John Lennon and Yoko Ono in Amsterdam – Cor Jaring Photos

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Lennon and Ono in Amsterdam – Cor Jaring Photos
by beatlesblogger
Posted on July 5, 2015

Drove from Paris to the Amsterdam Hilton,

Talkin’ in our beds for a week.

The news people said “Say, what you doing’ in bed?”

I said “We’re only tryin’ to get us some peace!”

So wrote John Lennon in “The Ballad of John and Yoko”, released by the Beatles back in 1969. He was talking in the song about one of his famous “bed-in” peace events, staged with Yoko Ono during their honeymoon while on a visit to the city of Amsterdam.



One of the people there to visually record what happened was Dutch photographer Cor Jaring and the Amsterdam City Archives currently has an exhibition of his photographs on display. They feature some of the shots he took of John and Yoko that day – but you’ll need to be quick if you want to see it. It closes on July 12.

Hi, and welcome back to Beatles Blogger. We’ve been on holiday for a month – so it’s been a bit quite around here for a while. We’ve actually been traveling in Europe and now that we’re back over the coming days will reveal more about what we found there to add to the ever-growing Beatle collection. We managed to pick up a few very nice things….

We didn’t however get to visit the Jaring exhibition as we only picked up this advertising flyer on the very last day we were there and ran out of time:



If you happen to be anywhere near Amsterdam it looks like it’d be interesting though.




stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl
Cor Jaring Photographer — Amsterdam’s Magic Center 1965-1975

Exhibition
It was all hap-hap-happening in Amsterdam in the 1960s, and Cor Jaring (1936-2013) was there. This self-made photographer, an Amsterdammer through and through, felt at home among the motley collection of rebellious spirits who roused the sleepy Netherlands and spread an atmosphere of cheerful confusion. The Provo movement was founded in May 1965. Thanks to Cor Jaring’s, images of ‘happenings’ and other protest actions travelled around the world, establishing Amsterdam’s fame as a ‘magical centre’.



Jaring recorded the emerging youth culture in Paradiso and Vondelpark, and captured images of John Lennon and Yoko Ono in bed in Amsterdam’s Hilton Hotel. Less well known are the colour images of the Deskundologisch Laboratorium (‘Laboratory of Expertology’) and its various ‘departments’ such as the Insect Sect and the Breakfast Club. With their non-violent protests against water and air pollution and their concern for the planet, these alternative artists were decades ahead of their time.



Shortly before his death in 2013, Cor Jaring entrusted his archives to Amsterdam City Archives. Besides the now-famous photographs, the show also includes newlydiscovered images that follow the events in Magical Amsterdam and all the key actors from close by. The images are accompanied by documents and film/audio fragments that bring the legendary decade 1965-1975 to life. In the audio guide, eyewitnesses recall this colourful and chaotic period, after which Amsterdam – and the Netherlands – would never be the same again.


Rebellious City (documentary)
Throughout the exhibition, Willy Lindwer's documentary Rebellious City will be shown in the auditorium. The film traces the social and cultural dynamics of the years 1955-1969 and the way in which Provo eventually acquired mythical proportions in the public imagination, thanks to coverage in the media. (English subtitles).

Audio guide
The audio guide gives background information, with reminiscences provided by eyewitnesses to these turbulent times. The guide also includes comments by Cor Jaring himself, who has fascinating stories to tell about his personal involvement in some of the events that took place.

Opening hours & Admission
Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 12 noon to 5 p.m. Closed on Mondays.
Admission: €6. Children aged 12 to 18, Archiefpas and CJP holders: €4.
Admission free of charge for Museumkaart, City Card Amsterdam, Rembrandtkaart, Friends of
Amsterdam City Archives, visitors aged 65+, Stadspas and children under 12 years of age.
Explanatory texts and captions are in Dutch and English.
Amsterdam City Archives, Vijzelstraat 32, 1017 HL Amsterdam