[January 2000]

When in fall 1999 we first heard that our "home" HRC Amsterdam would celebrate a great party on New Year's Eve, my wife Karin and I already knew that we wanted to participate. It was a little difficult to find a hotel room but finally we succeeded - and even at a reasonable price.

On December 31, 1999 we arrived at the Hilton in Amsterdam and were greeted with a nice surprise which we found in our room: a "Millennium Night Survival Kit" consisting of a bottle of good red wine, a bottle of sparkling water and a few snacks. Well, now we were properly prepared to deal with any Y2K-problems.

At about 2 p.m. we left the hotel and walked through the streets of Amsterdam which still carried their Xmas decoration. When we approached the HRC we saw that preparations for the great event were in full swing. The HRC had been closed already for other guests and we just picked up our tickets (bracelets with the Amsterdam HRC logo and an imprint ROCK 2000) which our friend Dennis van Koutrik had deposited for us. Then we left as we did not want to get in the way of the busy people who were now fixing the decorations and electrical wiring so that the DJ who would work below the Trabi in the entrance area would be able to supply the whole HRC with music that night.

We resumed our walk through Amsterdam, one of the most interesting European cities I know. At the Nieuwmarkt a gigantic party was in full swing already. Musicians were performing on a stage there and half of Amsterdam was singing with them. After a short warm-up in the bar of the Hotel American, we returned to the HRC at about 7:30 p.m. We took a glimpse at the merchandise store but much to our disappointment there were no special Millennium pins available. When we left the merchandise shop, we had the first big surprise of the evening: Our friend Phil Moss from San Francisco was walking in our direction, dressed in a very elegant tuxedo, WHOW - but with a trader bag in his hands. So the first big "Hello" of this evening took place right here - after all we hadn't seen Phil for almost a month ;-) (we met him during our last USA trip in HRC San Francisco).

Together we went inside the HRC. Much reminded me of the Grand Opening Party back in May 1999: colorful decoration, a great buffet with salads, fish and other goodies set up on tables along the wall of the upper level - and great desserts were waiting already at the opposite side. An additional bar on the upper level of the HRC ensured that the guests didn't have to wait too long for their drinks.

On the ground level there was a buffet with the most tempting meats like turkey, roast beef and a whole ham which was being freshly carved. Soon there were long queues awaiting their turn at the buffets but the HRC staff offered mini-hamburgers so that nobody would starve while waiting... really great!

Well, we decided to start off the party with a genuine HRC Hurricane. When we had about half finished our drinks we realized that our stomachs would need a very good "bottom layer" to soak up the alcohol and we decided to go for the buffet first.

While the evening slowly proceeded, more and more familiar faces showed up: Regine Sudhoff and her husband and Thomas Hass and his wife joined us and the HRC got more and more crowded.

A little later that evening we had to help out our friend Kay from the Bay. I saw her standing outside the HRC, shivering in the cold. Dennis van Koutrik had bought her ticket but - it wasn't there! Well, I quickly took my wife's HRC bracelet, went out to greet Kay and with this little trick we got her inside the warm HRC. Sure enough, there were big hellos and hugs everywhere, once Kay joined us at the table.

That night the HRC was a melting pot of nationalities. Guests showed up from all over the world: People from America, the United Kingdom, many from Italy, some from Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland and even a few from Scotland. Some of them were "perfectly styled", some of them wore jeans and tees. Ages ranged from 16 to 60. What a great group to start the new Millennium with!

In addition to the great music the DJ played all night, we were entertained by short performances of artists, jugglers and illusionists who besides their work enjoyed strolling through the audience in their fancy outfit, chatting here and there. The HRC hadn't invited famous artists but these folks who usually work on the Leidseplein, very close to the HRC. I thought that was good idea.

Of course I couldn't let the last hours of the old millennium slip by without trading pins. So My friend Kay and I swapped a Barcelona Halloween 1999 for an Amsterdam Xmas 1999 pin.

A few drinks later and well past 11 p.m. our friends from "The Dutch Family" made their appearance: Dennis van Koutrik and his family appeared on the scene. Only Jimmy was missing as he was ill. Unfortunately some important reason had kept the family from joining us earlier but all the more we enjoyed their showing up now!

At about 11:45 p.m. we could then go and fetch a glass of champagne offered by the HRC - but obviously there were so many guests that the HRC had difficulties finding enough glasses so that some kind of hectic arose for a short while. We didn't really mind as we just used the glasses we had been drinking from before - and a bottle of champagne which we had bought well in advance at the HRC bar!

A little later, Allison, the manager of HRC Amsterdam, used a microphone and tried to keep her guests inside the HRC to greet the new millennium there - but without success. At about 11:55 p.m. the HRC was completely empty and all guests awaited the new millennium on the large place in front of the HRC. The last seconds were counted aloud by the crowd and at midnight a great hurray and kissing started, accompanied by plenty of champagne!

We spent the first half hour of the new millennium watching the fireworks. We noticed that in the Netherlands orgies of noise from fire crackers seem to be the prevailing pastime at this time of the year :-). Well, with plenty of toasts on each and everyone with the great Taittinger champagne we finally returned to our table at around 0:30 a.m. It was with a big relief that I noticed that Hurricanes and beer still tasted great in the new millennium and that I am obviously Y2K-compliant :-)

More and more guests returned to their tables and the dance floor was crowded. The party was in full swing again and we enjoyed the drinks just as before.

The 100 guilders (or about $50) we paid for a ticket were well spent in my opinion. The food was absolutely fantastic, the music and the atmosphere were great and made us forget the little problem with the champagne.

The only thing I really missed was a little goody (pin or button) from the HRC as a welcome present for the new millennium. I think in this respect the European HRCs still can learn a lot from the American ones.

At around 2:30 a.m. Karin and I left the HRC and we were really happy to have spent the Millennium night here with our friends. Thanks to all of you who came to the HRC in Amsterdam. It was great partying with you into the new millennium!

Happy 2000 !!!

JB