Locations of HIP places
In the beginning, only a few bars in places like New York, Paris and New Orleans could be called 'hip'. But at the turn of the sixties, the emphasis came upon Amsterdam ('the center of the cosmos') and the San Francisco area. In San Francisco, the Grateful dead was responsible for the rise of the LSD culture, dropping acid was the wildest thing to do. You can read all about it in the book 'The cool-aid electric acid test', written by investigative journalist Tom Wolfe. Now, the scene around Haight-Ashbury is like a memorial. There's more to do in Santa Cruz!
In Amsterdam, it all started with the first edition of provocative journal 'Provo!', which came out July the 12th, 1965. In March 1966, when throne-ascendant princess Beatrix married a German prince that has been in Hitler's army, many dutch people were very much offended, the more because the whole royalty had been abroad during these harsh years.
Beatrix became responsible for breaking down the squat movement in 1980, when she finally got her crown. It was her money that payed armed policeman.
More and more hippies came to Amsterdam to have fun at the Vondelpark, where many bands and theater acts could perform. In the center, they slept at the Dam war monument. Later, mariners throwed them out. Then the movement stopped Provo to start a new movement, based on ecologic thinking, called the Kabouters (little men). At the Oranje Vrijstaat, a small city area, old tram buildings were squatted and made into houses and small workplaces. But this dream was to end soon, and the solution was to squat outside of the city. Ruigoord was the solution. In 1973, most houses of this very small village were empty because a harbour would be built on that place. It took about 27 years to dig that harbour!
the people of ruigoord in 1973
informal hippie camping at this location near Nijmegen
If you have other locations to add please send informastion and pictures to bas_vossen@yahoo.com!
Below are some travel links, starting with a message board for backpackers!