AMSTERDAM WITH: DANIËLLE SIOBHÁN

Photographer and model Daniëlle Siobhán has mastered the subtle art of being both the subject and the soul behind the camera lens.

Born in The Netherlands with strong Irish roots, Siobhán’s career has taken her from Amsterdam to London, LA and New York City. “My mother is Irish so even though my parents raised my brother and me in The Netherlands, Dublin has always been our second home.” Nowadays, she combines modelling with her work as a photographer and post producer, a métier that transcends borders. From her base in West Amsterdam, we caught up with the Dutch native to talk travel.

Place of birth:
The Netherlands, with strong Irish roots

Occupation:
Photographer, retoucher & model

I don’t leave the house without…
A smile!

I’m currently reading:
I’m re-reading ‘ The Art of Happiness’, with a more mature perspective

Tell us about yourself and what you’re working on

For the last few years I’ve been travelling around the world, working as a photographer and post producer for clients such as Life&Thyme, Phaidon Press and Rainforest Alliance. Since the pandemic however, I’ve been operating from my base in Amsterdam working on several collaborations with Harpers Bazaar Nederland and All Kinds Gallery—a contemporary art book and online exhibition of images created during the lockdown. I dabble here and there with music and like to maintain my online print store, so I guess you can say I run a pretty tight schedule...but as long as you like what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life! 

Where do you currently reside in Amsterdam, and what are your favourite neighbourhood discoveries?

I’ve lived in most areas around the city but I’m currently based in West Amsterdam, the ‘Da Costabuurt’—my favourite area! Lots of restaurants, bars and cafe’s are on your doorstep, so it’s a really good place to be if you’re a foodie like me! My favourite discoveries are Berry (Bilderdijkkade 27) a cozy café with delicious baked goods, Levain et Le Vin (Jan Pieter Heijestraat 168) serves pillowy sourdough with natural wines and Sous Bar-Bistro (Wolvenstraat 16), the kind of place you go to for lunch, but stick around for drinks and dinner!

Talk us through your typical day

As a freelancer my routine varies, but an ideal day for me begins just before sunrise, starting with a restorative breakfast before my morning yoga flows. I make sure to grab a coffee nearby at Back to Black (Weteringstraat 48) with a friend or a client and when I return from my little morning walk in the sun, my work day begins. For lunch, I head to Levain et Le Vin (Jan Pieter Heijestraat 168) and have a picnic in Vondelpark—rain or no rain! My evenings are best spent with company, I love to host, so often have people over for dinner before heading out for a night cap at Morgan & Mees (Tweede Hugo de Grootstraat 2-6).

Favourite places for lunch?

De Wasserette (Eerste van der Helststraat 27) is a popular neighbourhood cafe with a terrace located on the Gerard Douplein which is one of my favourite squares in Amsterdam. Buffet van Odette (Prinsengracht 598) is a must for their ‘truffle cheese omelettes’ and Little Collins (Eerste Sweelinckstraat 19F) is my go-to for coffee and comfort food. If I’m in the city centre, I head to De Plantage (Plantage Kerklaan 36) a café-restaurant that’s in a former greenhouse with outdoor seating and views over Artis Royal Zoo. Lotti’s at The Hoxton hotel (Herengracht 255) serves brasserie-style dishes and attracts a cool crowd, whilst The Lobby Fizeaustraat (Fizeaustraat 2) is a great spot for lazy lunches and weekend brunches.

Favourite places for an evening meal?

Cafe de Klepel (Prinsenstraat 22) is small and intimate with a daily-rotating menu. Toscanini (Lindengracht 75-79) is probably the best Italian restaurant in town and Petit Caron is your slice of Paris in Amsterdam. I also recommend Pekelhaaring (Van Woustraat 127) a cool gastropub great for group gatherings and De Kas (Kamerlingh Onneslaan 3), a stalwart on the Dutch food scene. The building is a former greenhouse and the food has a farm-to-table concept—it’s definitely worth the visit. Finally, for the best fish in the city head to Pesca (Rozengracht 133).

Favourite green space in Amsterdam?

Frankendael, Oosterpark or Het Amsterdamse Bos all best enjoyed during my favourite time of the year…autumn!

If you could choose just one gallery or museum to visit, what would it be?

De Tropenmuseum (Linnaeusstraat 2) is a museum of world cultures and one of the most impressive buildings in The Netherlands. 

Where do you go if you want to escape the city?

As a landscape photographer, the great escape for me would be De Hoge Veluwe, a national park in the centre of The Netherlands. Head one hour east of Amsterdam and you’ll find yourself in a beautiful area of heathlands, sand dunes and woodlands.

Favourite city break?

London because I lived there for a couple of years and I still feel like it’s home. I also love Paris, Berlin and Rome!

Favourite long-haul break?

Colombia, Peru and New Zealand. Three of my favourite destinations so far and there’s still so much more to see!

“As long as you like what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life”

What is your dream destination?

There’s only one continent that I haven’t travelled to yet and that’s Antarctica!

If you had 24 hours in Amsterdam, what would you see?

Wether you walk along the beautiful canals, go window shopping in the 9 Straatjes or cycle through the entire city, you’ll definitely be surprised with the diversity Amsterdam has to offer.

Start the day with a great breakfast and take-in the sights on foot. Next, grab a bike and cycle along the city’s historic canal belt, stopping by Mendo (Nieuwe Doelenstraat 10), a terrific bookstore and publishing house located next to the historic hotel De L'Europe Amsterdam. From there, check out Foam (Keizersgracht 609) a photography museum located on the Keizersgracht before heading to Utrechtsestraat, a long street filled with vintage boutiques, cafe’s and record stores. Make a beeline for Maison NL (Utrechtsestraat 118) a concept store with a broad selection of absolutely everything.

For lunch, head to De Pijp. This area is known for the Albert Cuyp Markt, the busiest market in the Netherlands and supposedly the largest daytime market in Europe. If you haven’t tried the real Dutch Stroopwafels they’re freshly prepared here so this is the place to go! Stop by Gerard Douplein, one of the city’s most beautiful squares that’s packed with lots of different cafe’s, restaurants and bars so it’s always very lively and a great place to people watch.

If you can squeeze in a trip to East Amsterdam, I highly recommend De Tropenmuseum or the Artis Royal Zoo before dinner or aperitivo at De Plantage. End your night at the charming GlouGlou (Tweede van der Helststraat 3).

One visit will not be enough to see all that Amsterdam has to offer, you will definitely want to return!

Tot ziens!

daniellesiobhanmol.com @daniellesiobhan