To begin, can you introduce yourselves and your family?

We are Ariely, Bas & our son Sol, and we live in Amsterdam. Ari is from Brazil, Bas was born in Holland and grew up in New Zealand, and our now almost 2-year-old son was born here in Amsterdam.


Amsterdam is such a vibrant city, how do you find stillness and slow moments within it?

We live on the other side of the river, just outside the bustle but a mere 10-minute bike ride away from tapping into that downtown energy when we feel like. We love our hood, it's a little quieter, raw and unexpected. Some of Amsterdam's best waterside eateries and sauna locations are very close by and frequented on those brisk mornings. Also around the corner are the quaint dyke houses of the Nieuwendam, where we took these pictures (and in our dreams would buy a house).

We should add that our Saturday Organic Market routine is, without fail, the best way to wind down, hang out as a family and replenish fresh produce for the week. Sol is also a well-known local at the coffee spot we pair with these market visits. Amsterdam is just a small village in a lot of ways!

What does a typical slow Sunday look like for your family?

After a pretty packed Saturday, Ari has been doing yoga on Sunday morning. Dad and Sol get to indulge in playing records or doing a mission to score these insane raisin buns from a local hidden bakery.

As artists living in a busy European city, how do your surroundings influence your creativity?

A big reason why we live here is because:
1. The bike lifestyle is so gooood. We had definitely had enough of traffic when living in Auckland before moving here.
2. Amsterdam is a hub for music, art, film and photography. For a small city, it packs a punch in those departments. That keeps us still discovering more every year. The inspiration is different to our previous backgrounds (Brazil or New Zealand). We are less on the edge of nature, which we definitely miss, but it is super fulfilling in the above-mentioned pursuits, without being surrounded by skyscrapers.

Parenthood often reshapes the rhythm of our days. What does slowing down look like with a one-year-old in tow?

Getting out of the house and out around the city. Putting Sol on the front of the bike is the best...ever!He's a trooper when it comes to out of routine based activities and thus easily absorbs our chaos when Mum and Dad are locked in on a late summer's eve on the terrace. He thrives in social settings and easily deals with delays in food or bedtime.And if the weather is dire or we are tired, we generally lock in at home and line up a selection of records to indulge over the now out of hand growing hifi system.

What are some of your family’s favourite weekend adventures or getaways outside the city?

We don't have our own garden, so on warmer days off, we are always at the park. Needless to say, the Sunnup mat is defo the best addition to our summer kit (not a sponsored post :)

Are there small rituals or habits that help you stay grounded together?

Listening to records...after one or two puffs, ha! We got rid of the tv in the lounge a few years ago for music to take centre stage.