David Holtkamp - Düsseldorf
Leben abseits der Kö
Aus einer PR- & Kommunikationsagentur geboren, gründete David Holtkamp 2014 gemeinsam mit seiner Partnerin das Onlinemagazin „The Dorf“. Er selber bezeichnet sich als Trüffelschwein, als jemand, der gerne nach spannenden Produkten oder interessanten Menschen und Orten sucht, wie er im Interview mit Startup Sprint Düsseldorf verraten hat. Diese Fähigkeit ist vermutlich auch der Grund dafür, dass „The Dorf“ schnell zu dem digitalen Nachschlagewerk der auf sich etwas haltenden Szene Düsseldorfs geworden ist. Ein Beweis für die Vielfalt der - oft für die Schickeria verschrienen – Stadt. Die Sichtweise auf die doch eher überschaubare Großstadt ist ehrlich und mit dem notwendigen Grad an Selbstironie versehen, wie auch schon der Name des Blogs vermuten lässt. Natürlich ist der Chefredakteur Fortuna Düsseldorf Fan oder wie Madsen es einst sangen: „Auf den billigen Plätzen sind die netteren Leute.“ Ein Trüffelschwein eben. Für David Holtkamp ist Düsseldorf mehr als Kö und Schickimicki, es ist gutes Essen und facettenreiche Kultur, Zweitliga Fußball und Großstadtdorf. Es ist Heimat.
Autor: Jan Kempinski
Foto: Erwin Wenzel
Düsseldorf amounts to nothing more than the fancy fashionability of the Kö (Köningsalleé)?
Luckily, no, there is much more to the city, and over the past few years, a lot has developed! David Holtkamp from THE DORF, the online magazine about Düsseldorf, shows the creative and slightly different face of the city at www.thedorf.de. For us, he has compiled his insider tips and favourite spots.
One of Dusseldorf's prime highlights for me is definitely the Rhine. This may sound a little strange and obvious, but without the majestic river and its riverbanks, the city would really lose a big attraction. The Rhine gives you the opportunity to take a deep breath and drift away from everyday life. The area around NRW forum is the ideal place to enjoy your bottle of Alt beer in the sunset: sitting outside on the Rhine wall at the legendary Fortuna Kiosk, located directly at the Rhine. Not only during Fortuna home games, old and young alike hang out here.
Joseph-Beuys-Ufer 27
40479 Düsseldorf
It is worth a trip across the bridge to the left-hand side of the Rhine to Oberkassel to visit the JULIA STOSCHEK COLLECTION - you can see contemporary art here, with a focus on time-based media/video art in extraordinary spaces. Regular film screenings and the opportunity to visit the collection free of charge on Saturdays and Sundays is definitely worth it! Only a few weeks ago, Julia opened her second branch in Berlin.
A gastronomic specialty is Kim Phi. A Vietnamese food wholesaler in the industrial area of Lierenfeld, where every Saturday between 10:00 and 16:00, you can get Asian street food and perhaps the best pho soup in the city, in the back of their main hall. There is probably nothing more authentic than this in the whole of Germany.
Historic Carlstadt is still considered a bit outdated and conservative. This is partly true, but Carlstadt has clearly shaken off a lot of dust in the last one or two years, which is good for what is probably the most beautiful part of the city. The paving stones on the streets, the high number of old buildings and the many small shops make for good times and have to be rediscovered by the Düsseldorfers. In addition, there are the many exciting backyards, galleries and the Düsseldorf Marionette Theater.
Shopping is done at Selekteur Store with great things from European manufactories, at interior & living accessory specialist Yooyama or at Concept Store Stylealbum (unfortunately only for women). Pure Freude offers the most amazing cakes in the city and has a sweet little backyard cafe. At Lauras Deli you can get Smoothies & Healthy Food. Everything else that tastes delicious and looks beautiful, you can get at the weekly market on Carlsplatz.
I love the Japanviertel (the Japanese district) around Immermannstraße and Oststraße, with its Japanese and Korean restaurants, shops and supermarkets. Favourites: The YABASE with authentic sushi cuisine, the TAKUMI with delicious ramen-soups and Gyozas or the quite new Korean restaurant Chimac, with open kitchen until 02:00 at weekends. Insider tip: Japanese bakery: BAKERY MY HEART on Marienstraße!
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And, speaking of Japan, a walk through the Japanese garden in the north park or a trip to the Japanese temple in Niederkassel (can be combined well with a visit to the Julia Stoschek Collection) is definitely worth it. The Japanese influence of over 50 years is perhaps the best thing that could have happened to the city!
I love the Kunsthalle am Grabbeplatz - the perfect place for a relaxing Sunday. This is the place of international trends and Düsseldorf positions, new talents and "great" names of the art world. Tip: After a visit to the museum go to the adjoining bookstore Walther König, to spend hours and hours just browsing and discovering art and design books, and in the evening, go to Salon des Amateurs - which for some years now has been the only address for a cultivated club culture and institution in Düsseldorf nightlife!
Additional points & tips:
Square bar
At this 28-square-meter location in authentic, 50s atmosphere, you can get the most creative cocktails of the city, made by Bartender David. One example: The "Vanilli-Kamilli" with black truffle flavoured white tequila, lemon, homemade vanilla syrup & chamomile salt! With Rock'n'Roll music played as a soundtrack. During the irregular "Dude-Sundays", appearance in bathrobe is obligatory!
Squarebar, Collenbachstr. 57, 40476 Düsseldorf, squarebar-dus.com
Bar Olio
Absolute favourite place, especially in summer on the bench in front of the restaurant! Has been the place to be for creative Italian cuisine with Asian-international influences in an unpretentious atmosphere at the old freight station for over 15 years now. There is no alternative and we hope it will be with us for a long time yet - would be in the top list in every international city...
Bar Olio, Schirmerstraße 54, 40211 Dusseldorf, Mon-Sat, no website
La Grilladine in "Little Morocco" behind Central Station, in Oberbilk - the district has many Moroccan bakeries and great places for fruit, vegetables & fish such as Nador market. Unfortunately, this corner was unhappily and unnecessarily put under general suspicion just over a year ago.
La Grilladine: Dreieckstraße 26, 40227 Düsseldorf
From here, "Das Büdchen" - the cult kiosk around Ökkes Yildrim is not far. Ökkes is more of an artist and a port of call for everyone and he is committed to cultural and social life in his neighbourhood, organising exhibitions and concerts in his space.
Büdchen: Linienstraße 108, 40227 Düsseldorf