Dutch ensemble brings Arab-Andalusian music into the mainstream - Hyphen
The Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra began as a way of connecting musical heritage to the present. Now it is challenging ideas of what belongs in the canon
Tom Flanagan
Journalist | Writer
My Writing
I've written for publications like VICE, Hyphen and Men's Health and brands like Booking.com and Catawiki. I specialise in long-form features and news pieces across culture, music, social issues and climate.
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If you want to get more of a sense of my writing and what I do, my substack is a good place to start:
https://iusedtotalk.substack.c...
Get in Touch
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My Work
Rami Ismail is trying to change who gets to make video games - Hyphen
The gaming industry’s money and opportunities are concentrated in the west. The Dutch-Egyptian developer wants where you live to matter less than what you want to make.
What the UK can learn from the Netherlands' far-right government - Hyphen
When Mujahid Ali came to the Netherlands in 2023, he imagined an open-minded country. A Syrian national, he was one of 38,000 people who applied for asylum in 2023, 13,000 of whom were Syrian. “I thought for years it was good there, that the Netherlands is for everyone, not just Dutch people,” says the 28-year-old.
The Lonely Mediterranean
Every year, the world descends on Greece, a country known for its warmth and hospitality. But for the residents, a crisis of loneliness threatens to tear a culture of family apart. Tom Flanagan investigates the lessons an increasingly lonely Europe can learn from the Mediterranean nation.
Pride and Progress
Five halal food influencers to follow in Europe - Hyphen
For many travellers, Europe has long been a destination to eat as much as to sightsee. A visit to the continent is built around iconic national dishes: pasta in Italy, tapas in Spain, bratwurst in Germany and pastries in France. But Muslim tourists have often been left out of these iconic culinary experiences. Hidden pork, alcohol-based ingredients and uncertain halal standards have meant that eating well has required research, local knowledge or compromise.
Mezrab: the Amsterdam venue turning audiences into storytellers - Hyphen
It’s a Tuesday night in Amsterdam. Along the banks of the IJ river in the east of the city, between a gym and a bagel chain, people filter into a low-lit room lined with cushions and chairs. The space looks more like a tea room than a performance venue. The lights dim and a man emerges at the front.
Third Culture Kids: the DJs reshaping Amsterdam nightlife - Hyphen
Parallel, a club in Amsterdam Noord, is booming. This space is used to the high-octane pulse of techno but tonight, it’s being taken on a different journey: sledgehammer beats give way to Bedouin rhythms, minimal electronica is swapped for riotous Egyptian shaabi edits, Eurodance goes Persian. The energy is frenetic, chaotic even. This is exactly what Moataz Rageb, the night’s organiser, wanted.
Tilda Swinton Feature
Where the wild flowers are
The Netherlands might be known for the tulip, but come the summer, fields around Amsterdam bloom with oft-forgotten flora.
Matt Pictures
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Pages Unturned - Literary Amsterdam
My Life as a Male Model on OnlyFans
Juggling both professions might not be intuitive for some, but he’s far from the only one turning to sex as a career. Since the arrival of OnlyFans in 2016 and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are taking up sex work—a trend that has only been compounded by the cost of living crisis.
Fantastic forts and where to find them
The Dutch Defence Line – a 135-kilometre ring of 46 forts surrounding Amsterdam – once protected the city from attack. Nowadays, it’s been transformed into something else.
Sex Parties Actually Bring Me Closer to My Partner
Sophie takes a deep breath before heading down the concrete steps into what looks like an underground cellar, its dark entrance concealing the feverish passions within. (Her name, and all names in this story, have been changed to protect privacy.) She takes a step forward and relaxes. She knows this passage well. What might seem like an unassuming hole-in-the-wall to many is a gateway into a world of fantasy – a party where (almost) anything goes. She grabs her partner’s hand and walks ahead.
Best late-night dining in Amsterdam | I amsterdam
Dutch dinnertime is known for its earliness – beginning at anywhere from 17:00-19:00 – meaning most kitchens close around 21:00. But as Amsterdam’s population internationalises, there’s a growing demand for late-night dining – and restaurants are catching on.
Derek Mitchell - letsDoubleDutch - Interview
Adored for his keenly observed sketches of Dutch culture, he's won over Amsterdam locals and internationals alike. Now he's got his sights set on everyone else.
Beetlejuice 2 proves gothic style is here to stay
Tim Burton’s 2024 sequel captures the original’s daring fashion while also nodding to how younger generations are embracing darker, more dramatic styles.
Cosy neighbourhood bars in Amsterdam | I amsterdam
Low-lit lighting, vintage furniture, and heaps of warmth and nostalgia, every neighbourhood has a go-to bar. But what makes a truly great one? We searched far and wide across Amsterdam’s many streets for the cosiest locales in the capital – this is what we found.
New in Town: Summer 2025 | I amsterdam
Welcome to the summer edition of our New in Town series, our seasonal guide to the newest spots for food, drink and more.
Dearly beloved: the renaissance of love letters
The art of putting down your feelings on paper dates back centuries. And while the 21st century has given more attention to email than the hand-written word, the onset of a global pandemic has seen a revival in the writing of personal notes.
Beautiful bodies: the irresistible allure of homoerotic art
With collectors increasingly searching out these erotic artworks, this once-obscured genre is starting to take on mainstream appeal.
Reporting from the Arctic
As the climate crisis reshapes the world, the Arctic is under increased scrutiny. But what does it take to report from the region? Tom Flanagan speaks to five journalists about working in one of the world’s most inhospitable climates.
Welcome to the Elm Tree Capital of the World
Amsterdam has more elm trees than any other city. And every spring, something magical happens.
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