limited number of hours in a day and I have never really succeeded in making this a real job. The need has been there for ten years. Back then, I shared my own wedding troubles and I have since organized about three weddings as a wedding planner. Very fun to do, but I was a bit drained because I enjoyed it so much that I did everything for free. Not a good business model, so to speak. When I spoke to Evi, Miss Bart's Wedding, about her dream job and she told me that this was a combination of wedding planner and writing for Bart's Book, the result became Bart's Wedding as it is now. And I find it so much fun!

I often immediately ‘turn on’ when there is a bowl of water for the dog

What I always find very nice is that you also test locations for pet-friendliness. If the dog is welcome, it is extra nice. In the meantime, you have, besides a whole legion of Bartjes who all collect tips, also gathered children. What is your ideal child- and dog-friendly restaurant?
Haha, nice question! I often immediately ‘turn on’ when there is a bowl of water for the dog. Often these are addresses just outside the city, like Plantage Rococo. And often these are also immediately lovely (outlet) addresses for the kids, like the new Hof Ilpenstein, Strandvier in Monnickendam and Republiek in Bloemendaal, or Branding in Noordwijk. Orangerie De Pol also immediately comes to mind, in the Achterhoek. Café Resutaunt Amsterdam is always good, Vessel, and funny enough, De Goudfazant in Amsterdam-Noord is also top. Oh, and Bar Blauw for lunch. I will think about it a bit more; good idea for an article. To be continued.

And where does Bart's Beauty come from? What can we expect from it?
I often think that if I experience something, I am probably not the only one. My beauty routine at home is usually a drama (read: I throw it together), but when I am traveling, I am very much into beauty and follow a whole step-by-step plan. The idea is: how do you maintain that vacation routine (but also: vacation complexion, vacation hair, etc.)?

I am also particularly looking forward to Bart's Wedding. Can you already give two golden tips for a slightly less everyday wedding?
Be sure to check BartsBruiloft.com! It’s there. And yes:
1. Do nothing as you think it should be, but do what you like. For example, turn a day around: dance hard with all your friends and acquaintances in the afternoon and then have dinner with a small group in the evening? That’s possible and is mega fun.
2. Involve your guests in your wedding: for example, ask everyone to bring a few bottles of their favorite wine as a gift and put them right on the tables, or ask everyone to bring flowers (possibly with a color assignment) and ensure plenty of empty vases and jars: that will look so beautiful!

Just a little about this weekend, how does it end and where?
In Paris by chance! Where? Time will tell...